Twiday: It Takes a Naked Village

So, we've all seen the Details video right? And the pictures?






Ooooooh yeah.... *gazes dreamily at pictures that I didn't right-click-save to my hard drive. Because Details told us not to.*





Yeah. Thought so. After my drooling stopped and I was able to compose myself and really look at them, I have to be honest, my feminist sensibilities were starting to kick in.




Feminist sensibilities? What're you talking about? I think it just looks like we need to save Rob from the scary netted nakedness! And maybe feed the models.





Well, I was concerned about the whole "porn" thing going on in the photos. Don't get me wrong, they're hot - like every lemony fan-fic come to life (not that I've read any or anything like that).




Mmm... I have totally read fics like that. Want links?






*remembers The Office out-take you sent me - the one about Emmett* Uh, yes, please.

Anyway, then I read the Details article and found this Rob quote (which I love):

"But this shoot, it's kind of eighties nakedness, you know? If you look at porn in, like, the eighties, there was something kind of quaint about it, quite sweet—like this little naked community. The people who made it liked it, they had respect for it. Not remotely like the porn that's available now. No community in it at all. It's just everything, everywhere."

Ah - a little naked community. Yes, I do feel much better now, Rob, thank you. And it's actually quite sweet that he refers to it as such - meanwhile millions of tweeting twi-moms are taking that sentence and turning it into, "I want to have a little naked community with you Rob!" (Okay, myself included.)


Hmm... Rob thinks 80s porn was quaint and respectful? I guess if by "quaint" he means "less silicone and more hair" then yes, it was quaint. But, really, his description sounds more like a cute nudist town than a porno. You know, like a nice little place in Nantucket...



*cue bad limerick*






There once was a young lad named Robert
He was so pretty that our eyes hurt
      He drank beer from bottles
      And posed with nude models
Making all women's nipples alert

*claps for Meadow's amazing poetry skills*

So, what about you all? What did you think of the Details photos? (If you were able to think at all.) Were you inspired to write poetry too? *wink*

She'll always have Perez

Okay, first, Perez Hilton can suck it. Let's get that out of the way.







*nodding* Yes, but that kinda goes without saying.







He wrote a little post about one of WF's favorite books, Shiver. In it he points out that it is being made into a movie, and that Taylor Lautner will not be playing the part of Sam. He ends it with this gem, "Besides, this sounds like it might be even stoopider than a sparkling vampire."




Oh Perez, you are so incredibly witty! *rolling my eyes*







But to get to an actual point, I've noticed that a lot of YA fantasy writers unfortunately have to face the Twilight Comparison. Granted, people who have never really read YA are most often guilty of this, but even I made a reference to Twilight in my post on Shiver (although I did say that the books aren't comparable).

In the comments, I noticed a lot of people defending Maggie Stiefvater - saying, "But this book is well-written," and encouraging the naysayers to actually read the book. (I know - crazy idea, right?) But the thing is, since Twilight has become this huge phenomena, it seems that the books and the movies have collectively become this Thing that people cannot help but compare other YA books against. People who hated Twilight think that a book about a werewolf must be terrible as well, while people who loved it will be drawn to these kinds of books like twi-fangirls to Hot Topic.


Well, it's true. Twilight did bust the "YA Paranormal Romance" genre wide open. (In fact, was that EVEN a genre before Twilight?) So, of course, every book about a mythological being is going to be measured with a Twilight-colored ruler. (In my mind it also sparkles and has copper hair, and it may drop it's pants if you turn it upside down.)

Anyway, my point is that this comparison isn't always bad. Sure, some people are turned off by Twilight and they won't rushing to buy any book that can be uttered in the same sentence. Others (*cough*me*cough*) liked Twilight but used to shy away from the YA genre. Now I have a whole new set of books that I am reading - and loving!

Besides, Maggie Stiefvater herself knows that there's no such thing as bad publicity. She tweeted about the article yesterday, saying:

Of course, since I'm a smartass, I replied:

To which SHE replied:

THAT, my friends, is the TRUE power of the internet. If they get married I totally expect an invite to the wedding.


*whispers* Meadow, you had better take me as your date. Seriously. Because meeting Maggie Stiefvater and Legolas Orlando Bloom in one night would be dreamy.





Hmm... Think they'd invite Perez?

Reading Rain-bow: The Lightning Thief

I'll admit it, I was skeptical of this book. I must have picked The Lightning Thief up 20 times before I finally bought it a few weeks back. I thought it might be "too young" or another rip off from Harry Potter, so I always put it back down and wandered on to something else. I was wrong. This book is fun! Truly, that is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Percy Jackson.

Basically, our hero, Percy Jackson, is failing out of yet another boarding school and starts to notice some strange things going on around him. He ultimately learns that his his father is a god. A Greek god, no less. Through a series of events, he learns who his father is and accepts a quest that leads him to the gates of hell and beyond. Literally. I mean he goes to the underworld and faces Hades.

The best part of this book, for me, is the idea that the gods are still out there, walking amongst the mortals. It reminded me of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, but a much lighter (and obviously more PG) version. I loved seeing characters such as Ares, the god of war, show up in this book, complete with bad-ass biker attitude- and the bike to go with it.

I did feel like the story could have been more developed, but this is a book about a 12 year-old boy, and so probably targeted more toward that age group than my own. I'm looking forward to reading the next books and seeing how the story evolves. If you're looking for a light, easy read, this book will fit the bill and then some.

While I haven't seen the movie yet, I've heard good things and am looking forward to it. If you've seen it, feel free to let me know how it compares!