 "This book draws you in" | 2009-11-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1XFEJGUK46E3C |
I had never planned on reading this book, thinking that it would be too "young adult" and silly but my boyfriend picked it up on sale so I gave it a chance. After the admittedly boring set up was over, I was completely sucked into the book and characters. So, yes, I'm a 30 year old woman and I loved this book.
Now what is also true, interestingly, is that almost all of the negative comments about the book are correct. The writing is not great, it does get a bit sappy at times, Bella is annoying, etc. but I enjoyed it despite all of these things.
I'm not going to do a plot summary or gush over the romance or refute all of the negative comments but I have a few thoughts that I would like to share.
I think that those readers that enjoyed this book were able, with the help of their own imagination and insight, to really step into this world and the character's minds. I don't mean to imply that those who despised the book have zero imagination, but that they were unwilling or unable to make the leap that the author asked of her readers. That being said, a truly great author wouldn't have needed as much help from her readers.
Despite the flaws of the book, the author did create compelling characters in this book and she did tell us gripping story of forbidden love but you do have to do a bit of work for yourself. One reason that I'm convinced that this is true is that, after reading Twilight and New Moon, I went on to read Midnight Sun off of her website. MS is part of the story of Twilight from Edward's perspective. As I read that piece, nothing about Edward surprised me. Only his actions outside of Bella's presence and the exact moment he realized he loved her were new to me. Somehow the author had conveyed to me Edward's character through Bella's eyes in Twilight and I was right there with her on Edward's motivations as they are revealed in Midnight Sun. A completely incompetent author wouldn't have been able to do even that. However, as I alluded to before, I did my own analysis of Edward and some character development of my own but it was all based on information that the author had provided. I worked within her framework and understood where she was going. I believe this is what others consciously or unconsciously did when they read the book and found that they enjoyed it.
With regards to the annoyance that the love story comes out of no where, I would argue that all epic loves seem to come out of no where. Romeo and Juliet fall in love for absolutely no reason. Even Elizabeth and Darcy's love is random. Darcy hates everything about Elizabeth (her family, her situation, the country) and then all of a sudden she has fine eyes and she's witty and he's violently in love with her. Now, obviously, the feel of Pride and Prejudice is much different and Jane Austen (the wonderful writer that she is) walks us through everything much better but all of her love stories include people who love each other without much basis. That's just how love works sometimes.
So for whatever reason it is important to me to defend this much at least: the book is not utterly devoid of value and that those of us who enjoyed it are not all easily amused teenagers.
Bottom line: those of us who were able to meet her half way were able to appreciate what she accomplished despite her amateurish writing ability.
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 "There are better ways to kill brain cells..." | 2009-11-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1H86NG8M2A1HH |
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but it's the truth.
TWILIGHT IS THE MOST POORLY WRITTEN BOOK I'VE EVER READ.
It has absolutely NO plot whatsoever. Additionally, both the characters and events are unbelievable. I understand that it's a fantasy, but, come on, even fantasy books have to be slightly believable, or at least have believable characters.
The main character, Bella Swan, is incredibly stupid and seems to brain-dead, as she trips or gets hurt in some way every other page! Isn't she great?
The other main character, Edward Cullen, is even more unbelievable. He is not only perfect in every single way, but a vampire to boot! But, instead of burning up in the sun, he sparkles!!!!111!!!1
After they've known each other for about 2 days, they fall instantly in love, for the most shallow reasons!
When Bella is about to be killed by the "bad guy" Edward comes and saves her!
It's true love!
Sorry, Stephanie Meyer, not gonna work.
This book has plot wholes galore. I'm not even sure if it can be counted as a book. It reads more like a diary, as it describes EVERY SINGLE thing that Bella does EVERY SINGLE day. I don't really care about what happened in biology class, or where Bella sat during lunch, or how hot Edward looked today, thank you very much.
As, previously mentioned, Bella is INCREDIBLY stupid and shallow. She takes it as compliment when she finds out that Edward not only stalks her, but breaks into her house every night and watches her sleep. And, when she finds out that Edward is a vampire, she isn't scared at all. Not one bit. As long as he's beautiful and perfect, she's in love with him.
"Twilight" doesn't even have a real climax. It's never really explained why James wants to eat Bella other than "she smells good". Wait a second....isn't that exactly why Edward loves her? I think it is! Yet, James is labeled as the "bad guy" and, of course, must be killed on the spot. Makes perfect sense, right?
If you want to kill a few brain cells, I think Twilight is the best option. I know, I'm probably going to get tons of down-ratings by angry fan girls, but please, at least listen to what I've just spent 15 minutes typing.
(And advice on how to write better reviews would be very helpful; I'm new to this kind of stuff.)
-Sacha, 13 years old, Edward-hater forever
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 "Flights of teenage fancy, anyone?" | 2009-11-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3ICZC1V68NX54 |
Where do I begin to write about the big phenom of Stephanie Meyer?
For not being a big fan of the mega-teen books in the first place, I have read the first two books. Not so sure I want to go any further as I get the gist that they are all going to be basically the same. But I can see how teen girls have gone gaga for it all.
Let's face it--we were all 13,14,15 years old once--and we know what crazy havoc has been done to our hormone house at that age--so to be truthful, all this fuss about this mega successful young author has the appeal to your average rock, rap, or whatever star. And, yeah, you better believe--sex sells.
Let's just be honest.The characters are flat, dull, boring and very predictably teenage. They sit around with not much going on except the impulse to get together with a juicy, good-looking, sexy brat vampire--who happens to be the cutest hunk in the class.
Ok..so we all like our secret indulgences. Actually, teen books are my indulgence. I love them. They are my pure escape into fun-land while my adult self struggles with reality's inescapable, in-your-face issues.
So on that note, these are fun, stupid books that whet the proverbial appetite for things creepy-sexy and teenage. The problem is, the TWILIGHT books are shallow and predictable. Like a big Mac or a Twinkie. Cheap thrills that go down easy. For its entertainment value only, I give this a slight three stars.
However, there are better, richer, more satisfying reads out there that both teens and adults would enjoy.
Case in point? The extremely readable and substantive, THE BOOK THIEF and the under-looked, hilarious story of a wandering cutie-18 year old, SIM0N LAZARUS.
Check these out, kids.
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| "Mixed feelings" | 2009-11-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: AX3ZZXM8K0MIA |
First I want to say that I did enjoy the idea of this book. I think it could have been really fantastic...if someone else had written it.
The first almost 400 pages of this book is just Bella's day-to-day routine, oh and by the way she met a beautiful, talented vampire that *gasp* loves her! Can you BELIEVE that?! He loves HER! And finally they meet some non-vegetarian vampires who...well...want to suck her blood. So we are moseying along with Bella making Charlie breakfast, going to English, going to Trig, going to Spanish, Biology and *sigh* Gym.... coming home fixing Charlie dinner and going to her room to spend time with the beautiful Edward. We simply do not need this much information about Bella's daily life! I'm going to assume she's going to school...unless something important to the plot happens while at school, I don't need to know about it!
Secondly, Bella is this really boring, nondescript person who is not attractive...but every guy wants to be with her? So are the girls in Forks just complete dogs or is Meyers trying to make her more relate-able? I mean, I'm not saying Bella should think she's drop dead gorgeous, because nobody likes a conceited person...but come on...she has to know she's at least reasonably attractive since every guy at Forks High wanted her number the second she showed up.
Thirdly, Charlie hasn't lived with Bella since she was, what, a toddler? And he has not interest in her being there other than a cursory hello when she comes home? I understand he's a guy of few words...but I would have thought having his daughter move in with him would have changed his habits...at least for a couple of months while they got settled. And believe me, we read about every day of those months and he pretty much came home, at his dinner that Bella always had on the table and watched "the game".
Also I got really tired of reading the words "chagrin", "ocher" and "smoldered". There are other descriptive words out there. It's called a thesaurus...being an English major, Meyers should have several...not to mention WORD HAS ONE BUILT IN! Let's see... off the top of my head ocher could be amber, deep honey, earthy yellow. Chagrin could be annoyance, discomposure, disgruntle, frustration, humiliation, peeved, frustration. I swear "chagrin" was written in that book at least every three pages.
Other than that I didn't have too much of a problem with this book. I found it interesting, and I had hoped that the ones to follow would be better. I think it had real potential to see the human emotions Bella would face by spending time with vampires and making the decision to become one and how that would affect her and her family and friends. |
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| "Understandably rated young adult" | 2009-11-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2WYH7V22QGFKR |
Young Bella Swan relocates to live with her father in a small town, the grey, rainy skies dragging her spirits down after living with her sunny, fun-loving mother in the sunny, fun-loving big city. Adjusting to her new town and new school seems much easier after she attracts the attention of the school's most eligible bachelor, mysterious Edward Cullen. Cullen hungers for her...literally...but manages to keep his base urges at bay in order to develop a romantic entanglement that in the end, puts Bella in great danger from not only her boyfriend, but others of his kind.
The writing is not challenging to read, but it does engage the young adult reader with its simplicity. Contrary to what many complain about, I actually prefer to see a heroine who shows some willingness to take pride in simple chores and household responsibility. The vampire aspect does get hokey (glittery vampires...who knew!), but the story offers a fun journey into the unusual, without real depravity or darkness, which sometimes gets overwhelming for this reader. |
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 "twilight!!!!!" | 2009-11-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AR86XDQPO9TB9 |
| I really liked this book because it was really complex and it dealt with alot of aurdinary teenage situations and things that arer beyond this world. i never got into this series until after i watched the movie but after i picked up the book i just couldn't put it back down. i usually like stuff with teenage romance because i think it's so sweet but this one was unlike any other i've read. it doesn't deal with a twist that's easy to figure out it's beyond that, i mean it's one thing that they are teenagers inlove but add that on to the fact that he's 108 years old counting his uman years and a vampire is pretty exciting. once you get started on this book you will find it literally imposible to put down. |
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