Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.99 You Save: $9.00 (82%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Book Review: Vampirism as a metaphor for sex
Summary: 5 Stars
When was the Golden Age of Science Fiction? The late 1930s to the 1950s, when science fiction became widely popular and many classic science fiction stories were published. The joke answer is that the Golden age of Science Fiction is 14, the age when many science fiction readers become fans. I know I read my first scifi when I was 13 or 14 so maybe they are right.
Lately scifi fandom, in which I include not just the fans but writers, podcasters and publishers, want to catch the next generation of fans and have been pushing Young Adult Science Fiction, scifi for kids in their teens and maybe early twenties. I'm not immune to this campaign so I've been reading some of it myself. First, I got Scott Westerfeld's Uglies trilogy. It was light but okay. Then I got Twilight, the first of Meyers' books about a clumsy girl and the vampire who loves her.
My first impression of the book was that it was BIG. It was a thick book. Once I opened it I realized it was big inside. Big font. Big line spacing. It reminded me that what publishers are basically selling is a paper product. The more paper they sell, the thicker the book, the more they can charge. The actual arrangement of ink on the page is usually the cheapest part of their product. Twilight is a big book. It might be classified as Young Adult Speculative Fiction but it was great as Old People Going Blind Fiction as well. As an old person going blind I found the font and the line spacing made it a lot easier for me to read than the tiny fonts in real books. I didn't have to put on my special adjustable glasses and put it down a lot because my eyes were freaking. BIG FONTS. It was easy to read.
It was a little slow to start. I didn't really find the girl, Bella, interesting. She seemed rather ordinary. There's a vagueness to her that reminds me of superhero comic books. They leave the faces of the superheroes sketchy so the reader can imagine themselves in that role. In the same way Bella is vague so the reader can imagine herself as Bella. It's not even clear if Bella is particularly pretty (except to Edward) but when the vampires appear, going to high school to give themselves a paper trail and a backstory that will allow them to live among humans, there are pages devoted to their beauty. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful vampires. Beautiful and irresistible so their prey cannot resist them. But this family of vampires is vegetarian. They don't eat people but Bella's vampire Edward can barely restrain himself from taking her. The descriptions of the teen vampires are very much how girls, how I, viewed many boys when I was that age. They did seem just as beautiful to me as Edward seems to Bella. I used to sit in class and covertly watch them. Edward's hard flesh was like the hardness of young male flesh as their hormones turned them, almost overnight, into something different, something alien. I hit my teenaged brother a couple of times (he deserved it) and it was like hitting a log. I hurt my hands more than I hurt him. And teenaged boys, beautiful as many are, are often monsters. So the entire metaphor of vampire = teenaged boy = monster = object-of-desire works.
Like Shakespeare has multiple layers and can be read for the plots, for the characterizations, for the sex and violence, for the dirty jokes, for the philosophy, for the language, Twilight, as simple as it is, has several layers. The entire Bella/Edward relationship is a metaphor for the relationship between teenaged girls and boys as they fight their instinct to have sex, sex that might destroy them. Maybe it's not like that today with birth control and abortion but when I grew up the struggle between guys and girls was to not have sex. The girl was supposed to be in charge of that but the better guys shared it, fought against their desire to have sex and maybe ruin the life of the girl who gave in. In the same way Edward fights against giving into this instincts and taking Bella, consuming her. As much as he is driven he fights against his desire. He also fights against her desire to become like him, to become a vampire, to lead her into damnation. He believes that he lost his soul when he was transformed and he doesn't want to be the weapon that deprives Bella of hers. The whole thing is a metaphor for sex, at least sex in the life of a Mormon housewife, which was what Meyers was 5 years ago.
Meyers has linked various works to each book in the series. Pride and Prejudice to Twilight. Romeo and Juliet to New Moon. Wuthering Heights to Eclipse. Midsummer's Night's Dream to Breaking Dawn. This adds another layer to each of the stories. In Twilight Edward, at first, seems cold and withdrawn, like Mr. Darcy, but that is because, like Mr. Darcy, he is trying to control and conceal his growing desire for an unsuitable girl. I think telling the Romeo and Juliet elements in New Moon would be too spoilery. In Eclipse, there are two guys in love with the same girl, in a relationship very much like Cathy, Heathcliff, and Edgar Linton. And in the final book, Breaking Dawn, first you have two men magically in love with the same girl then two immortal families struggling over a magical child like in A Midsummer's Night Dream. All of the connections are pretty weak but it adds a nice additional layer to the books and that lets you run the similarities and differences over in your mind.
The Twilight Saga, like Austen's novels, the Bronte sisters' works and even Romeo and Juliet, are pretty much girl books, the text version of chick flicks. Meyers is writing about love and romance at its most melodramatic extreme. I don't know that a male could tolerate them. Well, unless he got off on the idea of being the superhero protecting an accident-prone, trouble-magnet girlfriend from all the dangers of the world or secretly hanging out in her bedroom, watching her as she sleeps. (Edward takes stalking to a whole other level.) Like Austen's novels, the Twilight novels, especially the first one, have a strong Cinderella element. Most of Austen's heroines are ordinary girls, usually without much money, who get the best, richest, most good-looking guy in the novel. Like Cinderella they get the prince. Just so Twilight is the story of how Bella, the ordinary girl, gets the superhero vampire.
So there are at least three layers to the Twilight Saga. It makes it all a little better. Gives you something else to read into it no matter how preposterous the story is.
Of course, I loved them, though I am kinda disgusted about that. Teenaged love, the vampire and the virgin. God, how ridiculous is that? Yet as soon as I finish one of Meyers' books I start rereading the parts I like best then reread the whole thing. After six days I'm almost through my third reading of Breaking Dawn. I don't know why her books ring my bells. They make me feel kinda manipulated but still I find them addictive.
This summer Meyers also released the scifi book Host which I recommend. It is pretty straight forward scifi about an alien parasite living in the brain of a human and changed by it. The parasite finds herself loving the people that her host loved and driven to be with them. In a sense it's a rewrite of I Married a Monster From Outer Space but without the sex. No sex before marriage in books by Mormon housewives! I've already read it three times too. I try to blame that on the nice big font!
Well, at least it's over. It will be a while before Meyers can get another book out and until then I can pretend I have better taste than this. Though I'm not embarrassed about liking Host. That one was okay.
Book Review: Not Your Typical Vampire Romance Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Not Your Typical Vampire Romance Novel, by Kristin Clift
Stephenie Meyer's Twilight successfully engages a wide range of female audiences and even if they won't admit it, males secretly enjoy Meyers's story too. Meyer wonderfully combines the appeal to pathos and mythos to make a great fantasy that is easy to read. Although some may say Meyer's writing is found wanting and her story line needs to be developed sooner, she has created a delightfully entertaining read that has gotten all ages and types of people to love her characters, relationship developments, and her interesting can't-put-it-down plot.
Stephenie Meyer intentionally wrote Twilight for young adult readers but in doing so it reads so that all ages are enticed. My middle-aged mother was the one that introduced me to Twilight; he was just as enthralled as I was by the book. I've met all ages of people who loved Twilight--anywhere from pre-teens to the elderly. Meyer's aim was such a bull's eye that all audiences can highly enjoy this read. It is an extremely popular book that made it onto the New York Times "Best Sellers" list and "Editor's Choice," Teen People's "Hot List" pick, and Publishers Weekly "Best Book of the Year."
Part of the reason why it is so successful is that Meyer's character development is such that it is so easy to fall in love with and identify with her characters. I have heard it said that the main character and narrator of the story, Bella, needs to be a little more human. However, I find that her awkwardness and her introverted quirks are easy to relate to no matter what type of person you are. My favorite characteristic about Bella is that she is clumsy and horrible at sports as portrayed in the scene as the new girl describing her first day in gym class; "I watched four volleyball games simultaneously. Remembering how many injuries I had sustained--and inflicted--playing volleyball, I felt faintly nauseated" (26). That reminds me of my gym class days and how many times I had ended up in the nurse's office. Meyer develops attributes in Bella that any reader of all ages can relate to. This makes it possible to imagine yourself in Bella's place, which is an effective tool Meyer uses to engulf readers in her story.
Meyer does a phenomenal job with details. She doesn't put too much that you lose interest and not enough that you can't visualize. She finds the perfect balance--not to mention her description of Edward's sexiness is enough to make any female giddy! Especially not the part where Bella first witnesses a reason Edward can't come out into the sunlight in their secret romantic meeting in the meadow; "Edward in the sunlight was shocking. I couldn't get used to it, though I'd been staring at him all afternoon...He lay perfectly still in the grass, his shirt open over his sculpted, incandescent chest, his scintillating arms were bare...A perfect statue, carved in some unknown stone, smooth like crystal...The meadow, so spectacular to me at first, paled next to his magnificence" (260-261). Is it any wonder why so many people are obsessed with this book?
Stephenie Meyer's development of Bella and Edward's relationship is scrumptious. Immediately readers are entranced by the unexpected, daring, forbidden romance much like Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. Meyer superbly puts these lovers on the border of fantasy but yet it is so realistic you can't help but feel that you are a part of the relationship. Critics say they argue too much or the relationship is just uncomfortable, but that is why I believe it works so well; so many of us have had bizarre relationships where we knew it was bad for us but we couldn't help it. Edward and Bella's relationship is extremely identifiable. The appeal to pathos is strongly evoked. In just re-reading this book such strong emotion arises that I am immediately captivated.
Meyer executes the description of feelings in new love so beautifully, specifically the physical part of it all that is magnificently displayed in this first kiss scene, "Blood boiled under my skin, burned in my lips. My breath came in a wild gasp. My fingers knotted in his hair, clutching him to me. My lips parted as I breathed in his heady scent" (282). At the risk of sounding cliché, I'm getting `weak in the knees' just reading it! The cautiously erotic tension between Edward and Bella is so intense that I actually think Meyer should quit the Young Adult business and start writing corny romance novels, you know, the ones with the overly-muscley guy and the damsel in distress on the cover.
If all of that romance is too gushy to handle, there are plenty of other parts in Twilight that make it a worthwhile read, such as the plot. It's enough to keep pages turning and interest going. Even for males. I was once talking to a clerk at Wal-Mart about Twilight and the guy behind me goes, "Yeah that was an incredible book! Uh, I mean, my wife made me read it." Some say that it takes too long in the beginning to get developed and Meyer condenses all of the action towards the end. However, I found that Meyer carefully distributes the action so that each event becomes more intense as the story progresses.
There is plenty of blood, gore, and action to keep the male reader interested, especially toward the end, where it becomes a race to keep Bella alive. Even the preface keeps you on the edge of your seat. Stephenie Meyer begins with this tantalizing intro, "I'd never given much thought to how I would die--though I'd had enough reason in the last few months--but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this" (1). The preface is where you get a sneak peek at Bella's thoughts at the climax of the book. My friend told me that her mother had to sleep with the lights on after she read the climax of the story because it was so horrifying. Authors who can keep you interested from the beginning through the entire book are definitely great writers.
The appeal to mythos is another quality that makes this book fantastic; it's about a vampire (don't worry I didn't give anything away because you find that part out when you read the back of the book). Edward, the irresistibly attractive vampire with super-powers--how alluring does that sound? Stephanie Meyer ingeniously writes about what the world and cultures have been fascinated with for hundreds of years but she puts her own spin on an old idea and develops a new kind of vampire. It is always interesting to read a new version of antique myths.
Although some may say Meyer's writing is not up to par with that of the classics, such as Chaucer or Maya Angelou. I would offer that her story and relationship development belongs with writers such as Jane Austen or William Shakespeare. Twilight is a charmingly fun read; I haven't been so in love with a book since I first read Harry Potter. In the words of LeVar Burton, "But...you don't have to take my word for it!"
Book Review: Lovin' Me Some Twilight!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first venture into the Young Adult genre and it was completely based off not only the surrounding controversy of the novels, but the overwhelming out pour of reader love and devotion. In addition, it seemed that not only teens could appreciate the saga but people of all age groups were transfixed by these hefty novels as well.
So after dragging my feet for a very long time I finally succumbed to "Twilight Mania" and got my butt down to Wally World to purchase my very own discounted copy. Even though all four installments sat gleaming before me in their ebony covers, I decided I would only purchase the first for I was still skeptical in regards to their greatness. Plus I thought I would hate any romance novel that didn't have sex in it so I decided not to waste me money.
To my utter and delighted surprise, I fell in love with all things 'Twilight'. Now I'm not going to go into too much plot detail in this review of 'Twilight' for I truly think that what these characters go through is an amazing journey through the forbidden that should be left up to the individual reader to explore. That being said here are my thoughts.
On a personal note, and this may sound stupid, but simply put 'Twilight' touched upon all the fantasies of my teenage years. As a awkward late bloomer, I was very much on the fringe of high school society and I always longed to be a girl like Bella Swan. The subtly pretty girl who had no idea she was pretty. Plus I wanted to be conflicted, silly I know but it's the truth. I had no ghosts, nothing to make me sad. I was a privileged girl going to a school nicknamed 'Snob-halla" because of all the rich kids enrolled. Instead, Bella exudes sadness in such an intriguing and mysterious way that she unintentionally draws people to her. Yet at the same time Bella shuns all attention. While I most definitely embodied the latter trait, I most certainly never drew people to me in high school.
Also Bella is smart. Not that I was an idiot but Bella is knowledgeable in such a way that I had longed to be. She's well read, great at math, and has a knack for science. These are all areas that I struggled in and being within Bella's POV and her ease at academics felt liberating in the reader sense.
Bella and Edward's love story, the overall nitty-grittiness of it, does not in any way resemble the "teenage romance". In some respects it's juvenile but if you stripped the time and age from the equation one would see the epic quality of a love that transcends all time and place. It's an intangible, all encompassing, once in a life time kind of love. I think this is partly the reason why adults can appreciate and enjoy 'Twilight' because it speaks to the romantic soul. The renewal of wonder in that there is some truth to the term "soul mates" and that in our universe you are possibly destined to become consumed with love for one and only one other person - your perfect match, the other half of your soul.
While this concept is vast, Meyer brings it to life with flowing prose that sweeps the reader along into the world of innocence. Where love and it's corresponding emotions are lived and breathed for the first time for these characters, but acts as a youthful reminder and a passage back in time for us veterans of love. It brings our jaded and cynical souls back to when we were filled with youthful optimism and heartache was never something you had experienced so you didn't think much over the fact that this first love could end. In fact you spent a lot of your time defending it from people who continuously admonish that "first loves never last" and "you never end up forever with your first" and so on and so forth.
As the parent of their mother/daughter relationship, Bella has acquired an old soul. One that feels more comfortable taking care of others. Because of this Bella has shaped into a self-sacrificing person who is fiercely protective of the ones she loves. But she's willing to sacrifice her mortality for one very odd but very beautiful boy. It's this old soul trait that makes her so compatible with Edward for he is in fact a hundred year old vampire. Each and every encounter between Bella and Edward was amazing to me. I was turning the pages so fast in an effort to reach their next scenes together that before I knew it, the story had ended.
Bella truly is the most endearing and amazing character and while there is huge fan base for Edward, I'm of team Bella. I admired her complete unselfishness, which is not a teenage trait in my experience and in hindsight could be considered a character flaw, yet with out this trait there would be no 'Twilight'. She consistently burdens herself with others guilt by always discovering the way in which the guilt had somehow been brought upon by her. She could go as far as thinking "if I'd never been born then this could have never happened" and she would precede to feel guilty. Hmm...this sounds bad but it was truly an endearing quality. Bella always viewed the good in others no matter what and while that may be naive, I think this brings a certain optimism to each and every situation whether it be good or bad.
With regards to Edward, while he was of course romantic and I hung on his every speaking word, I also thought he was the more juvenile of the two. I know he is simply trying his best to not inadvertently kill Bella, but I thought he was a bit of whiner and at times irrational in his fear. Yet when he decides to break all the rules he certainly doesn't waste any time securing Bella for his own and I enjoyed his take charge attitude. Plus I've always had a thing for stalker heroes. This is of course not to be confused with the creepy stalkers of real life but more along the lines of being inexplicably drawn to the one you desire above all others (found only romance novels).
In the end 'Twilight' was refreshing for the fact that Bella was denied the gift of immortality based on the simple grounds that Edward wants her to live. If given the choice, all the vampires of the Cullen clan would choose life over immortality and none of them wants Bella to waste hers on them. It is in this one particular area that Bella proves she's selfish, yet her inner debate is fascinating to read.
And finally in closing I feel that anyone can enjoy 'Twilight'. Some might focus solely on the teenage side of it and never grasp the transcending romance within but many will. It's a very fast read despite it's girth and it's not a love story that romance lovers should miss.
Oh, and I didn't even miss the sex. :0)
Book Review: Twilight - An English teacher's delight!
Summary: 5 Stars
As an English teacher I was delighted with how Bella and Edward discuss classical novels and the characters flaws and virtues. While Bella is adventuresome but klutzy, Edward has beyond human strength. He could have been portrayed as the "jock" or popular, but I am ecstatic that he is well read (even if he is so old) and musically talented. This brings more depth to his character. His concern over wanting to place Bella's best interest and her mortality or soul before his love for her captivates the reader's attention. Bella too has a love and an attraction for Edward that makes her willing to risk everything just to have "experienced" him for a time such as this.
I absolutely identify with the believability of the characters. The thoughts that run through their minds are what draw the reader in closely, wanting more. I never viewed Bella as the typical high school drama queen who is self absorbed, her humility is what makes her so appealing. It was obvious from the very beginning of the first book that Bella was wise beyond her years. From a self perspective she thought herself to be ordinary. She is fiercely independent, not desperate for attention. Her sarcasm shows spirit along with an honest straight forwardness indicating that she is not totally accessible. She doesn't mind being alone.
As a grown woman with 3 grown children the Twilight series was recommended to me by my daughter's friends (I am a high school teacher). Then I soon discovered that so many of my own friends and even my sister had read the entire series. I was intrigued. So after receiving the first 2 books in the series for Christmas I sat down to read. At first I said to myself "why am I reading a novel about high school students? I teach them every day!" Well that shows how shallow I was thinking. I was immediately drawn to Bella's character, wise beyond her years, sacrificing her own desires for others, such as her mother. I liked how she wasn't all "into herself" like many teenage girls seem to be. She was content with the small stuff that make up our days. She is responsible and knows herself enough to not become involved in things she isn't good at. She is a heroine of sorts in a self-sacrificing way from the very beginning, and that's when I was totally hooked! I just had to see where her life would lead.
Enter Edward Cullen. You know 30 years ago I would have scoffed at the whole "love at first sight" thing. It seemed so corny and trite when you are a level headed, independent, free-thinking young woman with values and morals that ground you. Bella embraces each of these characteristics. But her first eye contact with Edward is more than an attraction of mere curiosity due to his intensely outward and physical beauty. She seems drawn to him in a way that she cannot explain and she "thinks" that when he looks at her that there must be something strange. It is quite endearing that Bella does have a few insecurities - it makes her more human. But like I said, as an adult I was surprised how appealing and drawn I was to both characters. I couldn't stop reading until I completely finished all 4 novels in the series and even mourned as I came closer and closer to the end of Breaking Dawn!
I have been happily married for years to a great guy who I still adore. This series helped me to remember what it felt like to be drawn to someone who you do not always think you deserve, but that they also love you back with such intensity that it almost does not make sense. Thank you for that! I am playing scenes over and over in my head from when my husband and I first met. They are precious memories indeed and it is delightful to travel back in time to that place.
Since you ended up writing this series for young adults I just thought having an adult perspective might be enlightening. The "clean" element and the appropriateness of this story ties into how I think I often express myself as an adult. While my 3 children obviously know that their father and I have an intimate relationship, they certainly do not need the details. What makes our relationship so special is the strength of that intimacy which is between just the two of us. I have shared with my children how important intimacy is and the fact that it expresses itself more fully as trust is developed throughout the relationship. But again, the most important details are the ones that can be shared like how when you love someone deeply it is not a controlling or selfish love, it is liberating especially when you place their best interests before your own. Such is the case with Edward and Bella. They each share this quality of intimacy long before they engage in a sexual relationship. It is endearing how Edward's character is so influential in keeping Bella pure. Even as a vampire his predatory nature is as a protector of her and not to fulfill himself and his own pleasure through her. Again this appears virtuous and draws the reader to want more.
There are so many "moments" where the characters connect discussing classic literature and music. It is very flattering to a man or a woman for someone to share your interests in reading and music, especially when it is not typical. Edward and Bella show maturity by having more developed interests than other people their age.
Some of my friends said that "New Moon" was their least favorite of all the series. I felt quite the opposite. Bella's loss and pain along with the agony of going through life without Edward was integral and necessary for the story to develop. It sets the stage for the rest of their story. I felt like I was living through the events in this series. You write so candidly and with the ability to make the reader feel right at home with the characters. Overcoming obstacles became their mantra. Bella the brave and courageous, a humble old soul. Thanks Stephanie for sharing this part of your dreams with each of us!
Book Review: What a literature teacher thinks of the Twilight series
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, here is a secret confession from me to you - I'm loving the Twilight series! But I do have reasons, real and actual reasons! One may think it is strange for an adult, an adult who is a reader, an adult who reads `serious' literature, an adult who teaches `serious' literature nonetheless, to love these books about an obsessive teen girl who falls in love with a moody, veggie vampire. But I do...and here is why.
I'll admit, when I began reading the first book, while I was intrigued with the concept (I love sci-fi) and interested in the girl's character (I work with teens) the writing itself was...okay here it comes...snoozeville and more than a bit camp! I skipped many paragraphs, just skimmed the top so I'd still know what was happening in the book. The conclusion I came to about what was happening in the book was this - this girl needs to get a life!!! But by then I was mildly interested in how this human/vamp relationship would turn out so I read the next book...strange, I missed Edward a bit and was concerned about Bella's feelings for Jacob. You see what just happened, yes, that is exactly what happened, the characters started becoming real to me. By the time I was into the third book, I was half in love with Edward myself and mentally giving Bella advice. Not that I should be giving advice in the love department by any means.
Then...I stopped at the end of the third book...thinking it was over! And what is more, I was sad about it! Anyway, a little time passed and I kinda forgot about it. I had this thing where I lost my job, found a new job, had to move, blah, blah, blah. But then came a day when I discovered other `Twilighters'...don't you just love the lingo! And yes, they were my high school students...but get this - they were the bright ones. Yes, we teachers do separate into categories...smart yet butt-kissing, smart and pretty but knows it, smart and capable and a truly nice person (that is a fun discovery and happens more often than one might think), lots of potential and will hopefully realize it one day, not-so smart but sweet and kind (worth so much in this cynical world), pretty and doesn't want to explore how much more he/she could become, and last but certainly not least, a big, huge pain in the butt! The latter actually falls under two categories - the pains that are just fluffy underneath it all and like the James Dean of olden times just want to be understood and the pains that sadly, most likely will bury their true selves too deep to be delved. Luckily the very last kind is rare. But I digress - big time. Back to...oh yes my fellow Twilighters.
So these were smart girls (yes girls, did you really think guys would read this stuff?) and while we were chatting it up about the Bella, Edward, Jacob love triangle and our favorite character, Alice, and my secret favorite character, Rosalie, I discovered that there was a fourth book! Joy of joys, I was excited! So do you know what I did, yes I rushed out to make my purchase and then...here it comes...went back and really read, word for word this time, the first three again and then finally the fourth. True, the writer didn't go where I wanted her to go - but hey it wasn't my baby. I was reading these books while I should've been analyzing and breaking down Hamlet into bite-sized pieces for my Seniors. I ignored my house for a week and stayed up late in bed absorbing the vampire family's story. The dishes piled high, the garbage attracted flies and the dogs began to starve...no not really, well maybe a little. Then, too soon, I was done, and again I was sad that my journey into Vamptown had ended.
I discovered another teacher who read the first book, discussion time. Whoa - just what I expected from another adult though I was hoping for a different reaction so that we could be co-conspirators in the world of teen vampire books. She ripped it apart and then some. I saw her point, the same opinions I actually had. But here was the difference - despite my `formal review of such matters', I still loved the books! And now...here is why. Didn't I start to say this much earlier?
Anyway - I love it because it isn't PC! I am a little sick of PC! Yes, the girl is obsessed - what teen girl isn't?!? It is the nature of the beast. And I love it! Yes, the boy is sorta sick, with watching her sleep and all, and yes the fact the he is beautiful is spelled out for the reader clearly, in every other sentence. But come on, what girl hasn't dreamed of a guy like this - admit it ladies - or don't, but it is still true and you know it! And that is the point - beyond all the supernatural, (which I happen to like), beyond the purple prose (which I don't like so much), beyond the lengthy explanations, is truth. This story uncovers and discards layers of correctness that so many people like to heap on everything. This is the secret life of a girl, her real thoughts and her real life.
Too often, writers fall into the trap of creating who they want a person to be - noble, independent, a tad of self-doubt just for good measure - falling at just the right time and coming to self-realizations at the precise correct moment in the novel. This story doesn't do that - it winds and loops and sometimes finds its way back to exactly the emotional place where it began and the reader wonders `Where is the growth?!?'. It is exactly where it is most often in the life of a teenage girl, hidden under heaps of the external. Yes, the book can go on and on without really anything happening at all, but that is exactly what happens in real life. We go on and try to make sense and add value of all this nothingness which to the individual is actually something. Does that make sense? If not, the book isn't for you. But I get it! And get this...a fifth book is coming out! I just hope it comes out during the summer so I don't ignore precious Bronte.