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43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Title, tagline, and synopsis are VERY MISLEADING!, June 1, 2010
This review is from: Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga (Paperback)
Boy, is this book being marketed to the wrong crowd! The back of the book reads: "...The bestsellers [Twilight books:] tell the story of a regular girl's relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his "good" side. But the Saga isn't just another fantasy-it's teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God's plan for love?"
To me, that sounds like a gushing attempt to turn the Twilight saga into some kind of morality tale, which even Stephenie Meyer said was not the intent. After reading the synopsis, I was very curious how the author was going to pull it off. She asks the question "Can vampires teach us about God's plan for love?" and then, instead of gushing about how awesome Twilight is, she answers her own question with a resounding no. From the start she says Twilight is a fun and exciting read, but argues that not everything that compels us is good for us. She then proceeds to tear Twilight thoroughly apart piece by piece.
There are some great points brought up: Twilight isn't real; it's just a story, an all-consuming love isn't healthy, obsessive love can be abusive. Unfortunately, these and other points are discussed in such a heavy-handed manner that Twilight fanatics will most likely be turned off and not take the book seriously. Honestly, I can't see any teen sitting through this book. I could barely get through it and I've never thought of Twilight as a particularly moral story. I have no problem picking out the flaws, but good heavens, lighten up! Some people really do need to take a step back and give some of the issues in Twilight some thought, but I can't see this book helping them to do that.
In addition to the extreme negativity, the author completely misinterpreted parts of the Twilight books and uses some quotes out of context in order to make her point. This shows a lack of integrity as a writer and is dishearteningly ironic considering the kind of book she's selling. Also, I strongly disagreed with some of her biblical interpretations and found them to be quite disturbing.
Another thing I found odd is how the author points out that the Cullens are portrayed as the perfect family and how that reflects Meyer's beliefs as a member of the LDS church. If you're familiar with the books, you know this is a real stretch, but what's weird is how the author backs up her theory by pointing out how brochures for the LDS church portray perfect families on their glossy pages. I've never seen brochures from any church that DIDN'T show a perfect glossy family. As a homeschooler, I see a fair amount of Protestant ads and the Jehovah's Witnesses frequent my neighborhood, passing out their own glossy brochures. I just found it odd that the author would pinpoint this aspect when it's hardly singular to any church. Again, she does what she has to in order to get her point across, whether it's honest or not. I have a hard time trusting an author who stoops to these kinds of tactics in order to trash someone else's work or beliefs and to imply that they are evil.
The bottom line? There are some great things in this book, but they are weighed down by ham-fisted preaching and questionable argumentation. If you're a big Twilight fan and want some deeper insights on the saga, this book is not what you're looking for. If you're reading it out of curiosity, just know that it takes a very negative approach. If you're a parent, youth worker, or friend looking for some help with Twilight mania, I would not just up and give this book to someone. Read it first, take a few notes, and present your own version; a kinder, gentler, more honest version which may actually have some impact.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent content but not necessarily applicable to Twilight., November 18, 2009
This review is from: Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga (Paperback)
I was so excited when I heard Multnomah was sending me this book to review. Although I enjoyed the books to a point, I have my own concerns about them and wondered if this book would address them and possibly show me things I'd missed. Fantasy is such a complex genre that I think it's a little easier to blur the lines between appropriate and not sometimes.
First, I'd like to note that there is little in this book that I don't agree with in principle. Almost every concern the author raises, I agree with the principle behind it whole heartedly. That's very important to note because it's going to look like I didn't like the book or that I think Ms. Jones has too much time on her hands or something. Neither is true. (Well, I kind of hope she does have too much time on her hands. I'd like her to teach me how that is done!)
My objection to her book only lies in perceptions. When two people read the same book, they're going to see things through different lenses. (Give two people the same book by Michael or Debi Pearl and you'll see what I mean!) I'm not just talking the lens of Christ-filled or not, conservative or liberal, or similar things. I'm talking about life experiences and personality. Those things often make it seem like a Christian is weak or immature because they don't see things the same as another person. It took me years to understand that sometimes, it isn't that at all. It's simply perception.
I'm not going to refute her take on the book point by point. I don't think it's necessary. I am only going to show the difference in perception of two readers.
Beth Felker Jones- Ms. Jones sees the all-encompassing love that Bella has for Edward in these books as encouraged, portrayed as positive, and intended to be a model for what every girl does/should want.
Chautona Havig- I saw the book as showing just how dangerous such `obsessiveness' can be and where it can lead. I saw it as a fact of the plot, but in no way encouraged. It is a common thing for young teen girls to become wholeheartedly wrapped up in their current `crush' and truly believe nothing can possibly part them. I saw Meyer as taking that to its logical conclusion and showing the heartache that comes with it without turning the book into a moralistic lesson rather than a semi-fairytale. (Which I think is what she intended it to be.)
I'm not saying that I don't think anyone read the book and came away with a desire for a "love like Bella and Edward's". Actually, I'm sure they did. However, the subtitle of tis book is "Discovering the hidden messages in the Twilight Saga." The message I got is 100% opposite from the message Ms. Jones got.
I agree, without any reservation, with her contention that obsessive, all-encompassing love in real life for anything or anyone other than JESUS is wrong. I don't quibble there. I just disagree that the book even glorifies it. I saw it (and I think my girls did as well) as a sad commentary on a lonely girl who grew up without a father's influence in her life.
Where I did completely agree with the author is in that this series, while written and marketed to the young adult market) is really too sensual for most teenagers. Honestly, had I read the third book first, I would not have allowed one of my girls to read it. It was too sensual for me and I'm married! I think a lot of Christian parents knew that Meyer was a Mormon and given the Mormon's reputation for morality, trusted her too implicitly with their children's reading material. Others, like me, saw the sensuality in the first and second book as a bit much, but decided it was something their child could handle and didn't realize how much it was going to increase in the third book.
So, to be quite frank, I was so excited to read this book and then was a little disappointed. I was not disappointed with the content in so much as what she sees as important for Christians. What she has to say about our world view is spot on. I'm applaud her for tackling it and tackling it so well. Unfortunately, I don't see that her points, in so much as they relate to the Meyer books, are solid.
Read the book. I seriously think it encourages us to look at what we read and what we watch and what messages we're sending to ourselves and our children in our choices. She does that beautifully. But, if you are looking for a book that warns others about the dangers you see in the Twilight books, keep looking. Anyone who has read the books will either agree with her completely, or shred her arguments point by point. As usual, I did a little of both.
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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great companion piece to the Twilight Series, November 20, 2009
This review is from: Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga (Paperback)
I loved the Twilight series, and have always stood by the fact that when my daughters are old enough they can read it. But now that I've read Touched by a Vampire, I'll still let my daughters read the Twilight books, but we're going to have some things to discuss after they do.
Jones touches on many of the themes in the Twilight series, love, family, gender roles, abstinence, and many more and explores them from a Christian viewpoint. Many of the ideas she brought up were things I hadn't even thought about. But were important ideas that need to be addressed, especially for younger more impressionable readers.
I really looked forward to reading this book, and it exceeded all of my expectations. It's a great book to have on the self next to your Twilight Series.
This book was provided for review by Multnomah Books.
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