Twilight?

Did anyone else read that series? There's all this hype about it being "the new Harry Potter" and, although I enjoyed it, I didn't find Meyer's novels NEARLY as well-written or intriguing as Rowling's. It was kind of missing that magical, enticing touch, you know?

That's a good point; the books aren't really comparable because they're a totally different kind of book with different objectives and different styles. The only thing that really ties them together is that they're both teen top-sellers. Meyers does have a draw, but she's just not on the same level as J. K. Rowling, imo.

finished all four.  have to say i loved them.   this isn't going to be a popular opinion (especially her on the Harry potter fans group... you may kick me out if you wish), but let me see if i can explain.  I resisted HP for the first 4 books.   then read the firs t (because a student in the 3rd grade class i taught insisted...) didn't really enjoy it at all.  i was comparing to LOTR, Eddings, Marion Zimmer Bradely, Sharron K Penman(not fantasy), and other adult fantasy i actually liked, and felt HP was rather childish, fine for kids, and a good way to get them reading, but not entertainment for me.  Later, something (i think books on tape for a long commute i had) got me started again, and i did end up enjoying them very much.  and i am loving reading them with my daughter. 

what i liked about the Twilight series... i think stephenie wrote emotions and the sensations that go with them rather well.  it was about an insecure adolecent and her emotional/ hormonal rolercoaster, which dosen't apeal to everyone.  I liked though that it was also about her self discovery and reflection and growth.  i also had problems with the nature of the relationship, and the example it may set for other teanage girls.  but i know, blind unswerving devotion was part of my make up as a teen, so i could relate closley, even though i didn't admire it.  Luckily it worked out well for me :)  I think the charactor develpoment was very good... a lot of care was taken i think behind the scenes to know what and why and how the main charactors were feeling and why they did and said the things they did.  but for that same reason, i think it could come across really drawn out.  and i will also acknowledge that some of the caractors were caricatures...

in the end, i was satisfied with the closure i got in the last book.  things were wrapped up to my satisfaction, i could relate and understand the various charactors points of view... i felt like i had learned about them while they grew and changed, and i liked that.  i felt like i left bella stronger than she was when i met her, and i don't feel like i was left wanting more or with unansewered quesitons. 

I am a huge harry potter fan read the books at least four times and watched the movies more than I can count. I never even had a desire to read twilight until one of my girlfriends read it. I started it and couldnt stop. The fourth book started all wrong for me though. I do not like it as much as harry potter but I do like it enough to read it again, which I have been contimplating even though I just finished them a couple weeks ago. The main thing I did not like was Bella. I liked her even less in the movie.

I didn't care for Bella at first either, but she kind of grew on me.

Also...was it just me or was the last book kind of, um, soap opera-ish?

how frustrating... i just typed out a well thought out responce and it disappeared.  i blame spell check. (so you will have to continue to struggle through my approximations of words)

first, soap opera-ish? i didn't notice, but i am living my own little soap right now,being pregnant and the only one in my life not jumping up and down about it, so i enjoyed the emotional interplay and didn't notice if it was too heavy handed... there certianly was a lot going on though.

and bella starts as a very insecure adolecent, then prgresses to a depressed then despreate adolecent.  not terribly likeable.  but i do like that she seems to grow... on the other hand, i think i like her much more after seeing her through edwards eyes in http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.htm l now i am rereading to see if i feel the same way about her having the whole story and edward's point of view too... hubbie shakes his head in mock dispair

how frustrating... i just typed out a well thought out responce and it disappeared.  i blame spell check. (so you will have to continue to struggle through my approximations of words)

first, soap opera-ish? i didn't notice, but i am living my own little soap right now,being pregnant and the only one in my life not jumping up and down about it, so i enjoyed the emotional interplay and didn't notice if it was too heavy handed... there certianly was a lot going on though.

and bella starts as a very insecure adolecent, then prgresses to a depressed then despreate adolecent.  not terribly likeable.  but i do like that she seems to grow... on the other hand, i think i like her much more after seeing her through edwards eyes in http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.htm l now i am rereading to see if i feel the same way about her having the whole story and edward's point of view too... hubbie shakes his head in mock dispair

Don't get me wrong, I liked the series enough to finish it, but by the last book, I was just so tired of Edward's hesitation to change her, of Bella's angst, and then, then, the author plays the pregnancy bit.  Maybe I was just a little sick of it all by then.

oh, i have to agree about Edward's hesitation! that was really irritating.

oh, i have to agree about Edward's hesitation! that was really irritating.