What began as a favor to a friend (sure, I'll read the first book in that series by the end of November so you will have someone to see the movie with even though I'm not sure if I will be interested or have time), has turned into a two week long fascination (I'll read every spare moment I can find until I finish this book because I am so incredibly interested).
I should have told myself this would happen. Because when Myself gets involved in a story, Myself cannot put said story down. Well guess what? Myself has gotten herself involved. So involved, in fact, that what was supposed to be one book has turned into four.
I have now read all four books in the Twilight series. I know.
I'm still processing what I think of them and will talk about that in a separate post (sorry to drag this on for you who haven't read these books). But one thing reading so much fiction lately has me thinking about is what makes a good story.
Stephenie Meyer says on her website that the idea for Twilight came to her in a dream a little over 5 years ago. The morning after her dream, she was compelled to record as much as she could remember of it, only to discover as she went about her day, more of the story would unfold.
The story continued to demand an outlet: "Bella and Edward were, quite literally voices in my head. They simply wouldn't shut up." Her fictional characters came to life in such a way for her that the very mind who conceived them could hardly keep up.
Writers of fiction are fascinating to me. I believe with my whole heart that fiction is the most difficult genre to write. Rephrase: good fiction is the most difficult genre to write. To create a story that is compelling, that moves, that is both believable and magical: grounded in the facts while flirting with the fantastic. It feels risky and vulnerable, the thought of writing fiction. I think we owe a debt of gratitude and respect to those who are willing to take that risk and allow their imaginations to be exposed to a world full of critics.
Now I'm off to work on my critique of the Twilight series.
Monday, October 13, 2008
fiction
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52 comments:
i agree. don't you wish it was as easy as writing down the conversations going on in your head? all my conversations are stupid! and my dreams--even worse.
I agree as well. I don't know if I had had a dream about a Vampire Love Story if I would have tried publishing it, but I'm SOO glad she did!
I've read the first one and most likely will end up reading the rest. But I'm still not sure how I feel about them...I'm very much looking forward to reading your thoughts and opinions on them.
So many people in the blog world are reading this book...I need to check this out!
-Sandy Toes
Emily,
I couldn't agree with you more. I have been on a mission to read and re-read classics so when my friends twisted my arm and made me start this series, I was very skeptical. It seemed like 'twaddle' as Charlotte Mason would say. I read the first one in 2 days and am starting the 2nd. I'll tune in for your review!
I too am looking forward to your opinions. For me, New Moon and Eclipse were okay, but they moved really slowly until the last hundred pages. My favorite was Twilight and then Breaking Dawn. We have so much to discuss when we get together!
My children ate cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two weeks straight...not that I'm proud to admit I was too busy reading the Twilight series to cook them proper meals! They survived, that's all that matters! :)
I can't wait to read your critique, but in the meantime, I'm going to reserve the first Twilight book fromt he library!
I am so intrigued by this series. I haven't read it yet, but have read so many comments about it in the blogosphere. Debbie at This Is the Life liked it too, so that's two people of faith who I know have enjoyed it. Maybe it's worth a look.
Another one bites the dust. I haven't given in... yet....I know I would love them, but can't get past how I would explain to the kiddos that mom isn't doing a thing cause I am reading a book about vampires...hee hee. I think this is a series I will save for a girls weekend and then do nothing but read.
I still shake my head. Hannah got the fourth book for her birthday from her new boyfriend. Mom said, "It's about vampires?!" Me too, Mom. Me too. :)
I was the same way. My kids kept saying,"Mom aren't you going to stop reading that so we can eat?" Major guilt set in, but I still wouldn't put it down. It would be on the counter next to the stove while I was cooking, on the counter next to me while I was getting ready in the morning, and I was staying up until ridiculous hours to finish it. My husband seriously hated that series. Needless to say, I have reread the series to get reacquainted with the story before the movie comes out. Not that I could forget it.
I completely agree. I LOVE to read good fiction and am always amazed and a little jeolous at the stories good writers can weave!
Am I living in a hole if I say I have never heard of the Twilight series. You have peaked my interest. I may have to see if I can find them at the library...
I can't wait to hear what you think...so much so that I might have to read it myself. I'm not very patient. Hannah is already hooked and I want to know why!
I keep hearing about the Twilight series, I can't wait to check them out! But, like you, it's hard to put a good book down, and when you don't have a lot of spare time, it can be agonizing!
Well said! I hadn't really ever thought of fiction writers in those terms, but you are so right. I look forward to your critique!
Hi - This is probably the dorkiest way to delurk, but don't you just LOVE the Twilight series?!! I was reluctant to read a "vampire" series, but holy cow! I devoured those books. I read Breaking Dawn in 24 hours (I was on vacation).
OK - carry on :).
I JUST started reading the first Twilight book this weekend! My sister begged me to read it because she couldn't wait to see what I thought of it and of course because the movie is coming out soon!
I can't wait to read your critique. I will save my comments for the next post.
I am currently trying to write stuff for a CD cover panel for when our Worship Team CD comes out, and I am having such a hard time I can't imagine trying to write a whole book...much less four! I do love good fiction.
ok, so i finally had to navigate out of my google reader to post a comment. love your blog. i stalk it ;) we met a long time ago...at ol sophie marie for a baby shower..i think it was for diane. yeah, really long time ago. anyways, my mom is a media specialist at a middle school, so she told me about the series and i was like, um, vampires? hmmm. but of course i sped read all four books like many who have posted here. i'm still processing what i think about them myself, so i was so excited to hear of some others reading it. looking forward to your review!
hey there. i hadn't been on since cheap talk, just b/c it's been so crazy around here. and i was just thinking the other day about how i was looking forward to your fall pics that you would post. so, i lingered and looked back over the last several, and was glad i stopped in. i'm glad you're enjoying your books. ;)
Interested to know what you thought! I read it as a mom of a teenager, so had somewhat of a different reaction than I would have had as a teen or a young wife or when my kids were younger.
Oh.. I did the same thing.. I got the first three LAST YEAR and read them in a weekend.. I had to wait an entire year for Breaking Dawn. I read that one in a day.. my family hates them.. they didn't eat that whole weekend (just kidding, but they didn't eat anything I cooked!) I can't wait to read your review!
I couldn't put down the series once I read them. I know many people like this. I can't decide if it's the book, series or the writing. I think it's the writing because I also read her book, The Host, and had trouble putting it down. I can't wait to see what you say about them. :)
Hi I love those books! Did anyone read the section from Edward's perspective on Stephenie's site? I would buy THAT book in an instant!!
I did the same thing -- started reading so I could go to the movie with my best friend's daughter (she is 14) .... and read the entire series in just over a week ...
Thank you so much for doing me this favor. Thank you even more for loving them and not humoring me. One taste wasn't enough, was it?
Ok, seriously. I think I was like the last person on the planet to get facebook, and I took care of that and was all caught up. Now comes the news about the Twilight series. Yet again, the ONLY person on the PLANET. Now I totally have to read it.
I completely 100% agree with you about the fiction writing stuff. I wrote one good fiction piece about a hundred years ago, and my husband thinks I can just do it again. But it's a LOT harder than real stuff. Interesting, isn't it? I mean, we live in a world that feeds on lies and yet fiction seems so complicated to come up with. Hmmm....
The ability to write good fiction is definitely on my top 10 list of things I wish I had in life.
I have been hearing so much about these books! Maybe I need to check it out!! Can't wait to read your review! I'm not into vampires...at all, but several of my friends really liked them. I may have to give them a try.....(the books I mean...not vampires!!!) LOL
I'm a Twilight fan! I just finished book 3. I can't wait for the movie.
I wish I had dreams like hers!
I pray to have one of those bestselling Twilight dreams every night :)!---so far it's just a lot of flashback dreams where I show up to highschool pregnant and without my homework. Don't think anyone will be buying THAT story!
And now it's official.....I'm the last one on earth who hasn't read Twilight!...
Love the "Twilight" series. Have read each of the books twice now. Continue to talk about the characters to my husband as though they are real and my friends... much to my husband's dismay!
my daughter and my friend want me to read these books so badly! i just think i wouldn't be interested. you may have inspired me though....
i love that so many are so excited about reading though! my daughter had to be there at midnight to get that last book and stayed up all night to read it!!
Gah! I've been resisting and resisting these books! So many people that I admire have raved about them but I keep telling myself that I won't enjoy them.
You, my friend, are the straw. This camel's back is broken. :-)
I lovvvvvvvvve that photo. It makes me want coffee really bad.
I've not read the Twilight series (I know, I know), and I don't plan too. I know it's everywhere, but none of my RL friends are into it, so I can get away with it.
I came over from Grocery Mama. Yeah for SITS day!
I am so pleased when others drink the Kool-aid that is Twilight and joins the cult. I am a 40-something Mom of 5 who started reading Twilight before my 15 year old daughter did! All because of a friend who is a librarian. Never in a million years did I think I would read anything about vampires or warewolves. But man oh man it sucks you right in, huh?
There are about 50 of us heading to the midnight opening of the movie in November. Young, old, married, single, you name it...we're all in.
Welcome to the club!
p.s. My sister just had her third baby. A friend gave her a bib that reads "Feed me! My Mom's too busy reading Twilight!"
p.s.s. Are you in Edward's camp or Jacob's? This family is torn. I am totally Club Edward while my sister and daughter are all about Jacob.
Oh yeah... I got sucked into these as well. So fascinating.
Loved Twilight. Have like four posts with previews for the movies becasue I'm a dork. So glad the movie's coming out sooner. (But sad I have to wait longer for Harry Potter). (It's official. I'm a huge 10-year-old nerd in an adult mother body. gah.)
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'll have to check out this Twilight series. Never heard of it, but I'm curious now!
How funny you should write about this! I myself was randomly sucked into the Twilight book by a friend who wants a group of us to go to the movie. I'm getting ready to start on the second book and I can't wait. I couldn't put the dang thing down! :)
hello. I am leaving a fake comment testing a new gmail/blog acct.
thank you.
I have not read these yet and truthfully? as a Christian, I am having a hard time getting past the vampire part. I will wait and see what your review is like.
For all you readers looking for new fiction writers, may I recommend Charles Martin? This man knows how to WRITE! His prose is AAHH-mazing. I rarely read books more then once (too many to read) and I have read one of his 4 TIMES!!!! I won't tell you which one so that I don't prejudice you about any of them. He is a Christian but they aren't "In your face" with the Gospel. Being a Christian is just part of the characters life, just like their job and where they live. They make excellent book club books and you can even arrange for him to call your bookclub.
Happy reading.
I love the Twilight books and can hardly wait to see the movie!
I found your lovely blog through PennyAnn Poundwise's blog, BTW. :)
Welcome to the Twilight family. I cannot WAIT for the movie to come out.
Have you guys seen the new trailer? Go to Twilightthemovie.com and click the link to the myspace page to watch. You won't be dissapointed. I actually started reading the books out of boredom two months ago, and of course now I think about Twilight all of the time. I read your blog a lot and the Nester's too and this is the first time I've commented on yours. Twilight really gets me talking! Great post.
I am probably the odd one here but I was so intrigued by everyone's review of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight series",that I went and got the first three.I read the first two in 2 days and no doubt it was very interesting but then I began to slowly feel convicted by the Lord.It makes vampires,and all things evil seem harmless,intriguing,attractive and endearing.People are getting more and more lured in .....I don't think it's healthy to find evil attractive.Also I was beginning to backslide ever so slowly....
I didn't feel a peace till I put all three books in a cover and threw them in the dustbin.
I have such a peace and my walk with the Lord is fantastic and alive once again.
Just felt led to add my opinion....
Hi Susan - I don't disagree with you, really. This post was primarily about fiction writing and how I am interested in authors who can tell a story so well. I have not yet posted my actual critique of Twilight and some of my views are similar to yours. I plan to post that critique this week...perhaps you will come back and check it out!
Yup,I understand what you mean about writing and the material literally being handed over to you.
I look forward to reading your critique Emily:)Thanks for understanding what I was trying to say.God bless :)
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