by Shelby
Did you know I used to have a bookstagram and a blog? It was called A Lit Major’s Bookshelf where I reviewed books, both academic and not, and did some fairly cute flat lays for pictures. While fun in the moment, proved to not hit home the way I wanted it to and, like many other failed attempts, I stopped doing it. Sob story, I know. But now I have A Trust Fund and I’m thriving and would like to incorporate more book reviews—the ones that matter, like this one.
Oh Midnight Sun, how I fell for your charming ways.
I read Twilight in two days. I was at my dad’s house, and, at the time, he lived in a 55-and-up neighborhood, there was nothing else to do. My childhood best friend and cousin, Sydney (different Sydney than the one here), was extremely excited for the fourth book, Breaking Dawn to be released and I rode her wave of excitement to purchase the first book. And I devoured it. Looking back on it now, I think I can safely say that I hadn’t yet read anything like it before. Not that there is anything revolutionary about Stephanie Meyer’s world other than it entered my life at a crucial point. 2008, hitting puberty, starting middle school, every emotion ever coursing through our bodies, it was only fair that so many young people fell in love with these darker, seemingly romantic (I’ll get into that more in a second) and all-around “older” stories. These characters are high schoolers after all! And Edward is like 100 something! In middle school, I only wanted to be in high school and through these books, unlike other YA’s, I was transported to an “adult” world. Furthermore, this type of writing, this gripping, startling, heart-pumping (remember, I was thirteen), and irresistible writing suddenly became my calling. I dog-eared pages (particularly in the third book, Eclipse) I could return to for inspiration. I wanted to only read that and I wanted to only write like that. It is safe to say that Mrs. Meyer could count me in on the crazy train headed for Forks, Washington. But then I grew up and this world stayed the same.
Real Twilight fans will know that Meyer actually posted the beginnings of this version of the story told by Edward on her website circa the same time, maybe a little later. For some reason, Meyer felt betrayed by her fans (honestly I don’t remember the real reason), that she took down the post and vowed to never continue the story. You had us fooled, Stephanie! You sneaky little minx, writing this without our knowing and then dropping it, almost out of the blue it seemed. Of course I will preorder. So I was fucking excited for this—to finish the Tea, if you will. I know I haven’t been that excited for a book release in a long time. So, is it me, or did this book flop? Look, I am not trying to insinuate that the first three books were works of art, but this one just *insert trumpet wah-wah sound*.
There were some not terrible scenes, that I’ll point out at the end, but let’s start with what I disliked. The fucking length. Midnight Sun comes in at 658 pages (hardcover edition), while Twilight is just shy of 500. Ladies, remember, bigger doesn’t mean better. There are definitely scenes that were allowed to be expanded on—like when Edward peaced after meeting Bella for the first time—but the passages Meyer chooses to detail aren’t that enlightening. It takes about 300 pages for anything to really start happening. In those first hundred pages, we have the slow, slow crawl of their budding relationship—the scenes where they exchange favorites:
“What's your favorite gemstone?”
“Topaz.” She said this in a decided way, but then her eyes suddenly tightened and red flushed acroass her cheekbones…
“What does that make you … embarassed?”
“It’s the color of your eyes today,’ she admitted. (274)
Or when Edward watches her sleep at night (ew) and Edward’s constant inner whiny and depressed inner monologue about being a monster and a hypocrite: “As long as I burned, she was safe” (192). Just gag me with a spoon.
Edward doesn’t take Bella to the meadow, where he shows her his bedazzled skin, until page 341 which is originally a hundred pages earlier in Twilight. Truly, things don’t seem to start happening until the last hundred pages or so, and then everything feels rushed. There was so much written, and barely any substance. I know this couldn’t be an entirely new story—it must mirror the original plot—but I was still expecting something new, some character growth.
It can be said that Edward and Bella’s relationship is an abusive, toxic one. Edward is wildly possessive, overbearing, violent, and creepy (and I’m sorry, but Robert Pattinson was handed a shit role and director cause he’s brilliant now, but man, those movies are trash). Bella, in return, falls for this relationship, so much so she internally breaks in the second book, going into a massive depressive spiral, and totally losing it over a boy. Get yo shit together. I knew Midnight Sun would have to hold some of that weight, but I was hoping Meyer would find a way to redeem the relationship, show us a side of Edward that made him staring at her every night a little less creepy. But she didn’t, Edward still totally sucks? (No pun intended). The book is the behemoth of Edward’s mind, and yet there is nothing to show for it. He’s sad and wonders how he could do this, fall in love with a human, to his family and his life. But he’s never met anyone like her before and she just smells so good. 600 pages later, I’m left wanting more. So much more. Did Edward have more growth as a character in Twilight? I’m now not remembering, but man, this Edward is a bummer. In the story as a whole, Edward could—and should—have great growth. He overcomes his number one challenge and regains his humanity through saving and loving Bella. Yet that sentence had more emotion behind it than the entire book. Everyone is just…so flat! So repetitive and redundant, I found myself skimming scenes just so I could finish a chapter.
Truly all of that said, and even though I did voice it once or twice before, I don’t (necessarily) regret buying Midnight Sun. The nostalgic rush of the release and of it arriving at my house, fresh and full of potential is intoxicating enough I’d do it all over again. I’m also a big proponent of needing to own every book in a series (if I particularly like the series, that is). I do also own the connected novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. I’ve also read, and surprisingly enjoyed, Meyer’s ventures away from Twilight with The Host, but most people like to forget that one existed. To wrap things up, in a way I now have closure for the favorite book series of my childhood. Pretty silly, more or less unimaginative and redundant, but oh so captivating, all the same. I won’t miss Edward and Bella, but I do appreciate their relationship as a stepping stone to true, supernatural love.
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Shit We’re Loving: READ
Shelby’s Pick: Anything by V. E. Schwab but mostly Vicious and A Darker Shade of Magic
We might be talking more about YA’s in our collaboration on Friday, so I’m going to hold off posting my favorite series that’s way better than The Twilight Saga and instead offer to you one of the most versatile authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Everyone, please go read anything by V. E. Schwab. Sometimes named, in their earlier work, Victoria Schwab, but now they have embraced the badassery of an abbreviated name. V. E. has written middle school grade books, young adult series, and adult novels, making their voice range and fit into three very different genres. While I haven’t read any of their middle-grade books (sorry, being 26 has really changed my perspective on books younger than me), I have read the first installment of the young adult stories about the Monsters of Verity series, This Savage Song. Even though it is obviously a little younger than I, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was my first introduction to V. E.’s simply incredible voice and writing style.
I then read the first book in their Shades of Magic series, A Darker Shade of Magic, and was once again enthralled beyond belief. I do jump around books and series, sometimes reading more than two or three at a time, so while I haven’t started/finished the sequel, A Conjuring of Light, it is on my TBR shelf, sitting pretty and waiting patiently. What I’m currently reading of theirs is the first book of their Villians series, Viscious which is just wow. I truly don’t know how to describe V.E.’s writing other than “wow.” It’s descriptive and detailed but not overdone. It’s juicy and poetically said; it emits so much emotion from the character (even though they’re all written in third person) and connects to every emotion in the reader. Their verbiage and vocabulary are unparalleled and make the reading experience leagues better than Twilight. Most of all, their characters are not flat, they are evil, troubled, confused, lonely, desperate, scared, powerful and powerless. Bella and Edward don’t have to work for anything while V.E.’s characters overcome improbably hurdles of love, enemies, and themselves.
I cannot read their The Invisible Life of Addie which is set to release next month and The Near Witch, another young adult story, but it looks haunting and I need to own it.
[All links to books on Bookshop are affiliate links!]
Show Your Support: OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance)
With each new month comes a new organization to spotlight. While I definitely haven’t been great about keeping up with donations, and my spotlight is pretty dim…I’m still trying! Working with organizations and, more importantly, donating my resources is extremely important to me, and as I move ATF forward, so will our donating practices. In the time being, the month of September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so we are supporting OCRA, the largest global nonprofit advancing ovarian cancer research while supporting women and their families.
Since 1998, OCRA has invested over $100M in ovarian cancer research and remains the only ovarian cancer-dedicated voice on Capitol Hill. OCRA isn’t just about raising money for research (though that definitely is a huge part); they also offer workshops and educational opportunities for healthcare providers to better inform themselves on this deadly disease. They have an annual conference where current patients and their families, survivors, and those left behind can convene to advocate for change in our healthcare system.
They want you to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer because while it is extremely present for some, it seems most others are unaware of it altogether. Check out this handy infographic I stole from their website! They also have a little quiz to test or refresh your knowledge on ovarian cancer. And remember, 1 in 78 people with ovaries will develop this cancer—so let’s all be informed!
Per usual, A Trust Fund has already donated $100 to OCRA in support of our fellow ovarian-carrying friends. If you want to donate, they are currently raising $200,000 specifically for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and if you pledge over $75 (which we did!) you get access to their annual conference digitally for free!
Daily Intention
Today I will…
Dig out my favorite middle school / high school books and just see the trash we all loved.
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: