College Students! discussion

I was not impressed by this book, but to tell the truth I think that vampire books are too cliched.

Guess my idea was shot down... :(

Guess just becoming a teacher I am just happy when students read anything. And a lot of kids are really interested in these books. There is a lot of better YA books out there but somehow these books stuck out. I don't know...I am done trying to fight my point because I don't think I am doing a good job. I am just glad kids are reading something, anything.

Ok...reading back over that it sounds really childish...is that how you spell that? I am sorry for acting that way. I guess I just enjoyed these books and think people (not just GR) are just reading way too into them. They're simple and fun...and not the best written books ever...but...I don't know. I don't really want to get into with anyone so I will stop.

Again, I apologize for acting like a child. I am just frustrated because everyone else has really good points and I really don't. Haha. I just liked the books...it's that simple. :)

Backup support for the argument "at least they are reading."

My sister never really read much. All the rest of my family always has but she never did. When the whole Twilight madness hit, she read all 4 books in under 2 weeks, then went on a book buying spree, ended up with about 20-25 books that she finished in a few months, and now are at my house.

So, getting them started reading, may mean they will start to read "better" books?

I agree with Tami and Leanna. Seems conflicting, but here is the reasoning. I know some people who, like Tami's sister, just needed a jump off point, as myself did with Harry Potter. Where Leanna's point comes in is with the other Twilight lovers, who simply stopped reading after that series. Then it is an anorexic eating one marshmallow. In Tami's sister's case it is an obese child use to eating chocolate sundays, eating their first grape and learning a new love for vegetables and fruits. Sundays representing T.V. usually.

Hopefully, this doesn't offend anyone. I mean it with the best of intentions.

I agree with the jump-off point. I don't personally know any kids who would start with these books and ever leave the genre, but hey, they have to be out there.

It makes me sad to see the huge vampire section in the bookstore now. It'd be one thing if it was just a YA vampire thing, but a proper vampire section, um, should include Dracula.

I am sure my sister is one of the minorities, but I figure that even just one or two people now reading is better than no new people to reading. I am not offended, I personally didn't care for the books, but to each their own. Oh, and her thing is YA usually. I have gotten her to try a few others, but so far, she hasn't cared for them much. So if anyone has any suggestions, her birthday is coming up.

Thanks for the back-up everyone. I keep reading over what I wrote and realize it was just so stupid and I really, really apologize. Everyone has their own opinions.

I think Tami's is the point I was trying to make. Everyone just needs a starting off point and maybe Twilight is that starting off point. Hopefully by being a good teacher, I can introduce them to better YA books. (I really, really do agree that these books are not the best YA books out there).

I also agree with Angabel, just because Twilight was a good hit, doesn't mean other vampire books are going to be. AND they SHOULD include Dracula in that, makes me sad to hear that they don't!

Once again, I am sorry for being such a butt face. Everyone has their own opinions and I need to listen to them and respect them, as you all do with mine. I hope I didn't offend anyone either and please don't hate me! :)

P.S. I also wrote all my stuff this morning and was super tired and grumpy about going into work and took it out on the wrong people! I hate doing that to people!

I picked up the first book to see what was finally making my 14-yr-old baby sis read... and ended up reading the whole series. Is it the best literature out there? Of course not. Does she use the word "chagrin" in every chapter? why, of course. Its like a friend of mine said, "Twilight is like Gossip Girl. Is it trashy? yes. Do I watch it anyways? yes."

So now you're all expecting me to say that guess what... my 14 year old sister reads other books now!!! Well, she does, but she also WRITES. She's on page 80-something of a historical novel set in Virginia in the late 1800s. (no shiny vampires involved.) She's glued to her computer screen. Her high school English teacher loved it and wants her to continue, and she's found a website to post parts of her story on and read the stories of others.

Moral of the story- Twilight will cause 14 year old girls to use their brains!! JK. But you never know. Its not the most well written story out there and it may not have something to teach, but it was entertaining. I don't think there's anything wrong with reading a book for pure entertainment. Come on, how many of you watch Gossip Girls??? **ok I don't, but I'm guilty when it comes to The Hills, John and Kate... you get the idea. :)

Haha I totally know what you mean, Ashley! It is totally a guilty pleasure. I watch One Tree Hill and the Hills and I know it's stupid, but hey they make me happy! That's too funny! :)

That's great about your sister. If she doesn't mind, it would be really interesting to read them! Or atleast some of them. Maybe she wouldn't mind you posting some of them on Goodreads! Let us know.

I don't know if Dracula is neccisary, but then I'm not a huge classics fan. Though I do know I really should read it.

Janet look at my girls-kicking-butt book list, its all basically urban fantasy (Vamps, weres, witches OH MY!). Read my reviews on them too though because I do note which ones are steamy and which ones aren't. She might also try Blood and Chocolate if she hasn't read that or the other vampire book to that little series thing-a-ma-bob. Both are surprisingly good YA series.

Erin wrote: "I don't know if Dracula is neccisary, but then I'm not a huge classics fan. Though I do know I really should read it.

Janet look at my girls-kicking-butt book list, its all basically urban fantas..."

I think I'm MORE disappointed that Meyer wrote a book about vampires without reading any of the genre. It's THE biggest mistake writers make these days.

If you're really into vampires, Dracula (and the film Nosferatu) are a must. It took me a while to get into Dracula, but oh man, once I was, it scared the crap outta me. Likewise, if you're just into the trend of YA vampire novels, Twilight is a must.

Erin wrote: " "Twilight can help your marriage
Twilight can help your marriage
Read the book that women are saying opened their eyes to the powerful keys to committed love contained in t he Twilight saga.
www.a..."

Holy shit, thats unbelievable. Damn that Stephanie Meyer...

I know, right!? It's freaking hilarious!!


Janet, I just wanted to say, You're good :).. don't worry.. I didn't think you sounded childish or anything.. you can feel however you want to feel about a book :) It's perfectly okay for you to think, 'At least they're reading', because the thing is there's at least a chance that they'll want to find something else they like to read and eventually they'll stumble on something that's great, meanwhile they've continued reading. Some will move on to "better literature" and some will stay with lighter stuff, and there's nothing wrong with that either. Reading is a personal thing, and it shouldn't really matter if someone dislikes something somebody else likes :)

Just wanted to add that that although the books were frustrating for me to read, they were also funny (unintentionally, but still.. ), and Meyer definitely succeeded in sucking me in. Despite my frustration, I wanted to continue reading. Hmm..

Haha thanks for saying that Mandee! I always worry that I might step on people's toes here and I hate when I do that! I appreciate it you saying those things.

I found out something really cool though! My cousin, Kara, is married to Kemp. Kemp's cousin...Stephanie Meyer!!! SO CRAZY!!!! They have like a signed copy and eveything!! Haha I just thought that was cool with the six degrees of separation stuff! Haha :)

I bet if your cousin bought several of her books and had her autograph them, they could make a killing in profits online.

Janet wrote: "Haha I totally know what you mean, Ashley! It is totally a guilty pleasure. I watch One Tree Hill and the Hills and I know it's stupid, but hey they make me happy! That's too funny! :)

That's gr..."

She's only let me read part of one story ...I think she just saw my reaction to the twilight books- I liked them but wasn't exactly proud I was reading them- and she's scared I'm going to have the same reaction. :/ She wont let me read anymore and its driving me crazy!! (I thought that just the beginning of her story had more wit and less cheese than twilight, but I'm probably biased)

But that's cool about your cousin! :)

Oh, twilight. As much as I wish I wasn't interested, I am pretty stoked about the New Moon movie... anyone else?

Janet, now I feel bad for making you feel bad! It's definitely true that getting them started on reading is important, especially if they go on to read different things (instead of Twilight over and over again). The only thing I worry about is the psychology of the tween mind and how the series will affect it, but we'll see I guess!

Yeah I totally know what you mean Tahleen. Hopefully the girls can understand that it's just fantasy and real love doesn't happen like that. But I am sure some don't. Haha. And seriously don't worry, you didn't make me feel bad. It was just an all around bad morning and I was taking it out on the wrong people!! I really hate when I do that! :/ And it's not an excuse as to why I got upset...and looking back..it was SO stupid to get upset about that! Haha.

Ashley- I have yet to see Twilight but I am not too interested because I heard it wasn't that good. But...New Moon does look pretty darn good! Might just have to do and hope that maybe they did a better job on this movie! :)

I'm hoping to be able to watch New Moon with someone who isn't looking forward to it so I can thoroughly mock it. I so hope we get some more gold body spray shots!

I was watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer the other day & I started comparing Buffy with Bella. Both are female characters who fall in love with vampires (ooooh, cool, theres a thunderstorm here now!!). Buffy is SO much cooler! Buffy is really tough. Buffy doesn't do everything that Angel/Spike says, she has a mind of her own, and when Angel leaves, she doesn't completely fall to pieces. In short, Buffy has an identity and existence thats independent of Angel and Spike, unlike Bella. Buffy is a far better role-model than Bella.

I just wish they hadn't called Buffy, Buffy. I love the 80's or 90's Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie and grew up on it, so when they created this other thing I was kind of disgusted. It runs along the same premise of Buffy in that she's a vampire slayer, but that is largely where is stops. They should have just gave her a new name I think.

Erin, I've heard a lot of the opposite: that the film was horrible.

Angabel I bet it depends on which you watched first. And even if they don't like it, I think my point that they're two different things stands. I just get annoyed because I adore the movie, but the show just seems a lot like charmed and all and I'm just not into those shows. They're not my cup of tea, while the Buffy movie was perfect. She kicked butt and it all made sense. The characters just seemed better made to me. Plus, there is the hilarious scene when the henchman just won't die.

Janet wrote: "Guess my idea was shot down... :(

Guess just becoming a teacher I am just happy when students read anything. And a lot of kids are really interested in these books. There is a lot of better YA b..."

Janet I agree with your comment from a previous post "at least there reading" It is fantastic that young people are reading. I love it when I am at work and see a teenage boy pick up the book and check it out. I know they are not fine literature, but I must agree they are reading.

I thought that all the novels we just light fun reads. I really didn't read to much into them, I don't normally do that when I read though. I just read the books for the story, every once in a while I will find a book where I will really think about it.

I thought that the movie followed the book really well considering that Stephenie Meyer didn't really have any say in the movie. The thing I heard the most that people didn't like about the movie was Edward sparkling. I liked to book a lot better than the movie but I really enjoyed the movie also!

The one thing that I don't like about these books are that there are children reading them that really aren't old enough to be reading them. They will come into the library and ask for something to read like Twilight and there really isn't anything that is appropriate for their age. Then it goes back to at least their reading...

I find it really interesting reading everyones posts and getting different opinions on the book. I love to read what people think about books because I might not have seen.

Okay sorry if my post is a lot of rambling.

What do you all think of girls telling boys that they should be more like Edward? At the bookstore boys' parents say their son was told to act more like him by their girlfriends or whoever. I was just reminded about it by your comment Melissa, about teenage boys picking them up.

I think they want the gentleman treatment. Edward is pretty old school. He is one that will open doors, hold the umbrella, etc. Total Chivalry! What I am hoping they don't mean is the possessiveness. But then again, I really hope all these girls really aren't like Bella.

Tami that was what I was thinking exactly, but knew I couldn't write down. Thank you for that.

I think it is the gentlemen treatment also that they are looking for. I dont think that it is fair for teenage girls to expect and want teenage boys, to be Edward. I dont think that is right. People need to accept people for who they are.

I don't know if telling the boys to be like Edward is right, but I don't think there is anything wrong with expecting boys to act like gentlemen. As a future ag teacher I get the pleasure of ruthlessly convincing the boys in my classes to be correct young gentle men and showing the girls if you actually expect yourself to be treated as a lady that you will be.

Expecting young men to be gentlemen is actually great I think, because it will put an end to a lot of trouble. Its one of those things many people today lack.