I had seen this. . .
And this. . .
But this????
Well, if it's going to get more teens to read Shakespeare, Austen, and Emily Bronte, then I suppose it's a good thing. BUT if Wuthering Heights' greatest merit is the fact that it is "Bella and Edward's favourite book". . . good grief. . .
Have a closer look here, here, and here. Be sure to check out the back cover blurbs and the "extras" at the end of each book, featuring such interesting anecdotes as "What if Romeo and Juliet lived today and were on Facebook?".
And just in case you've been living on a different planet for the last couple of years and have no idea what I'm rabbiting on about:
Thoughts?
15 comments:
Oh the wonders of marketing...yeesh. :P
Are they abridged or something? Haha, if you read the back of them all they all look kind of the same. Funny.
Although it's a good marketing ploy, it is demeaning to the classic literature they choose to alter. Even just comparing P&P, Romeo and Juliet or Wuthering Heights to Twilight is awful!
Although it's a good marketing ploy, it is demeaning to the classic literature they choose to alter. Even just comparing P&P, Romeo and Juliet or Wuthering Heights to Twilight is awful!
I couldn't agree more. . .
I've seen and flipped through these Twilighty-classics at the bookstore, and I don't think they're abridged versions. However, you're not gonna like me for this, but I actually think the roses-on-black designs look really pretty! lol But--"The Love That Started It All?" That is too hysterical! Started what all? Started the Twilight Saga? No way!
Also, I've read the first three books of the Twilight Saga, and I think one of the reasons for publishers choosing to promote PandP, R&J, and WH in this way is because each one of those classics was an inspiration for the various Twilight books. PandP-Twilight, R&J-New Moon, WH-Eclipse, and I think the last is supposed to be inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream." But anyway, the main character, Bella, reads classic literature pretty frequently in the series. For instance, in Twilight, there is a part where she is flipping through a Complete Works of Jane Austen book. And she reads WH a lot in Eclipse. I suppose she thinks she's just so tragic (like Cathy!) with her vampire infatuation!
I'm not actually one of those Twilight-lovers, btw. There are too many problems with the series (like the main characters! yick!), but I kind of followed the crowd here in the States and wanted to see what it was all about! LOL
~obsessivejaneite
+JMJ+
The Twilight design scheme came to mind immediately when I saw these new covers for P&P, R+J, and WH; but until I read Obsessive Janeite's comment, I hadn't realised that there was such a connection between both sets of books! I can imagine a Twilight fan being thrilled to have a whole shelf of black, red and white paperbacks, never mind the content of each book! =P
As for the slogans . . .
The love that started it all is a bit much (!!!); The original forbidden love betrays obvious ignorance of literature; and Bella and Edward's favourite book is simply the kiss of death! (I'd have no problem giving Emily Bronte's novel a "Proto-Emo" label, but there is something stultifying about Bella and Edward.)
Why? I hadn't seen those covers before, but to make them look like Twilight books... *sigh*
Prayers,
Esther
Agh! That's crazy!
I haven't read "Twilight" but I know the premise of the story and I'm not very impressed... It seems... Ick!! I'm not very impressed - and somehow, I don't think that Miss Austen would be either...
To the KING be all the glory!
Rebekah
BLOG: http://www.donotgrowweary.com/blog
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
I. Am. So. Sick. Of. Twilight.
And PULEEZE. I am not one of those super-giggly-oh-he's-so-cute girls, but I can tell you that Robert Patterson's getting waaaaay too much hype. Let's compare him to someone like Richard Armitage, shall we? What's happened to the idea of handsome gentlemen? Have we fallen so low that we have to stoop to worshipping vampires that really aren't that cute?
Sorry. I am one of those super-super-anti-Twilight people who is SOOOO SICK of seeing posters and movies and RP's picture all over People magazine. ;-)
And comparing Romeo and Juliet, one of my favorite love stories, to *Twilight* is just...ugh!!!! And PRIDE AND PREJUDICE??????
Hahaha. Long post. Anyway. It was one of those this post was perfect for today things. ;-)
I think Twilight is a wonderful story, and while it must be read with discretion, I personally enjoy it. As for the book covers, it is obviously a bit much. But, as Bella often reads classic literature throughout the Twilight Saga, and the books were inspired by these novels, it is slightly fitting. Perhaps it is bothersome to many that i do enjoy the Twilight books, but i feel that thorough and impartial reading of the books undoubtably presents many wonderful themes and messages. You have to look past the vampire part of it; the author simply intended the use of supernatural characters as a form of symbolism.
-E
Hoping you all have a blessed day :)
Obsessive Janeite - I agree, I think the covers actually look pretty good! It's just the shameless marketing ploy that rubs me the wrong way. And hey, no need to apologise for simply having read the Twilight books! I'm not having a go at Twilight or Twilight readers, only the publishers of these editions. :-)
Rebekah - yes indeed, what would Miss Austen say. . . for that matter, what would E. Bronte or William Shakespeare say??!
Alexandra - you're not the only who's getting sick of seeing something Twilight-related everywhere you look!! I wonder how long the hype will last. . . another 2 years? 10 years?
E - again, please don't feel the need to apologise for reading Twilight. :-) Like I said above, I'm not attacking Twilight or Twilight-readers.
There is actually another cover for W.H. too, a white tulip. Very pretty.
"Although it's a good marketing ploy, it is demeaning to the classic literature they choose to alter. Even just comparing P&P, Romeo and Juliet or Wuthering Heights to Twilight is awful!"
We have a tendency to forget that even the classics weren't always universally loved. When WH was first published, it was savagely attacked by the critics.
I'm actually quite partial to the covers, but then again, I love flowers. I also think anything that gets people to read is a good thing. Most people don't get beyond the subpar current-author-of-the-moment. So, if these covers encourage people to discover and read real literature, then it can't be that bad.
Besides, book covers get redesigned every few years so it's not the books are going to stuck with the Twilight-tie in covers for the rest of eternity.
I think the covers are really pretty (I too like flowers), but yes, the whole "Twilight" makes me gag. (Alexandra: W0RD!) I agree with FelicityKing ^^ that well, if it makes the kiddies read the classics, surely that's a positive thing. Harry Potter has made a lot of kids discover reading, and that's great too, regardless of if you like those books or not. (Personally, I love HP. Twilight... ick.)
But the question is, how many of the tweens/teens who pick up the classics because of Twilight are going to finish them? WH is partially written in Yorkshire dialect which I found near impossible to understand - are they going to persevere or just put it aside because they can't get to grips with the 19th century writing? So is it really going to lure in kiddies to the classics and make them stay and start reading more of these beautifully written stories, or are the books just going to gather dust after three pages because they're just not as easily-digested? I hope they'll be a stepping stone to discover further classics, but I fear that's not going to happen. :(
While I do feel it is demeaning towards the books, at the end of the day if it will get more teenagers into the classics, then I'm all for it (:
And the covers do look nice...although maybe Bella and Edward's favourite book stamp on Wuthering Heights was going a bit far!
But to be fair, these covers only have good intentions: to get more people into the classics. Whether they finish or appreciate them is another matter, but just to get them interested is definetely a start.
I have been a tween/am a teen reader of the classics, I feel like people are a being a little presumptive - most tweens are perfectly capable of reading these books, the key is getting them interesting is something as 'uncool' as a classic.
And also, if people do buy these books and not read them, there's no saying that they won't come back to it in a few years time.
Sorry for the long comment, just wanted to have my say. Elise, I love the blog, I always find your posts so interesting, thank you so much. (:
-Abby
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