Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Book Review: Twilight - Don't Starve Yourself
Summary: 5 Stars
Re-post from the Cowboy Logic Forum - Recommended Reading topic - Nov. 12, 2008
I finally succumbed to peer pressure and read Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)...here are my comments.
Before picking up this book, make sure you have a loved one available to take care of your personal needs...
They will need to make sure you get enough fluids.
They will have to arrange for you to recieve three square meals a day.
It will be necessary for them to take the book away from you at bedtime, so that you will get enough sleep to function.
A person can starve to death reading "Twilight" it is impossible to put down. The children will howl about how hungry they are and you will walk to the `fridge, open it, point, and walk away. All while still reading.
My adult daughters warned me, and I didn't listen. I took two Satirica bookmarks and wrote a "B" on one of them and a "J" (for Julie, my wife) on the other. I managed to squeeze in about 30 pages, on and off, while her and I took turns for three days. We dared not set it down because the other would snatch it up and not give it back. Once she finally finished reading it, I got nothing else done for two days.
I vowed to catch up on all the things that I am responsible for before I start in on New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2).
I've already read the first two chapters.
I'm hopeless.
Nov. 13, 2008
On rethinking this, perhaps I should offer a more detailed review. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here.
Twilight is another one of those novels that, while it may be appropriate for older teens and written for young adults, it is entertaining for adults as well. It is categorized as a young adult novel. It is also a quick and easy read.
The POV in the story is Bella, 17, who has a dangerous love affair with a badboy. In this case the badboy in question is a mostly-reformed vampire. It is not the typical vampire story in that this book is a romance novel with vampires, not a vampire novel with romance. The book is riveting, as I commented earlier, with the low-level tension and suspense rarely giving the reader room to breath, and it sometimes pulls moisture from the reader's eyes. The higher-level action flushes the reader and makes the heart race.
Even though it takes a while for Bella to realize the true nature of her boyfriend, it seems obvious from the book's synopsis that the author wants the reader to be aware of the fact upfront. However, that knowledge doesn't seem to spoil any suspense for the reader, since there are plenty of other uncertainties to keep people guessing.
The story is told from first-person POV and the character telling the story is alert, interesting, and witty. This is part of the lure that keeps the reader present--it is a lot of fun listening to Bella talk. She is cynical, but she doesn't share her innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears with those she encounters in the story (until she gets closer to Edward), but she does share them with the reader, often through sarcasim.
One thing more you might want to know upfront. The author, Stephanie Meyer, is a Mormon, like Orson Scott Card and myself. She does not preach her religion in the book, but she does follow certain standards with regard to content that some readers of Card's or my work may have noticed. I seem to recall that Card teaches in his classes, and mentions in his book How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy that profanity is a powerful tool, to be used only carefully and with purpose. I believe in this, and so, apparently, does Stephanie Meyers. You will find the same level of profanity in Twilight, less in fact, that you can expect to find in mine or Card's stories.
Sexual content is another matter. Twilight is a romance novel, and so the Twilight world does not completely ignore sex as a topic. It does, however, refrain from covering it in any level of detail and flat refuses to condone teens engaging in it. It also deals with passion at another level that I would have to place under spoiler alert to discuss properly.
All in all, I enjoyed the book tremendously and recommend it to young and old alike. If you are an aspiring spec-fic author like myself, or if you plan to write romance novels, this is a very useful and educational book for refining your craft. Vampire stories in general, and vampire-human romance stories in particular, are seen by some as over-covered. But Twilight applies a new and fresh approach to the idea and does it very skillfully.
I have placed the entire series firmly on my list of books that are worth taking a break from my novel to read, however I will take my time doing so, with long gaps in between each of them. I am on too tight of a schedule to frequently shut-down my life to read a book, and I anticipate that the rest of the novels in the The Twilight Saga Collection will engage me too deeply to get anything else done, just as Twilight did.
Book Review: sensational
Summary: 5 Stars
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is a captivating love story unlike any other. Stephanie describes a forbidden love, one greater even than Romeo and Juliet. This forbidden love not only goes against moral values, but nature itself.
In this story Bella, a young rebellious and headstrong girl, moves from her sunny and hot home in Arizona, to live with her father in the dreary and rainy town of Forks. It is here in forks that Bella finds something she never expected. Love.
Bella's father is police Chief Charlie Swan, who to her dismay has been spreading the news of her arrival to town. Everyone is anticipating her first day at the Forks High School. To welcome her home, Charlie buys her an old Chevy truck. To her surprise she loves the car, despite the tattered and worn body. Bella is sure she will not fit in and will easily be picked out as one not to mingle with. Bella is taken by surprise when she realizes she fits in perfectly. Her unusually pale skin is not unusual in Forks, her clothes are among other non-flashy outfits, and her car is not the only old car. The only nice car is a silver Volvo.
At lunch on her first day Bella sees five students sitting alone across the room from her. They all are exactly the same but very different. One of the girls is thin to the extreme with short spiky hair, while the other girl had blonde hair and the curves of a supermodel. The boys were also different. The one who appeared to be the oldest was stocky and very muscular. The other boy had blonde wavy hair and was also well built. And the last boy with the bronze colored hair was lean and lanky, also muscular but scrawny compared to the other two. Yet they were all exactly alike. All were very pale, paler even than Bella who is part albino. They all had topaz colored eyes and purple circles underneath them, and they were all inhumanly beautiful.
Bella becomes fascinated with the bronze haired boy, who she learns is named Edward Cullen. As time goes on Edward and Bella form an unusual friendship. A friendship in which awkward conversations take place, Edward saves Bella's life frequently, and this friendship escalates. Soon they both find themselves irrevocably and unconditionally in love with each other. Bella is walking around an empty street one night when she is assaulted. Out of the blue a shiny Volvo pulls up beside her. The door swings open and a familiar voice calls her to get inside. Edward speeds off after saving Bella.
Bella later learns that night of Edward's true nature. He is a vampire. After accepting and actually liking this trait of his, they begin to date. A few months go by and their relationship grows impossibly strong. Regardless of Edward's constant longing for Bella's blood, the Cullens resentment of Bella, and their obvious differences; their love remains strong. Visions of spending the rest of eternity together are present in both their minds. These visions come closer to coming true everyday, until one fateful night. While playing baseball in a clearing unwelcome visitors arrive. Vicious and uncivilized vampires arrive in Forks simply wanting to join in the game. Carlisle, Edwards "father" lies and leads the three vampires to believe Bella is a member of the family. But their cover is blown due to a gust of wind. A simple breeze blows Bella's human scent to the three rabid vampires and the hunt begins.
James, one of the three becomes obsessed with her, vowing to drain her blood. Thus a "war" is sparked among the vampires. Edward forces Bella to leave forks along with the rest of the Cullen family. James deceives the Cullens and Bella; tricking her into thinking he has her mother hostage. Bella sneaks away from the Cullens to set off to fine her mother alone. While on the search for her mother, James' carefully laid out clues lead her to an old ballet studio. It is here that Bella experiences fear and pain like never before. Bella realizes it was all a trick and that her mother was perfectly safe all too late. James sends her flying into a wall of glass mirrors, breaking her ribs, arms, and cutting her severely. Before the Cullens get to Bella James bites her. The venom that turns humans into vampires is slowly seeping through Bella's veins. Carlisle knows the only way to prevent her from turning is to get the venom extracted. With utmost reluctance Edward is forced to suck out Bella's blood, tasting for any traces of venom. Edward sucks out all of the venom and saves her. It is at this moment that Edward learns that his love for Bella is stronger than any other desires he has for her. For Edward was able to suck the venom out, without loosing control and killing her, this strength driven by his unconditional love for her.
This provocative and compelling love story is one that will have you reading for days on end. Stephanie Meyer has written a phenomenal story which balances love, science-fiction, and action in a way never done before. Twilight is a sensational hit which has changed the vampire world forever.
Book Review: A human take on the inhumane
Summary: 5 Stars
"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him- and I didn't know how potent that part might be- that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."
Isabella Swan (Bella) is a fairly typical, clumsy, 17 year old girl. She has moved in with her father, Charlie, to his home in Forks, Washington, after her mother's remarriage to a minor league baseball player has her trotting around the country with him. She enrolls in a new school and becomes a hit with the boys and girls and finds her attention drawn to the mysterious and attractive Cullen and Hale family, particularly young Edward Cullen, also 17. Edward is not normal, having a preternatural quality to his keenly good looks but Bella decides that after seeing him giving her scathing looks that he obviously despises her for no good reason. One day he rescues her from being killed in a car accident and it is then that she begins to understand how abnormal he really is.
Her worst suspicions are egged on by young Jacob Black, a 15 year old reservation kid from the Quileute Tribe tells her stories of "the cold ones", suggesting that the Cullens might be just that. It isn't long before Edward decides that he will befriend Bella and her theory is proven correct...Edward is not normal...because he is a vampire. Granted, he is a "vegetarian" vampire (in that he consumes animal blood instead of human) but still, vampire through and through.
"I wish," he whispered, "I wish you could feel the...complexity...the confusion... I feel. That you could understand."
He raised his hand to my hair, then carefully brushed it across my face.
"Tell me," I breathed.
"I don't think I can. I've told you, on the one hand, the hunger- the thirst- that, deplorable creature that I am, I feel for you. And I think you can understand that, to an extent. Though"- he half smiled- "As you are not addicted to any illegal substances, you probably can't empathize completely."
"But..." His fingers touched my lips lightly, making me shiver again. "There are other hungers. Hungers I don't even understand, that are foreign to me."
"I may understand that better than you think."
"I'm not used to feeling so human. Is it always like this?"
"For me?" I paused. "No, never. Never before this."
He held my hands between his. They felt so feeble in his iron strength.
"I don't know how to be close to you," he admitted. "I don't know if I can."
I leaned forward very slowly, cautioning him with my eyes. I placed my cheek against his stone chest. I could hear his breath, and nothing else.
"This is enough," I sighed, closing my eyes. "
This sets up a plot that becomes a great story. Of course Bella is fascinated with him, who wouldn't be? And she quickly becomes enamored with him. What impresses me so much about this story was Meyer's narrative voice, so clear and informative for a first time novelist. Meyer did things that few authors can do. One, she made me never look to see what page I was on, because I was too engrossed in the story. Two, she detailed and fleshed out the characters so well (particularly so with Edward) that by a few chapters into the book I was not only visualizing the characters but I was also seeing their expressions when they said certain things, their body language, quirks in their eyes, and such. I could so clearly see the characters in my mind that they felt like flesh and bone people by the end of the book and it's a rare author who can accomplish such power, especially in a debut novel. I adored this book. I look forward to reading more of Meyer's work with a relish.
"I infuriate myself," he said gently. "The way I can't seem to keep from putting you in danger. My very existence puts you at risk. Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger, I should be able to-"
I placed my hand over his mouth. "Don't"
He took my hand, moving it from his lips, but holding it to his face.
"I love you," he said. "It's a poor excuse for what I'm doing, but it's still true."
It was the first time he'd said he loved me- in so many words. He might not realize it, but I certainly did."
Book Review: Beyond my expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
Bella Swan moves in with her father in small town Forks where she must go to high school. There she meets this guy, Edward Cullen, who is gorgeous and mysterious and seems to dislike her at first sight. She doesn't understand why until his attitude towards her starts to change and he gets a bit friendlier. One day, he saves her from being crushed by a car in a way that makes her think that he is not a normal human - he moves way too fast and as he shields her with his back, a dent is left in the car. She starts to wonder what he could possibly be. One day she is at the beach with her friends and a guy named Jacob Black ( I need to mention him here because it seems his role in the sequels is quite big) who belongs to a native American tribe tells her a legend about Vampires and mentions Edward and his family, who seem to be vampires that do not drink blood from humans.
By this point, feelings have evolved quite a bit between Bella and Edward. He is always around now trying to keep her safe, as clumsy Bella is prone to accidents. And she realises that it doesn't matter to her what he is. In a chapter that I particularly found amazing, Bella goes through her mind and her feelings and ANALYSES them in a very grown up way. She is in other words, a teenager who is very tuned with what she wants and why. Edward tries to keep her away for he thinks he is dangerous to her but he fails. He is completely attracted to her in different ways. He wants her as a man, but also the scent of her blood is the most alluring thing that he has ever come across in his century old life, which means that they can never share more than a few kisses. He cannot take the chance of losing control.
We only know this when he tells her, though, (in a much-expected conversation) for Bella narrates the story and everything is from her point of view. That worked really really well for me. There is not an omnipresent narrator, which would allow us to see everyone's point of view; we are stuck with Bella. So we must follow her, and discover along with her all the mystery concerning Edward and the rules that he lives by - is he really that fast and strong? How come he walks in the sun? Where does he sleep? -, learn with her about his family and how each of them has a different skill. Edward for instance, can read minds - but not hers, which is also another thing that fascinates him about her.
And fascinating is the key word here. You go along the book, feeling Bella's embarrassment at her clumsy ways, her surprise at the new discoveries, and the fascination that she feels for Edward. Most of the book is about their relationship - this is a love story at its purest form, of two people that are so in love and in need of each other than I can't help being fascinated by them.
There are also other things which underline their relationship that I am hoping will be explored in the sequels: Are they really meant to be together? Is it their destiny or their future can be changed based on their choices? If they are supposed to be together, what does it mean for them?
I am interested in seeing what will Stephanie Meyer's choice be in her next books - their love story can not work as it is - there is no future for a human and a vampire. It is an impossible situation, as Bella will grow old and Edward will be stuck in his 17 self. Plus it is potentially a very dangerous situation for Bella to be surrounded by people who would love to drink her. And a very important question: what is the point of having such a godlike, gorgeous creature for a boyfriend if you can barely touch him?
I loved this book with all my heart. I am completely in love with Edward and I really wish they could work things out. Although, there is this tiny bit of brain that is left working and it keeps screaming at me that such obsessive relationships are not healthy, that they should not be so useless without each other, life MUST exist outside the boundaries of Edward and Bella.
In the end, I could resist this book no more than Bella could resist falling in love with Edward. It was unavoidable. I will certainly read the sequels but I must take a break from such intense reading for now.
review courtesy of http://thebooksmugglers.blogspot.com
Book Review: Surprising
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not the target demographic for this book either (referring to another review), I just finished up my eighth and final year in college (even when I started college I was at least two decades older than the "target demographic" for this book...I'll let you guess how old that makes me). The first thing I did upon completion of my last class was pick up this book. I wanted to read something completely gratuitous for once; without a deadline.
My daughter has been telling me how much she loves these books since she read them, and reread them, like...ten times, so I thought I would give them a try.
For some background about my reading tastes: One of my first novels was "Interview With a Vampire" when I was 12 years old. Of course, I LOVED it. I see this as a 21st century, Young Adult, version of that.
Now though, I have to make an admission: I tend to like Young Adult fiction, first of all, because I tend to feel like a voyeur with many adult novels. I think most YA novels are "fun" to read rather than torture (which some AF books are to me)...when I pick up a fiction book I'm looking for an interesting story, interesting characters, interesting places, etc. In other words my interest in books is not prurient. This book has some inescapable tension but it's not capitalized upon, which I liked.
Having said that I have to say that I was surprised at how much I loved this book. I couldn't put it down and finished the fourth book less than one week after beginning the first. Maybe I'm just starved for a good story after so many years of reading and studying textbooks, but I REALLY liked this book.
Unlike some of the other reviewers, who also described themselves as not the "target demographic", I was not expecting Tolstoy. Maybe this attitude allowed me to thoroughly enjoy the characters, the story, and especially the way it was written.
I personally LIKED the dialog and in my honest opinion it was NOT overdone because what they were saying was interesting. Another reviewer mentioned that they thought that Edward would be smarter because he was so old, however, I would contend with that because it is told in the book (maybe in one of the sequels?) how closed off he had been until he met Bella. People build walls around themselves and I think it showed not only the depth of the Edward character, but the multi-dimensionality of the all the characters. To me, this was a great strength of the book, the easy, natural, development of the characters, and I don't think it was an accident --- it was meant to be part of the story. Maybe my own imagination added these extra dimensions but I think that the other reviewer maybe missed some. Another example is that the other reviewer mentioned an apparent discrepancy with Bella's academic scores and her attitude. This is a shallow perception of reality: I personally know many students who are "honor" students who, believe it or not, are not in the glee club, or cheerleaders...in fact, they are quite the opposite. High academic scores are NOT always indicative of self assurance. This is a harmful myth and reason why people often do not see the signs of depression among comparatively good students. For instance, when they commit suicide people often are blown away and are often heard saying "They were such a good student, who would have known?" As if good grades are a sign of sound mental health...this is NOT true. I hope this is not a spoiler but Bella had grown up with a bubbleheaded mother and Bella felt the need to be the adult of the two. This is a classic scenario which I, as a Youth Specialist at a juvenile facility, has seen all too often. The child doesn't have time to develop on their own because they are busy being the parent. Once they are severed from the parent role they must find a way back to homeostasis, which is usually a very traumatic time in their life and a time of intense inner turmoil and questioning.
Now, see? This was what I was trying to escape from by reading this book...
Anyway, I really loved this book. I just wish the movie would have done the book justice. I vote that they redo the movie; starting from scratch and keep it more true to the book in every way.