Like everyone else on the planet, I read "Twilight."
Not because I wanted to. Mostly because I felt like I should. Stephanie Meyer had found such a cultural touchstone for teens, and since I write YA, I figured I should check it out and see what the big deal was.
Eh.
It was interesting, I guess, but it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I found Bella to be way too whiny and annoying, and frankly, not really a good role model for girls. And I wasn't a big fan of Edward.
This was probably because I've never really liked vampire books. Sure, I watched "Interview with a Vampire" back in the mid-90s when it was all the rage, and I even read it in French for the heck of it. And it was mildly entertaining. Mildly. I never could understand the huge appeal it held for so many in my high school (much like I can't understand the huge appeal the Twilight series holds for today's teens).
I've read a few vampire romances through the years, but mostly when there wasn't anything else to read, or it was written by a friend of mine. I've just never understood the appeal.
Until now.
After having read our very own Melissa Francis's BITE ME! and mother-daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast's MARKED within a span of a couple of weeks, I can now officially say that I really like YA vampire books.
Well, at least those. LOL.
But seriously, check out BITE ME and the House of Night series. You won't regret it.
I'm currently reading MARKED. And I have BITE ME! in my TBR pile--can't wait to read it!! :D
ReplyDeleteLOL, I finished MARKED last night and can't wait to run out and buy the rest in the series.
ReplyDeleteI also need to check out Lucienne Diver's book, VAMPED.
Since I'm currently writing an urban fantasy series about vampires and the like, I heartily applaud!
ReplyDeletethis is the biggest compliment ever. Thanks so much, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteDude, you totally deserve it, Mel. BITE ME rocks!
ReplyDeleteMelly Melly she's so fine she blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteThe House of Night series is very addicting! I love all of them....but however I am Twilight fan as well :/ Sorry you didn't really enjoy it, but I do agree Bella is a bit annoying lol
ReplyDeleteI like Vampire books, but I thought Twilight was "meh" too.
ReplyDeleteWill check out Marked and Bite Me for sure!
I read everything. Good is good. Really. And bad is bad.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mel and the Casts get is sooooo bloody right!!
I have to second or fourth the vote for the Cast series--though I"m behind, I think I actually read the first one before Twilight and just loved it (Twilight not so much...sorry just not my cuppa).
ReplyDeleteAlso loved Mel's book which I finished yesterday and passed on to my son.
Also gotta rec Rachel Caine's Morganville Vamps-a little diff because the heroine is NOT a vamp...just a geeky uber smart girl who chooses the wrong college. Currently reading Peeps (Scott Westerfeld) which I picked up to tide me over until his new series comes out this fall and didn't realize was a vamp book (ohhh love that grammar!). I'm a huge fan of his Uglies series.
I could sit here and wax poetic about all the great YA books out there but then I'd never get any writing done LOL
Bite Me is currently on my TBR, and I can't wait to read it, but there are library books with expiration dates that have to go first.
ReplyDeleteAbout Twilight; I read them and liked the stories quite a bit. That said, I think that Stephenie Meyer is not a good writer. Decent storyteller, yes. But as a writer, not so much. I tried to read The Host, her "adult" debut novel, and with a storyline that didn't grab me, that was a book I didn't finish. My daughter (age 21) who loved the Twilight series told me that the look on my face while I was trying to read The Host was painful to her and asked why I was torturing myself.
I'll have to add Bite me to my TBR list. You should also check out the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead!
ReplyDeleteI also have an award for you at Debbie's World of Books