Twilight: Completely obsessed now...sigh.

Well, it's just been about forever since I posted. Please accept my apologies.

Okay, that being said, I just have to say I really really really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's Twilight! (and yes, I finished New Moon, too, but I'm re-reading Twilight even now because I zipped right through it the first time--much like the Harry Potter books!). And can I just say, I'm so glad we are "talking" about it because no one else around here has read them. Let me amend that: Both Twilight (currently #6 in paperback) and New Moon (currently #1 chapter book) are on the NYTimes Best Seller list for "Children's Books". When I called my local bookstore to try to get a copy, he asked me if I was doing it for school! I guess it's on a reading list for several schools in the area. So, I should say that my local peers have not read it, though it is, after all, an ALA Reluctant Reader book as well. Now I see why!!!! Regardless, I finally found a copy at a bookstore in a mall...it was their last one. I had a sense that it would be good simply because I couldn't get my hands on a copy (and they were all out at the libraries I looked into!)!

ANYWAY. You should know this about me: the topic of vampires has FREAKED me out since I was 5 when, for whatever reason, I was up past beditme and caught a tidbit about vampires in the movies (this should be a huge lesson to me on what I let my girls see when I've got the tv on to some random thing). Suffice to say, my childhood was spent with me sleeping with the covers UP TO MY CHIN and my blankets in a type of cocoon around me (as if a monster couldn't just rip them right off...but I digress). Many a night I was awakened by the desperate need to use the bathroom, but I wouldn't get out of bed for fear that some loathesome creature would get me if I left my cocoon before the sun shone. Ugh. It's true. So with that in mind...

You should also know that this has not kept me from being strangely drawn to this topic. I, too, was an avid Buffy/Angel viewer. However, I never read any of Anne Rice's stuff because of the topic. So when I saw all the connections, I was like, Yeeks! But I was having a bad day and I was already so far behind with book club, I just took the plunge back in. And I'm so glad, because I really liked both books, even though they are what I would call, "Pee Your Pants Good." What I mean by this is that they were so good that I a) couldn't put them down and b) had some of that childhood fear tapped into and so found myself getting up to nurse my baby in the middle of the night walking to her room with a little faster step in the darkened hallways. Ridiculous, I know. But true. (New Moon is scarier to me, though).

The book has been likened to Romeo and Juliette, and I do appreciate that romance and suspense (in fact, LOVED it...favorite scene was when they were in the field...and I liked the baseball stuff before the visitors arrived, then I got freaked out!!!!!!). But I have to admit, I do have *some* problems. For instance, Bella always seems to need rescuing, bless her beating heart. AND, she does dumb stuff (granted, it gets the plot moving and gives a reason to rescue her, but still!) DUMB DUMB DUMB stuff--like walking alone/not paying attention to her surroundings with the warehouse scene, going by herself to face James, cliff diving (in New Moon) to name a few. I know in Fablehaven, I too was annoyed when young Seth kept disobeying...wasn't Bella doing the same thing in a way? But like I said, it did add to the romance part of "The Damsel in Distress" and I appreciated her desire to keep those she loved "safe"...but still. Also, I thought it was very convenient of Charlie to be so...distantly busy with sports and fishing.

BUT, here's my biggest bugaboo, which I'm sure will be touched upon at some point: Bella's desire to become a vampire. I TOTALLY see where she is going with this (because she LURVES him!!!! She doesn't want to appear old without him. He is her world and visa versa and yadayadayada), but I'm with Edward. I don't think she should be so hasty--at all. What makes her think that she would be a vampire with the same determination as the Cullens to be a "vegetarian"? Why would she not choose to be more like Laurent, James and Victoria? Nature vs Nurture? Hmmmm. I read the first chapter of "Midnight Sun" which is Twilight from Edwards perspective and it shows how much Edward really struggles with his vampire nature (totally a must-read if you haven't already). I don't think Bella appreciates this. Her idea to just "be changed" is rather symbolic. Like anything where the "grass is always greener", we don't fully comprehend the consequences, good and bad, until we sometimes force the issue.

Loved the writing throughout--each character had a voice and a personality that you wanted to get to know better (well, maybe not everyone, but you know what I mean). I really liked the names she picked, too. LOVED the names Esme and Carlisle, have to say. And Edward. I was really on the edge of my seat and even rereading it now, I'm still so pleased with the pacing of Twilight (New Moon is a bit more sluggish, but I didn't really care). I have to say, if you haven't already been to her website, she's a very generous author there as well. She has "outtakes" from Twilight (like where Edward sees her for the first time when they are going to Prom) that may make your inner romantic and fan "sqee!" with delight. :)

Thanks again for suggesting the book. August seems far far away. At least we have Harry in July. :)

How had I never read Twilight before?

Amanda and I have this unspoken rule when buying books - if words like "erotic" or "sensual" are used to describe the book; it's probably not something we want to read. Being a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, I was drawn to this book. Amanda and I were at the book store together when we picked it up, then put it back down... I think the word "seductive" on the back may have frightened me away, or maybe it was the comparison to Anne Rice (I threw away Interview with a Vampire). However, when Michelle announced this book and mentioned the author had gone to BYU, I felt safer. How I loved this book.

I was immediately drawn to the characters - Stephenie M. has a fabulous talent of bringing her characters off the page and into my imagination. And, like Gina, although I am several years out of high school, I totally related to many of the characters - good writing can do that. I think that's why Buffy and Angel were so successful as well because, although the heroine was in high school/college, the themes of the series hit home for teenager and adult alike.

I kept waiting for "that phrase" in the book that would sound so "Mormon." But it never came. If I didn't know Stephenie M. was LDS, I would never have guessed it from the book. That's not to say that she was raunchy, as some authors can be. I was quite pleased with the clean language, lack of sex, etc.

I told Amanda that I was going to wait for the sequel(s) to be out in paperback before I bought them, but I was so drawn into Bella's and Edward's lives, that as soon as I finished Twilight, I drove to the nearest bookstore and bought New Moon. I was in Seattle at the time, and it was a good thing I rented a GPS unit with my car so I could find the nearest Borders. Eclipse is out in August, I'm so excited.

Maybe it's just me, but even though Stephenie M. brings her characters to life, I have a hard time picturing Edward. Maybe he's too perfect? I am totally in love with him. So, now I'm looking for a combination of Mr. Darcy and Edward Cullen. Yummy.

Just an aside - Amanda found some other vampire/werewolf books that take place in her hometown. Coming off the Twilight and New Moon high, I bought the first book - it's called Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. Fascinating story line, but what I found most fascinating were some attributes of the main character - she kneels to pray at night, she doesn't like foul language; she doesn't like crosses to symbolize Christ. So, jokingly, Amanda and I wondered if the author was LDS. I found her website, and a blog from her husband mentioned their son on a mission in Cleveland or something. So, my guess is that she is LDS. So, if any of you are interested in some other cool fantasy stories, Moon Called is followed by Blood Bound, both very interesting.

Oh, Dear Twilight, what did you do to me?

When Katie told me that this book was about vampires, I immediately thought, “Oh great... fantasy. How am I going to get through that book?”

The joke was on me. I was pleasantly surprised how I got sucked into the story. The author’s goal (as stated in the back cover) was to create situations of impossible fantasy, and then add characters so deeply human that their perspectives make the situation believable. Of course the order was reversed. She gave us Bella first... the most human high school transfer in the universe. Her thoughts were in parallel with some of mine at that age when I would switch schools. I related to her.

THEN came Edward.

I never suspected that at my age and status, I’d be swept back to high school and given the opportunity to vicariously fall in love for the first time all over again! Can I just say that I am in love with Edward Cullen? All vampireness aside, he is amazing. Granted he’s had nearly a century to perfect himself, but wow, I wouldn’t mind having him for dinner (pun intended).

I’ve read a 500 page book and the story was so good, so detailed, so emotional, that it feels like my own memories… a blur of memories. I thought I would be able to give a detailed review, but I can’t. Plain and simply, this book is captivating. I am worn out from reading it, I was so wrapped up in it... but alas, I want to read New Moon as fast as I can. Not something I predicted.

Stephanie Meyer is an amazing talent. What a debut she’s made here!

Credible… I never thought I’d find fantasy credible.

Twilight...

Hello, it is me again. I am seeing that if I don't just do all of these blogs at the same time, I procrastinate and we are well into our third book past the one I need to write about. In any case, here we go...

I really enjoyed this book. My sister handed me this book and said that I shouldn't read the back cover until after because it would give away the story. Well, I was glad that I didn't read it. I found the discovery to be delightful and interesting. I related to "Bella" from the first. I moved from the place I lived my whole life and went to an "alien planet" when I started high school. A person really feels out of place and awkward especially at that age. Because of that, you can really be drawn to those that are more on the outskirts of already existing cliques. I think that is one of the reasons why she felt so drawn to Edward but so hurt when he was all freaky in their science class and then didn't show back up for a week. Edward and his "family" were not part of the main stream popular people and Bella wasn't even fitting in with them...devastating!

I really liked the vampire background. The idea that there were "good" vampires and some that wanted to be good but were having a hard time was really fun. Of course there are the religious themes that can be read in...(correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Stephanie Meyer go to BYU?) but I wasn't lost in them. I was a good take on a "bad" person or people really trying to make a go of it to be "good!

I like Edward's character. I think he is valiant and honorable especially in regards to Bella...let alone for the last hundred years. He wants to do the right thing, but really what is to say the right thing is to do? Bella really likes him, and he likes her. Unfortunately, there is about 100 or so years that divide them and so what does one do in that situation? I will be interested to find out what Bella chooses and what Edward allows... Only the next volumes will tell! I suppose I will have to sneak Katie's copy to find out, but really, isn't that what she expects me to do?

Have a great day!

Michelle

Second Glance

Hello, ladies... late, but posting.

I have to say that I was disappointed in this book. And although I thought the writing was spectacular, I got lost in the all the details and all the people. I had trouble really getting into the book and it wasn't until about the last quarter of the book was I really drawn into the story. I was sad about this because I so got into her other book that we read in book club...My Sister's Keeper.

I struggle with the eugenics studies. Not that I think that there is some superior race and that all others need to be esentially done away with, by any means, but on the idea of not being able to have children and needing to go with fertilility treatments or invetro fertilization. Would I want to know if there were any physical defects in the embryo before it is emplanted? What would I do? I have never been faced with that situation, but I found those questions to be the ones that resonated most with me. Crazy, I know.

I realize that Jodi Picoult has more books out than I thought. I will be interested to read more of her stuff. Perhaps this one was just a fluke for me or I wasn't in the right mind frame to read it...that is highly possible. In any case...thanks for the choice!

Michelle

Second Glance - Gina's late take

Okay, I thought this would be a quick read like any other book I've read. It ended up being the longest I've ever taken to read a book. Maybe it was the slow first half, maybe it was the fact that I was thinking too hard on each sub-chapter of the book which slowed my reading. I have to admit, though, that this author is very good at giving you just enough information to keep you questioning your own conclusions as you go. I didn't like her "poetic" metaphors especially in the first chapter. "Slow as a Ballerina" when referring to the railroad track arms coming down, made me laugh. A bit corny but as the book went on it happened less.

I liked Karen's review of the book. She really summarized it well on how all the characters lives intertwined. I think this is the first book I've read that was this complex with connecting all the characters. It is very evident that Jodi did her homework on eugenics, genetics, toxemia, XP and CSI details. I loved how credible the whole story was, but Danielle made a good point that the ending came together a little TOO perfectly.

I wasn't extremely bugged by Az's death because the guy was indeed 102. The murder mystery was solved and all was set right... he didn't need to hang around any longer. I felt he recognized he and Meredeth lived in two different worlds and wouldn't necessarily keep in touch like she intended to. I personally think it would have been a strained relationship.

Every book I read I like to walk away with a quote from it that will continue to inspire me. Here is the excerpt that really got me to the core:

"Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."
~Ross Wakeman

Second Glance

Ladies,

I've read the reviews already posted and have to admit, I was more "hooked" on this book than some reviewers were. I started it on Saturday, March 3, knowing that finishing by the 5th would be difficult, but I found that I could hardly put it down. I finished by the 7th, even though I should have been working on school stuff. Sorry I didn't find the time to post until today :(

Anyway, if "love across time" is the professed theme of the book, I found myself really intrigued by what I think is the real theme of the book: who gets to make the choice about living and dying and on what basis should the choice be made? (This, you may remember, was also part of our earlier Jodi Picoult selection, My Sister's Keeper. I wonder if this is something that is in more of Picoult's books.) As the technology that allows us to "play god" increases, when do (or should) we have the right to use it?

Ross tries to kill himself to join Aimee who died by accident. Lia tries to kill herself, while her husband is busy preventing the "unfit" from ever living at all. She succeeds in dying to be with her infant who doesn't die, but lives. Ethan has a "defect" that is going to end his life and he wants nothing more than to live a "normal" life. Shelby chose not to have an abortion and as a result, gave Ethan the chance for life, even if it will only be a short life with great challenges. Meredith was saved from death by Ross. Meredith almost aborted Lucy but chose not to and it was in trying to save Lucy that Ross dies. (Katie, I'm like you . . . I about threw the book across the room when I thought Ross was going to be dead--permanently.) And then there's Gray Wolf who weaves in and out of all of their lives as one identity "dies" and another takes its place.

Speaking of Gray Wolf . . . his suicide is the part of the book that I hate! I suppose it wrapped things up nicely for him to join Lily (his love), Lia (his daughter) and Lily (his granddaughter)in the afterlife, but he had a great-granddaughter (Meredith) and a great-great-grandaughter (Lucy) who had a right to know him, even if briefly. Destroying the eugenics records (such arrogance!) and the pain they represented was very symbolic, but Gray Wolf didn't need to drown himself to do it. (At one point, I thought he was going to burn the records and I was afraid he might accidently set off the dynamite. But, I could have handled his accidental death much better than having him choose to throw away his life!)

I did enjoy the message that came from the interconnectedness of the lives of the characters. What each of us does has an impact on others, even if we don't see it at the time. This book was a great choice! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

--Karen

One more thing, I wish she hadn't pandered to the publishing industry by including the "f" word and the sexual references. It didn't enhance the book or make it more "real." Someday . . .

Second Glance - Karen Buxton

Second Glance was a good read, but not so much for me to be a page
turner. Although, I did find myself going about my daily duties trying
to puzzle out the mystery, so evidently, it did hold my interest. I
agree with Katie that J.P. gave us just enough info to be able to
figure certain things out, but still had some surprises. The thought
that Merideth was the other person involved in the wreck didn't occur
to me until she was on the verge of revealing it. It took me a while
also, to figure out that Az Thompson and Grey Wolf were one and the
same. I appreciated the research of the history that was presented. I
wasn't aware of how widespread the belief in eugenics was. Had things
turned out differently, my family line would have been done away with.
I believe that our generation has be raised to be more openminded and
accepting. I guess that the Hippy movement wasn't such a bad thing.
Thanks for a thought provoking and interesting selection. I'm looking
forward to the next one.

Second Glance

I will say that I liked this book better than the last Jodi Piccoult book we read. I mentioned to Amanda that Jodi's (yup, we're on a first name basis) books seem to always wrap up nicely at the end - everything fits - sometimes I like that, sometimes I don't. This time, I liked it. SPOILER ALERT - When Ross died at the end, I about threw the book across the newsroom in NYC.

The book was written in such a way that, I think, the author lets you "figure out" some information, but not so much that you'll stop reading. For example, I knew that Lia was a ghost from the first time Ross met her. However, what I didn't figure out is that she was Cecilia Pike. But hey, maybe I'm just not too bright.

The eugenics aspect really upset me. Mr. Pike and Lia's father drove me up the wall. There is NOTHING in this world that angers me more than close-minded, prejudiced people. I had never heard anything about eugenics (except, of course, Darwin's survival-of-the-fittest theory). So, I did some research. In the 1930's, such respected people as George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Winston Churchill, Henry Ford, and Theodore Roosevelt embraced this theory. Hitler was the downfall of eugenics in the late 30's. However, it is a theory still pursued today. I googled eugenics and found too many websites, but one (www.eugenics.net) with papers written as recently as 2005.

Looking forward to hearing others' opinions - plus hearing posts on Twilight.

Second Glance

Since my parents are coming into town tomorrow for my son's first b-day and will be here until March 5th I am going to write my comments early.
I liked the second half of the book better than the first. I thought that she did a pretty good job with suspense. Even though she gave a lot of stuff away pretty early you still wanted to keep reading to read it for sure.
I was annoyed with the tragedy of Ross. I was also annoyed that it took falling in love again to knock him out of his selfish attitude. It was more like he replaced his lost love - he didn't really get over anything he just took up his love for the new girl where he left off with the old one. He didn't learn to forgive himself or even really to live for himself. He did learn that there were more people on earth to live for and that he wanted to live for them. Which is a start but not a fix to his emotional baggage. And while I love a good happy ending I was annoyed that everybody found their true love at the end of the book. It was just a little too perfect and fateful.
I cringed everytime that Lia tried to commit suicide while she was pregnant. Her relationship with her husband was interesting because she seemed to truly love him even though he didn't know her or try to know her. The author did a good job of making her husband a well-balanced character- he wasn't all bad or all good. He was seriously misguided and blind but he cared for Lia in the only way he knew. He had good intentions but he was so misguided and prejudiced that he could only hurt the situation.
I thought the prejudice against the gypsies was an interesting and terrifying bit of history. The US that we live in today is so different. Prejudice does still exist of course but it is so different. It is amazing to me that people with that kind of mindset could have had so much power and been so mainstream.
Overall I thought it was an o.k. book. It didn't wow me but it wasn't too disappointing either.

Fablehaven

I apologize for being really late with my posting. I finished the book about two weeks ago, and just haven't made the time to write anything.

I really enjoyed Fablehaven. I really could just say "Ditto" to everything that everyone else said. I too appreciated the idea that we don't always see things as they truly are. It made me wonder how much goes on around us that we are completely unaware of. The section where the kids discover that the insects are attracted to the mirror was puzzling until the reader was made to understand that the insects were fairies. The author was very adept at throwing in twists and turns that were very unpredictable. Maybe I'm a bit slow, but I had no idea that the hen was Grandma, that Kendra would go to the Fairy Queen for help (So I could have guessed at that one.), that Lena would be turned back into her original form, the fairies would become human sized, and etc. I was also annoyed with Seth. He was an idiot. I wanted to like him for being an adventurous boy, but I was disappointed by his inability to be obedient. I've always been an obedient person, so I, at times have little patience with those who aren't. My poor children.
It was a fun read, and I look forward to reading the sequel. I need to read the first one to my kids first.

Fabulous Fablehaven

Ladies,

It's great to welcome two new members of Les Liseuses. I will look forward to the new perspectives. It was also fun to meet Amanda during the Christmas holidays.

I do have to apologize. . . . I was first on Persian Pickle, but I am late on Fablehaven, my own book! It just took me a while to get the new blog going. (KT . . . thanks for getting me into this!) Oh, well . . . I hope it is truly better late than never.

I recommended Fablehaven without having read it myself and I am glad that it lived up to expectations. (My friend, Holly Newton, reviews children's literature and she thought it was awesome.) I, too, got a kick out of the author's biography. I was trying to figure out exactly where he lived to have such a good view of the prison :) I appreciated his writing style and am looking forward to the sequal.

I agree with those of you who were frustrated with Seth. Once he understood how serious their situation was, I assumed he would follow his Grandfather's requests. Even my strong-willed sons would rise to expectations when I was really clear with them about the consequences. However, there is a place in the book where either the Grandfather or Grandmother talks about Seth's virtues. Unfortunately, I didn't underline in this book because I wanted to make it available to my students, so now I can't find the quote. But I remember being surprised that there were any redeeming features in the "knotheaded" boy! I guess his risk-taking will come in handy in the future.

I also enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kendra and her grandparents. It was neat to see them preparing the next generation to take over their responsibilities. I guess in a sense, that is what we all do with our children (and grandchildren). Kendra's willingness to overcome her own fears in order to save her family was very maternal. Her intuition seemed uniquely feminine and I appreciated her ingenuity. I was glad the "hero" was a girl.

That's all for now. It's getting late and I have school in the morning. I will pick up a copy of Second Glance this week and will start reading ASAP. Again, I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

--Karen

Fablehaven...finely

Hello, let me re-introduce myself. My name is Michelle and I am currently Katie's roommate...at least for the next couple of months. Amazing that it could be that I could actually live with Katie and not post. I am a bit slow sometimes and I just figured out how this blasted thing works on this new fangled system. Anyway, here is my report...

Fablehaven was a cute little novel that caught my attention and I was able to read it in just days. I liked the idea of having a sanctuary for all the "fairy tale" characters that need refuge. I would hope that I would be open minded enough to see what those kids finely saw. I too like the idea that the little "insects" flying around in the garden would actually be fairies...but who too thought that they could be so tough.

I do have to say that I was super frustrated with Seth. I thought what a dumb bunny he was and how he never learned. I can understand sort of pushing the envelope with the rules but when the consequences were as dramatic as they were the first time, I was shocked that not even hours later Seth was being naughty again. Perhaps my naivety in not having children allowed my impatience with him to distract from the story but he never learned. I suppose it is a lesson that we need to learn. We need to be able to learn from our own mistakes and then learn from those around us. Maybe I was frustrated with Seth, perhaps because I am so like him...(deep, I know!)

I really like the lessons that we can learn from seeing out how consequences are paid out according to our decisions. Many of the decisions of grandpa and the kids show us this. Seth didn't know that the fairy would change if certain things were not done. Yet it changed the fairy for the worse...sad. I am just glad that things were righted in the end. One other thing, I would love to have those creatures (I can't remember their name and I don't have the book with me) but they come up at night and fix the stuff that is broken. I need that!

I have to agree with Katie in her assessment in the religious themes throughout. (Isn't this author LDS?) Truely how do we get through our lives without interjecting religious themes in our lives.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I really have enjoyed the diversity of all the books that we have been reading.

Thanks again Katie for setting this up!

Another Newbie

I guess I should follow D's lead and introduce myself. Our husbands are very good buddies and when D came into Matt's life I was grateful she and I hit it off so well. She is a gem! I was so sad to see them move away from us. They were one of our very few fave couples that left the Provo area and now me and Ian are all alone. Whah.

After my first year of being a mom I am excited to start reading novels again. I remember reading my head off when I was pregnant, but that came to a hault the moment Liam was born. You can see more of his cuteness on my link in the sidebar. Besides reading a good book, I love surfing the blogosphere and reading up on real life friends and bloggy friends. I love taking photos of my boy and posting them up on his blog too! I never thought journaling could be so much fun!

I certainly don't have the education and experience D has in the literature department, but I do love putting my nose into a recommended book. I don't tend to read books on the fly... only ones that are preferred by someone I know. Being in a book club is the best way to find all kinds of goodness that I wouldn't have otherwise run into. Thanks, Katie, for inviting me to join here.

If you want to know more about me, Click here to read my 100 things about me!

Just wanted to introduce myself

My name is Danielle Wheeler- my screen name is qweengoober. Thanks for the invite to this book club. I love reading and I love finding/discovering new book. When I was in elementary school I wanted to be a librarian so that I could be surrounded by books all day. :) I found this book club through Liam's Mom who mentioned it on her blog. I know her personally(beyond the blog) through my husband who went to high school with her husband. So a little about myself- I am a Sahm to an 11 month old son. I have an English secondary ed (junior high/high school) degree that I use to tutor some of the kids in my ward. My husband is a visual effects artist who mostly works on commercials(although right now he is working on a movie). Because of his job we moved to the LA area about a year and a half ago. We live in a wonderful family oriented community outside of LA that we love. If you want to hear me brag about my son you can go to my blog here. :) I am looking forward to picking up Second Glance at my library this afternoon.