Yeah, I'm not saying people like that don't exist. But I certainly don't care abut hearing their stories.

I listened to the podcast you linked in the other forum, from the guy who wrote "Spotlight". I was hoping, as an author of YA fiction myself, to get some insight from the interview about what it is that he felt made the story work. I think I just wasted half an hour of my life listening to someone wail on about how everyone is wrong to disrespect it because Stephenie Meyer is really good, even though her prose is lacking but her allegory is interesting. I disagree.

I read the first Twilight book at summer camp (I was a counselor) because my campers were all reading it and talking about it, so I felt that I should have some perspective on it. I read the first book in about 48 hours, including reading under my covers with a flashlight while the girls were sleeping. It was a very easy book to read and I digested it quite quickly. I knew where the story was going, but was along for the journey. I went straight into New Moon and found it a trial because Bella's moping was SO irritating, but I really enjoyed Jacob's character. I moved on to Eclipse and I remember almost nothing from that book so I guess that sums it up for me. I do recall reading Breaking Dawn (I think that either came out during the same summer, or the following summer) and laughing and groaning in equal share as I read it. By that point I was finding it offensive and another counselor and I spent some time reading portions out to our campers and discussing how controlling and abusive Edward was. Jacob's character went in that direction too, and the whole fourth book was just laughably bad.

I do remember discussing Breaking Dawn with the girls prior to its release, and saying that I hoped Bella became a vampire, lost her self-control and killed Jacob's father (he's in a wheelchair, he's a sitting duck). Which would change the focus of the battle between Edward and Jacob over who 'deserves' Bella to who is going to be stuck with her / take responsibility for what they've turned her into. Of course that didn't happen, Bella turned into a perfectly self-controlled vampire and had the world's most perfect baby, and I gagged and threw the book on the floor.

For the record, I haven't seen the movies and I think Robert Pattinson is incredibly unappealing. I have long subscribed to the "mop" theory as explained on your podcast - call it Edward and they will swoon, no matter what it looks like. (Notably,Stephenie Meyer said she envisaged Edward as looking like Henry Cavill, back when he was in "The Count of Monte Cristo". Now that one I can get on board with.)

I'm with the FIYH podcast on Twilight, there is very little in the podcast that I disagree with - except the assertion that the books get better as the series goes on. I would argue the complete opposite.

And if we're sharing YouTube videos about Twilight, I like the "Alex Reads Twilight" ones. They're hysterical.

Very disappointed at how this thread has fallen into mansplaining. We have the benefit of having women's voices in this conversation, guys. Don't just leap to "explaining what's wrong with" their perspective.

Doesn't invalidate it, but it should make you go over each point more thoroughly. If two people come at an issue with different definitions, they're likely to end up talking past each other, or not realize they actually agree/disagree on certain points.