I'm only at page 100 of the new book, whatever it's called and it has been extremely difficult to read.
Stefan sounds more like Edward Cullen and I'm trying not to throw up.
The story in the beginning is ridiculous and oozing with overdone sentimentality and feels more like Stephenie Meyer than LJ Smith, you have no idea how much it hurts me to say that.
None of the old pull to Damon exists, granted he's not quite himself, but he doesn't sound like good old Damon either.
And it's all gotten just a bit too...racey for me. That's why I like teen fiction. It's all the angst and suspense and drama without the sex. And no, there isn't sex, but it's symbolic and I don't appreciate it and if it was my twelve year-old wanting to read it, I would say no. Or I would at least rip out the page with the worst of it.
And yes, I do listen to the Outlander series, it's the one exception where I will tolerate such things, but that's dealing with adults and it isn't written for teens.
And it's really just ridiculous.
The entire opening of the story has been ridiculous and it's inconsistent with the voice of the other books. It seems dumbed down and overly explanatory and just plain silly.
And there are elements of it that are so like the Twilight saga that I checked the copyright date and then the copyright date of Breaking Dawn.
But there seems to be hope.
Maybe.
Now at page 100, it's starting to sound like the old LJ Smith, the one that deserves the title New York Times Bestselling Author. The one that deserves to have her story put onscreen (even if it should be the big screen and not the little one). I just hope it keeps getting better, because if LJ Smith continues to read like Stephenie Meyer, I'm not wasting my time reading the next one. It's one thing for Stephenie Meyer to sound like Stephenie Meyer but it's just wrong for LJ Smith to sound like her and to be so utterly silly.
If Stefan calls Elena, lovely love, one more time, I might wretch.
Romance is NOT sentimentality
Showing posts with label Damon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Damon. Show all posts
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion
I spoke too quickly about The Fury being my favorite of the Vampire Diaries series.
It's been awhile, forgive me, and I couldn't remember the fourth book.
But the first line of the first page brought it all back; all the memories of being twelve and having nightmares that mirrored Bonnie's because the dreams she had were so disturbing to me. The part with the teeth falling out, that was already a nightmare of mine and reading about someone else having that nightmare only caused me to be plagued by nights spent losing my own teeth. I was twelve and I didn't fall in love with Stefan. I was in love with Damon, dark and brooding and self-controlled Damon who is somehow always late but also always just in time.
It took me, cumulatively, three hours to read Dark Reunion, having been swept up by that first line. LJ Smith knows, unlike some authors, how to write action, how to time it so that it takes just long enough to put you on edge so that you want to read every word even though you're frightened to because you're not exactly certain what she'll allow the characters to do.
And she knows romance, not just the simpering fairy tale cottage and the designer clothes ( you know what I'm talking about), the real romance behind all things. The romance that links lovers and the romance that just is the sweetness and terror of life and love, that connects friends just as much as it connects lovers.
I'm a little leery about reading the new books.
I'm almost afraid they were only written for the sake of the show. If so, I want nothing to do with them. I only want them if their existence is due to the fact that Stefan and Elena and the gang truly weren't through with their escapades. I hope they aren't ridiculous.
Let's find out, shall we?
O and by the way, I saw on a certain website that some schmuck is trying to sell a 2001 edition of The Fury for $35. Whoever it is, they aren't a real fan.
I have the original print edition in like new condition. All four of the series. And sweetie, I ain't selling.
It's been awhile, forgive me, and I couldn't remember the fourth book.
But the first line of the first page brought it all back; all the memories of being twelve and having nightmares that mirrored Bonnie's because the dreams she had were so disturbing to me. The part with the teeth falling out, that was already a nightmare of mine and reading about someone else having that nightmare only caused me to be plagued by nights spent losing my own teeth. I was twelve and I didn't fall in love with Stefan. I was in love with Damon, dark and brooding and self-controlled Damon who is somehow always late but also always just in time.
It took me, cumulatively, three hours to read Dark Reunion, having been swept up by that first line. LJ Smith knows, unlike some authors, how to write action, how to time it so that it takes just long enough to put you on edge so that you want to read every word even though you're frightened to because you're not exactly certain what she'll allow the characters to do.
And she knows romance, not just the simpering fairy tale cottage and the designer clothes ( you know what I'm talking about), the real romance behind all things. The romance that links lovers and the romance that just is the sweetness and terror of life and love, that connects friends just as much as it connects lovers.
I'm a little leery about reading the new books.
I'm almost afraid they were only written for the sake of the show. If so, I want nothing to do with them. I only want them if their existence is due to the fact that Stefan and Elena and the gang truly weren't through with their escapades. I hope they aren't ridiculous.
Let's find out, shall we?
O and by the way, I saw on a certain website that some schmuck is trying to sell a 2001 edition of The Fury for $35. Whoever it is, they aren't a real fan.
I have the original print edition in like new condition. All four of the series. And sweetie, I ain't selling.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Rooting for the Bad Brother
I am always shocked at myself when reading a book where the girl must choose between two boys. My choice would probably shock most people who know me.
I was on team Jacob. Edward was boring and stagnant.
And now, having just finished The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle for the umpteenth time....I must admit, I'm still on team Damon.
This concerns me...is there something wrong with my own character? Am I suffering some deprivation? As Damon menacingly took Elena in his embrace, I questioned myself.
.....the problem in books is that the good boys are soooo boring.
Like with Edward and Bella, I never felt the connection they had. Ooo, so he swooped out of nowhere and saved her a couple times. Big deal. For all of that he still came across as a wuss.
But Jacob was all fire and arrogance and recklessness.
Like Damon.
And neither Jacob nor Damon ever wallowed in self-pity. And if they did, they did it like a man, with gruffness and a bit like jerks.
How boring would the story be if the girl decided to stick with the good guy and didn't instinctively gravitate toward the boy seething with danger?
I don't think it's the danger that draws us in though.
It's the cockiness, it's the competency.
Women want men who act like men, not like metrosexuals.
Think of Indiana Jones, he isn't a nice boy... and he's so alluring because of it.
Clint Eastwood, think back to Three Mules for Sister Sarah. Or Sam Elliot in The Quick and the Dead. Unflappable, self-controlled men.
I hafta say, accept my apologies, but this is why I love my husband. He's a bit of a jerk when need be and that's so appealing. He's a gentleman and a wonderful father, but....with a look and a certain tone, he can put me in my place. Not many men can do that.
I love Stefan, I do.....but without his brother to antagonize him, he would make for a very boring romance novel. And then we, being the silly emotional females we are, wouldn't feel the delectable guilt over wanting her to accept Damon's embrace, and then what fun would it be? Yes I feel horrible for Stefan...ah the angst! This is why I love teen romance thrillers. There's fear. There's guilt. There's the discovery of character flaws they didn't know they had (and we didn't know we have). Such fun. Now, I must away. Book III, The Fury is waiting for me.
And now, having just finished The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle for the umpteenth time....I must admit, I'm still on team Damon.
This concerns me...is there something wrong with my own character? Am I suffering some deprivation? As Damon menacingly took Elena in his embrace, I questioned myself.
.....the problem in books is that the good boys are soooo boring.
Like with Edward and Bella, I never felt the connection they had. Ooo, so he swooped out of nowhere and saved her a couple times. Big deal. For all of that he still came across as a wuss.
But Jacob was all fire and arrogance and recklessness.
Like Damon.
And neither Jacob nor Damon ever wallowed in self-pity. And if they did, they did it like a man, with gruffness and a bit like jerks.
How boring would the story be if the girl decided to stick with the good guy and didn't instinctively gravitate toward the boy seething with danger?
I don't think it's the danger that draws us in though.
It's the cockiness, it's the competency.
Women want men who act like men, not like metrosexuals.
Think of Indiana Jones, he isn't a nice boy... and he's so alluring because of it.
Clint Eastwood, think back to Three Mules for Sister Sarah. Or Sam Elliot in The Quick and the Dead. Unflappable, self-controlled men.
I hafta say, accept my apologies, but this is why I love my husband. He's a bit of a jerk when need be and that's so appealing. He's a gentleman and a wonderful father, but....with a look and a certain tone, he can put me in my place. Not many men can do that.
I love Stefan, I do.....but without his brother to antagonize him, he would make for a very boring romance novel. And then we, being the silly emotional females we are, wouldn't feel the delectable guilt over wanting her to accept Damon's embrace, and then what fun would it be? Yes I feel horrible for Stefan...ah the angst! This is why I love teen romance thrillers. There's fear. There's guilt. There's the discovery of character flaws they didn't know they had (and we didn't know we have). Such fun. Now, I must away. Book III, The Fury is waiting for me.
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