Messing with Twilight Fans

Off Topic
21

[quote]John Roman wrote:

[quote]BobParr wrote:

[quote]chimera182 wrote:

[quote]John Roman wrote:
If you’ll excuse the plug for my site, I actually reviewed Twilight on my blog. Thought you guys might enjoy it.

http://www.romanfitnesssystems.com/383/its-not-like-you-can-say-i-didnt-try/[/quote]

I haven’t read them, nor do I really ever plan to. But I do agree based on what little I know of the plot that it’s incredibly dumb. It’s only saving grace in my opinion is that it has people reading… or watching movies and then reading.[/quote]

Gotta agree with you there. It’s like the Harry Potter books suddenly made it popular for kids to not only read but to actually read 500+ page books! Back when I was a kid, I was a nerd for voluntarily reading scifi novels and long books like those by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Since the whole J.K. Rowling phenomenon, the taste for reading fantasy novels (good or bad) hasn’t let up a bit. If you look around a bookstore, those books are coming out of the woodwork and selling to the kids like hotcakes. You’ve got Artemis Fowl, Charlie Bone, Spiderwick Chronicles, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and now Twilight and a slew of other vampire imitators.

Harry Potter really is a wizard. He made it cool for kids to read.[/quote]

You bring up a point I often make when talking about HP and Twilight.

One thing about me is that I am a hopeless bibliophile. Books are my love and scifi/fantasy is my true pleasure–sometimes a guilty one.

I have read LotR once per year, every single year from the time I was 8. I am about to begin again (I normally read it over the holidays).

I believe that it is important to read the Lord of the Rings. Not just because I love it, and not just because it is a great book, but because it influenced literally every single book that has been published since it was written. The fact that it is the second best selling book of all time (after the bible) notwithstanding, LotR is what we’d call a game changer. In addition to creating a Anglican Mythos, it created an entire genre.

Harry Potter, likewise, was more than a series about a boy wizard: it was a full on cultural phenomenon. Not only did Harry inspire an entire generation of children to start reading, he did just what you mentioned: proved that sci-fi fantasy could be cool, and even where kids were concerned, could be a commercially viable prospect–intensely so.

Regarding Twilight: at this point I don’t think we can argue that it’s taken on a life of it’s own, and is a culture phenomenon. And based on that, I think if you are like me and you just love books, it’s worth picking up. When a book gets this much attention, I simply cannot abide not reading it.

One of the only things I enjoy more than reading is pop-culture and social responses to it. Twilight fascinates me, based on that.

I certainly didn’t care for the books, but I have to say this: for someone like me, not reading them wasn’t a possibility.

I’ll say this, though: Harry Potter earned his place–not only did I enjoy those books immensely, I also understand why they became popular.

With Twilight, I’m still a bit befuddled.

Ultimately, I think this: At the end of all of this, Harry Potter and his stories will have a comfortable place on the Bookshelf of Classics. Despite his later arrival, he will have a place on the same shelf as Frodo and Sam, Tom and Huck, Oliver Twist, Holden Caufield, Tyler Durden, John Galt, Robinson Crusoe, Dorothy Gale and Sherlock Holmes.

I say that with confidence.

Edward and Bella will be forgotten. [/quote]

You should read the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. It’s sci fi fantasy mixed with satire and puns.

22

[quote]WolBarret wrote:

A story about Vampires who sparkle in sunlight and a dumb bitch who loves them even though he will kill her her is 10 times more retarded than any obsession you listed, Pimpbot.[/quote]

Yeah you’re right, the sparkling in the sun thing is pretty freaking retarded.

Not as retarded as an entire short-bus trying in vain to unseal a stubborn pudding cup, but close.

23

I go way back with Pratchett =) His stuff is wildly entertaining. Thanks for the rec, though.

I just picked up book 12 in the Wheel of Time - The Gathering Storm. Evidently, this is not the last book. It’s the first part of a 3-part last book.

If Robert Jordan wasn’t dead, I’d kill him.

24

[quote]John Roman wrote:
If Robert Jordan wasn’t dead, I’d kill him.[/quote]

QFT.

25

[quote]Ct. Rockula wrote:
son of a fuck! this shit again? c’mon now! we don’t do this stuff here. remember, we stay wicked at all times.[/quote]

Let’s be real,bro…Twilight and its fans are silly…but not near as silly as people who seriously call themselves vampires in real life. Nothing against you…I’m just saying. I’ve been more disturbed by some of your “wicked” vampire talk on the forum way more than any talk of Twilight…lol.

26

John,

Great review on the series, man. You’re a talented writer and insightful guy.

I’m not much of a blog fan, but I’ll be stopping by yours every so often.

27

[quote]anonym wrote:
John,

Great review on the series, man. You’re a talented writer and insightful guy.

I’m not much of a blog fan, but I’ll be stopping by yours every so often.[/quote]

Thanks, man, I appreciate the compliment and support. Especially for someone who isn’t generally into blogs. Always looking for feedback =)

28

750×600 59.5 KB

I had this saved.

29

[quote]drewh wrote:

Stephen King said her books suck, twilight fans say he’s just jealous, his response. Pretty funny[/quote]

This. Fucking. ROCKED!!

Big King fan here. I cannot believe how impressed I was with this clip.

30

[quote]John Roman wrote:

[quote]BobParr wrote:

[quote]chimera182 wrote:

[quote]John Roman wrote:
If you’ll excuse the plug for my site, I actually reviewed Twilight on my blog. Thought you guys might enjoy it.

http://www.romanfitnesssystems.com/383/its-not-like-you-can-say-i-didnt-try/[/quote]

I haven’t read them, nor do I really ever plan to. But I do agree based on what little I know of the plot that it’s incredibly dumb. It’s only saving grace in my opinion is that it has people reading… or watching movies and then reading.[/quote]

Gotta agree with you there. It’s like the Harry Potter books suddenly made it popular for kids to not only read but to actually read 500+ page books! Back when I was a kid, I was a nerd for voluntarily reading scifi novels and long books like those by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Since the whole J.K. Rowling phenomenon, the taste for reading fantasy novels (good or bad) hasn’t let up a bit. If you look around a bookstore, those books are coming out of the woodwork and selling to the kids like hotcakes. You’ve got Artemis Fowl, Charlie Bone, Spiderwick Chronicles, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and now Twilight and a slew of other vampire imitators.

Harry Potter really is a wizard. He made it cool for kids to read.[/quote]

You bring up a point I often make when talking about HP and Twilight.

One thing about me is that I am a hopeless bibliophile. Books are my love and scifi/fantasy is my true pleasure–sometimes a guilty one.

I have read LotR once per year, every single year from the time I was 8. I am about to begin again (I normally read it over the holidays).

I believe that it is important to read the Lord of the Rings. Not just because I love it, and not just because it is a great book, but because it influenced literally every single book that has been published since it was written. The fact that it is the second best selling book of all time (after the bible) notwithstanding, LotR is what we’d call a game changer. In addition to creating a Anglican Mythos, it created an entire genre.

Harry Potter, likewise, was more than a series about a boy wizard: it was a full on cultural phenomenon. Not only did Harry inspire an entire generation of children to start reading, he did just what you mentioned: proved that sci-fi fantasy could be cool, and even where kids were concerned, could be a commercially viable prospect–intensely so.

Regarding Twilight: at this point I don’t think we can argue that it’s taken on a life of it’s own, and is a culture phenomenon. And based on that, I think if you are like me and you just love books, it’s worth picking up. When a book gets this much attention, I simply cannot abide not reading it.

One of the only things I enjoy more than reading is pop-culture and social responses to it. Twilight fascinates me, based on that.

I certainly didn’t care for the books, but I have to say this: for someone like me, not reading them wasn’t a possibility.

I’ll say this, though: Harry Potter earned his place–not only did I enjoy those books immensely, I also understand why they became popular.

With Twilight, I’m still a bit befuddled.

Ultimately, I think this: At the end of all of this, Harry Potter and his stories will have a comfortable place on the Bookshelf of Classics. Despite his later arrival, he will have a place on the same shelf as Frodo and Sam, Tom and Huck, Oliver Twist, Holden Caufield, Tyler Durden, John Galt, Robinson Crusoe, Dorothy Gale and Sherlock Holmes.

I say that with confidence.

Edward and Bella will be forgotten. [/quote]

Have you ever read Guy Gavriel Kay?

He is one of my favorite authors and he finished The Similarion while still a student.

I think his works are amazing. I love reading his stuff.

31

[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:

[quote]John Roman wrote:

[quote]BobParr wrote:

[quote]chimera182 wrote:

[quote]John Roman wrote:
If you’ll excuse the plug for my site, I actually reviewed Twilight on my blog. Thought you guys might enjoy it.

http://www.romanfitnesssystems.com/383/its-not-like-you-can-say-i-didnt-try/[/quote]

I haven’t read them, nor do I really ever plan to. But I do agree based on what little I know of the plot that it’s incredibly dumb. It’s only saving grace in my opinion is that it has people reading… or watching movies and then reading.[/quote]

Gotta agree with you there. It’s like the Harry Potter books suddenly made it popular for kids to not only read but to actually read 500+ page books! Back when I was a kid, I was a nerd for voluntarily reading scifi novels and long books like those by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Since the whole J.K. Rowling phenomenon, the taste for reading fantasy novels (good or bad) hasn’t let up a bit. If you look around a bookstore, those books are coming out of the woodwork and selling to the kids like hotcakes. You’ve got Artemis Fowl, Charlie Bone, Spiderwick Chronicles, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and now Twilight and a slew of other vampire imitators.

Harry Potter really is a wizard. He made it cool for kids to read.[/quote]

You bring up a point I often make when talking about HP and Twilight.

One thing about me is that I am a hopeless bibliophile. Books are my love and scifi/fantasy is my true pleasure–sometimes a guilty one.

I have read LotR once per year, every single year from the time I was 8. I am about to begin again (I normally read it over the holidays).

I believe that it is important to read the Lord of the Rings. Not just because I love it, and not just because it is a great book, but because it influenced literally every single book that has been published since it was written. The fact that it is the second best selling book of all time (after the bible) notwithstanding, LotR is what we’d call a game changer. In addition to creating a Anglican Mythos, it created an entire genre.

Harry Potter, likewise, was more than a series about a boy wizard: it was a full on cultural phenomenon. Not only did Harry inspire an entire generation of children to start reading, he did just what you mentioned: proved that sci-fi fantasy could be cool, and even where kids were concerned, could be a commercially viable prospect–intensely so.

Regarding Twilight: at this point I don’t think we can argue that it’s taken on a life of it’s own, and is a culture phenomenon. And based on that, I think if you are like me and you just love books, it’s worth picking up. When a book gets this much attention, I simply cannot abide not reading it.

One of the only things I enjoy more than reading is pop-culture and social responses to it. Twilight fascinates me, based on that.

I certainly didn’t care for the books, but I have to say this: for someone like me, not reading them wasn’t a possibility.

I’ll say this, though: Harry Potter earned his place–not only did I enjoy those books immensely, I also understand why they became popular.

With Twilight, I’m still a bit befuddled.

Ultimately, I think this: At the end of all of this, Harry Potter and his stories will have a comfortable place on the Bookshelf of Classics. Despite his later arrival, he will have a place on the same shelf as Frodo and Sam, Tom and Huck, Oliver Twist, Holden Caufield, Tyler Durden, John Galt, Robinson Crusoe, Dorothy Gale and Sherlock Holmes.

I say that with confidence.

Edward and Bella will be forgotten. [/quote]

Have you ever read Guy Gavriel Kay?

He is one of my favorite authors and he finished The Similarion while still a student.

I think his works are amazing. I love reading his stuff.
[/quote]

Wow. Great reference. I first read Kay while in my freshman year of High School. I’d just finished the Simarillion and was writing a paper on Tolkien (Out of interest, the paper was about world building; the point being that Tolkien was successful in telling his tale because of the rich sense of history Middle-earth held. That is, it felt “old” even to those who were seeing it for the first time. ) Anyway, the Sim. was source material, and I was introduced to Kay.

I read Tigana that year, and have also read The Lions of Al-Rassan and the Last Light of the Sun (great book, but not as stong as Lions). I’ve also read a collection of poetry by Kay: Beyond this Dark House.

I enjoy Kay immensely. His stories are great, and I really enjoy the way they are loosely based on an interpretation of historical events. In addition, Kay is quite the wordsmith.

Thanks for bringing that up, I think I’ll read more of his stuff =)

32

[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I had this saved.[/quote]

Twilight is what happens when a woman who has never read an Ann Rice novel…nor Bram Stroker’s Dracula decides to write a vampire novel. Hell,she claims that she can’t even “stomach” vampire movies…and could only watch 15min of Interview With A Vampire.

I should write a novel about Care Bears with claws,fangs, and thirst for blood.

33

[quote]Mad HORSE wrote:

[quote]drewh wrote:

Stephen King said her books suck, twilight fans say he’s just jealous, his response. Pretty funny[/quote]

This. Fucking. ROCKED!!

Big King fan here. I cannot believe how impressed I was with this clip.[/quote]

x2. I think I just might buy one of his books instead of getting them for free at the local library in between Batman comics and spanish childrens books like I usually do.

34

[quote]Big_Boss wrote:

I should write a novel about Care Bears with claws,fangs, and thirst for blood.[/quote]

I would read that book. Should have them rip peoples throats out and stuff. I see a classic!

35

[quote]Big_Boss wrote:

[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I had this saved.[/quote]

Twilight is what happens when a woman who has never read an Ann Rice novel…nor Bram Stroker’s Dracula decides to write a vampire novel. Hell,she claims that she can’t even “stomach” vampire movies…and could only watch 15min of Interview With A Vampire.

I should write a novel about Care Bears with claws,fangs, and thirst for blood.[/quote]

Do that Boss. And 6 years from now, you’ll force your wife to take you out to see your movie. Poetic Justice. And no, not the movie with Janet Jackson and Tupac.

36

Haha, the “Overall Impressions” part of that blog is WIN!

37

[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I hate Twilight fans, but to do this to people is wrong, man. Imagine if you did that to Star Wars nerds when Episode 1 or 3 came out. Or when Iron Man 2 comes out. [/quote]

Oh please. Star Wars nerds got absolutely humiliated.

38

[quote]John Roman wrote:
If you’ll excuse the plug for my site, I actually reviewed Twilight on my blog. Thought you guys might enjoy it.

http://www.romanfitnesssystems.com/383/its-not-like-you-can-say-i-didnt-try/ [/quote]

Dude, did you read my freaking thoughts when you wrot that blog? Especially that god-awful main character. After I read them, I told my wife, that is the most annoying protaganist in literary history.

39

[quote]super saiyan wrote:

[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I hate Twilight fans, but to do this to people is wrong, man. Imagine if you did that to Star Wars nerds when Episode 1 or 3 came out. Or when Iron Man 2 comes out. [/quote]

Oh please. Star Wars nerds got absolutely humiliated.

Big fucking difference. The Star Wars nerds still say the movie.

40

[quote]WolBarret wrote:

[quote]super saiyan wrote:

[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I hate Twilight fans, but to do this to people is wrong, man. Imagine if you did that to Star Wars nerds when Episode 1 or 3 came out. Or when Iron Man 2 comes out. [/quote]

Oh please. Star Wars nerds got absolutely humiliated.

Big fucking difference. The Star Wars nerds still say the movie.[/quote]

That was brilliant. I love how nerds from Lord of the Rings and Star Trek show up, dragon wizards eating fish fillets and Trekkies dropping the middle finger, some hardcore s*** right there.