Don't Mention It...No Really, Don't Mention It

If a writer isn't going to expand on a subject, please don't mention it in passing. There really weren't any dangling questions left in "Twilight" other than, "what next?" and that's a clear opening to continue writing sequels and if done properly, is acceptable. "50" on the other hand, left many unanswered questions and they all surround around secondary characters. This happened because the author mentioned in passing a few instances regarding these characters, but then didn't expand on them anywhere. I think the biggest "what the heck" subject would be Mia and Ethan. Mia and Ethan are Alice and Jasper. Anyone that is a Twilight fan knows all about Alice and Jasper and really doesn't need any more information. Ana isn't really closely tied to Mia and Ethan in 50, however there are questions mentioned in the book, and leaving those unanswered is more of a "wtf" issue than a lingering question for a sequel. How do you know the difference? Take the mention of Ethan and Mia out and does the book still flow and make sense? The author needed Mia to approach Ana at the end of book 2 for two reasons: to get her alone so Elena could then approach her and to give her a drink so she'd have it in her hand to throw on Elena. The problem that was created in this: you finish the series and still want to know "what happened to...?" Twilight ended with some assumptions that you can live with--we assume that in 7 years when Renessme is fully grown, she will start dating Jacob and they will live happily ever after. 50 on the other hand, left us wondering "did Mia and Ethan wind up together?" They were holding hands when we last heard of them, but that doesn't mean much when you consider that they are Alice/Jasper. If they were of the importance level of Mike/Jessica in Twilight, we just wouldn't care--holding hands would be enough--as them being each other's date was at Bella's wedding. But Mia and Ethan are more central characters--if they are mentioned, we need some kind of resolution. For me, Twilight did have one "what about" moment. Bella mentions that she's happy she pulled away from her mom so she wouldn't have to explain the vampire issue and having the baby. I'm sorry but that isn't enough. Meyer is a mom, I'm a mom, no mom just marries off her daughter and is fine with never hearing from her again. That fake funeral is Bella's only way out even if her mom is "ditzy." Her mother will not be satisfied with just phone calls. A more minor issue are the Cullens staying in Forks. Yes they fixed that with Charlie knowing just a little, but that doesn't prevent them from having to leave at some point. They have already lived there for over 2 years, they can't stay another 7 waiting for Renessme to grow--Carlisle can't work in the hospital that long without aging. Someone will see them if they pretend to leave, but don't. Technically yes they can hide in the woods for 7 years without being seen--running through the woods to Seattle or some place and driving from there or flying from there. But why? Just so Jacob won't be lonely? No Jacob will have to suck it up and move somewhere with the Cullens for a few years before he can move back with his new girlfriend. My other "why bother" mention is Ana saying she wants to go to church. I don't have a problem with her going, I just don't think it's something you can mention in passing and not discuss. It's too obvious that it's being worked in because she promised herself she would go, not because it's central to the plot. There needed to be more discussion--let her really tell Christian how deeply she was worried, how important he is. Not a casual mention. Why? Because while Twilight covers a short amount of time (just a year and a half), 50 only covers a few months. There are very few days that aren't accounted for in this series. If something is mentioned, it happens or needs to be discussed, or don't bother. In a series where everything is happening and we're getting a daily play by play you can't just have "I want to go to church tomorrow" "Ok" and be done with it. It doesn't sound sincere, it sounds like they probably didn't go, she just wanted to honour a promise she made, but it didn't sound like she went through with it. All it would have taken is a deeper discussion and she wouldn't have sounded insincere. Bella casually mentions how she thinks Billy and her dad are having a rift in their friendship, but she just doesn't have the time to focus on it. Well according to the guide, they were fighting over Sue--Charlie won. So it was resolved. I'm wondering if James was mirroring that with Mia and Ethan--it's written in a similar fashion--Ana acknowledges it, but doesn't seem to have the interest to pursue it. She sent Mia to Kate, so why not have Kate gossip about it at their night out for cocktails? It would have been a perfect time to get that back story--how did Kate handle it? What did Mia say? What does her brother Ethan think? C'mon give us some details. I think why I'm bothered by it is that Ana isn't written as being so dazed. Yes, she put too much faith in her assistant and didn't pay close attention to her calendar and missed her Depo shot, but she doesn't appear stupid or ditzy about it. It was an honest mistake. But the way the resolution at the end of the series is written, "oh look they are holding hands, wonder what that means" isn't good enough. And not just because I really want to know, but because it's lazy writing. If you are going to tell a story, tell a story, otherwise don't add it. Ana being pregnant and due around the time Kate is planning to get married was odd as well. She set up a conflict and then didn't share with us the resolution. In the epilogue we learn that yes, Kate got married and now has a daughter, but did the date get changed? Did Ana waddle down the aisle? Again, don't create an unresolved conflict that doesn't lend itself to the major plot. It was a conflict that wasn't all that necessary. Nit picking I know, but I write too, I think about those things. Standards people, standards.