Vampires? CAMP-pires.

This will be my last post today, I promise.

But, lately, I have been involved in reading a Young Adult series called Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (all up with the Es apparently). They're delicious, and ridiculous and remind me of what it was like to be seventeen and in love. Sometimes, if they tell each other that they love each other more than anyone has ever loved anyone one more time, I think I'm going to kill myself. But then, I remember my high school boyfriend and how no one was ever going to love anyone as much as I loved him. Then, I understand.

However, I think teenage girls are oblivious to this fact.

So, anyway, basically, they're overbown fan fiction. They're about ships and they're about conflict. They're thrilling, and completely non-realistic. I love them in the way that I love my "Scottish porn"; they have nothing to do with "serious" literature. They're just hilarious.

However, teenage girls take themselves too seriously.

The fourth book came out and it was ridiculous. There was werewolf imprinting on a half-vampire, half-human Edward-Bella baby, there were vampires from all over the world, there were mind readers, there was a 19-year old wedding (pre-baby), there was bizarre sickness and strange absences and did I mention werewolves? There was a vampire mafia and this vampire-hybrid. There's a throw-down at the end. And let's face it, it was delicious. However, apparently, teenage girls were outraged. They didn't like how drama-filled it was.

Apparently, they liked it better when Bella was heartbroken over a vampire and was simultaneously pining after a werewolf. Because that makes goddamn sense.

So, instead of accepting for what it is, crackfic that is delightful to read in its hilarity, and deliciousness, girls are outraged because they didn't stay true to character or something like that. I, personally, loved the fourth book more than all the other books. It was non-stop action, teenage drama and hilariousness. How could you not love a mutant baby that breaks Bella's ribs because it's so freaking strong? People have begun returning the book because they're so outraged.

People take themselves too seriously. It was silly over-blown fic in the first place (and I do intend to abbreviate fic there) and now people apparently want more than a vampire who can control the elements. Quit taking yourself so damn intensely people and enjoy the humor behind a paper cut that can wilt vampires. Sure, it was full of teh drama and teh angst and teh weird names. Sure, it was completely silly. And that's what I took it to always be.

There were great things about the book, like when she switches voices to write from Jacob's perspective and he's wonderfully sarcastic and we get a really excellent picture of him (if nothing else, she's amazing at character development). She has an excerpt of writing on her website written from Edward's perspective. She is very good at writing male characters. She has a really wide vocabulary range as well, providing good examples of interesting verbs and expressive adjectives.

Then, there's the silly love story, the over-protective vampire and the ridiculousness of getting married out of high school. I don't think it sets up a "good" example of getting married that early (get married and you'll grow a mutant baby!) but in the end, Bella's an extremely strong character (granted, we wait four books for it) and she is the one who ends up needing no saving. After being saved, over and over, she is the one doing the saving. I think people are neglecting to see certain things. Sure, mutant baby, vampire throwdown and insane super-powers are completely unrealistic.

The characters are engaging though and even more engaging in the fourth book. We sympathize with them. I think that is the important part--the part that people are missing. But, I seem to be the only one defending the deliciousness (and really, there's no other word for it) that is Breaking Dawn. I'm alright with that though. No, they're not necessarily for my sixth graders. No, there's "better" books out there, but sometimes, we all need a little romp.