New Mooning?
Written by: Amy on November 20, 2009Who saw New Moon last night? Who has tickets for this weekend some time? Who will never ever see it as long as you live?
I think I’m the only person alive who is in the middle about Twilight and New Moon. I’ve read both books (but not the other two…yet) but haven’t seen either movie. Won’t be seeing New Moon in the theater. Liked the books okay but…not raving about them, like half the universe. Didn’t hate them, like some people I know. Just…meh.
So when Harry Potter was all the rage, people tried to put a finger on what, exactly, made the series so amazingly popular. Now my question is the same about Twilight. What is it about it that people love so much? (Or hate?) Why is Stephenie Meyer suddenly a jillionaire? I’d like to know as an author so I can write the next Twilight (heh) and I’m curious as a reader because…in my mind the books were okay. Not mad, crazy hysteria good, just…decent.
Which side are you on? Crazed fan or keep the Twilight crap out of my sight? And okay, might as well ask…Edward or Jacob? (I’m in the Jacob camp myself.)
November 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Uh… I haven’t seen the movies or read the books. I’ve got Twilight on the shelf somewhere, but I just can’t work up the interest to try it.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I’m actually in the same boat as you. I haven’t seen either movie and only just recently read Twilight. I have New Moon on my nightstand where it has been for a little bit. Can you see me rushing to read it? Yeah, me either.
Twilight was okay and I did read it quickly but I’m not obsessed or hating it. It was a decent read for me and I rarely do first person.
I think I’m going to rent Twilight and watch it since my 10y/o daughter has decided that she wants to see New Moon. Which isn’t going to happen in a theater so I have plenty of time to watch the first.
She wasn’t even interested in Twilight and just likes the action scene in the commercial where Jacob jumps and turns into the wolf…..whatever.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I have no interest. Haven’t read either, don’t plan to. But then I’m just not interested in vampires or any other paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi type of stuff. I’m responding, though because I saw something that intrigued me the other day. The only interest that I have in the books is a casual interest in why these books, of all the books out there, are garnering such big attention. Well, I happened upon a couple of books talking about just that…”The Twilight Phenomenon” as one book called it & why it’s caught on so. I was tempted to buy it, but I doubt I’d actually read it. You know, non-fiction and all. ;-) I assume they’re written from a contemporary Christian perspective since I saw them in the Christian bookstore, but at least one claimed to be “written for fans and critics alike”.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:53 am
My 27 year old daughter has read all of them that are out. She liked the third one the best. She saw the first movie and said it wasn’t as good as the book. Her and her husband are going to see the new one this afternoon. They had to reserve tickets in a nearby town because all the tickets were sold out here in the city. I have a feeling she will wish she had went to see The Blind Side. I think it opens today too.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:02 am
AnitaS said: “But then I’m just not interested in vampires or any other paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi type of stuff.”
I wasn’t either. I very much avoided any book containing vamps because I don’t enjoy horror. But just like you I was all “WTF is it about this book?” So I picked up a copy of Twilight (this was a good while ago) and started it. And finished it and absorbed New Moon and then Eclipse. If at all possible don’t read Breaking Dawn. It’s just bad.
It’s not about the vampires or the werewolves. Later in the series, yes, it is but Twilight is all about the love story. It’s a classic first teen love and it hits home, I think, for women. It’s very much like Romeo and Juliet.
I say pick up a copy and read it. You either love it or hate it.
Now the movies are a classic example of Harry Potter syndrome. The books were hyped by crazed teen girls and it has shifted over to the movies. This I believe is because of the actors: Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Two pretty cute dudes.
I’ll be seeing New Moon tomorrow, and hopefully today too. I’m interested in the movies because it’s cool to see a book you enjoyed made into a movie. And this one will be sooo much better than Twilight the movie.
Wow did I rant! :)
November 20th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I have Twilight on my bookshelf, but I haven’t read it yet. I’ve also not seen either movie, although I get the whole cutie attraction of the guys.
I’ve hesitated about reading the books because I’ve heard about the last book. Have no interest to go down the nothing bad happens la, la, la rabbit hole, not to mention the subtle religious tie-ins.
I’m sure at some point I’ll end up seeing the movies (probably rent them) and reading the first book in the series. I think what the author managed to successfully do was introduce a ‘romance’ novel to young adult readers. There were romances in YA before this, but they were subtle.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I waited til TWILIGHT was on DVD… I will see NEW MOON whenever I get to it… it is not something that I have to do… I keep going back and forth on whether I want to read the books…
November 20th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
My 25 yr. old daughter got me hooked. I did enjoy them. You really do have to read all 4 books before making decisions I think. As to why it’s such a hit - the right books at the right time and I really don’t think there are that many YA’s out there that get the kids attention. The good news is that maybe it will get more kids reading. Also I think it’s not just a YA book but adults can still relate to it. I haven’t seen the movie yet (just clips) but I know my daughter owns the first one so one of these days lol.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I read Twilight and am in the middle of New Moon. I saw Twilight at the theatre. I think that its about the first love that a young woman experiences that catches peoples attention. Also for our time period, these are almost innocent characters, there’s sexual attraction but so far nothing has taken place other than kissing.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I haven’t read the books, so I can’t say… I did enjoy the movie, though… but will wait to see New Moon when the crowd dies down.
I’d like to be in both teams, lol… Love Jacob’s look for New Moon…
November 20th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I’m in the no interest boat. I haven’t read the books and I’m not sure they could live up to the hype. I doubt I’ll see the movies and I doubt I’ll read the books, but I would love to be a jillionaire (even though I can’t write).
November 20th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I have read the series—ok. I have not seen the movies and am not likely to.
I am also in the Jacob camp.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I’ve read all the books and saw Twilight the night it came out(not at midnight) and have tickets to see New Moon with a friend tonight. I like the books much better than the movies, but I usually say that about any book turned into a movie. I was Team Edward all the way when reading the books, however Taylor is such a cutie, I might be on Team Jacob by the end of the night.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Funny how many people in this thread are like me. I have bought the first two books but they are sitting on my shelf. I haven’t opened them yet. There just seems to be something more exciting to read (Like a Maya Banks or Shayla Black book) hee hee.
I would love to know the answer to your question, “What made these books such a cult item” I have read plenty of awesome books by authors not well known that hold the same quality as Harry Potter or Twillight. (the Twillight movie sucked)
What is the one thing that sets them apart? I wish I knew? Course, I know nothing of the book business.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I like the books and the first movie could have been better, I’ll end up seeing New Moon in theaters but wont be doing that until it calms down a bit
November 20th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Hey Amy. I read all four books - it started because my then 11 yr old wanted to read them - because all her friends were and I knew they were for a older crowd and I wanted to know what she was reading.
Twilight the book was okay. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it - I think for me it is more that it bothered the writer in me. I’m not really that into 1st person, but more than that it had a lot of repetition of phrases & other things that could’ve been edited down. Those things pulled me out – and it took me a while to get into the story, but eventually I did. I enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd books the most. I’ll refrain from my thoughts on the 4th book, but I did call my SIL immediately to have someone to talk to as soon as I finished because she’d read it – it’s one of the books you really need to talk to someone about immediately, lol.
I didn’t see Twilight the movie until it was on DVD, but overall I like it – of course I think it would have been a better “just movie” if I hadn’t read the book – actually on that note – someone talked me into reading the Midnight Sun – the portion Stephanie Meyer has posted on her site – and I actually watched and enjoyed the movie more after that – I really enjoyed having Edward’s POV.
I don’t know the ”reason”, but I think one like with HP is that it has an overall appeal – appeal to many age groups. And it’s something parents and kids can see together and talk about , I have with my daughter and several of her friends. And I know several other parents (mostly moms) who have at least seen the movie with their teenagers, even some who went to the midnight showing of New Moon. I’ll see it in theaters because I promised girl and her friend I would take them while they are out for Thanksgiving.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I’m surprised there are so many of us who are in the middle here! I’m in good company. :)
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Just not interested. In my opinion it looked like a series for young girls so it never peaked my interest.I like my vampires older.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:52 am
I never made it through the first book.
I watched the first movie last week with my sons. They had the same problem I did, “She doesn’t do anything, can’t she think for herself?” Out of the mouth of babes.