elisi's humble abode

All this talk about Twilight made me go back and dig up a few old recs, because they're AWESOME! (I'm presuming you're all familiar with cleolinda and stoney321's posts, as well as Buffy Vs. Edward. These are gems that might have slipped past you.)

'Review' (in comic book style) by tkp. If you have time for nothing else, please check this one out, it's hysterical. (This one had the girls in *stitches*. Why yes, I've done my best to make them as biased as possible!)

Chapter-by-chapter summary by shinga. Like reading the book, but much, much faster. And much, much funnier! (Example: BELLA: Oh look Edward is staring at me in a creepy manner and laughing for no discernible reason. He’s hot.)

Sparkle Time by e_transitions. BEST VID EVER OMG! *flails* It expertly pokes fun at the story (whilst re-writing it!), is very innovative in its editing AND laugh-out-loud funny. (Song: Mahna Mahna. Oh yes!)

And then, because it's extraordinary, this vid:

Sunburn by obsessive24. Takes Twilight the Movie and shows what it *could* have been. Exquisite, dark and compelling. Makes you cry for the wasted potential.

Miss M (12 in November), is currently reading two books: Jane Eyre and... Twilight. She found the former in her school library (SO MANY BOOKS! \o/) and - even though we of course have a copy - decided to borrow it. (The school one is, naturally, better.) She likes it very much and was telling me how exciting it was, since Jane liked Mr Rochester and Mr Rochester liked Jane, but neither of them was telling the other - and I realised that she's never really come across this trope before, and to have her first experience be Jane Eyre is pretty fabulous. :)

She also (since ALL her friends are into the series) decided to borrow Twilight off one of her friends, and I figured that if she read it alongside classical, romantic literature it might show itself up for what it is. And this has indeed been the case. Verdict so far? Terrible book, but she can't stop reading. Plus Bella focusses only on Edward and that got old pretty quickly. Also, of course, she's noticed how clumsy Bella is (which she finds pretty hilarious) and how she has all the other boys running after her (I explained how this was probably a reflection on SMeyer's desire to rewrite her own High School years...).

My girl has a well developed sense of snark, and I have a feeling it'll come out in force before long. Plus we can have lots of talks about what constitutes acceptable behaviour when it comes to relationships. (Not that she's there yet - boys are annoying and stupid and loud, mostly.)

Anyway, she's giving Jane Eyre a rest, since it's just become VERY SAD because Jane's left him, and Miss M is rather worried. ♥

Via Petzi from here!

Miss M (familiar to many of you now) loves to read, as I'm sure you've gathered. I've been trying to steer her towards quality, and for a long time she was happy to ignore the horrible mess that is Twilight. Unfortunately the books are very popular, and last week she asked if I'd get them for her, since she'd run out of books, and all her friends have read them. (Stoney has an excellent post on why it's not appropriate reading for young girls.) I was wondering what to do (so, so many issues that I'd have to discuss and that she's honestly still too young for) when the solution appeared all by itself: She saw a book called Diary of a Wimpy Vampire and decided she wanted that instead. I bought it on the spot. Here's the blurb on the back:

Nigel Mullet is just your average, everyday vampire. Transformed at the awkward age of fifteen, he will remain this age forever, being forced to spend eternity coping with acne, a breaking voice, and an ineptitude with girls.

One of the reviews on amazon calls it a cross between Twilight and Adrian Mole, and that is pretty spot-on. I've not finished it yet (Miss M read it in less than a day), but it is very funny. So far my favourite part is this one (partly because of the way it so beautifully sends up the 'And so the lion fell in love with the lamb' line...). Because, of course, he's crushing on a girl:

Why has this forbidden desire taken over my life? Why did I have to fall in love with a mortal? I am the predator stalking over moonlit hillsides, and she is the sheep for whom I burn with desire.

That last bit came out wrong.

See?

Wishing a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two special ladies: adriana_is and crackers4jenn! Hope you both get spoiled rotten.

PLUS a couple of great Twilight-y links for everyone:

Via Petzi: Anti-Twilight (the Buffyverse one) video by Veiriti. (Spoilers for the identity of Twilight of course.) Made me smile an AWFUL lot - especially the dedication.

Via enigmaticblues: Taylor Lautner Fan Letter To Universal: Your Wolfman Ripped Off Twilight. (Because, as everyone knows, SMeyer invented werewolves! Hysterical.)

Just in case someone missed it, the festivids Master List is now up. Go have a look, I am *sure* you'll find something to your liking! Seriously, there's everything from Wall-E to Watchmen! (The Watchmen one - Afraid of Americans is incredible btw.)

I've also come across a few other vids that I thought I'd rec:

Sparkle Time which is quite probably the most *fabulous* Twilight vid of all time! And the ending!!!

Dream Brother. Doctor/Master, but made with a very different technique than 'ordinary' vids. (Spoilers for EoT!)

If 'New Moon' Was 10 Times Shorter and 100 Times More Honest

Enjoy!

(Moodtheme continues to be awesome. Just sayin'.)

Where do I sign up for Team Jacob?

Seriously though... went to town today, and realised that the release of New Moon is less than a month away. (Hello there posters and books and assorted merchandise.) ALSO realised that they solved the 'how to make Jacob look older than 12' by... well have a look at this! And this!

So please move over Mr Sparkles, the werewolf's arrived! (Yum.)

ETA: The movie's gonna need some eyecandy, since as far as I recall the plot is beyond stupid...

I'm bringing you a Twilight vid rec:

Sunburn by obsessive24. (Yes, she of 'Bachelorette'!)

Now what it does it exceedingly clever. It (IMHO) shows what Twilight could - and should - have been. It manages to portray Edward as the inhuman, dangerous predator he is, and generally makes the whole thing come alive with tension. Also it makes Bella/Edward *hot* (I know!) and the bridge... akfjdkfdjfkdhl;kf;alskdfldskfljd!!! *flails*

Trust me, you don't want to miss it!