The Twilight Saga Collection by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of The Twilight Saga Collection
Book Review: Breathless....!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I must admit I hadn't heard much from Stephanie's amazing world until the day I came across the Twilight movie ad on the bus stop. At first I said yuck! vampires! but there was something in the girl's face and the way the were together that I kept looking at the poster and missing my bus to work!! had to wait 20 min for the next one and was eager to get to work to google. the title said little to me, and in spanish, worse! so I was amazed when I found out about the Twilight universe. I must say I could have been fired for all the days I spent on the net searching and reading thru every bit of info I would get. I inmediately ordered my books. I couldn't understand why I was so hooked on the story, but it was a need, an eager "thirst" to read the story, I don't know how I managed to wait till my books arrived. I looked at the amazon book as an idiot! amazed and waiting for my lunch break with no hunger for food but for my reading. I loved the slipcased books, I loved the cards, and I started reading and....I haven't stopped yet!!!! My husband is seriously considering a mental institution!! I just couldn't stop reading. And as I said, I'm married and I have a beautiful 3 yr old princess to take care of, but I just had to keep reading, I couldn't stop! I haver never, never, never been so hooked up on a book (well, the 4 of them actually), and it was such a need, like breathing, that made me read at night, sacrificing the rest both my body and mind desesperately needed, but I couldn't stop. I read during the bus ride to work, at work too, on the ride back home, and would stop only during the few hours I was with in my wife-mother-role, and then, when my baby was sleeping, I would keep reading. my husband got really mad at me, he only reads sports news and couldn't understand my total obsession, yes, that's the right word: obsession. He has seen me all these yearse reading my books, enjoying them, I do read a lot, but had never seen me like this before! And when I read all thru the 4 books, well, I had to start reading them again!!! and, now I'm scared of myself, I keep reading them thru and thru...if you'd ask me how many times I've read them, I couldn't honestly answer and would just state that I'm now reading Breakind Dawn yet again.
I love the story and it keeps me there, hanging on, even though I know what's going to happen, but it just takes me to Forks and I manage to relax my wringled mind from the stress and exhaustion of my life...so I guess it's kind of a medicine, a need, for relaxing that keeps me reading again and again.
Of course I almost on a daily basis, go to Stephanie's page and have read everything. I love all the outtakes and extras and have download them to be able to read them without connecting to the net so often (I do think I might eventually get into trouble with my boss!). I also read and got trapped yet even more, when I read Midnight Sun, and I do hope that Stephanie can someday find the peace to finish it, you can't imagine what it means to a lot of us! I guess I'm a "twilight mom"!! and to be able to understand the full picture, to understand Edward, it's just, well, perfect, amazing...a need as breathing. So I do hope she recovers, but as Bella's says" time heals all wounds..." so I'll be here, desesperately waiting that it's the sooner than later. If Amazon would put it on a "preorder"list, I'm sure it would hit number 1 in just hours!! If Stephanie is reading this, please, don't forget us.
Now, someone has asked me, well, being a Twilight fan, have you seen the film? and I must say yes and no. first, to view it in spanish is unbearable for me (I'm an aussie stuck in Madrid!) so I NEED to view it in english and have already ordered my (I am truly looking forward to the Midnight Sun scene!!, well, all of the stuff actually). but I have viewed what's available on the internet. all the clips and trailers on the official website and I'm planning a visit to some friends in London just to be able to go to the movies and view it a few times!! (Dicky, Doreen, you know I love you and I visit Lon basically for seeing you!!!)
So, as for the intended review, I definately love this slipcased books option. I'll be looking forward to receiving my DVD and I do keep a daily check on any news about the New Moon film (I do hope they get the love part right this time, and don't screw it about!!)
so, definately, a must have!!!
Book Review: Beautiful Books - Amazing Series!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, this is a beautiful set! The dust covers are very pretty & sturdy. The little cards that come with the set are nice too. This boxset looks beautiful on my bookshelf. The books themselves were very well thought out and help with the experience of the story. I like the font that the publisher chose and the use of italics to distinguish between diolouge and thought. I borrowed a different version of Breaking Dawn from the library and the "feel" of this set is much nicer.
There were a few things that I did not care for though. At the end of my paperback versions there is the first chapter of the next book. This set does not have that. I suppose that's fine since you obviously have them all, but I really liked having the preview chapter. Another thing I did not like is that the graphic is only on the dust cover. The books themselves are just plain black under the cover. Overall I think this is a very nice product and worth the money.
Now, about the stories:
I am a mom/wife in my late 20's and I LOVE this series. It was a nice, easy, enjoyable read. I have a paperback set, this hardcover set, and an audio set. I have read the series several times and read it again when I am in between other books. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and I love the references and the obvious inspiration the author takes from classic literature (Pride & Predjudice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a lot of Wuthering Heights). She drew inspiration from the classics, but did not model her storyline on any one story in particular.
Meyer is a wonderful writer and creates a world the reader can get lost in. I did not find her writing style or her descriptions to be a distraction from the story. She created a realistic world, with real characters. The love story between Edward & Bella starts with just enough tension and builds throughout the series. I felt their love was believable and it captivated me. The kisses & intimate scenes were extra steamy, but in a pure way. It was innocent and lovely. It was the essence of first love. It was enough for me as a wife to enjoy, but not too much for an older teen to be exposed to. The violence was the same way. It was described accurately enough to get the feeling across without being too graphic. Meyer does an excellent job at balance in my opinion. The series was safe, but still stimulating.
I believe that one thing that really sets Meyer's Twilight series apart from others in this genre is the background she gives her characters. Even the supporting characters in the series are real. They have a past, a realistic personality, they have thoughts that you only get hints at. These characters do not only exist on the page they are on. She knows who they are and therefore I feel like I do too. The supporting characters, especially the Cullens, are wonderful. I felt they were complex, likable, and interesting.
Now, about Bella - I have read a lot of criticism about her being whiney and dull. I, however, disagree. She is an excellent main character. Her stability is a great backdrop for the rest of the characters and the complex storyline. She is well developed and shows a realistic amount of growth throughout the series. I must say that I liked her throughout, but really LOVED her at the end of the 4th book.
I am a Twilight fan. I love the series and I love this set. I am ardently hoping that Meyer will come out with more books to add to this amazing series. I have heard the rumors that there will be more and am anxiously awaiting their release.
Book Review: Not all the reviews should be believed- The books are great
Summary: 5 Stars
REVIEWERS - please disclose sex and age
Don't believe all teh reviews about Twilight Series- All 4 books are great
A Comment by AnnaR Haze
I think there should be a requirement that reviewers of our books (Chic lit or Young Adult fiction) would have to state their age and confirm that they have read the book or seen the movie.
I am so tired of older guys attempting a review and misinterpreting our emotions or trying to understand why we feel like we feel at different ages as we grow through the teen years. The reviews of Twilight, the book and the movie and the series were particularly galling. Not universally by all reviewers but by a number of male reviewers. I am sure there are a few men that might understand but they probably have daughters or observed girls when they were in school.
I am not researching this or trying to find example quotes but will from memory give a few indications from my memory of these reviewers confusion.
Some reviewers of Twilight the movie discussed that Bella as played by Kristin Stewart was uncommonly clumsy and this was overdone. Being totally clueless and impossibly clumsy I could so relate to Bella's condition,. They also said that teen girls were not preoccupied with falling in love with vampires. We are interested in falling in love and often select impossible situations when we yearn to date and get our first kiss and gain the attention of the cutest guy.
We are not completely single minded - or, oh well, yes we are. Edward was so romantic. We live in awe of Romeo and Juliette and a reference to that impossibly romantic love in a review is not something that is bad or beyond understanding. Many reviewers misunderstood the entire series and the love of Bella and Edward. To say that twilight was a story of teen angst among humans, vampires and werewolves and clumsy girls is like saying The Hunchback of Notre dame is a story about a bell, or Romeo and Juliette is a study of balcony architecture, or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was a travelogue of denim, - Twilight is a love story. Allegorical and brilliant and romantic, traveling Pants is a story of sisterhood and love and togetherness and BFF...
Some reviewers placed Mama Mia the movie as one of the worst of the year. They reviewed that the dancing and singing was not professional. Yet we loved the movie - just because it was real and spontaneous and not ultra staged and was romantic and real for us.
It is impossible to think that producers were unsure how High School Musical would be received. Duuhhhh! Or didn't know how we would flock to Twilight- despite the reviews that it was insipid. If you build a field "they will come", if you release a movie for us, "we will come."
I don't know if the publishing houses have studied how they are developing the readers of the future. And that publishing houses like Simon Pulse are providing well written novels and writings for us- the future readers of the world.
It is my opinion that YA and chic lit novels are being written by the best authors now writing. They are so much better than most adult novels. They help us understand the writings of sentences and chapters and character development and real dialogue- speaking as we speak.
I digress- I just wish the ages of the reviewers would be listed. I am much more willing to believe a review by a girl near my age than any guy or older woman who can't remember her high school years.
Anna R. Haze, 16 (soon to be 17)
Book Review: Book 4 Review.... Amazon will not let me leave on Book 4 because I obviously purchased the entire set....
Summary: 5 Stars
::roles eyes::
I red the entire set and loved it..... But I wrote this long review and Amazon would not let me post it because I didn't buy Book 4 solo... So cheers to book 4....
Ok.. I finally agree with the vast majority of reviewers about Jacob. I enjoyed his bonding with Edward, to an extend. I felt like he was overstaying his welcome-- moderately. Bella's desire for him was irritating. Hearing Jacob's perspective on his "Alpha" status first hand was interesting. But when he decided he'd fallen in love with Bella's child-- I was disgusted and took a break for about a day before I decided I wanted to know what happened. (I cheated a little.. flipping to the end. I wasn't going to continue reading if the entire last book was devoted to two parents condoning a pedophile).
Somewhere in the last book with Bella's narration... He eased up a bit. He stopped interfering with Bella's attempts at motherhood (and seriously.. she deserved the opportunity given the fact that her pregnancy was like 100 times worse than usual....). I wanted them to kick Jacob out and keep him away. (Although.. knowing pesty Jacob.. he probably would have attempted to steal 'Nessie' and make her hate her parents or something). -- and what is up with the name Renessie anyway? Ew?
Coime page 718-- I felt like Meyer was really trying to end the series. She spilled out all the political tinges to her book. .. Letting go of family feuds by becoming friends with an enemy that never really was (kinda like racism) ... Standing up for rights or letting your rights get taken away (kinda how protests form today.. and the big debate on the news currently in politics with womens rights... gay rights).. The biblical-like story where you have a battle, there's good versus evil and some are too afraid to fight and run in fear. Anyhow... from 718 on like.. five pages, it was filled with these sorts of analogies. I get that her book was kind of like that all along-- questioning our way of thinking.. making us understand various perspectives (even when they were annoying... like overly-sensitive-way-too-apologetic Bella). Meyer made everything make sense... but I felt like she needed more time to kind of mesh this nicely into the book. Instead, I was reading page after page of nonstop lecture-format dialogue. (Not that I didn't enjoy the subject matter... It just felt rushed).
She did a great job. I didn't mind the happy ending... although I do with they would have killed off the Volturi as opposed to anticipating getting picked off one at a time. It seems to me like the second novel where they didn't anticipate Victoria coming back to avenge her lovers death... Or Irina for that matter. Meyer left us with limitless possibilities for thinking about the "future" of the characters.
I also enjoyed the relationship Bella had with her baby... I think I read a few reviews that said otherwise when purchasing the book. I was only upset that she was allowing Jacob to take away not only HER opportunity to bond with the child, but Edwards too. I was even kinda pissed off when she had Rosalie protecting her while pregnant... like Edward would reeeally go out of his way to hurt her. She made him miss out on the moment. And in her case.. it was only happening once. ::sigh::
Book Review: All in all one of the best love stories I have read in a long time
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the entire Twilight Saga (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn). The book series was aimed at the yound adult audience, but as a "older" adult reader I can say that I was truely captivated. I purchased the entire saga series and read all four books in under 5 days even though I work full time. And I will definately read the series again.
I am going to skip specifics, as to not spoil the books for anyone.
What did I pull from reading this series? forbidden love, wanting something you can't have or that may not be good for you, facing fears, dealing with divorce, dealing with moving to a new place/school, making friends, sacrifice, selflessness, waiting to share yourself with someone else until you are married, Losing that one person that makes your life worth living, the feeling of Love from every possible angle (mother, father, family, friends, lover, yourself), self confidence, somethings are worth fighting for, somethings are better left alone and so many more topics.
Twilight - Book 1
It is the beginning of a wonderful forbidden love, the author successfully pulls you into the book allowing to easily feel the emotions of the characters. Not as well put together as next books in the series, but still, as I said before, captivating.
*After reading this book I would suggest downloading the authors partial manuscript of Edwards version from the authors website; It really brings you into the story further... I read it after book3, but wished that I had read it after book 1. Do not read it before book 1 though, It may ruin some of the suspense of book 1.
New Moon - Book 2
Again the author brings you into the book feeling the charaters strong emotions. You get a little upset with some of the characters from the first book. You can feel what they are going through and it sets the stage for the next three books.
Eclipse - Book 3
Books 1 & 2 are pulled back together with the same intensity and some of the things previously brought out are now in perspective.
Breaking Dawn - Book 4
Although there was some switching perspective in the previous book, this book has quite a bit more of that switching going on. With that said, I think that the switching was neccessary to get the full story out in the open. The author pulls evertything from all of the prior books into one nice package in the end, yet still leaves a little bit of an opening for future books or stories to shoot off from. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the "sci-fi" feeling in the middle of the book, but all in all I was pleased.
Note: You may not appreciate the time the author put into the character building and placement until after you have read all four books. Her unique style is wonderful to read and I feel it was this attention that made the books so good.
I do wish that this book was written to the adult audience so that the scenes didn't have to be so "PG" rated. It would have made it a little more interesting in some parts. However, she left enough details to let your imagination fill in the gaps.