Twilight (SPOILERS) v Harry Potter WAS: Re: Torrents

[cubfanbudwoman]

Alla:
> > > But since you mentioned them, I mean Meyer's vampires are really
> > > really not vampires, no? I mean Cullens, what features do they 
> > > have that one can recognize them as vampires? To me the main 
> > > appeal of vampires had always been you know, taming the monster 
> > > within, these are 
 "vegetarians" that sparkle, lol.

Ali:
> > The creation of glitter boy definitely verges on the "not quite
> > vampire" thing, but hey, can't say that Meyers didn't make things 
> > her own.

Alla:
> And yes I agree that writers may not agree about a lot of things, 
> but to me the thing in common is that vampires are always monsters 
> and even the ones whom we know as good guys always struggle with 
> taming the monster within.
> 
> I have not noticed much erm... struggle in Cullens. I mean, was the 
> fact that they hunt animals supposed to count as such? But then, at 
> least in the book I read I have not noticed them really WANTING to 
> drink human blood. Yes, Bella's smell excited Edward, but did he 
> want her blood? I do not remember, I could be wrong.

SSSusan:
Well, truthfully, I think this is where having given a pass to books 
2 & 3 might make a difference in how you view this issue.  I do think 
it was made clear in the books that at least some of the Cullens -- 
most particularly Jasper -- had a big-time struggle.

I mean, you're right that we don't see a whole lot of it.  If Meyer 
had decided to show us the story of each of the Cullen kids as they 
first joined the clan, then we might have seen more of that.  
Understandably, I think, she did not provide those backstories, and 
by the time we meet the Cullens, most of them have had a good long 
period of time to get their cravings in check.

FWIW, I do think the movie did a decent job of showing Edward 
struggling against his blood lust when Bella was attacked by James.


Alla:
> It just felt so wierd to me that the twit wanted to become a 
> monster, instead of say wanting her boyfriend to become human, you 
> know?

SSSusan:
Except, this wasn't a possibility in the world she created -- Edward 
becoming human.  I can see Bella's interest in joining their world.  
The Cullens were "civilized," of course, so I'm sure that made the 
possibility all the more attractive... as did the romantic notion 
of "forever."

Also, just one general comment on the topic of JKR vs. SM in writing 
ability.  I am TOTALLY in the camp that JKR is a much better writer.  
Meyer did a decent enough job, but I have almost NO desire to pick 
the books back up, which isn't the case at all for me with HP.  
Besides, JKR's use of HUMOR far surpasses Meyer's, imho.

Siriusly Snapey Susan