I kind of feel like I need to review this book from two perspectives, one being the 13 year old lingering inside me, and the other being the more serious reader I am these days. So since that’s my inclination, I will! Which means that if I say anything insane, chalk that up to the teenage part of the review.
As I mentioned before, I have been reading Growing Up Cullen (endlessly, I might add). For better or worse, reading it motivated me to read Twilight much sooner than I had planned. In fact, this book wasn’t anywhere near the top of my TBR pile until I read GUC. It is seriously that funny, internet, so y’all should read it!
From an adult perspective, this book is horribly irresponsible. This is not the kind of relationship people should be striving for, and because of that, in some ways I feel like teenaged girls should not be reading it. I’m not for censorship, so the kiddies can read what they want, but they should all really talk to their parents about the book afterwards. Edward is controlling, manipulative, threatening, and stalkery. Not the kind of man y’all want to be with, ladies! But don’t forget! He is beautiful!
On the other hand, a part of me is all “OMG how romantic he saves her over and over again and wants to protect her!” I’m a little embarrassed to say there is something appealing about an indestructible, super strong, vampire being in love with you. From a realistic perspective, this is the kind of man I’d run away from, but in fantasy world, he’s cute! But don’t forget! He’s a monster!
There were times when Bella drove me crazy. She is whiny much of the time. And then there were other times when I was like “oh god, I am totally like that.” Mostly with the stubbornness. And that whole ignoring the other kids at school? I’d so do that. Okay, strike that, I did it. Much rather talk to the kids that present a challenge than the ones who are actually interested in me.
I was talking about the book with a friend, discussing the dynamics of the relationship between Bella and Edward and how I think it’s abusive on several levels, and it was mentioned that it’s really a good example of the kind of relationship many girls in my home state want. I kind of forget this stuff, being not of the dominant religion and therefore detached from that. But it’s sad to me that there are people who idolize this kind of relationship, yearn for it. And that it’s not even the vampire part they are yearning for!
I sit here, trying to think of anything positive to say about it, but I’m just blank. That is just a bad relationship, plain and simple. I guess it’s nice that he saved her life. And honestly, I would love to smell like flowers to the wonderful man I end up with some day. Or in GUC terms, I’d love to smell delicious, like bacon!
In case anyone was wondering, I do not think that Stephenie Meyer is a good author. Much of the descriptions and scenarios seem like things I would have written in my freshman english class. I also disliked that even though this book was just published a few years ago, the technology in it was so outdated. Why does Bella not have an iPod? Or a cell phone? How come it’s such a shock when the Cullen’s get little cell phones to take keep in touch when the big trouble goes down? I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book either needed more description of what year this was supposed to have taken place in, or it needed a rewrite to get better technology in it. Score for the movie, updating this shit! I mean, I understand that books get outdated – I just don’t expect it to be 4 years after their original publication.
Despite all that, I’m still drawn to the rest of the books. I feel silly for it, and I don’t want to want to read them, but I do. So I’ll continue to read the series and see what I think at the end of it. If for no better reason, I want explanations like why do they glitter in the sun? And answers I won’t get, like why did Stephenie Meyer choose to diverge so far from traditional vampire lore? I read on Wikipedia that she didn’t research vampires at all prior to writing the books, which is fine, but it strikes me as odd that someone would know nothing about vampires. But I also find it very strange that someone would choose to basically take nothing from the normal lore – or maybe she just doesn’t love it? I don’t know, but it confuses me.
And what is wrong with Bella, that she has to have it explained to her that vampires have to bite you in order for you to be turned? Granted, in this world all they have to do is bite you, but she needed to be more precise in her questioning for me to not think she is utterly stupid in regards to this. Or maybe I am assuming too much in that other girls know stuff about vampires.
Read this book if: You want some decent escapist reading. Again, not good writing, but it reads fast and you can sit in bed with it and not feel like you’re missing something when you are doing sleepy reading.
