Not-so-guilty / non-pleasures

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Not-so-guilty pleasure
I’ve had my eye-rolling moments in the past, but I have to admit: Taylor Swift is getting better and better.  On her latest record, “Speak Now,” her songwriting has exploded, without forsaking the catchy hooks she’s so known for.  Judge if you want, but I can’t stop listening.

The only thing that I don’t understand is her dating life.  From the songs that she writes, roughly 50% of her time is spent kissing boys on the sidewalk in the rain.  The other 50% of her time is spent locking eyes with boys across the room at parties with twinkling lights.  Is this what my life should look like?

I AM A MISERABLE FAILURE.

Guilty non-pleasure

Last weekend, I finished the “Twilight” series.  It took me over a year, because the entire process was so painful.  I don’t know why I kept reading – mostly because I just decided to, and once I decide to do something, it’s hard to convince me otherwise.

There are so many things that bother me about these books, the least of which being the “heroine” (can we call her that?), Bella Swan.  A vapid shell of a girl, she offers nothing good on her own – and Stephenie Meyer allows the hot, capable, super-powered Edward to be her only saving grace, literally.

It’s totally pathetic.

Then again, I contributed $10 for each of the 4 paperbacks to advance the vampirific cause, so I guess I should just shut my mouth.

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17 Comments

  1. Matt on October 28, 2010 at 10:45 AM

    I saw a story on MTV.com the other day with this headline:

    “For Taylor Swift, Are Any Topics Off Limits?”

    I’m going to go out on a limb and say, “Yes.”

  2. The Bug on October 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM

    I felt the same way about Twilight (although I was on Team Jacob myself). I liked the last one best because at least she finally was slightly interesting. But mostly I just yelled at her – what in the WORLD did all of those boys see in her?

    On the other hand, it was told from her point of view, & don’t most of us think of ourselves in a negative light when it comes right down to it? Or is that just me.

  3. Emily on October 28, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    annie,
    i’m so glad you said that about tswift. I, too, am in love with her new cd and I have had a lot of free time at work to come up with some theories about the boys behind her songs. It will take little to no prompting to get me to share these with you this weekend.

  4. Katie on October 28, 2010 at 11:05 AM

    I think I am about 100 pages into the 3rd book (I not even exactly sure what the name of that one is). I’ve been on that page since summer ’08. You my friend, have more determination than I do.

    I was the only person laughing in the theater during the most dramatic part of the Twilight movie. My friends have not requested my presence at either of the next two movies.

  5. Jess on October 28, 2010 at 11:40 AM

    I started reading the first Twilight book in German, for practice…I’m stuck in the second chapter. Not because my German sucks, either.

    However, I’ve seen all the movies. Katie: my friend and I go and laugh at the most dramatic parts, too. ;)

  6. AnnieBlogs on October 28, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    I can’t quit Taylor Swift.

    Two full days of her. And I don’t see an end in sight.

  7. Mandy on October 28, 2010 at 1:37 PM

    Twilight and Taylor Swift. Two things aimed at teenage girls that I, a 31 year old woman, am in love with.

  8. Erin L on October 28, 2010 at 1:54 PM

    I saw Taylor on Regis and Kelly…I like that she doesn’t change who she is and she is still wowed by her fans. That’s. just. adorable.
    Also, I like that her songs are written by her (even if there seems to be redundancy) and they are HONEST…like…she uses real people’s names from her life. Awesome.

  9. Sarah Kate on October 28, 2010 at 2:01 PM

    I have seen all of the movies (thus far) with my sister and I always make sure we have a big talk afterwards about how we shouldn’t make HUGE decisions when we’re in high school and how we shouldn’t give up our identity for boys. It’s exhausting. It think of all the poor girls out there who are willing to give it ALL up for a boy – before they’ve graduated high school and how this series perpetuates that. Stupid, stupid America.

  10. natalie (the sweets life) on October 28, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    I must say, the Twilight books did nothing for me. Yet, I still read them all because I had to know how they ended.

    T. Swift on the other hand? Kinda rocking! I’ve been impressed with her new cd as well. Ha, but her life experiences as portrayed in her songs DO crack me up!

  11. Juliette on October 28, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    I love Taylor Swift. I didn’t know you weren’t really feeling her until now! I must admit I’m a little shocked that you adored Miley’s “Climb” but had no love for Taylor. I don’t know how I feel about that… :)

    and OMG, I can’t stand Bella Swan. I wanted to punch her throughout the last 3 books. Everybody else in the story was likeable or understandable for different reasons– but she was a hot mess, until she got bearable for like the last 200 pages. Sigh. Oh well. I was entertained by the series, primarily by the inappropriate cockiness of the werewolf. Guess that makes me Team Jacob. :)

    p.s. you are awesome. and i miss you.

  12. Darcie on October 28, 2010 at 9:29 PM

    I am SO on the Taylor Swift bandwagon.

    New Album = Absolute Bliss!

  13. paul on October 29, 2010 at 11:54 AM

    Annie, I seem to only catch up on reading your blog when I am having a bad day/am in a funk (or when Kim Jones tells me to). Regardless, it always makes me smile and makes me want to make better decisions about my life. Also, I am mega-jealous of your apartment.

  14. Rachel on October 29, 2010 at 2:05 PM

    haven’t read this article (yet), but thought of your blog post when I saw the link. Taylor Swift Talks “…about her much-anticipated new album, Speak Now, of course. But also about love, life and the guys who inspire those songs. (Are you listening, Taylor Lautner?) Get ready to adore even more the star who refuses to be fazed by all of her crazy success.” enjoy.

    http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2010/10/taylor-swift-talks

  15. Lyla on November 2, 2010 at 3:12 AM

    I have not touched any of the Twilight books. However, I have seen the movies. If you watch them, make sure you watch them with Riff Trax (from the same guys that did Mystery Science Theater 3000.) That’s the ONLY way you’ll get me anywhere near that franchise.

  16. Amanda on November 11, 2010 at 4:19 PM

    Finally. I’ve refused to read the Twilight series…mostly because of the hype and my disbelief that it is THAT good. Upon your brief but effective review, the matter is settled entirely for me. I’m all for saving the Hamilton’s :-)

  17. […] And when Annie Parsons sets a goal, she achieves it (case in point: the “Twilight” series). […]

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