Why I Hate Twilight

Before the twi-hards become too outraged, allow me to say that I loved the books. At least, I did at first. The first time I picked up Twilight, I couldn’t put it down. I was immediately captivated by the love story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. There was something about the way Stephanie Meyer wrote; it was the first time I experienced magic when reading a book since the Harry Potter series. But the effects were less magical and more…addicting. The books were like literary crack. I couldn’t wait for the sequels to be released. When New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn came out, I devoured them in a matter of hours. The characters she created were so believable that I was convinced that every student absent from school had to be a vampire, too. The love between Edward and Bella seemed so real, Jacob didn’t stand a chance. He was just a little boy meddling in an epic love that he could never compete with.
 
Then the movies came out. And ruined the series. The allure and romance surrounding Edward Cullen was shattered forever. Robert Pattinson had the perfect look as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. For some reason, though, the producers of Twilight made Edward pale, awkward, and stiff instead of the god-like knight in shining armor I had envisioned from the books. This made room for Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black to win over the hearts of America. Who wouldn’t love a cute, charming family friend over a potential-killer who couldn’t say more than two words at a time through clenched teeth? Gone was the beautiful romance of soul mates created in the novels, replaced by an awkward and unbelievable relationship between seemingly strangers. I won’t even bother talking about Kristen Stewart, aside from this: NO ONE looks that distraught walking down the aisle to marry Edward Cullen. Seriously.

My love for the books has been shattered since seeing the most pivotal scenes so pathetically reenacted on the silver screen. Every flaw was intensified and hyperbolized, romantic scenes were corny, and the underlying themes of love and friendship were helplessly lost. Even more appalling, though, is what the movies have done to society.  They have created a new breed of young girls and even moms: the twi-hards. Arguments over Team Edward versus Team Jacob have become as heated as our country’s political debates. I saw the first movie at the midnight premiere, and swore that I would never do it again. I only heard every third word of the movie over the hysterical shrieks of the audience’s twi-hards.
 
What happened to the young adult novels that taught us about love and friendship, the triumph of good over evil, the struggles of growing up? Where are the novels that helped us to shape our thoughts and beliefs? Am I the only one who wants Harry Potter back?
 
I’ll leave you with a quote from Stephen King: “Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.”