This is why Edward is NOT sexy...

[DisGirlAllie]

My 11 year old son is vampire obsessed and had me read all the books to/with/for him (by for I mean when we came to a passage with too much sex talk he wanted me to read it for him and summarize) when he was 9. At first I was unsure if I wanted my 9 year old reading this series.

But in the end, I loved how many opportunities this gave me to clarify my family's values with him. Things like "If you're in love with someone you don't climb in their window and watch them sleep".

We also talked about the way the book made the stalkerish/obsessive things Edward and Bella did seem OK, because they worked. Inevitably Edward would bribe Alice with a car to get her to kidnap Bella, and it would turn out, coincidentally that that was the exact moment that newborn vampire army sent out scouts to investigate her home. (See, kidnapping is a good idea!). It's about as subtle as putting buxom women in beer ads.

Finally we talked about the irony of a book that's based on the premise that you don't choose who you love, being used to generate money for the Latter Day Saints, some of which is used to fight gay marriage.

Excuse my language, but that is complete and utter BS. The LDS bookstores refuse to sell any of the Twilight books and you'd clearly be surprised by how few Mormons like Stephanie Meyer and Twilight.

 

[luvsJack]

It's a BOOK. It isn't real life. I guess I don't see where a boy that is acting like a gentleman is really all that much of a big deal.

Golfgal, I have to agree with you 100%.

People, IT IS FICTION. Good grief!

I really don't think any girl is going to read the book and suddenly decide she wants to date a guy who is in his 100's!! Edward is considered, by most, to BE 17. Even Bella goes on and on about his being 17 and her being "older" than him when she turns 18.

There is nothing in the book or movie that makes anyone consider him older. He is a gentleman because he is from a different time and acts the way he was taught during his life. Sadly, our young men are no longer taught to act this way (hmmm, maybe a hidden message in there?)

He is in her bedroom because he is drawn to her. It starts because he does not feel he can interact with her during the day. He is strongly attracted to her because of the smell of her blood--NOT going to happen in real life. He stays close to her to protect her. Most girls don't need that much protection, but then most girls don't date vampires and befriend werewolves. But, I too like the idea of his being so protective. I would love to be able to feel that safe when dd goes out on a date someday. To me THAT is the romance--his want to take care of her and protect her. (not her dependence on him, but that is another topic)

There were perverts and creeps before Twilight and there will be long after Twilight.

 

[NotUrsula]

Excuse my language, but that is complete and utter BS. The LDS bookstores refuse to sell any of the Twilight books and you'd clearly be surprised by how few Mormons like Stephanie Meyer and Twilight.

Perhaps what the posters meant is that money from the series' goes to the Church via Meyers' tithe. If she tithes a percentage of her income, some of that money is going to her church, and her income being what it presently is, I suspect that percentage adds up to a fair amount of money.

 

[luvsJack]

What are they supposed to do, refuse her tithes??

And I don't see it as a book about us not choosing who we love. The vampires and werewolves are creatures are live by different rules. Bella always had a choice.

 

[NotUrsula]

You know, what this discussion always reminds me of is the issue of stalker songs. "Every Breath You Take" or "Come to My Window" ... both of them creeped me the heck out, but lots of folks think they are very romantic songs.

PS: Yes, if they really felt strongly about the source of the money, the Church could refuse Meyers' tithes, or say that she should only tithe from the percentage of her income that was not derived from Twilight. Personally, I think the books are utter dreck, and I could care less either way, but as long as they are taking a full tithe from Stephanie Meyer, then *some* of the proceeds from the work are in fact contributing to the support of the Church in some way. Of course, I'd also guess that Meyer probably didn't mean to include gays at all when she made the reference to choosing who one loves -- she was probably thinking more in terms of age or race or socioeconomic background.

 

[Pakey]

Well Eric Northman is just as creepy, much more dangerous but I LOVE him!

Oh yeah.

 

[onelilspark]

My fiancé's sister is obsessed with the Twilight series. I was in college when they came out and quite frankly, didn't see why I would want to read a young adult book when I could read a Harlequin Romance So she bugged me about it, and bugged me about, and eventually gave me her copy of book 1 for Christmas, so I read it. I enjoyed the story, but had so many problems with the characters that I have no interest in continuing the series, nor can I see the obsession with it for people that are no longer in high school. I can see how young teenage girls love the series and even think that I would have when I was 14.

But, I'm not 14. I'm in my mid-20s. So I'm old enough to realize that Edward is a creeper. And no, I cannot understand how women my age think he's romantic and go gaga over him. (His sister is like this, for the life of me, I don't get it.) Don't even get me started on the parent/child relationship...

So yes, it is a book, but what scares me is how many women (teens and older!) are looking for their own "Edward." That's not healthy.

If I were a parent, I would be sure to read these books with my daughter and get her opinion on it. Make sure she knows that this isn't really "romantic" behavior, it's creepy. I think Mickey'snewestfan is right on target by discussing it with her son to be sure he doesn't assume watching a girl sleep is romantic. You do have young, impressionable kids reading this series, it's important that the parents take responsibility to separate fiction and reality for their children.

 

[Karibeth19]

Golfgal, I have to agree with you 100%.

People, IT IS FICTION. Good grief!

I really don't think any girl is going to read the book and suddenly decide she wants to date a guy who is in his 100's!! Edward is considered, by most, to BE 17. Even Bella goes on and on about his being 17 and her being "older" than him when she turns 18.

There is nothing in the book or movie that makes anyone consider him older. He is a gentleman because he is from a different time and acts the way he was taught during his life. Sadly, our young men are no longer taught to act this way (hmmm, maybe a hidden message in there?)

He is in her bedroom because he is drawn to her. It starts because he does not feel he can interact with her during the day. He is strongly attracted to her because of the smell of her blood--NOT going to happen in real life. He stays close to her to protect her. Most girls don't need that much protection, but then most girls don't date vampires and befriend werewolves. But, I too like the idea of his being so protective. I would love to be able to feel that safe when dd goes out on a date someday. To me THAT is the romance--his want to take care of her and protect her. (not her dependence on him, but that is another topic)

There were perverts and creeps before Twilight and there will be long after Twilight.

This!!!
It's just fiction, and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to worry too much about whether or not the books my DD reads all have positive role models and healthy relationships. DH and I make sure to teach her by our words and actions how to be a strong woman and what a healthy relationship looks like, so she sees those things modeled in real life. That's what's really important. She knows the stories she reads are just that...stories. Besides, if every book had perfect people and perfect relationships, I think most people would give up reading. How boring would that be????? Sure, it's nice to read about strong women, able to fend for themselves, and hold their own in relationships. But, it's also fun to read Twilight, Romeo and Juliet, Jane Austen (Strong women, perhaps, but all they're concerned with is getting married, right?), Anna Karenina, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc, etc...

 

[luvsJack]

If older women are looking for their "own" Edward, they have much bigger problems than a vampire in their bedroom.

As for younger girls, parents should always discuss this stuff with their daughters. DD and i have had many discussions about these characters (she is more of a Jacob girl) and what is and is not real about being in love. But again, the main thing is to realize that it is fiction. I don't expect dd to start trying to date a werewold from liking Jacob than I expect her to start trying to find a wizard because she likes Harry Potter.

It is fiction and it takes the "pull" we have to the one we love to an extreme. His need to protect her is extreme as is her "need" to see him when he leaves. But again, if it was just "normal" feelings in a "normal" relationship--would millions be rushing to the theater to see it??

 

[DisGirlAllie]

You know, what this discussion always reminds me of is the issue of stalker songs. "Every Breath You Take" or "Come to My Window" ... both of them creeped me the heck out, but lots of folks think they are very romantic songs.

PS: Yes, if they really felt strongly about the source of the money, the Church could refuse Meyers' tithes, or say that she should only tithe from the percentage of her income that was not derived from Twilight. Personally, I think the books are utter dreck, and I could care less either way, but as long as they are taking a full tithe from Stephanie Meyer, then *some* of the proceeds from the work are in fact contributing to the support of the Church in some way. Of course, I'd also guess that Meyer probably didn't mean to include gays at all when she made the reference to choosing who one loves -- she was probably thinking more in terms of age or race or socioeconomic background.

But, my point was that the moneys he pays in her tithing DOES NOT go for fighting gay marriage. The money Mormons pay in tithing goes to building temples and Humanitarian Aid. While the church does not agree with gay marriage, they do not go out and protest it or fund campaigns to fight it.

P.S. Every Breath You Take and Come to My Window always gave me the creeps.

 

[NHdisneylover]

But, my point was that the moneys he pays in her tithing DOES NOT go for fighting gay marriage. The money Mormons pay in tithing goes to building temples and Humanitarian Aid. While the church does not agree with gay marriage, they do not go out and protest it or fund campaigns to fight it.

P.S. Every Breath You Take and Come to My Window always gave me the creeps.

I do not know how it is decided inside the LDS church as to which funds go towards temples and humanitarian aid and which go towards other things (or where they get fund other than tithing for that matter) and I am not going to debate whether it is or is not a good thing tp be LDS or to tithe or to support or oppose anti-gay legislation as that would be against board rules about debating politics or religion, but the LDS church DOES spend money on such campaigns. It is easy to find googling. Here is just the first link that popped up (CBS is a fairly reliable source too):
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007269-503544.html

 

[Northstar]

Moving along from whether a fictional vampire boyfriend watching you sleep is creepy....

I live in Halifax, where the Sleepwatcher has been doing these break-ins for several years, and everyone agrees that HE is creepy. Mostly people are thankful that his creepiness has not so far progressed to violence.

 

[luvsJack]

Moving along from whether a fictional vampire boyfriend watching you sleep is creepy....

I live in Halifax, where the Sleepwatcher has been doing these break-ins for several years, and everyone agrees that HE is creepy. Mostly people are thankful that his creepiness has not so far progressed to violence.

I would imagine that he invokes quiet a bit of fear in people and yes he IS very creepy. Hopefully he wil be caught and stopped before he does progress to more that watching.





BTW, how did this discussion about creepy sleepwatchers and fictional vampires get to the Mormon church and how they spend their money? Whether the author tithes is between her and her church, what those tithes are spend on are between the church members and the church. If you don't agree with thier campaigns, fund your own campaigns for the other side--that is what free speech is all about.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Other reasons Edward is not sexy:

His hair is too big
His skin is too light
He's a vampire
He's a pedophile

 

[DeniseinNS]

I agree it's creepy!!! I am from the Halifax area and it's scary to see this in the newspapers for so long, hopefully they catch him soon!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Excuse my language, but that is complete and utter BS. The LDS bookstores refuse to sell any of the Twilight books and you'd clearly be surprised by how few Mormons like Stephanie Meyer and Twilight.

My understanding is that Stephenie Meyer tithes. 10% of the royalties from Twilight is not a small amount of money. It's way more than they'd make if they sold the book in their bookstores.

 

[FireDancer]

I think the whole Twilight phenomenon is ridiculous but it is fiction, what kind of nut takes fiction as a queue to do something in real life? There are books with car chases, shoot outs, arson, and a lot of other things that a normal person knows you just don't do in real life. If they do it is their fault alone and they are prosecuted.

I have no respect for the whole phenomenon but blaming Twilight for this is like blaming Facebook when someone chooses to post something bad on there. It is just shifting the blame from where it belongs to some other party.

 

[DWGal210]

My understanding is that Stephenie Meyer tithes. 10% of the royalties from Twilight is not a small amount of money. It's way more than they'd make if they sold the book in their bookstores.

OK, but who cares where she tithes, or if she does at all?? This is like the argument that some had in the 60s when JFK became President and people were all worried about an alliance with Rome since he was Catholic. Good grief!! I would venture that ANY author, actor, etc gives a portion of their royalties to whatever church, charity or cause they feel strongly about. Are you not going to read a book, see a movie, etc because of how that person MIGHT spend THEIR money?! Ridiculous.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I would imagine that he invokes quiet a bit of fear in people and yes he IS very creepy. Hopefully he wil be caught and stopped before he does progress to more that watching.





BTW, how did this discussion about creepy sleepwatchers and fictional vampires get to the Mormon church and how they spend their money? Whether the author tithes is between her and her church, what those tithes are spend on are between the church members and the church. If you don't agree with thier campaigns, fund your own campaigns for the other side--that is what free speech is all about.

I have no idea, I thought that I clicked on the wrong thread at first.

I also thought that was creepy of Edward to do that in the movie, and the thought of someone doing that in real life scares the bageebies out of me!

 

[FireDancer]

OK, but who cares where she tithes, or if she does at all?? This is like the argument that some had in the 60s when JFK became President and people were all worried about an alliance with Rome since he was Catholic. Good grief!! I would venture that ANY author, actor, etc gives a portion of their royalties to whatever church, charity or cause they feel strongly about. Are you not going to read a book, see a movie, etc because of how that person MIGHT spend THEIR money?! Ridiculous.

I agree with this. If I want to read or watch something I will watch it regardless of the politics of the author or director.

Going by that mentality make sure not to ever read the Declaration of Independence. Its author owned slaves after all.