Oh Stephenie Meyer...
Aug. 29th, 2008 04:22 pmSo I'm reading Midnight Sun, the first book from the POV of Edward, and... dear God, the more I read the more I want to punch Edward in the face. With a crowbar, since that's the only thing that would work.
Bella becomes far more interesting in this book than she seems as a POV character, and it's nice to see her actually snap at her vampire boyfriend and not accept everything. And his perspective is lots of fun in the beginning, especially right after the car accident.
But if I wanted to read about a guy thinking about the girl he likes like a puppy (aw, look at the cute widdle thing's anger!) and guilting about anything except actually, you know, hurting the feelings of the girl he supposedly loves so much...
Ugh.
Give me Jacob. His POV I actually like. Even if I do loathe him for the selfishness and borderline sexual assault.
The more I think about it... wow, this really does make the Doctor/Rose relationship seem like the pinnacle of health, guys.
ETA: I pulled her back to my car carefully, as I now knew that walking forward was challenging enough for her.
“Let go!” she said, twisting sideways and nearly tripping. I held one hand out to catch her, but she righted herself before it was necessary. I shouldn’t be looking for excuses to touch her. That started me thinking about Ms. Cope’s reaction to me, but I filed it away for later. There was much to be considered on that front.
I let her go beside the car and she stumbled into the door. I would have to be even more careful, to take into account her poor balance…
“You are so pushy.”
“It’s open.”
I got in on my side and started the car. She held her body rigidly, still outside, though the rain had picked up and I knew she didn’t like the cold and wet. Water was soaking through her thick hair, darkening it to near black.
“I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!”
Of course she was—I just wasn’t capable of letting her go.
I rolled her window down and leaned toward her. “Get in, Bella.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I guessed that she was debating whether or not to make a run for it.
“I’ll just drag you back,” I promised, enjoying the chagrin on her face when she realized I meant it.”
Just... I... How...
Where were my alarm bells? Who stole them? Who turned off my brain and Creepy Sexism Sensors? Moffat squicks me, and I almost volunteered for an online abuse hotline and have read so so much about abusive and/or controlling relationships.
GAH.
ETA2: “Do you want to ride with me today?” I asked. Unlike dinner last night, I would let her choose. From now on, it must always be her choice.
(Then, not even a page later:)
But she put the coat on before I had to resort to coaxing or commanding.
Yes, Edward. Command her. That is what women are for. ...How has Alice not smacked you yet?
Though this bit did make me giggle:
For a half-second I was distracted by the idea, the impossibility, of what it would be like to kiss her. My lips to her lips, cold stone to warm, yielding silk…
And then she dies.
Bella becomes far more interesting in this book than she seems as a POV character, and it's nice to see her actually snap at her vampire boyfriend and not accept everything. And his perspective is lots of fun in the beginning, especially right after the car accident.
But if I wanted to read about a guy thinking about the girl he likes like a puppy (aw, look at the cute widdle thing's anger!) and guilting about anything except actually, you know, hurting the feelings of the girl he supposedly loves so much...
Ugh.
Give me Jacob. His POV I actually like. Even if I do loathe him for the selfishness and borderline sexual assault.
The more I think about it... wow, this really does make the Doctor/Rose relationship seem like the pinnacle of health, guys.
ETA: I pulled her back to my car carefully, as I now knew that walking forward was challenging enough for her.
“Let go!” she said, twisting sideways and nearly tripping. I held one hand out to catch her, but she righted herself before it was necessary. I shouldn’t be looking for excuses to touch her. That started me thinking about Ms. Cope’s reaction to me, but I filed it away for later. There was much to be considered on that front.
I let her go beside the car and she stumbled into the door. I would have to be even more careful, to take into account her poor balance…
“You are so pushy.”
“It’s open.”
I got in on my side and started the car. She held her body rigidly, still outside, though the rain had picked up and I knew she didn’t like the cold and wet. Water was soaking through her thick hair, darkening it to near black.
“I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!”
Of course she was—I just wasn’t capable of letting her go.
I rolled her window down and leaned toward her. “Get in, Bella.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I guessed that she was debating whether or not to make a run for it.
“I’ll just drag you back,” I promised, enjoying the chagrin on her face when she realized I meant it.”
Just... I... How...
Where were my alarm bells? Who stole them? Who turned off my brain and Creepy Sexism Sensors? Moffat squicks me, and I almost volunteered for an online abuse hotline and have read so so much about abusive and/or controlling relationships.
GAH.
ETA2: “Do you want to ride with me today?” I asked. Unlike dinner last night, I would let her choose. From now on, it must always be her choice.
(Then, not even a page later:)
But she put the coat on before I had to resort to coaxing or commanding.
Yes, Edward. Command her. That is what women are for. ...How has Alice not smacked you yet?
Though this bit did make me giggle:
For a half-second I was distracted by the idea, the impossibility, of what it would be like to kiss her. My lips to her lips, cold stone to warm, yielding silk…
And then she dies.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:34 pm (UTC)Edward/Bella makes the Master/Donna I was reading in another window look healthier; by comparison Doctor/Rose is the healthiest thing in the history of things ever. XD
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:44 pm (UTC)It sucks, and I feel very very bad for her (just picturing one of my first drafts getting read by someone... ugh), but it definitely makes for an interesting accompaniment to Twilight.
And reading this from his POV, though, I'm just baffled that I missed all this on first read-through. I mean, he just physically and verbally forced her into getting into his car so he could drive her. And he sees nothing wrong with this. Do what now?
Also, completely OT, but ooooooooooooh, manga? And Donna/Master would be, um, interesting...
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:49 pm (UTC)Hah, funnily enough the scene you reference where he forces her to get into his car was the first scene at which huge alarm bells started going off in my head. Like: either Bella is just flirtily being annoyed but obviously doesn't mind, or she obviously does mind and he doesn't force her to come with him. Eek.
The manga in question is Naruto, cos
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:54 pm (UTC)She's suspended writing indefinitely because of what happened, so I think you might have a bit of a wait ahead of you.
Also, ear plugs. They do wonders. :)
Hah, funnily enough the scene you reference where he forces her to get into his car was the first scene at which huge alarm bells started going off in my head.
Yeah, I just don't get what happened to my alarm bells. I mean, did someone shut the switch off? Was I really really tired or drunk? Just... ugh.
Hmm, I've heard interesting things about Naruto. Never read it, though.
And was
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:57 pm (UTC)And it's possible for the alarm bells to get switched off while reading those books, I think. First, Bella has very odd reactions to things, and if you're paying attention to her thought patterns you start noticing different things than you might normally; second, it's so much like fast candy that it's really easy to just miss stuff and instead go "...wait, he's a fallen angel who sparkles in the sun?"
Naruto is sort of adorable so far, especially now that I'm a few chapters in and my brain has switched over to "understanding manga-writing" again. And Fahye is indeed the one with the original fic from which I borrowed. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 09:26 pm (UTC)Not wank so much as, since everyone has read this earlier version and since this version got leaked, she's very hurt and angry (and probably more than a bit uncomfortable and upset as a writer) to work on it at the moment. She has a news item about it on her site. And no matter what I think of her as a writer, I can understand where she's coming from. *Shrugs*
"...wait, he's a fallen angel who sparkles in the sun?"
And with that, I think I'm broked. *Cannot stop giggling*
He sure as hell angsts enough for a fallen angel. I think I prefer Bella's worship than his actual thoughts most of the time, though.
And Fahye is indeed the one with the original fic from which I borrowed. :D
I've been meaning to read that fic... And the rest of DWS5, for that matter. Silly Organic Chemistry and Russia and their distractions.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 08:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-29 09:02 pm (UTC)*g*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 01:14 am (UTC)When are you coming to campus, do you think?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 04:25 pm (UTC)But, um.... the undertones are not fun once you see them.
And I am coming on the night of 9/2. :D You?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-31 01:57 am (UTC)I'm here now! :D Already unloaded some stuff into the room, saw two of my roomies + Corinne and Sara. They tried to eat my brain. Same old, same old.