I’m reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (yes, I know, I’m way behind the times, but I don’t read a lot of paranormal romance or young adult fiction) and it’s pulled me in just incredibly. I’ve got this heady feeling like I’m in love myself, a feeling I get when deep inside my own stories, too. Like I’m the main character and my life is as intense as hers, and everything has added significance. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Have you read it? Or have you read something lately that’s made you feel like you’re really there, yourself?
I think I’m the only person on the planet who didn’t love Twilight. I didn’t hate it but I definitely didn’t feel like reading anymore of the series.
The best books I’ve read lately are: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (truly amazing) and Valiant by Holly Black.
There’s just something about Edward.
But I do wonder whether it’s because the book is truly amazing, or whether it’s because I had a five-hour train journey to read it in. It’s the longest uninterrupted time I’ve had with a book in months. I think it helps reader identification if you don’t have to interrupt your reading every five minutes to stop toddler writing on the couch, etc.
I’ve just finished reading the latest book by Christina Jones called Happy Birthday, the 5th book in the magical village series. It is utterly SUPERB and everything you expect from her – warmth, humour, emotion, wonderful characters and downright fun. Some favourite characters return and we meet some brilliant new ones. It’s like snuggling down with an old friend. You feel you know these people and you really want to live there. Great stuff.
Julie, I haven’t either.
My kids are 10 and 8. Is it okay for them? We didn’t start HP until Kate was 7 and read all of them in succession…aloud.
D
I know, Mags, I need to read that series.
Donna, no, I don’t think it’s appropriate for that age; it’s scary in places and is fairly sexy too, in a lots-of-tension sort of way. The heroine is 17.
I’m reading the second one in the series now and I’m a little annoyed with it because the heroine, who seemed pretty lively and strong and her own person in the first book, has become a total dishrag, even before the thing that was supposed to make her a dishrag happens. Hopefully she will pick up.
I’ve heard some mixed reviews of the series–is this going to be like JR Ward’s vampire books, which seem to be love or hate? Well, not love or hate, more like love or meh. I fell into the meh category (okay, my dislike went up a bit when she won My Rita. Yeah, that paranormal statue should have been mine!).
I’m re-reading Jenny Crusie’s Welcome to Temptation, which always makes me feel like I’m there, or wish I was anyway. I guess that’s high enough praise!
Hi Julie – I only read this a few weeks ago for the first time – and loved it so much I immediately ran out and bought the next two on special offer in Smiths. Not sure about Edward – he took a while to grow on me, but Bella is terrific.
Did you know that Twilight has been filmed and due out soon?
Could be interesting. contrast to Mamma Mia which I saw yesterday and will see again soon – great fun.
I know, Kate, I totally want Phin.
Yes, Ray-Anne, I just saw something about the film, which has Robert Pattinson as Edward. This was the actor I felt guilty about fancying when he played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because he is far too young for me. So I will have to feel guilty about fancying him in this, too.
Now, Ms. Julie! You gave me a hard time a while back when I blogged about Mr. Pattinson and my own guilty fancying! And now you’re admitting to your own? *gasp*!
Oh, the shock of it all!
*ggg*
And I am another one of those who hasn’t read Meyers’ books. I’ve been reading a number of reviews that are negative, especially about the Edward/Bella relationship, so I’m not sure if I’m going to jump on the reading bandwagon or not…
i have no idea what book any of you are on about and this is making me hide in shame, please forgive my ignorance. on a brighter note, i need an alpha male so i have just picked up a Rachel Gibson, her men always hit the spot.
Hmm, Kris, I am going to have to explore this Robert Pattinson issue a bit further. Obviously I projected my own guilt onto you.
I thought the Bella/Edward relationship was really well done in the first book, though once they get it together it’s a little bit too soppy for me. Though great for a teenage audience, I would’ve thought they’d eat that up.
In the second book…not so much, to the extent where Bella is a little bit TSTL. But there are other things that are good in that book. Of course, I started it yesterday and am now nearly done, so it’s obviously got me hooked.
Fran, if you like vampire high school romance, check it out.
Though you can’t go wrong with Rachel Gibson.
how scary and how sexy? I mean HP got “older” as the books got older…and we read them. I thought the girls would be scared and not.
But if we should wait a few more years, that’d be good to know.
Scarier than HP. A threatened rape, and some horrific injuries. And sexier, although it’s all sex ten and not actual sex. There’s more touching, though, and some discussion about sex.
I actually thought that one of the major flaws of the HP books is that they didn’t get a whole lot older at all. Okay, the stakes were higher, people died and there was a kiss or two, but it was all very coy and schoolish.