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Ann Cannon: Edward Cullen's attraction is simply unreal

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Mom of 3 | 7:26 p.m. April 26, 2009

Loved the commentary! LOVED the books. Did not like how you reminded me where she graduated! :)

Zoneseek | 8:07 p.m. April 26, 2009

I think you stated that really well.

LdsNana | 8:16 p.m. April 26, 2009

ROTFL!!!! Thanks, for not taking "Edward Cullen" too seriously:-)
tDMg

Comments continue below

hil | 8:56 p.m. April 26, 2009

Ohhhh I just got a kick out reading your letter to my dearest Edward! What?? he is not real??? That is a devistating fact :( But thanks for the smile! Great job!

Pete Swinford | 10:24 a.m. April 27, 2009

I can proudly say I didn't (and don't) know who Edward Cullen was.

Doodles | 11:40 a.m. April 27, 2009

To repeat, again, Edward is the soft porn of the pubescent female world. They luxuriate in the idea that he loves them totally and will defend them forever against all odds, and all they have to do is show up.

What kind of message does this send to a young girl? Is that really the standard you want to encourage in teen girls? Healthy self-esteem for todays young women is tough enough without lambasting it with Edward.

blonde in slc | 11:47 a.m. April 27, 2009

Stephanie Meyer should have stopped after the first book. She really isn't that good of a writer, technially speaking. JK Rowling is a much better writer. Even as a teenager I don't think I would have read these. That letter made me laugh. If I caught my boyfriend in my room a night staring at me, I would freak out and call the police.

Emily Butler | 12:33 p.m. April 27, 2009

Thanks for pointing out some of the potential problems in that view of the world! Might I add that in real life, you don't get to marry someone eternally beautiful, fantastically rich, and to have a child that's instantly potty-trained? Nor do you get to have your own house right at the start, get perfect in-laws or have an excuse to ignore your own family. I can see the appeal of the books, but I hope the readers won't take all that supposed perfection (because yes, Bella's relationship with Edward and Jacob is often creepy) too seriously.

JESSY | 1:02 p.m. April 27, 2009

FIRST OF ALL STEPHANIE IS A GREAT WRITER.... ALL OF HER BOOKS ARE GREAT! EVERY ONE KNOWS THAT "EDWARD CULLEN" IS NOT REAL.... IT'S THE STORY THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KEEP READING HER BOOKS. I THINK THAT GIRLS DON'T REALLY TAKE HIM TO SERIOUS.... THEY JUST THINK HE IS GOOD LOOKING SHOULD I SAY, AND YES HE IS PRETTY MUCH PERFECT.... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT......IT'S A STORY! IT'S FAR FROM CREEPY AT ALL. EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S NOT REAL! DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T WANT HIM TO BE! TWILIGHT IS A GREAT MOVIE, AND ALL OF HER BOOKS ARE GREAT. I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW MOON COMING OUT IN NOVEMBER ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD WHO JUST LOVES THE STORY ABOUT BELLA AND EDWARD!

Frightened Man | 2:45 p.m. April 27, 2009

I'm frightened that you women think Edward is perfect. He's jealous, controlling, possessive, obsessive, and basically a nightmare if he were real. He has every mark of an abusive spouse. The funny thing is, in abstract there is an entire subset of women who prefer Edward over Jake. They like the same things about Edward that you like. They don't have any interest in the kindness, concern, genuine love and interest that Jake is providing. They want the abusive prototype. Then we turn around and wonder why that abused woman wouldn't leave her boyfriend and instead married him. Bella is broken and looking for a father figure and Edward provides one. In the process he shows us all how broken we all are. Give me Elisabeth's Darcy any day and hope my daughter isn't interested in the Edward types.

Bro | 5:20 p.m. April 27, 2009

From a guy's perspective...Get a life people. Of course he's not real, hence the term FICTION. My wife read the books and loved them. She could escape from REALITY. That's the fun of reading books. DOODLES comments are the most ridicules. You better not let your kids read any books!!! What if they think magic is real, dragons, really exist, and middle earth is just on the other side of the globe. LIGHTEN UP EVERYBODY!!!

manly man | 6:05 p.m. April 27, 2009

what women forget is 1) a man can enjoy a good romance within a novel as well and 2) you forget because you are swooning over edward but twilight is also a vampire book, there are vampire fights, that get quite violent, a very manly book as well.

Mom of Twilight Fan | 1:11 a.m. April 28, 2009

You've done it again! You've proved from this column that you have won the contest on who is the best writer, you or Stephanie Meyer. I have to say, it's you hands down! Save the Twilight books-- vampires shampires--I'll look forward to savoring your columns any chance I can! Thank you!

SLC gal | 12:15 p.m. April 28, 2009

LOL. That was a great column made my day. Now pardon me while I turn back to reading "Breaking Dawn: - sigh - ;)

Tracy Jordan | 12:36 p.m. April 28, 2009

You know Ann, you really should write a book about vampires. I hear that is the cool thing to do these days.

Alyx Rice | 10:24 p.m. April 28, 2009

Ahem. First of all let me say Edward is not abusive. Also, I love Twilight and I love Edward Cullen with a deep passion. And that's just because of how he is so wonderfully described in the book. It doesn't matter to me he's a vampire(PERSONALITY COUNTS) I know he's not real and I accept that. I don't let that fiction take over every aspect of my life. Stephenie Meyer is a Excellent writer. I think that the best books out there, are the ones that can keep a reader hooked throughout the ENTIRE book. That is exactly the type of series that Stephenie has written. Edward is old-fashioned, and so that is part of the reason that me and my fellow girls out there absolutely adore him besides his good looks and perfection. He treats the women in his life with such respect, it's amazing. I KNOW HE'S NOT REAL and I KNOW IT'S ALL FICTION, BUT that DOESN"T STOP ME FROM DREAMING ABOUT IT OR THINKING ABOUT IT. I LOVE TWILIGHT and Stephenie Meyer is amazing and really has great talent. ^_^

Anonymous | 12:55 p.m. April 29, 2009

hi your artical was really funny, but stop crushing girls dreams!!!!!! we understand that edward is kinda like a stalker I mean really he sneaks into her room and watches her sleep but he is hot,hot, and hot. yet all girls still want to know that there is a guy like EDWARD CULLEN! I know that someone who is hot,perfect,smart,and gentlemanly,but a girl can dream.

Randi | 4:22 p.m. May 1, 2009

Wow. This is awesome.

Liz Lemmon | 10:09 p.m. May 1, 2009

My unofficial tally says that Edward Cullen does between 5 and 10 things to Bella that would get him arrested.

Something just occurred to me...Edward is being described as hot, smart, dreamy, a gentlemen, etc. He is also a stalker and wants to eat Bella. So, basically, Edward Cullen is a mix between Ted Bundy and Hannibal Lechter.

Alicia | 7:08 p.m. May 5, 2009

1) I don't understand why everyone keeps referring to these books as teen books... I'm not a teen and nor is my 45 year old uncle or my friends, we have all read them and loved them... Some of us love Edward, but others prefer Jake, does it matter?
2) EVERYONE inc teens know Edward is fictional, but does it hurt to dream? Does it hurt to let yourself feel once in a while, escape from reality and bury your nose into these fantastic books to just get away! I think not!

Lighten up People... Those of you who don't like these book or are too stubborn to give in to reading them..are uptight boring snobs... Relax and try and feel once in a while!

Dear Alicia | 7:54 p.m. May 5, 2009

Here is the problem: "Those of you who don't like these book or are too stubborn to give in to reading them..are uptight boring snobs".

They are teen books and you have just displayed your immaturity allowing us to discount your opinion.

Anonymous | 9:51 a.m. May 6, 2009

edward is so cute

Twilight series rocks! | 4:45 p.m. May 8, 2009

yes, i know you think edward is psycho, but thats because he doesnt want anything to happen to his soul mate, Bella. If you loved someone that much and were that connected to them, you would be possessive and protective to the extreme too. Give them a break, cuz there are guys out there who are perfect for you just like edward is for bella. edward is no where close to being an abuser either. If he were to hurt Bella at all he would probably kill himself....literally. And he has those vicious "PMS" mood swings due to the fact that he's a vampire. So stop judging ya crazy people......

Kristi | 9:25 a.m. May 11, 2009

1) They are reffered to as teen books because if you go to the book store that is what section they are under.
2) Edward Cullen is to DIE for. I'd kill to be bella... granted, the situation is unreal. =/ Ahh... if only he was realy. >_<
3) I think all four books are fantastic, as are the movies.

Ooh...I have to fo back to AP psychology now.... bye!

Anonymous | 1:23 p.m. Aug. 12, 2009

Thank you so much Ann. Loved it. So true...

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