The Readirect Podcast

Revisiting Twilight, Twenty Years Later

• Emily Rojas & Abigail Freshley • Episode 82

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In honor of the 20th anniversary of Twilight's release AND to commemorate our origins as a podcast, today's episode is all about Twilight! Hear our experiences attending screenings in the theater and our updated thoughts now that we are fully formed adults and not Edward-obsessed tweens. Plus Emily's 14-year-old self's unedited thoughts on the Breaking Dawn of it all. 

Read: Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight by Sarah Gallagher

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SPEAKER_00:

We're sitting there and he's not putting a seatbelt on. And and the car is just like ding, ding, ding. And then I said, Are you gonna put your seatbelt on? And then he goes, You put your seatbelt on.

SPEAKER_04:

And he was like, I've been planning that for months.

unknown:

That was so funny.

SPEAKER_04:

He was like, I have been planning that for months.

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the Redirect Podcast. My name is Abigail Freshley.

SPEAKER_02:

And I'm Emily Rojas. The Redirect Podcast is the show where we shift the conversation back to books. We discuss themes from some of our favorite books and how those themes show up in our real lived experiences.

SPEAKER_00:

On today's episode, we're chit-chatting about Twilight again. Hootin' and hollering.

SPEAKER_02:

Shifting back to our real life experiences of uh falling in love with vampires who sparkle. But before that, we would love for you to support our show in a few simple ways. If you love us, go and leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know that you love the show.

SPEAKER_00:

You can also follow us on Instagram and Blue Sky at redirectpodcast. And if you really, really love the show, please share our show with a friend. Sharing our show with a friend is by far the best way to grow our community of book loving nerds. Totally, totally, totally.

SPEAKER_02:

So hey.

SPEAKER_00:

You know what I was just thinking when I was saying that? We should do another um, we should do a gift guide again this year.

SPEAKER_02:

I was thinking that, and I wanted to say that someone commented on Spotify and said, I would have loved to submit a book recommendation, but I don't have any social media. Oh and so you guys should have an email. So I wanted to shout out, we've never publicly said this, but our email is uh the redirectpodcast at gmail.com. If you want to share us, yeah, we'll just get you. Um but yeah, go go chat with us at on email. If you don't have social media, feel free to send us a message over there and um we you know we can talk to you there. So next time we do a listener book recommendations episode, we you know, years from now, we will shout out our email address so you can uh reach out there if you don't have an Instagram. But anyways, uh what were we talking about? Hey, let's talk about Twilight. Yeah, so oh a gift guide. Yeah, we should do a gift guide. We should do that. That's what made me think of it.

SPEAKER_00:

Why did that make you think of it?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I was thinking about the the book exchange we did last year. Um and that's the only reason I set up this email address was so that I could email people their book exchange information. So maybe we'll do that again too. Who knows?

SPEAKER_00:

I think I like specifically want to help people think about how they can shop small for bookish items this year.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So anyway, we'll we'll get on that. We'll we'll get on it.

SPEAKER_00:

So yeah. All right. Well, Twilight came back into theaters. 20th anniversary. And we went. We both went. Um, we haven't really talked about it because we're saving it for here.

SPEAKER_02:

We haven't.

SPEAKER_00:

But we wanted to like well, we just wanted to do some catching up. We thought we would spend a good portion of this episode talking about that experience, what it brought up for us. Um, it's been a while since we had like look, it's the reader podcast. We shift the conversation back to Twilight. But it's been a while since we had like a dedicated conversation about it.

SPEAKER_02:

So yeah, and it was one of our first episodes. Um, and please don't listen to it. So if you're new here, you probably missed it, and uh, it's always a good time to revisit it. So I should have should have tried to find our notes from that first ever episode, but um, anyways, yeah, that was like ages ago, and I don't recommend re-listening to it. So yeah, we're here. Okay, well by the experience, going to see it. Okay, so I only went to see Twilight. I did think actually me to okay, really? Okay, good.

SPEAKER_00:

I ended up not going to, I had to so I had overextended myself socially that week, and I was not looking forward to going, so yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I feel like it was good just to stick to the first one. I am I was I am interested in like how what the attendance was like at the rest. Um, but and my theater near me is like still doing eclips only. So I'm like, was that the most popular one? Um for like the extra week, like this past week they were running eclipses because I was looking at it, but um, anyways, I went on the Twilight Night by myself and it was sold out, like every seat was filled. Um it was very funny. People were like giggling, no one was like downright laughing, but it was giggly, it was like very giddy, and very funny because there was next to me a couple where one of the people had obviously like seen, like loved Twilight, and then the other one was had never seen it before. And so the one who hadn't seen it, she kept being like, Wait, what?

SPEAKER_01:

What like like just baffled? Like the scene where Edward's standing uh watching her sleep for the first time. She was like, What the f. So her reactions were so funny to me.

SPEAKER_02:

Like that was the highlight of it because just every weird thing, she was just like, You so you you like this? Like you watched this growing up, and uh that was fun to like watch it through the eyes of someone who had clearly like no experience with the world of Twilight. Um and just to be around a bunch of people who like love the thing that you love. It was really fun and just really funny. And um, I have a lot of extra thoughts about it, but I would love to hear about your experience first.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Well, Zach and I went together. Um I would it was first of all, it was stressful getting there because Zach wasn't ready in time to leave.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, classic.

SPEAKER_00:

And he doesn't listen to this, so he won't even hear me show. But I was so annoyed.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, no.

SPEAKER_00:

And then so I'm already kind of pissed off, okay? Yeah, yeah. Because I'm like, it's very clear there is no previews for this movie.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. This is a like it's a special thing.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. So we get but we get in the car, and I'm kind of grumpy. Because also when he came home from work that day, he was kind of grumpy. And then that's what caused him. I'm like, why are you grumpy? You're making this my problem. Yeah. Oh my god. And now you're taking your time. Like, oh my god, and then he like forgot, he forgot something, so you had to go back up the stairs. Oh. Oh, I was like, I'm leaving. I was like, I was I was I was using all of my skills to not. Good for you, you know. Good for you, yeah. Anyways, we get in the car. I'm driving, of course, because I always drive. And we're sitting there, and he's not putting his seatbelt on. And and the car is just like, ding, ding, ding. And then I said, Are you gonna put your seatbelt on? And then he goes, You put your seatbelt on.

SPEAKER_04:

And he was like, I've been planning that for months.

unknown:

That was so funny.

SPEAKER_04:

He was like, I have been planning that for months.

SPEAKER_00:

But imagine I'm already enraged. You know, I'm already like, and I'm like speeding to get there.

SPEAKER_02:

Didn't that make you laugh? Like, did it diffuse the tension?

SPEAKER_00:

It did, it did diffuse attention a little bit. That's good. But then guess what? Tension ratcheted back up because when we get to the movie theater, the parking garage is completely full. So I'm like circling. Yeah, it's just like a whole thing, anyways. Yeah, we get there. Thank God I had the foresight to order snacks ahead of time so they'd be ready to pick up. Yeah. Okay. So now I've shared a lot about this experience. We haven't even gotten to the movie yet. So we're in there. It's also full, whatever. Um, and I had a really fun audience. There was a lot of laughing, there was a lot of cheering, and like, whoo, yeah, and like clapping when like awesome moments happened, like classic moments. Yeah. Also, like I guess just my observation is that it was so camp. Yes. Like on the big screen, I was like, oh yeah, this movie is like really campy. Yes. Like it's not um, like I'm having not that I take it seriously, really, ever. No. But like I'm especially not taking it seriously right now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, um, I think so. You did you miss there? Was like a director's commentary before?

SPEAKER_00:

Like right at the end of that.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. So there's something that Stephanie Meyer said that I've been thinking about so much, and I I think it influenced how I was watching the movie because she said she said this about Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Bella, but I actually think it's true for the entire movie, which is that she said Kristen Stewart, people like glommed onto Bella because she played the character earnestly. She didn't play it like sarcastic. Yeah, I'm like, okay. But I think this is actually true. She didn't play it with any sarcasm, she didn't play it for laughs, and I think actually that's the entire first movie. Like, nothing is intentionally funny. It's like not played for a joke, and that's it.

SPEAKER_00:

There's no there's no purposeful jokes.

SPEAKER_02:

No, like it's all like, and like Edward, he's doing these things and it's hilarious, but he's like being serious, and she said, like, that's what the experience of being like a teenager is. It's just everything does feel this life and death and um this series, and that's why like so many people loved her. But I think, like, yeah, that's what makes the movie camp unintentionally, is because it's like everything is written and directed, like the scene in the baseball where they're like catfighting each other, like that's all being played not as a joke, but it's so funny. Baseball scene, not a joke, iconic, iconic, but that's what makes it so good, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

And I think that's what makes it like worth re-watching. Well, no, no, no, we just like that's gotta be a home run. Edward's fairy face. Okay, I can't. No, it was it was great. Um, one thing I'll also say Charlie more dilf than he's ever been. I would maturing is becoming a feral cat in heat when you see Charlie on the big screen with like his vitamin R beer.

SPEAKER_01:

Like I he's hot.

unknown:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

I have the exact same reaction. I'm like, I'm gonna say hello. Literally, I'm turning 30 tomorrow when I'm recording. And I'm like, wait, I do not remember Charlie being this hot. Like, I he is like, I mean, how old was he when he made this movie?

SPEAKER_02:

Like, obviously, I don't know. It's just like that is maturing because I had the the second he comes on screen, and also why does he have such amazing chemistry with Billy? I know.

SPEAKER_01:

Am I too A3 brained, or do they like are they flirty with each other?

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. How old is Billy Burke? What year did this come out? I don't know. What year did I think it was 2008 Twilight? That sounds right. I was in middle school. So yeah, 2008. Okay. He was 42.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, that's definitely more age appropriate in my mind than 18, which is what like Edward's supposed to be.

SPEAKER_00:

So yeah, no, I've crossed, like, I look if I've had a like if a friend my age was dating a guy who's 42, I wouldn't be like alarmed. Yeah, I'd be like, I'd be a little old. But like, you're 30. Yeah, yeah. You know, like whatever, you can kind of date. I it would be now if my friend who was 30 told me they were dating an 18-year-old, I would be like, I think you should maybe stop. Calling the cops. Yeah, I'm calling Charlie because he's like, But if you're dating a 42, like go off. Who cares? I don't care. Honestly, if a if a 30, if one of my friends who's 30 started dating a 60-year-old guy, I would honestly probably just be like, whatever, you're 30. Live your life, yeah. Yeah. Like that's that's kind of sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Whatever. Yeah. No, I had the same reaction to Charlie, and I was just, yeah, I was I was uh blown away by him. So I just look at that TikTok audio. They're like, no, no.

SPEAKER_00:

Hello. Oh, another funny moment in the theater was whenever she comes over for dinner and they're like, Bella, we're making Italiano for you. And then she's like, I already ate, and Rosalie crashes the bowl. Yes. I didn't. That was so funny. So funny. There were so many moments I laughed out loud at and because it was in the theater and it was like this communal watching experience.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. Everyone was laughing. I was holding back laughter um like too many times. Like the whole time I felt deliriously happy with it. Um, and it was just so funny.

SPEAKER_00:

So life is worth life is worth living.

SPEAKER_02:

I wish I could have watched all of them in theaters, honestly, but we were gonna go back for New Moon, but I mean New Moon might be kind of a bummer. It's not as funny, yeah. So maybe just like the breaking down part two is what I should do.

SPEAKER_00:

No, because I wanted to be there for two moments for for New Moon when Taylor Latner takes a shirt off after she cra after she crashes the motorcycle, and she's like, True, Jake, you're like ripped. And because I remember being a like a middle schooler, high schooler watching that come out in theaters and being like, Yeah, yeah, philal. And I also wanted to be there for the Bella, where the hell is Bella? Ben Loca, Bella, Bella.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh god, it was so good. It was so good. And you know what? Actually, too, this part time that I the scene that I like noticed more than I think I ever have is the one where she's riding in the car, like fleeing town with Edward, and she looks and she sees her friends from high school, and they're all like having a good time, and she's like watching them in slow motion. I'm like, what is this? Like, what was the point of the scene? I don't know, but it's actually genuinely so sad. Is like this is the life she could have had, could have just been normal, and instead she's like being hunted by James. Yeah. Also, I have a lot of questions about the interpersonal dynamics of the James, Laurent, Victoria. Like, they're living out in the woods, they're half dressed, but then like Laurent, no, like is Laurent watching James and Victoria too.

SPEAKER_00:

What's going on there? I think in canonically, Laurent is the the head of the coven. Right. And he's like, I can't put up with James, James's games any longer. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, but yeah, I don't know. Like, what's the situation there? You know, uh bummer for them. So I had a great time though. Had a great time. I was a blast. It was so much fun. Um life is worth living. Life is worth living. But how long do you think, like, is it when we die out, our generation, that Twilight will die? But because like this thing sold out on a Wednesday night.

SPEAKER_00:

I mean, you're thinking about I'm trying to think about like other cult classics, right? Like Star Wars. That's that movie came out in like 1972 or something, 1974. And I think if they re-released Star Wars, yeah, it would sell out. And that's beyond the generation of people who experienced it when it first came out. I mean, I think well, well, well, I think the next frontier is a remake. I know, I was just thinking that because we're they're redoing uh, you know, Harry Potter. And it's gonna be like Twilight, or it's gonna be like Star Wars, where they make like spin-offs. Spin-offs, prequels, whatever.

SPEAKER_02:

Stephanie Meyer, you disappointed us by not writing one of those. Why do you think why do you think she hasn't written anymore in this world? Like she's written these like more speculative works like Life and Death, which we've talked about, and um Midnight Sun, but why do you think she hasn't done like a like she could have done like the I don't know, you know what I mean? Like so many other authors of her success. Like anything to say.

unknown:

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Up said. I don't really think that she has. I think like from everything I understand about Stephanie Meyer, and um, like I read the I've read part of the illustrated guide, in that there's like the book that the guide begins with an interview with Stephanie Meyer, like a transcript of an interview where she's talking about the process, and I had the idea for Twilight came to her, and the full understanding is that Jacob was never supposed to be part of the story, the wolves were never really supposed to be part of the story, anything like that. It was just about this vampire and this human, and her publishers and people pushed her to expand the world beyond, and like that's why a lot of the magic and the lore doesn't make a lot of sense, sure, because it was really genuinely an afterthought. So I just don't think that it's within her capacity, like to dream and imagine and come up with something different. I think she basically just had a fantasy about a vampire.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. I mean, it was a dream, right? That's what I understand. Yeah, yeah. So I get it. She, you know, it goes go off. She wrote this one book series, and she's like now can do whatever she wants with her life. So good for you, Stephanie Meyer. Um, I did want to know which Cullen sibling is the one that you think you would actually want to date, because Edward is weird. Um, that's what I was thinking when I was watching this movie. Because I'm like, Edward's not actually the one as an adult, there's just no way he's weird, he's like socially bizarre. Like, I think it's supposed to be old-fashioned, but it's just comes off as creepy. So, which one is the one that for you? This is a clear answer.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Rosalie. Yeah. She's the only one who's sane. That's correct. You know what I'm saying? She has her head on her shoulders. She's like, this is insane.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Like she never wanted to become a vampire to begin with.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. And like, let's talk about that. Carla. Also, she's hot.

SPEAKER_00:

Like, she I would go, I would date Rosalie for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. It's between her and Emmett. Those are the two. Her and Emmett, yeah. Like, it can't be Jasper.

SPEAKER_00:

Not Jasper. Alice would piss me off, honestly. Yeah, she's annoying too. I'm like, okay, the manic pixie dream girl, but shut up. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Like, we get it. Guess what? Your husband was a confederate soldier.

SPEAKER_00:

Like, also, I don't want to be with somebody. Well, I don't want to be with Edward for many reasons, but one, I don't want my mind read. No. I don't want to be with Jasper because I don't want anyone controlling my moods. And also, I don't want to be with a Confederate soldier. Correct. I don't want to be with Alice because of the future thing. I actually don't want to be with someone who has like a special ability. No. Yeah. That's why that's why Rosalie and Emmett are the right choice. From the series, I want to be with Charlie.

SPEAKER_02:

Correct. No, yes. I was starting with the Collins. Yes. And then the siblings. Do you want to be with Charlie? Or do you want to like hit that and quit it?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I guess I'll cop.

SPEAKER_02:

A cop. He seems like his life is a little sad. Uh before Bella shows up, it's unclear if he's like cooking food for himself ever. Maybe I could be his Sue. Billy's been his friend for like three decades, and he doesn't have a ramp to get into his house. He has to yank that guy up the stairs.

SPEAKER_00:

You know what? I think maybe I want to be with the with one of the quill youths.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Which one?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh. Um. Yeah, which one of the wolves? And now that we covered the colors. I think like either quill, embry, or Seth. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Seth. Not Sam. Sam.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Um my god.

SPEAKER_02:

I need a Leah book. God, I gotta get on archive of our own. Someone's probably. But I just can't. Can you actually imagine the experience of being in love with someone so desperately? Then they all of a sudden, overnight, no longer love you, and they are now with your cousin, and then you have to like hear that person's thoughts for the rest of your life. You're just like bound to them, and they're just like happy and happy with your cousin, and you're they're crying, and you you're like, Oh god.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, and they're your alpha, so you have to obey that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, you have to listen to everything he says, and everyone's giving you a hard time. Like, you need to get over this. No, so I need to who's writing the Leah like POV of the series. I need to be sad. I would love to read that.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, I'm taking away, I'm taking away Seth. I'm gonna say just color Embry. Yeah, Seth's kind of like a baby to me, like he's my son, you know. Yeah, he's my child. Yeah. Um actually though, like I don't want to be with if I had to pick anyone from like the pack or like from the from the Quillutes, yeah, I think I'd be like Billy. Yeah. I I I think I'm going more mature. No, but I'm gonna be with Sue. Why wouldn't I? Yeah, Sue's amazing. You know what I'm saying? Like, okay, this like really cool widow. She's looking at this like second second act in life. Yeah, she likes nature, she likes going fishing and hiking. Yeah, she hangs out with all these people, but she's not like a wolf herself. She's probably a really great cook. Yeah. I mean, I just feel like canonically, yeah. We would have a great time together, yeah. Which is probably really pretty.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, let's go with that. Um, not a lot of good choices in this world is what I'm trying to get at.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. I think I have like a casual relationship with Charlie. Sure. Yeah. Always. That's always an option.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, but like long term, you don't want to be with the guy. Like, there's a reason Renee left him. Although, don't even get me started on her.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, if you yeah, no. If you had to choose another vampire outside of the Cullen clan. Okay. Who are you picking?

SPEAKER_02:

Who's that guy? Sorry. The one who's like a weirdo, but then he falls in love with one of the Alaska girls. Wait, the revolutionary soldier guy?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Him or the Alaska girls, honestly. They're beautiful too. They seem normal. They're vegetarian. Irena. Yeah. Um, any of them. Or like whatever, yeah. Any of those guys. Or, you know, who's um the one who can control all the elements? Oh. Isn't his name Benjamin or something? Yeah. Yeah, he was cool. Yeah. Definitely not any Volturi. They are put creepy.

SPEAKER_00:

What colin sibling would you choose?

SPEAKER_02:

No, I agree with you. Emmin, or they're the only normal ones. For sure. Emmin seems cool because he seems like he would just go along with whatever you want to do. If you were like, hey, our family's really weird, let's let's stip. He'd be like, hey, let's go south.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Like our father turned us against our will. We had no consent in this, and now we're doomed to live for all of eternity. Like, let's just calm down about this, you know? Um, that would be my that would be my thought. Like, the more I think about Carlisle, the more uncomfortable I get with his uh behavior.

SPEAKER_00:

Like, he I understand they're all dying, but like okay, do you know in the scene in New Moon where he's like after the accident at the house and he's like in his surgery downstairs with Bella and he's like picking using tweet scissors? I'm like, what are I would be asking, what are we? Because he's like such crazy chemistry. Okay, hold on. It's like that's like in like if you reread the books, the Charlie Carlyle chemistry is out of control. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

We need to talk about this because Charlie's like, hey, no, we can talk that out.

SPEAKER_00:

Stephanie Meyer, like completely on accident, made a very homoerotic book. Yes, correct. The the gay stuff that she didn't intend.

SPEAKER_04:

It's going crazy.

SPEAKER_02:

Many such cases of this.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Many such cases of this.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, no, yeah, completely. Totally.

SPEAKER_00:

Wait, okay, I have one more answer about like whole Twilight Universe.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm going with the biology teacher.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Mr. Vendina. Oh yeah. He seems so fun. He's got his little golden onion. You're so right. He's making field trips.

SPEAKER_04:

No, yeah, that's who I'm thinking about. He's goofy, yeah. Green is what? Good.

SPEAKER_00:

Good. Yes. Okay, yeah. That's the right. I'm locking in. Lock in. Yeah. And a little Charlie on the side. Yeah. But Mr. Medina won't come. He'll understand. He'll understand.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Okay, so in honor of this, I got my breaking down dawn book out, and I wanted to read you my. So this is insane. I wanted to reread this because I I did annotate this book with all of my thoughts as I'm reading it for the first time. Yeah. Oh my god. So there's some real gold in it.

SPEAKER_00:

That is a treasure trove. What a gold mine.

SPEAKER_02:

I will never get rid of this. Um, but anyways, I did record my thoughts and I wanted to read. I gave it a B- Um.

SPEAKER_00:

Wait, after your first read, you gave the book a B-?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I didn't actually like this that much on its first time. This is Breaking Dawn. Okay. Not Twilight. Okay. Okay, so I think this book was okay to good. Good points. I loved Jake's chapter names.

SPEAKER_01:

Jake's chapter. Jacob's chapter names are funny.

SPEAKER_02:

One of them is like, um, hold on. Also, I do always block out that like half this book is from Jacob's point of view.

SPEAKER_00:

Me too.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, okay, one is why didn't I just walk away? Oh, right, because I'm an idiot, and I wrote, Yes, you are.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh, what else? Sure as hell didn't see that one coming, and then I said kind of sad with a frowny face. Um waiting for the damn fight to start already. James chapter names rock! That's what I wrote, all caps. There's one that's really sad. It's like take my heart, take my longs. Damn. Something like that. Um, whatever you want. Like it's I don't care, anyways. Something like that. I wish I could find that one. Flipping, flipping, flipping. The top two things at the very the two things at the very top of my list of things I never want to do. They're all just like chaotic. Okay. Anyways. Um, I loved how well everything was described. I could really feel the emotions in each scene of this book. You know, it wasn't described the fade to black scenes of this book.

SPEAKER_01:

I also I didn't write that as a child, by the way.

SPEAKER_02:

As an adult. I also loved how Quill and Embry joined Jake's pack, and now all the character how all the characters developed. But we're still the same from when I first met them. The romance exclamation point. So I guess I like that. Bad points. What about Renee? I'm still saying that to this day. Um, she never told Renee anything. Hello. Isn't that kind of important? How Jacob told Charlie about the werewolves, all those um other characters being introduced at the end, how it didn't describe her wedding as much as I would have liked on brand. I mean, Angela's dad was there, but what about Angela? Which by the way is crazy that Angela's dad was mentioned being at the wedding, but I guess Angelo wasn't mentioned. So then I said equals B minus. That was so funny. I know. I wrote the under the end, I put a note and it says, no way too final. She'll end up continuing the series to something. Tons of money in that.

SPEAKER_01:

And I was wrong and right at the same time.

SPEAKER_02:

She has written more books, but uh not a continuation. So you're iconic. Um tons of money in that. You at 14.

SPEAKER_04:

Speaking of the economist.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. You know what scene I wish was in the movie so bad, and I it haunts me to this day, and I actually think it's the greatest thing Stephanie Meyer's ever written. When Jacob gets in his car after he she comes back and she's pregnant or whatever, and he's driving around and he's like just staring at girls and being like, imprint, imprint, imprint. Like he just do you remember this? Yeah. That is the saddest thing I've ever read in any of these books because he's just like he didn't want to imprint in the first place. Like he didn't want to lose his agency.

SPEAKER_00:

Who among us hasn't like like, well, maybe some people, but you know, if you've ever had unrequited love, yeah, yes, you're like, oh man, I wish I could just someone else or like love someone who would love me. Yeah, yeah. So anyways, I haven't.

SPEAKER_02:

Not me, but not me, but someone someone out there can relate to that, right, guys. Anyways, any final thoughts, I guess, on on Twilight um after 20 years and anything else.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, there yeah, uh great fandom to be a part of. I yeah, you might. You know what? I'm coming back around on it. It's yeah, sure. It's messed up as fk. But you know, every day 20 years into this fandom, I still learn things that that shock me. Shockingly true, yes. That's so true. Yeah, and I think like uh what other fandom can say that?

SPEAKER_02:

No, not any, but um this this ser like this book series like got me into fan oh my series just started popping up. Um this is how I got into fandom, like at all. Like this is what got me into fan fiction. This is what got me on like forums online for the first time. Like this was the first thing that I like went to Midnight Premieres for. Um got the book as soon as it came out. Like this was really the start of my I mean, like, you know, is this a good or negative effect on my life? Who could say? But like, but like so many good things have come from just like uh loving something this much when I was 12. So I think uh I'm grateful for that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. You should really plug for you and for all listeners. Everyone should go read Why We Love and Hate Twilight by Sarah Elizabeth Gallagher. It's not very long, but there's really great insights about Twilight, a really great analysis. I need to read it. And I learned new things reading this book. Um, really like level, like truly why you love and hate it. Like, yeah, what's so great about it, and also like how we can do better as a fandom and how Steffen Meyer can do better. And the the things that it fails to do. Sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I really want to read this, but it's not at my library, so I do need to buy it. Um I'll get around to it. But anyways.

SPEAKER_00:

I mean, she's like, I think she might have even independently published it. So you would be supporting a good person, like a real, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Alright, well, I loved it. I love Twilight, and I'm happy to be revisiting it 20 years later. I never would have thought 20 years later I would still be talking about it. I will say that.

SPEAKER_00:

There's a lot of things in 2006. If you had asked me in 20 years, what will you be doing? I would not have things. None of this. None of you say none of this.

SPEAKER_01:

I would be shocked at the path my life was taken.

SPEAKER_00:

I would be for anyways. Horrified.

SPEAKER_02:

Horrified. Horrify your 12-year-old self. That's what we should all be aiming for.

SPEAKER_00:

No, yeah, that's what I should be aiming for.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, some of us.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, some of us. Okay. What else is there to talk about? Well, um, well, I have a I have a question. So I have a$5 Thrift Books credit. You know, I earned one of those like$5 free book credits. Sure. What should I get?

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Um, well, you have to get like a like a book that's not very bad.

SPEAKER_00:

Or like whatever, something, you know, towards like it doesn't have to be under five bucks, but like I need to use it for something.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, yeah. What should you get? I don't know. Under$5. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00:

No, it doesn't have to be. I know, but that's where I'm that's where I'm at. I'm gonna see what's going on. The clips by Stephanie Meyer is at$4.19. There you go. Do you not already have that? Actually, no, I only have Twilight and um Oh wow.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, maybe you should get that.

SPEAKER_00:

Uh let's see. Why am I on cooking? I don't want cooking. I'm looking at there's a thrift book deals. I yeah, that's where I'm looking to.

SPEAKER_02:

Scroll, scroll, scroll. Definitely not any Colleen Hoover.

SPEAKER_00:

Something fun. I'm like something that's gonna be like maybe something like super unhinged and smuddy.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Why not?

SPEAKER_02:

I think yeah, do that. Or that's your expertise. So you don't have any ideas on a on a book you want me to read? I'm scrolling right now. I'm looking. Oh, Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh. Oh my god, Colleen Hoover has another book. You know, we never talked about what the fact that she had another movie come out.

SPEAKER_02:

I know, and it's bombing the world. I'm telling you, I'm telling you, we are getting back.

SPEAKER_00:

We're back on a normal timeline timeline.

SPEAKER_02:

Colleen Hoover bombing Louvre Heist, um, elections going well, other things will be happening. What was the other thing that happened recently that I said we're back on the good timeline? Oh, Jonathan Bailey, sexiest man alive. Oh, yeah, come on. If that's not proof that we are back in the good timeline, I don't know what is because I've never seen such a fitting choice.

SPEAKER_00:

Do you know what I want to also say is that respectfully, at this time, like for the next two months, I don't want to read any books about what is fascism or like how Yeah, it's not the time. I think we kind of get it. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

I can see it with my eyes. I don't need to read it with a book.

SPEAKER_00:

Maybe I need to read, maybe I need to get like a stupid, dumb, like Christmasy book. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god, do you know funny stories on here for$5.49? That's kind of crazy. You guys get on Thriftbooks.

SPEAKER_02:

Thrift Books is amazing. The world is healing. Um, Thrift Books is great. I would say either, yeah, something really good, like a mass market paperback romance book, or like a classic that you feel like you've always wanted to read. Because there's a lot of classics on here, older books. Um have you read Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins or yet? That's on here for$5. Okay, yeah. You would like that, I thought. I did like it a lot. It's giving eldest daughter, you know. Um, I'll think about it some more. Me too. I'll think about it some more as well. I just don't know. Like, buying a book is you want to make the right choice. So do they have heated rivalry?

SPEAKER_00:

No, it's freaking sold out, Abigail. Even on here? On everywhere. I've checked thrift books. They there's two editions right now. Okay. Wow. But it's kind of expensive. No, one of these is back ordered. Thank you. Cartoon cover is backordered. The unhinged cover is not getting that.

SPEAKER_02:

I'll wait. I'll wait. They'll do a reprint. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, listeners, if you have any ideas about what I should get on Thriftbooks, email us at theredirectpodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram or on Blue Sky. Or you can reach me personally on TikTok at Fabigal1. That sounds right. No, just no, Fabigal 11. Oh, you added another one. Such a stupid episode. This is so stupid. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

If you're gonna buy a classic though, you should get East of Eden and you should read it. Um, that's my recommendation to everyone. I do think it's worth reading. Um, so if you want to go classic.

SPEAKER_00:

Isn't um why because it okay with literature and fiction, this is recommending me Heinz Feet on High Places. That's like a Christian book, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, what is that? That just like triggered my fight or flight.

SPEAKER_00:

So I think it reminded me of Lee. Yeah. Hein's feet on high places. Oh, there's a lot of it's a Christian allegory.

SPEAKER_02:

You know what? Hey guys, one like on our post, and we'll do uh we'll do a reading rewind for um I really want to do um what's that freaking book? Don't say it. No! I really want to do redeeming wealth. No, I really do. I really do. So you guys bully us if you want us to do that. Um I don't think anyone cares, but I personally want to touch.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm having like a like a stress flashback.

SPEAKER_02:

That or I really want to reread just for personal like chaos. I want to reread um the Christy Miller series, and I want to find out what's wrong with me based on what I read in those books because I think there's a direct line from those that series to like my current life.

SPEAKER_00:

So all right, I'll do more thinking.

SPEAKER_02:

There's a lot, there's a lot of romance on here you could you could scroll through. That's what I would honestly do. Buy one of these like little books, you know. Okay, what else?

SPEAKER_00:

Strength of the few on Tuesday, uh, and Brimstone by Callie Hart the next Tuesday on the 11 on the 18th, um, which is the follow-up to Quicksilver, which you and I both ate up.

SPEAKER_02:

Literally didn't know this was happening, read that, loved it, forgot it um instantly. Basically couldn't tell you what happened, but I do think we both liked it. I know we both liked it. Uh, until I'm in this like Discord for this all girls hockey fantasy league I'm in. It's okay. And there's a reading chat, and some girl posted uh that the bookstore she works for had accidentally like put it out on the shelf early, and so she was like brimstone. I'm like, oh my god, is that that's happening? So uh I forgot. I didn't remember anything about this until I'm looking forward to that. Yeah, I'm sure I'll read it. Yeah, I'm sure it'll be medium good. I actually have better hopes for this because I do it is I mean, who am I getting? No trad publisher is even editing books anymore, but this one is being traditionally published, whereas Quicksilver was originally self-published. So I had a little bit of hopes that it would be because I think Quicksilver was like good, could have used some focus. Probably this one. I mean, look, Alchemy's is like a thousand pages, so who am I getting, you know? Anyways, uh excited for I'm I am very excited for the strength of the few, and we will be discussing that. And nervous, and nervous, and I need to remember what happened in the last one. So I know you did a reread. I might just reread like the last couple chapters or something, because I don't think I can. I think you might still be mightily confused, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, what can I do about that? Um, okay. Should we talk about books we've read recently? Yeah, do you want to go first? Sure. I've read a few good ones. So I read um Wintering by oh so I've read I've read some some nonfiction. So I read Wintering by Catherine May. This is a book about like using winter as a metaphor for getting through hard times in your life, but I learned a lot about winter and kind of like following history or people who live in like really cold weather countries, like the like living seasonally and how to like prepare for winter or like rest in winter, and it's really kind of changed my perspective on maybe like I don't you know making New Year's resolutions in the dead of winter. That's never made a ton of sense when you really think about it. So you know, it makes more sense too that like in spring or like for summer, and like you know, in winter, it's like, yeah, I don't really want to go out and do stuff as much. I want to like be home and sleeping and just kind of thinking about um like using the metaphor of winter as a season for the winters in your life. And so it got me thinking about both of those things, and um I thought it was a good and it starts it like goes through like months, and so kind of starting with Halloween and uh like these also traditional Celtic and Gaelic um like celebrations marking different points in the winter season and like what history can tell us about like observing these times. So it was really nice and I would recommend. Um, it's not very long, and yeah, now I'm I'm kind of have a new perspective on winter. Um I like that and well-timed, yeah, and well-timed. And then I also just finished Fearing the Black Body by Strip Sabrina Strings. This is like a very academic, like very cerebral book. Um, it's like extremely well researched. I listened on audio, but it's um really interesting. It's about the history of um racism and fat phobia and like the origins of fat phobia. Um spoiler alert, it all came out of racism. So basically, like the cliff notes of this. The cliff notes of this is that like being fat used to be cool until a bunch of oh, and it's it will piss you off if you read this book because basically, for all of human history, random men have been deciding what the beauty standards of women should be. Sure. And that persists to this day, of course, but it's been happening literally forever. And basically, once um once like the transatlantic slave trade started happening, um bunch of people decided to come up with the concept of race and uh like separate humans into different races and based on like what they think is best. And at that time, they decided that being fat or having like a more curvaceous or filled out body was bad, and the thinner you could be, the more beautiful you could be, or basically the more English you could look, the better. And I learned a really interesting fact, which is that like these horrible guys who came up with the idea of race, they originally thought that people who were Irish and Scottish were closer to being African than English. Interesting. And so it's also like this commentary on like it's a reminder that race is a construct, sure, it isn't real, yeah, it's something that has changed over time and like the classical of races has changed over time because then at some point these you know northern European guys decided that oh well English people are actually or Irish people are more like Nordic. So now we'll group them with them, yeah. Or, you know, like we're gonna group people, it it's all just changed over time. It's all just this arbitrary classification system that human beings have used to classify one another and gain more power. And um unfortunately, also a reminder that um like thinking about trying to be the best version of myself I can be, and like as like a white lady in society, remember who the true enemy is. And it's like the like disempowered white women, for instance, decided to align themselves over history, have have historically aligned themselves with white patriarchy rather than align themselves with people of color. And that has only led to the further oppression of people of color and the continued oppression of themselves. Yeah. So it's a real upper. But it it is just thinking about and then like in and I'll shut up about this in a second, but in the later chapters, like we're getting into more recent history, like the whole like aesthetic and like concept of fatness and overweight like was established by health insurance companies so that they could make more money. And essentially, like they decided what being fat was. So also no surprise, all of this has to do with however like white Christian males can make the most money. Sure. Um, anyways, I think this book is like a seminal resource um tying the origins of racism to fat phobia, and it's like the guiding text. And if you're interested in that kind of thing, you probably like this book, It's Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings. There you go, that's it. That sounds really good. Thank you for sharing basically white ladies remember who the real enemy is. Yeah. And like you aren't I think there's just like this thing of like don't buy into the narrative that like aligning your like it's it's like choosing to be more aligned with like the tree, like oh oh, I'll be like a good girl so I can get like more treats from like the horrible people who are pressing the world. Yeah, like or you could just like enjoy liberation and like fight for the liberation of other people. Yeah, totally. Look, this podcast contains multitudes.

SPEAKER_02:

It really does, it really does. And I love that. That's why you're here. Um, okay. Are you done? Sorry. Um, or did you have anything else? Yeah, that's really it. Okay. Um, so I have two books. One, long time listeners will remember a time where I used to read a lot more mystery thrillers, and so here's a return to forum. Um a little one. No, I I'm not. Let's be clear. I want to be happy. But this one is called We Used to Live Here by Marcus Clywer. I read this for my workbook club, and it is weird, by the way. And also, trigger warning, there are demons in this, and I didn't really expect that. That's not my vibe, and I was terrified to sleep one night, but it was a good book. I think if you like thrillers, I wouldn't say like Christian demons, you know, but I would say darker more like monster.

SPEAKER_00:

Have I read that? Is that a book? Like mon like monster-y demons is what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, more like yeah. I would say more like pagan or like atheist demons, you know, not like Satan demon, but still, like I prefer like a murderer to be the enemy, a vampire, a zombie. Demonic forces are a little tough for me to get sleep that night. But, anyways, this it starts out um with the main character whose name is something. Eve. Her name's Eve, religious. Okay. She and she just moved into this like old house in like the Pacific Northwest with her girlfriend, and they like Charlie, I think is her name, they like this is their thing. They buy old houses and they flip them and then they sell them. So they live there while they fix them up. Um, and they they've done this a bunch of times, but this is like the farthest out they've gone. It's like in the middle of nowhere. And she's home alone, and her this family shows up. It's like a mom, a dad, and three kids, and they're like, hey, it's like about to snow. It's the middle of winter, and they're like, you know, the dad, he's like, I I used to live here as a kid, and my family's here. We're we're doing this cross-country move, and we were in the area, and we want to just I want to show them the house. Can we come in? And she's like, baby. Yeah, she wants to say no, don't let them in. Don't if you're home alone, especially, but just in general, I get it. People are like, you want to be nice.

SPEAKER_00:

This is when Zach would be like, See, this is a white people problem. Yeah, white people always want people in their house.

SPEAKER_02:

So she's like, but she this is the Eve's problem. And she's like, she has like anxiety, and she's like, I am always thinking the worst. And Charlie, my girlfriend, always tells me I need to like stop thinking the worst of everything. And my therapist always tells me that, and so she's like, I'm just gonna like I they're not here to kill me, they're just a nice normal family. Well, they are things start to go south it rapidly, and this book is written like almost in real time, so like you're like things just keep happening. Um and you'll be left with a lot of questions, I would say. It's a very like open again. I like these ambiguous endings, not everyone likes them. So if you're not down for that, don't read this. But there's like it's like mixed media too. There's like mixed-in like transcripts and like Reddit threads and all these other stuff, and it's kind of like what happened. So uh I don't really want to spoil anything if you do want to read this, but it's very like it starts to like reality starts to shift, and um, Eve has a hard time telling like what's really happening, what's not really happening, who's real. Like this person here is saying that they're my girlfriend. It's very eerie, very spooky. Um, good to read this time of year, I guess, if you want to be creeped out. But again, don't read this at night if you're anything like me. Um, I can handle a lot at night. Like, I don't really get scared at being home alone, but um this was like I don't I don't like it. So um it's very weird, but I liked it. So it was good. It was good. It was mixed reviews in the book club. Um, so it's probably not for everyone, but I liked it, and then instantly went on Reddit to look at what people thought about the ending because it's one of those.

SPEAKER_00:

That's always a sign of the thing.

SPEAKER_02:

That's the most fun part, yeah. Yeah. Okay, the next one, I talked, I think two episodes ago or last episode about The Darkness Outside Us by Elliot Scheffer. I read the sequel, which is The Brightness Between Us. I can't tell you about the plot without spoiling the first book, so I won't really say that, but this book series and this book in particular, like it's gonna top the year for like most timely reads, I think. Um because it's just they're both, and especially the second one, it's like about hope. And like, what's almost like what's the point of trying? Like, is there a point of trying if you know you're doomed, or like you might not see the fruits of your labor? Or it's like almost is there even a point? Like, is it better to let humanity die off? And like, should we even exist? But then it's like, no, like I don't know, it's a hopeful book. Um it's there's like a couple lines that really suck with me. One is where one of the characters kind of says, like, life is hard enough, so we should take it lightly when we can, and like have joy when you can, laugh when you can, connect with people when you can. Um, and then another part where it's like we don't have uh very long together, so I'm just gonna enjoy every moment that we do have together. Um, that's kind of the vibe of the book. Um, and this is really interesting too because so the first book is takes place with these two people on a space mission. Um, and so this book takes place partly as a continuation of that story, and also in the past, as like before they even go on that mission. Oh, I see. Which I was like, is this I first started reading that and I saw that and I was like, is this gonna be good? Like, I don't want to go back in the time, but genuinely those parts were some of my favorite parts of the book. Like seeing what they were like before the mission. Um, it's just very interesting and different and unique how the story's told. And I think like yeah, is is humanity worth saving? Also, like are individual people worth saving um more than like humanity's like it's a lot of like big topics, but it's told. Uh it's again, these are YA books, so it's like pretty simple to read, but it made me feel hopeful and like there this book is like a fictional way to see ways to like find joy and love and connection and like with people, even when the world is ending literally or figuratively or whatever. So I really recommend this series, and I I kind of feel like it's open for a third one, so I don't know if there will be one, but um, it was really good.

SPEAKER_00:

I know a duology is stressful.

SPEAKER_02:

No, I read this one duology that I really liked, um, but it left me unsatisfied because I was like, wait, you're not planning another book? Like, I need more, you know? So I do feel like trilogies are good. So yeah, I've been kind of slow on the reading though lately. Um, but I have a few books from the library that I need to lock into.

SPEAKER_00:

So well, I am proud to say that I am now one book behind my goal.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh my god, yay! I've seen you vlogging a lot on Storycraft, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I also I didn't mention this, but I've also uh read a collection of poems. Yeah. Um and I've got a couple more, a couple more things to go. You did it. Um so I mean, I haven't done it yet. Yeah, but I'm one book until I'm back on track with my goal. I believe in you, and then I gotta not get behind again.

SPEAKER_02:

But this time of year is like a good reading time, so yeah, I think hopefully you'll be good. Hopefully.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm like, the wheel the wheels are falling off, man. On the doing work, but I have so much like in my real job, so much left to do this year. Yeah. Oh my god. Heard please you guys heard. Just stop emailing me.

SPEAKER_02:

You know what I'm saying? Like, shh, yeah. I do know what you're saying.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Anyways. All right. Well, I think that might be it. That's it. Thank you guys for listening. We'll see you next time for a book club of Strength of the Few. I think that's true. So if you want to like read with us, yeah, you'll have two weeks. Our episode that's coming out on the 18th will be I think it will be the week after that, actually.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, the week after that. Yes. Because this comes out on the 11th. The Strength of the Few one will come out on the 25th for Thanksgiving. So you'll have two full weeks to read the book and then we'll be deep diving at the end.

SPEAKER_00:

And we might need it, because I think we'll need. And special treat. Zach is gonna do the episode with us. I forgot that. He's very committed. He's like, I really want to be on the podcast. I really want to talk about this evil. Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_01:

So love it. Special treat. That is a treat. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

I bet you'll who listen to that episode.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, lizard. No, you know what? There's a freedom in people we know in real life not listening to this. Yeah, I'm good. I wish actually none of them would. So like, shout out you guys who do listen for keeping us in. But don't reference this with me in public. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Bye.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, bye guys.