All books are valuable. Some might be better than others but whatever books get people READING are valuable.

For the record... those words are from my husband who is actually a librarian. A teen librarian. YOU may think that they are crap but they have their worth. If you are going to become a librarian you need to get OVER your bias about certain books/authors.

uhh, i never said i was biased against Twilight. i haven't read them yet. i don't want to purchase them personally because i don't like Stephenie Meyer's politics. and i know plenty of librarians who think Stephen King (my favorite author, and not in the running for "classy writer") is trashy and terrible.

i also think i said about seventeen times that i think it's great that teens are actually reading. Stephen Krashen, a librarian and reading theorist, did a study that concluded that it does not matter what kids/teens are reading, as long as they are reading a lot. it helps them get into the habit of reading for fun, and that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. i agree with Krashen 100%.

also keep in mind that i was not the one on this thread who was outwardly bashing Twilight. i am allowed to think that sparkly vampires are anomalous in the horror genre, and therefore silly.

and i never said they were crap.

Well, then I'm ignorant and poorly read. I've got a BA in journalism and minored in English, and have been a successful newspaper editor for 10 years (I'm only 28).

So is my sister, who's got a master's degree in English and is a teacher. Darn all of us ignorant people.

I was thinking the same thing. I've got my BA in Criminology and my husband who has his Masters in Library and Information Sciences both enjoy them. And the two of us are really the best read of anyone that I know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunflowergirl68

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First, there's really no need to cuss in this thread. I don't know about you but we're all adults here and completely capable of discussing different POVs without resulting to crudeness. I could resort to your level, but then again I don't know what that would be, I don't *have* to read any series *twice* to come to the conclusion why I liked (or in your case disliked) the series.

Having said that, nobody objected to *why* you read the series to begin with. Of course, curiousity gets the better of us. I read Twilight cuz I was curious as well. The reason is neither important nor relevant here. It is a personal preference and last I checked, this is a free country, so everyone is free to read or not read the series they want and form their opinion. The whole issue is you calling *everyone* who read and liked the Twilight series a nincompoop (to put it simply).

You could be the queen of the damned or Timbuktu for all I care, but to call everyone who read the series 'ignorant and poorly read' is just pathetic and childish. I am sorry, but your degree in English does not impress me or the fact that you say you're well read . Obviously, being both has not helped you one iota in coming up with a reasonable, rational explanation other than name calling and being judgemental towards everyone who read the books (which is funny coming from you as you read it twice ). And, it seems, the said teenager hasn't grown up despite a college degree.

We're humans and of course, we will have different opinions about various issues. Otherwise, we'll be a bunch of robots. To be honest, one does not *need* to read a series multiple times to come to a conclusion as to *why* they liked or disliked the series. I've read many books and series and have formed my own opinion (fairly quickly) as to why I liked or disliked them. It is not rocket science! I love to hear different opinions as that's how so many conversations happen and you get to know one another. And just because another person's opinion differs from mine on a book does not make that person an idiot.

As for teenage girls being stupid, well, we all were teenagers at some point. Just because some teen was stupid in relationships does not make every teen a twit. Similarly, many teens have refused to read the series for whatever reasons. I respect that. I am not denying that teenagers are not rash in their judgement, of course they are. But it's like what another member said, it is a developmental stage and hormones play a very big part not to mention peer pressure. Some grow out of it and some don't. I'd rather they read books (fluff or books with substance) than not read at all.

Just to clear your insane view of thinking...having a degree in a specialized field - music, arts, english, computers etc. - does not make you an expert on the subject but to put it simply just well aware. Even then, it is not a guarantee. I know people with degrees in specialized fields who clearly have no clue about their respective subjects. I have a degree in Information Systems, I am certainly not better than anyone who doesn't have an IS degree. I may be more aware than others in my field but that's cuz I was provided with better tools than an average person. I know many people without a formal degree who are exceptionally bright in this field.

So, please, get down from your high horse and accept the fact that you really are *NOT* an expert or that talented. As you can see, other members (& many others) with English and other degrees have read the series too and have either liked it or disliked it for their own personal reasons. But none came out and said that not only are they better than others but they *know* more about books just cuz they have a degree. A degree in English has absolutely *nothing* to do with you being well read.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Stephanie Meyers never claimed her work to be a literary masterpiece. It is fiction. She simply is there to make money as every writer out there.

I really feel sorry for the future of our publishing firms.

Brava Pintobean. Brava!!!!!!

AMEN to that!!!

I agree 100% too!!! and you are absolutely allowed to think sparkly vampires are silly! Myself...I went and got dazzled! LOL!

Now there is an intelligent and articulate arguement! Thank you!! I couldnt agree more!

I always tell my girls that when people have to resort to calling names and degrading people they are just showing their lack of intelligence, I equate it to the frustrated 4 year old calling their older sibling a stupid head because they dont have the mental capacity to form a valid arguement, nuff said on that!

You seem to have a great grasp on teen thinking so far! You are absolutely right how teens think and feel isnt wrong, its what they know at that time in their lives.

Good heavens! Quite the thread! Personally, I would have thought a BA English would be able to find words other than the four lettered variety to make a point, but what do I know? My degrees were in other areas...

Why oh WHY must every book be out there be SIGNIFICANT and IMPORTANT and "good literature"? Where is the simple FUN in reading! Heck, I grew up on Nancy Drew (crap literature!), Judy Blume (Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret!) and other such literary crap. But at least I was READING and not in front of an X Box 24-7. I was learning to use my imagination, learn sentence and grammar construction, the theme of a book, and so on. It doesn't have to be War and Peace in order to be of value!!!
And heck, I managed to get 3 University degrees without too much difficulty! Nancy Drew not withstanding...

Lighten up! Relax! Pick up a trashy novel, get over yourself, and just ENJOY...

Kira

I know no more about "good music" than I do about performing bariatric surgery. In the words of Dave Matthews (who some people just can't stand but I happen to adore), "good music is good music and the rest can go to h*ll".

I feel like you have absolutely no regard for subjectivity when that's all that pop culture is about.

Good luck in publishing.

Exactly! Why SHOULDN'T reading be fun?

If some cheesy love story about sparkling vampires inspires people to pick upa book then I'm all for it.

case in point, i just started reading Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris, and i LOVE it so far. i think i am a vampire elitist because i am obsessed with Buffy, though, so any vamp behavior that doesn't conform to the Buffyverse weirds me out.

i also love Southern fiction, and this is hitting my reading spot.

I'm on the fourth book in that series "Dead to the World" and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Trash at it's best.

i'm done with all the reading for my summer class. this is my treat. it is like candy.

also like candy (and critically acclaimed!): Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause. werewolves and teen angst. slick, sexy, fantastic.

Blood and Chocolate = INSANE AMOUNT OF WIN

Have you read the Night Inside by Nancy Baker? I think there are two or three vampire novels written by her. She's a Canadian author and her books just rock. You should give them a read. Just checked with hubby and the other two are Blood and Chrysanthemums and A Terrible Beauty.