What has this world come to?

[tunes]

I don't think high sales make these books good. McDonalds is a huge corporation, but that doesn't mean the food is good or good for you. Twilight is poorly written, and contains pretty twisted depictions of relationships. While I do understand the idea behind don't like, don't read, it is impossible to form a valid opinion on the books before reading them. After reading them, I think it is valid to critique them.

And I'll say to that, if they suck, you stop after the first one. You don't go back for the next 3 or go to the next 3 movies. If you do, and you continue to say they suck, then there's something wrong with you, not the books/movies.

ETA: Renata is a beautiful name. I can see a beautiful little long haired girl with that name.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

I went to college with a nice young man whose parents had decided to include some family names when naming him. His name was Bigley Richard Padgett.

Can you guess what his fraternity brothers called him??? Oh, yeah, you're right -- Big Dick Padgett!!! I swear this is true!!!

I should mention that I am thankful that my parents named me Ann Lynn. I think that it's a lovely name. There's no goofy nicknames you can make from it. Ann was a very popular name when I was growing up, so I ended up going by Lynn, but that was better than some nicknames that other kids got stuck with. Since I'm from the south, I have that good old southern two name thing going, so my family calls me Ann Lynn. The only problem I had was in the 80s when the TV show ALF was on. My initials are ALF, so I took some grief for that!!!

 

[3CsMommy]

Unfortunately, the definition of "good reading" is subjective. I read 2 pages of Ms. Meyers' first book and nearly tossed it in the trash to give the girl I borrowed it from a copy of "Interview with a Vampire". The closest I've come to watching anything spinning off of it was the SNL skit where Taylor Whatshisname spoofed Twilight fans and their "Team XX" nonsense. However, the Romance Novel industry STILL pulls in over 8 Billion dollars annually, proving that a book/series doesn't have to be great literature to make money as long as it entertains people. What I find unfortunate is that the entertainment element of literature is so much more important to people than the intellectual element. (Says the girl who read Ivanhoe in 4th grade and felt bad that she had to explain it to her reading teacher.) Naming children after Jane Austen heroines has happened well before now and will continue to happen for a long time (I hope). It's the little Bella Sparkle Cullen-Joneses of the world that I pity.

 

[tunes]

When, exactly, did "great works of literature" become part of the discussion? If it was being discussed, I would think one of the very last books that would qualify for that would be Interview with a Vampire.

You guys are getting all uppity over "great works of literature" as opposed to something that is entertaining and sells. Nobody said it was a great work of literature, least of all me. I said, again, that it is obviously a good book to the people who lined up to get the next in the series and who lined up to watch the movies and buy the merchandise. Whether you guys think it is good or not doesn't matter, and obviously hasn't affected sales one little bit.

 

[Remyma0408]

People think I named my son Remy because the movie Ratatouille came out (I think) the year before he was born. Honestly, I'd never seen the movie or even heard of the name until I came across it on a baby name website.

Oh and I wanted to add, my name, Elizabeth Marie Smith... yeah I know I shouldnt put it out there like that, but seriously, how much more common can you get??:banghead::banghead:

 

[threewingedfury]

I personally see nothing wrong with the names, they've been used for years and they're just more popular at this time due to the books. It's not like anyone is going to relate the name Jacob to Twilight years from now. As Peggy said, in a few years, we won't even think about Twilight after all the movies have been released and the anticipation is over. My nephew has been Jacob for 10 years, as well as the fact that he has an uncle named Edward. I'm sure no one has ever mentioned to them - did your mom name you after a movie star?

Personally, I'm all for original names. Not the basic name that everyone around the corner has. If anyone has seen the names of my chins they know how crazy I am lol. My favorite name of all though is Andariel, from a Diablo II game I played years ago. I always swore that if I had a child, I'd name her Andariel. I could care less what anyone else thinks about the name, I like it. You surely won't find any other kid in the school by that name. Do you know back in 4th grade there were 6 Tiffany's in my class (Tiffany, Tiffani, Tiffeny, Tiphanie, etc). I guess we were all named after the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's? Who knows..

 

[Laurie]

Liz when I see Remy I think of Dennis Quaid from the Big Easy! That movie was great! I also think of Remy as a cool Cajun name--I had no idea it was even in Ratatouille!

Just because works are considered great works of literature also does not make them great. Some of the Puritans works are horrid, yet they are considered great works of literature. The Scarlet Letter was a bit boring if you ask me! Some of Hemmingway's stuff is not that great, some of Fitzgerald's work not that great--some of Jane Austen's stuff isn't that great either--it's all the reader's perception.

To me what makes a great book or a great movie is when YOU become the character. If you can cry and feel joy in the place of the hero or heroine that to me makes it a great work of art. I bawled my head off in Top Gun when Maverick didn't want to let go of Goose--why? Because I WAS Maverick! My careless actions had now caused the death of my best friend.

If you can read a book and be transported through time, or live on a different planet, or be someone and something totally different than yourself--that's where the greatness lies.

We all have different perceptions of what is good and what isn't. I don't read teen books because I am not a teen any longer. When I want romance I want romance and sex, I want something I can relate to know and not as a teenager. But I understand fully not everyone is the same, just because you are a woman of 50 doesn't mean you can only read hardcore romance and sex--you can read teen romance if you wish, BUT a teen should not be reading anything hardcore--that's just not right.
Yep it's the double standard of the world, live it, learn it, love it!

Wow what a rant this has become from me! LOL!

 

[bpayne1217]

I'm so annoyed by this, I love the name Isabella. It's always been my favorite name for a girl and in a few years when I have a daughter I don't want people to think I named her after Twilight. now, I do love the books and the movies are pretty good...but seriously. And even worse...I like the name Jacob alot too. but there is no way in heck I'd name my childeren jacob and bella...ugh!! I named my cats after the movie...but they're CATS. it's what I've always done, named my pets after characters. Ever since i was a little kid. But I wouldn't do that to my child...

 

[Isabella Whateva]

This makes me particularly angry because I really like that my name has been uncommon my whole life. Now it's the number one baby name!!! That annoys the crap out of me. I like being different...

 

[Laurie]

Jacob has been number one for 11 years so I'm sure it's not a Twilight thing--don't know what to say about Isabella though--I love the name I think it's beautiful. I love old fashioned names--for me Miriam and Ruth are gorgeous names I doubt they'll ever make the top of the list.

 

[Melissa]

I never said the names were bad or weird. I was simply stating that I didnt like that the names (minus Jacob) were more popular now because of the movie.

I also dont like the books because they are poorly written. I have tried on several occasions to read them. But I just cant finish them. The movie, the acting is bad and I think becuase I wasnt able to enjoy the books I cant enjoy movies.

Just to repeat.. My OP wasnt about the names themselves it was about the reason why people are naming their kids these names. I, myself, like tradition names and I find the names Bella and Jacob very nice but I wouldnt name my children those names because of the movie.

 

[Spoof]

I have tried to read the books at my friend's request. Still haven't been able to get very far. Have not watched the movies.

People assume I'm named after the plantation in Gone with the Wind. It turns out my mom knew a girl in school with my name and liked it. I answer to both Terra and Tahra though it is spelled Tara. Or I am reading a *good* book and ignore you completely.

 

[ticklechin]

I was named after a song by a psychedelic rock group, got to love those hippies.