"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was supposed to come out today, but WB delayed it and and has released "Twilight" instead.
Here to tell us about it is Guest Blogger Jenn, from As Cozy As Spring:
Through the spring, devoted Harry Potter fans looked forward to November 21 for the premiere of The Half Blood Prince. I dreamt of knitting up a Gryffindor Scarf and perhaps traveling north to see the movie with my favorite Harry Potter fans (you can't wear a scarf in July). But WB had their own plans and this Friday greets us with the premiere of Twilight instead. Now the only redeeming part of this movie is that it features our own Cedric Diggory. Harry Potter fans who dug into this book thinking it was something we could enjoy after the end of our favorite series were sadly mistaken. Let's take a look:
Is it well written? No, not really. The first person narrative is remarkably choppy and repetitive. It's also oddly drawn out, making what could have been a short story into four rather lengthy books.
Is the plot interesting? No, not really. It is a rather shallow love story combined with a rather shallow vampire story. Neither of which delves beyond dinner preparation, a vague threat from afar that never really materializes, and how awesome the main characters smell.
Are these characters good role models for teenaged girls? No, not really. Edward is a wee bit selfish. Bella is a wee bit obnoxious and more than a wee bit selfish. And also mopey. And also a liar-liar-pants-on-fire.
Are there some rather disturbing spiritual elements than made one reader wonder how this book managed to get itself published? Why yes! Let's discuss Bella's soul. She is remarkably unconcerned about the fate of her soul should she choose to be with Edward. "But it's your soul, Bella", I cry. "But he smells really, really good. And also... he glitters." I hope and pray young girls out there value themselves and their salvation a bit more than Bella does. I was once a teenager and understand that kind of obsessive crush, but this is not love. To infer to young girls that attraction = eternal love is a disservice, to put it mildly.I did finish the entire series, wondering all the while why I was doing so. It becomes more and more disturbing with each book, culminating in some seriously stomach churning passages. But it's all wrapped up very nicely in a pretty little bow, the vampires and Bella facing no consequences for their choices.
So as today dawns and we have to endure articles entitled, "Is Stephanie Meyer the new JK Rowling?", I hope you will join me in a collective cringe. The lesson I learned in all of this is that just because something sells does not mean that it is good.
Thanks, Jenn!
I would also like to add my bit. I did this for creative writing the other day:
Twilight in 50 Words: A Mockery
by Anne
Bella Swann moved to a town in Washington (or Oregon, I can't remember). She went to high school. She met some nice, perfectly normal people. She also met a vampire boy named Edward. Bella fell for Edward because he had pretty eyes. He fell because she smelled nice.
The End
ETA: I would also like to add that Edward is 17, and people all over the place are falling in love him. People over the age of 30. Ew.
I will end this by borrowing an idea from the afore-mentioned Jenn. There are plenty of lovable ADULT characters in young-adult literature; Like this guy:
And also this guy:
Okay, I'm done ranting now.
