Okay. There is something that's been on my mind, but I didn't want to bring it up. Mainly because it's my secret shame. I've read the Twilight series. I read it pretty much against my will. I'm not sure how I was able to make it through, but I did it. Here is an off-the-cuff response to a friend of mine who liked the series who wanted to know what I thought. I will just pull it straight from the e-mail (and I warn you, there are spoilers):

Her: And? What did you think?

Me: Do you really want to know?

Her: Yeah.

Me: Okay. My opinion as a writer and English major is that I can’t believe that someone who writes so badly made so much money. However, it was a compelling story, with an interesting new spin on vampire mythology, and her writing did improve, esp. in the final novel. I liked the second and the fourth best. The first and third, at some points, got so frustrating I had to put them down for a while before I could pick them back up again. I hope the movies continue to be as good as the first. I actually liked the movie Twilight more than I liked the novel Twilight, and from the looks of the director they’ve got for New Moon, it should only get better. I was reading Midnight Sun (I waited until I completed the series) and I wish that she would finish that one, because her writing has gotten a lot better than Twilight, and I find Edward’s voice and telling of the story far more compelling than Bella’s narration.

Her: There was an article on MSNBC today that Stephen King says she can’t write.* You’re not alone. But it does keep you there, especially the fourth book. I’d wish she’d finish Midnight Sun too but she has no plans at this moment.

Me: Omg, my sister called me after she read the first one, and asked me if the writing was that bad all the way through. I was stuck in the third novel and said, Pretty much, yeah. There were so many parts that were just plain muddled. I would re-read them over and over, and I still wouldn’t know what she was talking about. But. Like I said, it did improve, and she did some very smart things as a writer. My two favorite things are these: In New Moon, there are Parts that just say October November December with nothing, and I thought that was a simple and beautiful way to handle the depression after such a massive break up. The other thing was in Breaking Dawn, when she switched to Jacob’s perspective. I thought that was brilliant, b/c to have told that portion of the story from Bella’s perspective would have been a detriment b/c of how it would limit what you see going on with all the other characters. She would have been only focused on the baby, and maybe sometimes Edward.

*Okay, so even though I agree with Stephen King about Stephenie Meyers' skills, I found this response to his remarks. Even though I like Steve, I still got a tickle. The literary world is so damned catty!

Whew. Now I've almost got it all off my chest. Lately, I've been dreaming about Bella and Edward. I think it's because the movie's coming out on DVD soon. I actually considered pre-ordering it.

Now, on to other far more important things. I'm a dyed-in-the-pants Oscar fiend, and I usually write a commentary every year and then email it to all my peeps. The Champ had a brilliant idea that this year I should *gasp* BLOG IT. I honestly hadn't thought of it. So now I'm trying to figure out how to watch the ceremony since I don't have cable. The Denver nest had cable, but I got my remote privileges revoked when I decided to watch Radio. On TBS. IN BED.

Anyhoosies, if I find the means, you will have a grade-A snark attack Oscar bash on my blog on Monday. I should warn you, though. This year I haven't seen any of the films nominated because not a one of them captured my interest in any small way. Except for maybe Doubt, and only because my badass theater instructor performed a monologue from that play once. So really, this year I'm just in it for the gowns and celebrity gossip. If Katie Winslet wins, I'll be glad for her because a.) she has deserved it so many other times and b.) she has a stronger than passing resemblance to someone dear to me.

Okay, okay, I tried to make it through an entry without any more than a passing mention of my friend because I think he's not a fan of the spotlight so much, but here's another fun fact: He has seen Donnie Darko, but he hasn't seen Forrest Gump.

Hell yes.