I finally figured out why I don't like Twilight and similar books

other than the sucky writing

I was reading a series of YA books dealing with nephilim

the main female character was always being saved by her boyfriend; she was portrayed as this poor helpless thing

I can't imagine a girl today wanting to be rescued all the time but I guess some do hence the popularity of these books

and why I despise them. She agreed with my criticisms about the weak, stupid female protagonist. But...she said, "Twilight is the gothic novels we read when we were their age. Same thing. Weak, ignorant female saved by strong, dark, mysterious male who unaccountably loves her so she can live happily ever after." Except that Edward is only strong physically. He's ancient, but stuck in time as an adolescent...forever unfinished development.

I have to admit that the series feeds adolescent fantasy well, and that perhaps I should be more tolerant, knowing that fans need more years to mature and grow. Still, I wish modern teenage girls would get that excited about strong, smart, independent female characters whose relationships enrich their lives, rather than complete them.

read TWILIGHT and then the subsequent three books. I have to admit, I enjoyed them (but then I was a Barnabas Collins almost groupie when I was in my early teens -- until I read and interview with Jonathan Frid, the actor who played Barnabas where he called US women "cows." He is Canadian. )

What I didn't do was take the books seriously -- makes it so much easier to enjoy them.

I did wonder about the about the almost cult-like fascination with the seris and gave it some thought. It isn't that Bella is helpless; after all, she is being pitted against supernatural creatures (critters?) who are so strong, no human could successfully go up against. It is that Edward is such a damned perfect lover. He's protective, loving, has a conscience, has traveled a hard road to resist the temptation of human blood, and he's romantic. He is the perfect lover. (He even GLITTERS! For real!)

We, having lived a whole lot more years than the TWILIGHT groupies, know that there is no such thing as a perfect lover. We know that if we embue a guy with "Perfect Lover" status, we are setting ourselves up for serious heartache. But teenagers don't. Let them have there little fantasy for now. They will eventually grow out of it.

The female character is reincarnated again and again, while the fallen angel is doomed to fall in love and watch her die repeatedly.

I agree with you- it's a terrible lesson- abdicate responsibility to someone else, and be 'saved' again and again.

Maybe it's just escapism + romance, but I dunno..