Comments on: The Twilight series: A New Moon with old trends http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/ Thu, 23 May 2013 19:15:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Total “Eclipse” of the heart or suffocating “Twilight” triangle? http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-761 A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Total “Eclipse” of the heart or suffocating “Twilight” triangle? Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:05:25 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-761 [...] But I want to know what other Twilighters have to say. Are Edward and Jacob overbearing, macho losers, or just fools in love? And is Bella really a 21st century female role model, or just another lame damsel in distress (our blog contributor, Ashley, has already shared her thoughts)? [...] [...] But I want to know what other Twilighters have to say. Are Edward and Jacob overbearing, macho losers, or just fools in love? And is Bella really a 21st century female role model, or just another lame damsel in distress (our blog contributor, Ashley, has already shared her thoughts)? [...]

]]> By: Sibyl http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-760 Sibyl Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:05:34 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-760 I'd recommend Tamora Pierce and the Song of the Lioness series. She has other series too, but I haven't read them so I can't say much, but Song of the Lioness is about a girl who pretends to be a boy so she can be a knight. Definitely a strong leading woman, and it deals with a lot of growing up issues as well. I’d recommend Tamora Pierce and the Song of the Lioness series. She has other series too, but I haven’t read them so I can’t say much, but Song of the Lioness is about a girl who pretends to be a boy so she can be a knight. Definitely a strong leading woman, and it deals with a lot of growing up issues as well.

]]> By: Tierzah http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-759 Tierzah Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:22:38 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-759 Anything by Gail Carson Levine is excellent. She has another book, slightly less well known but taking place in the same world as Ella Enchanted, called Fairest. This book depicts another young, strong protagonist overcoming adversity, while struggling with and overcoming issues of self-worth. Someone already mentioned The Two Princesses of Bamarre, which is another of my favorites. It should be noted, however, that if you're interested in Ella Enchanted, the movie is so different from the book that it ought to be called something else, and Ella is not nearly as impressive, nor is any other part of the movie, compared to the book. Read it. Don't watch it. Another good series, from what I have seen, is Cry of the Icemark. I've only read the first book, but the female protagonist in it is very powerful and independent, though young. Of course there are the classics. There are only three significant female characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but each of them is very powerful, beautiful and strong in her own way. And Hermoine in Harry Potter is no pushover. For younger audiences, female leads abound in The Chronicles of Narnia. (Once again, read the books-don't watch the movies.) And there's always Little Women, with strong-minded Jo and strong-willed Amy. Anything by Gail Carson Levine is excellent. She has another book, slightly less well known but taking place in the same world as Ella Enchanted, called Fairest. This book depicts another young, strong protagonist overcoming adversity, while struggling with and overcoming issues of self-worth. Someone already mentioned The Two Princesses of Bamarre, which is another of my favorites.
It should be noted, however, that if you’re interested in Ella Enchanted, the movie is so different from the book that it ought to be called something else, and Ella is not nearly as impressive, nor is any other part of the movie, compared to the book. Read it. Don’t watch it.
Another good series, from what I have seen, is Cry of the Icemark. I’ve only read the first book, but the female protagonist in it is very powerful and independent, though young.
Of course there are the classics. There are only three significant female characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but each of them is very powerful, beautiful and strong in her own way. And Hermoine in Harry Potter is no pushover. For younger audiences, female leads abound in The Chronicles of Narnia. (Once again, read the books-don’t watch the movies.) And there’s always Little Women, with strong-minded Jo and strong-willed Amy.

]]> By: tiara http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-758 tiara Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:40:31 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-758 I love love loved the Blue Girl by Charles DeLint! I love love loved the Blue Girl by Charles DeLint!

]]> By: jess http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-757 jess Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:04:53 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-757 I'd strongly recommend a fairly new book out there, <i>Savvy</i> by Ingrid Law. It follows a soon-to-be 13-year-old girl who takes matters into her own hands in an attempt at what she believes is to save her beloved father. The heroine in this book is strong and bold, and she knows what she wants and what she doesn't need right now. I read it shortly after it came out but just found out when trying to find the author's name again that it won a Newberry Honor Medal this year. I'm looking forward to much more from Ingrid Law, as she creates wonderfully full characters whom you actually care about. I second any Madeline L'Engle book: Meg is one of the strongest female characters I've ever read, and L'Engle's books hold up across time. Both the Law and the L'Engle books will grab a hold of a reader of any gender, because the action is fairly fast-paced with interesting things happening to the characters. I’d strongly recommend a fairly new book out there, Savvy by Ingrid Law. It follows a soon-to-be 13-year-old girl who takes matters into her own hands in an attempt at what she believes is to save her beloved father. The heroine in this book is strong and bold, and she knows what she wants and what she doesn’t need right now. I read it shortly after it came out but just found out when trying to find the author’s name again that it won a Newberry Honor Medal this year. I’m looking forward to much more from Ingrid Law, as she creates wonderfully full characters whom you actually care about.

I second any Madeline L’Engle book: Meg is one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read, and L’Engle’s books hold up across time.

Both the Law and the L’Engle books will grab a hold of a reader of any gender, because the action is fairly fast-paced with interesting things happening to the characters.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-756 Stephanie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:09:59 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-756 I love reading YA with strong female leads, and have read some good ones recently. If you like vampires, there's Melissa de la Cruz's "Blue Blood" series, which combines romance, the Upper East Side, and strong women with a great plot and interesting theology and vampires. The "Evernight" series by Claudia Gray stars Bianca Oliver, and is similarly great. Then there is "Rampant" by Diana Peterfreund which is about Astrid Llywellen, a young girl in the US who gets sent to Rome by her mother to hunt killer unicorns. Yes, that's right. KILLER UNICORNS. (This book is so awesome and deals with such great feminist issues, i can't even recommend it enough, except to say that it's a series!) Libba Bray's "A Great and Terrible Beauty" trilogy is set in Victorian London and deals with girls and growing up, Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series stars two seriously kick-ass girls (Tally and Shay), Maureen Johnson does some good stuff with her earlier books, and Melissa Walker's "Violet in Private" series is fabulous starring a girl who is plucked from her normal life working at the local movie theater and moved to New York to be a world famous model. (And it doesn't fall into the normal crazy traps! Violet is real and honest, and I am always impressed by this series.) I have so many more, but those are the first that come to mind . . . and man, I definitely feel your frustration about Bella - she *could* have been so great, and yet she never took agency and she never felt sure of herself. It was really quit annoying. I love reading YA with strong female leads, and have read some good ones recently. If you like vampires, there’s Melissa de la Cruz’s “Blue Blood” series, which combines romance, the Upper East Side, and strong women with a great plot and interesting theology and vampires. The “Evernight” series by Claudia Gray stars Bianca Oliver, and is similarly great.

Then there is “Rampant” by Diana Peterfreund which is about Astrid Llywellen, a young girl in the US who gets sent to Rome by her mother to hunt killer unicorns. Yes, that’s right. KILLER UNICORNS. (This book is so awesome and deals with such great feminist issues, i can’t even recommend it enough, except to say that it’s a series!)

Libba Bray’s “A Great and Terrible Beauty” trilogy is set in Victorian London and deals with girls and growing up, Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” series stars two seriously kick-ass girls (Tally and Shay), Maureen Johnson does some good stuff with her earlier books, and Melissa Walker’s “Violet in Private” series is fabulous starring a girl who is plucked from her normal life working at the local movie theater and moved to New York to be a world famous model. (And it doesn’t fall into the normal crazy traps! Violet is real and honest, and I am always impressed by this series.)

I have so many more, but those are the first that come to mind . . . and man, I definitely feel your frustration about Bella – she *could* have been so great, and yet she never took agency and she never felt sure of herself. It was really quit annoying.

]]> By: Molly http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-755 Molly Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:18:34 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-755 I used to love Twilight when it first came out. But by the time Breaking Dawn came, I was older, and I'd heard so many airheaded girls in my class screaming about "OMG RPATTZ IS SOO HAWT!!!" I was ready to snap. I don't enjoy the series anymore. (for more reasons than just that, including Bella turning out to be a weak character, and analyzing the book in general, but still). I loved Ella Enchanted when I was younger! The Two Princesses of Bramire was also a favorite, also by Gail Carson Levine. There was also a series about a girl and dragons I loved in junior high, but I don't remember what it was called. I used to love Twilight when it first came out. But by the time Breaking Dawn came, I was older, and I’d heard so many airheaded girls in my class screaming about “OMG RPATTZ IS SOO HAWT!!!” I was ready to snap. I don’t enjoy the series anymore. (for more reasons than just that, including Bella turning out to be a weak character, and analyzing the book in general, but still).
I loved Ella Enchanted when I was younger! The Two Princesses of Bramire was also a favorite, also by Gail Carson Levine.
There was also a series about a girl and dragons I loved in junior high, but I don’t remember what it was called.

]]> By: sabrina http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-754 sabrina Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:33:06 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-754 For little girls, I love the Eloise books, by Kay Thompson, and also the Ramona Quimby series, by Beverly Cleary. Those characters are both spunky little girls who think for themselves and aren't afraid to rebel or get into trouble. Also, with all the popularity that vampire stories are having right now, I'm surprised that Buffy isn't having a stronger surge in popularity. The story began with a movie (which I don't recommend), and a television show, which is excellent, but there are also tons of books based on the series. Buffy is a great female character, because of her strength, courage, and also sensitivity. Her strength may be superhuman, but unlike many male superheroes, her emotional struggles are more complex and interesting. Instead of repeatedly rescuing her romantic interests, she often fights alongside them, or against them, and even has to kill one of them--to save the universe, of course. I also think that Buffy is one of the few shows that features male and female characters in equal numbers (or close to them), and showing both sexes as strong and weak, good and evil, etc. The story truly has a feminist perspective, in my opinion. For little girls, I love the Eloise books, by Kay Thompson, and also the Ramona Quimby series, by Beverly Cleary. Those characters are both spunky little girls who think for themselves and aren’t afraid to rebel or get into trouble.

Also, with all the popularity that vampire stories are having right now, I’m surprised that Buffy isn’t having a stronger surge in popularity.

The story began with a movie (which I don’t recommend), and a television show, which is excellent, but there are also tons of books based on the series.

Buffy is a great female character, because of her strength, courage, and also sensitivity. Her strength may be superhuman, but unlike many male superheroes, her emotional struggles are more complex and interesting. Instead of repeatedly rescuing her romantic interests, she often fights alongside them, or against them, and even has to kill one of them–to save the universe, of course.

I also think that Buffy is one of the few shows that features male and female characters in equal numbers (or close to them), and showing both sexes as strong and weak, good and evil, etc. The story truly has a feminist perspective, in my opinion.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-753 Elizabeth Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:12:35 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-753 Oh, and any of Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series. I love Meg Murry! Oh, and any of Madeleine L’Engle’s Wrinkle in Time series. I love Meg Murry!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.about-face.org/the-twilight-series-a-new-moon-with-old-trends/#comment-752 Elizabeth Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:11:47 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=1995#comment-752 I highly recommend three books/series: 1. Oddly enough, another Stephanie Meyer book: The Host. This book is not only better written than Twilight, but has a much more interesting heroine. Actually, two heroines...but I don't want to spoil the story! 2. The Dealing With Dragons trilogy, by Patricia Wrede: Cimorene is a princess who insists on learning Latin, fencing, reading, and other un-princesslike activities. Upon learning that she is slated to be married to a doltish prince, she runs away and convinces a group of dragons to "kidnap" her. Not only good, but very funny as well! 3. The Abhorsen Trilogy, by Garth Nix: this series, which begins with the book Sabriel, focuses on young women with destinies to fulfill. Very good fantasy writing, highly recommended! I highly recommend three books/series:

1. Oddly enough, another Stephanie Meyer book: The Host. This book is not only better written than Twilight, but has a much more interesting heroine. Actually, two heroines…but I don’t want to spoil the story!

2. The Dealing With Dragons trilogy, by Patricia Wrede: Cimorene is a princess who insists on learning Latin, fencing, reading, and other un-princesslike activities. Upon learning that she is slated to be married to a doltish prince, she runs away and convinces a group of dragons to “kidnap” her. Not only good, but very funny as well!

3. The Abhorsen Trilogy, by Garth Nix: this series, which begins with the book Sabriel, focuses on young women with destinies to fulfill. Very good fantasy writing, highly recommended!

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