Tena, I guess what captivated me was the young man's actions towards a young, normal high school woman. I thought it refreshing that they had a friendship that was not sexual but loving, deep, and potentially more involved.
I saw respect from Edward toward Bella as who she was. I did relate to Bella as a high school girl with pressures to belong, but also I connected with Edward. We have had experiences with guys who were not thoughtful, kind, and supportive. (women, too) Yet, today I know many men who are wonderful since I come from a family of men, and had all sons. I work with some great male co-workers. So from my perspective, I liked that Edward was a beautiful soul--forget his looks. And he had a positive, protective relationship with Bella without making her an object. I love how she wanted to become what he was yet he loved her right where she was at, no pressure. Sweet. I have probably posted too much. Now I am thinking of how teachers and students read fiction, how we each bring our experiences to the table, and how one book/movie can reach us and not reach others. Or maybe the discussion is so powerful, thought provoking that we rethink it. I know I have thought deeper about this text and I thank you so much for your comments. It is not a perfect book or series but from where I sit, it seemed very special. All the best, Lucinda - Original Message ----- From: "TLP" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 6:45 PM Subject: Re: [LIT] Twilight-loved it! Thanks for the input. I must admit I got a little tired of the "beautiful" Edward. Again too much focus on the looks. I had a hard time figuring out exactly what the relationship was about other than common girl/beautiful boy! I'll try to finish this final book with a more open mind! On Nov 12, 2007 5:30 PM, Lucinda Marcello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This type of book would never have interested me in the past since I love > realistic and historical fiction, plus non-fiction including > autobiographies > & biographies. I like it real. > > But I found myself caught up in the characters of this novel. Stephanie > Meyer, the author, is a young mother from Phoenix. The easy way for an > author would have been to make it all gore and blood with this subject. > Surprisingly I loved the conflict in this story of an average young woman > falling for a beautiful young man, who happened to be a vampire. I love > how > she created tension between Bella and Edward, Bella wanting to join him > and > Edward, the gentleman, loving her as she was. I appreciated how he > respected > Bella and how Meyer did not "sex it up". When I finished the series in a > few > short weeks, I missed the characters. I thought Meyer did a stellar job > creating a world of escape and love in an unlikely place (high school) > with > unlikely characters (average teen girl & vampire friend). > > She is writing a fourth book for this series. My students--girls and boys, > are reading and loving this series. It has become one of my all time > favorites, as well. Check Meyer out at You Tube. > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SQ9bJIhcJ0 > > Lucinda 7th grade Language Arts teacher, Tucson > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Heather Poland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." > <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 3:04 PM > Subject: Re: [LIT] Twilight > > > I *love* Twilight! It is one of my all time favorite books. As for the > message to girl, I can see where you are coming from. But I think the > books > are more complex than just the "I'd do anything for this one boy" sort of > thing. I am also a fan of Vampire lit, so the theme of this sort of > ultimate > sacrifice for love runs throughout any vampire story, which is probably > why > I'm ok with it. I think it's a great fantasy though, and Twilight is very > well written. I like that book the best out of the three. > > On Nov 12, 2007 1:57 PM, TLP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I am reading "Eclipse" by Stephanie Myers as I had a student who wanted > me > > to read the series. I've read "Twilight" and "New Moon." > > I have found it interesting but too romance novelish for my liking. > Plus, > > I > > had been reluctant to read "Vampire" lit! However, it has some redeeming > > qualities. Yet, I am a bit concerned about the message sent to girls and > > young women about relationships and love. The breakdowns and drama is > over > > the top and I am uncomfortable with the notion that ultimate sacrifice > is > > romanticized. Has anyone else read these books? > > > > -- > > Tena > > _______________________________________________ > > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > > > > -- > - Heather > > "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of > man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments > fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; > new races build others. But in the world of books are > volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet > live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were > written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men > centuries dead." --Clarence Day > > "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little > good evidence exists that there's any educational substance > behind the accountability and testing movement." > —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds > > "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose > funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase > funding. " > —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.30/1126 - Release Date: > 11/12/2007 > 12:56 PM > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- Tena _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.30/1126 - Release Date: 11/12/2007 12:56 PM _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
