Well, I'm feeling very proud of myself this morning as I managed to get to pairs of ladies socks from one 100 g ball of acrylic. I'm basking in the glow of that a little before returning to work on more Mother's Day Stall socks. They give me much more pleasure than the scarves to knit!
Finally, after much assurance from friends that it was worth the time, I read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Apparently the book came to her in a dream and she sat down and wrote it in a matter of hours. It was a very interesting read, especially for a self-confessed literary snob.
I'm not generally a big fan of Vampire books. In fact, the only other one I've read is the classic, Bram Stoker's Dracula. Meyer puts a bit of a different slant on the traditional vampire tale, with Edward, the love interest/vampire not wanting to hurt the protagonist Bella. There is also a big emphasis on teenage sexuality and the inherent danger of giving yourself to someone completely.
I can see why this series is such a big hit - it really plays on that romantic idea that love is (and should be) forever, with death being more tolerable than separation. There's also lots of unfulfilled sexual tension, which I personally think it more interesting than any sex scene will ever be. At the end of the book, Bella becomes aware that the only way she and Edward can be together forever is if he transforms her into a vampire herself, a torment which she is willing to undergo for him. Which led me to thinking about immortality.
Firstly, most relationships are flat out making it past the 15 year mark. How would you deal with being stuck with someone forever? Surely it would get to the point where just the way they spoke irritated you ... or perhaps I've just never really been in love.
The other thing is what would you do if you had the rest of time to entertain yourself? In the movie Tuck Everlasting, the immortal characters achieve very little as they fall into a routine and do nothing to really improve themselves. The vampire characters in Twilight, on the other hand have developed their own standard of ethics. And one has studied and become a doctor, working in the local hospital in order to help people.
Do we only try to learn and make ourselves the best people we can be because we have a limited timespan? Would we really just fall into never ending routines if we didn't have impending death hanging over us? What would you do with eternity?
Oh, another convert! The books really aren't great literature by anyone's standards, but amazing how they just pull you in. You make some interesting points, too. The sexual tension is absolutely sexier and better to read than any sex scene, but wow, how long would it take to get totally bored of someone after you do give in and do the deed? I like to think personally that lust can come and go, and as long as there's a solid friendship underneath it, the spark can always be rekindled even after it is lost. I don't know that Edward and Bella are that kind of couple in my opinion... I didn't actually like either of them, ha! I hope Meyer will focus on some of the other, more interesting, characters in future books. Leah is my vote!
If I had all of eternity to be young and strong, without the need for sleep(!), I think I would get every degree I could, travel to every country, try my hand at every job, and still take my time to relax and knit and read and just... BE. It sounds amazing to me, the lack of pressure. Of course, I say that, never having experienced it.
Posted by: Ceci | March 31, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Good question.
I have no answer because I never have really thought about it.
Posted by: Rell | March 30, 2009 at 06:36 PM