I have been reading a lot of books lately, my goal is to read books that are entertaining and distracting, but that don’t make me think too much or get depressed. I read so many baby-raising books early into this pregnancy that I can’t handle any more of those right now.
I did finally finish the Twilight series. The third and fourth books were the best because the plot started earlier and earlier into the book. The third book, I only had to read maybe 1 chapter before the plot started up. The fourth had a “real” plot almost all the way through, even though none of them leave behind the teenage emo angst. It’s all so dramatic. They are completely in love. And it has nothing to do with being 17, I am sure. (sarcasm)
Anyway, the fourth book was my favorite because the heroine finally got some cahones. Spell check cannot advise me on how to spell that word correctly, but upon reflection, the thing that probably annoyed me the most about this series is how weak the heroine comes across for most of the books. Sure, the author is trying to make her emotionally strong (she loves her vampire and her family so much and she would give her life for them, blah blah blah), but that doesn’t mean she has to get so beat up physically in every single book. She never fights back! What?! You would think by the second or third time her life is put in danger, maybe she could, I don’t know, sign up for some self-defense courses? Take karate? Kick-boxing? ANYTHING??
Rebecca
by Daphne Du Maurier
I did not actually realize that the weakness of the heroine was what I disliked about the Twilight series until I began my next book, Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. It was recommended to me by a friend and I am sure it is actually a very good book. It gets good reviews. But I cannot stand it.
I am not going to make it through this book. I cannot handle the heroine being as dumb as she is. I realize she is young, mostly because she keeps saying it over and over: “I was just so young”. I DON’T CARE ANYMORE. Excuses, excuses, why couldn’t you just make an effort to learn, then, like everyone else does as they grow older? Apparently she likes to wallow in her stupidity and make a fool of herself.
This is my issue: the same reason that I can’t watch shows like The Office for very long when they get intentionally awkward. I can’t handle watching people make fools of themselves, I don’t find it entertaining, I find it embarrassing. I am embarrassed on their behalf and it spoils any enjoyment or amusement I might have.
It may not be very American of me to feel this way. We are the country of reality TV, after all – apparently everyone enjoys seeing people founder, embarrass themselves, and be immature. But as for me, I cannot handle it. I choose to avoid it. Haven’t I lived through adolescence once? Why torture myself by watching other people be just as dumb? “Rebecca” is probably a very good book to most people. Personally, I will be skipping to the end to find out if she ever got any backbone, and then returning the book to the library.
I agree, weak characters are annoying. Lisa is trying to get me to read the twilight series. As far as kids books go, I thought that ‘uglies’ or ‘his dark materials’ were much better series, both had strong heroines. Also, maybe that’s why I think ‘the wiz’ is better than ‘the wizard of oz’. Dorothy seems to whine, it’s annoying.
Girl, I hear you Bella did nothing but whine and get hurt in the first 2 books. I have a bunch of JD Robb books I think you would like to read.
The last part of this post made me laugh out loud…I am so exactly the same way. I cannot stand to watch any situation on t.v. or read books with purposefully awkward moments. I get so uncomfortable and annoyed that I have to turn it off.
The same goes for predictable movies…I guess I’m too cranky to sit through the characters doing things that we know they shouldn’t be. Especially star-crossed lovers type scenarios. Wow, I sound like a grumpy old lady!!