Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Book Review: A Surprising Read
Summary: 5 Stars
After many months, I finally decided to pick up this book. Basically because of the huge rabid fanbase its developed for itself (one I must say rivals that of HP) and cause all I could hear were girls talking about these books like they were the bible or something. So I decided to pick it up and give it a go. And after a few chapters, and I hate to say it, I became hooked.
The story begins with youung Isabella Swan (or Bella, as she refers to herself) moves from sunny and warm Pheonix, Arizona to the overcast and dreary town of Forks, Washington to live with her father. At first, things in the sleepy town are just like you expect from any old town. But on her first day at school, she discovers the one none oridnary thing about the town. And that is the mysterious family known as the Cullens. Incredibly beautiful, graceful, they are probally the last thing you would expect in a town like Forks and Bella finds herself attracted to one member of the family in perticular, the irresistable Edward Cullen. At first, he seems utterly disgusted by her and want nothing at all to do with Bella. But then faster then you can think, his whole attitude towards her changes and thats when things start to really get interesting. It dosen't take long to find out that there's a reason behind the Cullens mysteriousness and otherworldy beauty. They are a pack of vampires, though they have sworn off drinking human blood. From there, the whole story picks up and slowly the two young protaganist fall madly in love.
I find a lot of the characters pretty interesting, each one having their own distinct personality (despite what others may say), with Bella being a pleasant surpise. For once we have a heroine who has a sense of humor! who da thunk? And the book can be very hilarious at points, and also deeply romantic, and blood chillingly scary. Its basically a kalidoescope of diffrent genres that all mend together to form this book. So bravo to Stephanie Meyer.
Now I do have a few issues with the book. Not major issues, just a few minor kinks that I would like to point out. I do sort of agree with some of the negative reviewers that Meyer sometimes goes a bit overboard on the romance, especially with all the good look comments and amazing smells. Maybe if she would have toned it down a bit, it might have been a lot more powerful. Another issue I have is Meyer's whole description of the vampire archtype. In the book, all the vampires can walk in sunlight, which to me struck me as very odd. After all, one of the main things about the vampire is their extreme sensitivity to sunlight and basically she took that away, so its almost like they couldn't be called strict vampires. And according to her, they were pretty much invincible. To me, that really dosen't speak vampire, more like powerful creatures who just so happen to have a thirst for blood.
Besides those two points, I did enjoy the book very much and after this, I'm going to go out and get the two other books. So for those who love vampire stories and romance novels, this is the book for you.
Book Review: Twilight for Your Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer has to be one of the best vampire books I have read in a long time since giving up on Anne Rice and her vampire series. I won't disparage Rice's work in this entry, but I will praise Meyer for a job well done. It has been several months since a book has captivated my attention to the point where I lose track of time. I read over 200 pages of the book yesterday evening and said to my husband as he walked through the door, "Boy, you are home early." To which he replied, "I'm a half hour late." Where did the time go? Into reading about Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan, perhaps.
Unlike other vampire novels, the main vampire in this book, Edward Cullen, is a teenage boy, and Bella is also a teen. The unique morality that drives the Cullen family to hunt animals rather than humans is endearing, and certainly naive. However, readers must remember vampires, most of them anyway, were humans at one time and probably have a hard time adjusting to their new lives. So despite the moral compass governing their lives in Forks in the Pacific Northwest, they still desire human blood. The concept is simple, a boy and a girl meet and fall in love even though they are not supposed to, a boy from the wrongside of the tracks or a girl from the wrong side of the tracks; it really doesn't matter.
The writing is very descriptive and intense. The energy between the couple leaps off the page. It is electric to follow them through the town of Forks. Their interactions with other classmates, their attempts to hid their true feelings from one another and their fellow classmates--something teenagers often do in high school in the first place--and their quirky introductions to parents., even his vampire parents. You might think I am giving away too many details about this book, but there is so much more beneath the surface.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in vampires or merely in human relationships, and yes Edward is human to an extent. It is the combination of those human qualities and his vampire attributes that attracts Bella, and who wouldn't be attracted to him and his charisma.
I finished Twilight by Stephenie Meyer as you know. I have given a lot of thought to the cover choice for the book, which depicts of a pair of young arms with hands cupped around an apple. Oftentimes, I find book covers either have little to do with the book's contents or are lame in many respects, but this cover has significant meaning given the themes in the book.
First off, Isabella Swan is forbidden fruit for Edward Cullen, much like the apple in the Garden of Eden was for Adam and Eve. However, Bella also represents his prey; the dichotomy of their relationship is summed up easily in the cover choice.
I just want to applaud the publishing house and the author for a wise choice. The image above is borrowed from the Stephenie Meyer Website.
Book Review: Twilight
Summary: 5 Stars
So before I begin my review of the book I just want to say that it really disappoints me that people have gotten so low on this site to be call people names like "rabid fangirls" that is stupid and you can just keep it to yourself...
I think that Twilight (and the sequels) are great books to read because the book isn't about making everyone perfect. I honestly hate to read books where everyone in the whole book never makes mistakes and everything just works out peach perfect! This book is about people who make mistakes and try to live their life the best way that they know how. People say that Bella is a horriable role model. Well guess what? So what if she is! I mean you act like there is NOBODY in this WHOLE WORLD who acts like that! I think that makes her a great character because she isn't what your normal perfect little goody too shoes girl is! She is just herself! Her relationship with her father isn't the best in the world I will admit but that is because she has lived with her mother all of her life. I think that plenty of girls will agree that their relationship with their father is not as strong as it is with their mother and they will relate to this in the book. Also, it has been said that Bella ignores her fellow classmates and she does. She ignores them because as she said in the book whenever she lived with her mom she was the outcast. No one wanted to talk to her or hang out with her. She went through 17 years of her life not really having any friends. So of course she isn't going to be all "lets be best friends forever!!! yeah!!!" because she is so used to being alone and she is a shy girl who really doesn't like all of the attention put on her. The only reason why Bella doesn't want to grow old is because Edward can't grow old with her. She only wants to experience everything with Edward because he's the love of her life. And for those of you who say that it is because she "smells good and that he's handsome" obviousally did not read that into the book. Because if he only wanted her for her blood then he would have taken her to the woods (didn't he have plenty of chances?) and sucked her dry and just gotten rid of the body and left the town. So he does love her for more than her blood. Bella also says in the book that even though she finds him remarkably attractive that what attracts her the most is past his face and into his soul. She loves him for him! Not just that he is a gorgeous man. The thing about the "glittery vampires" has been totally blown out of porportion! Seriously get. over. it. Because SM doesn't want to be like everyone else!!! This is HER book she doesn't want to be like every other vampires author because that would be BORING! Who wants to read the same thing over and over again? I know that I don't. So what if they glitter in the sunlight it actually is a beautiful picture if you actually took the time to appreciate it. I think that this book is a great book to read for FUN if your gonna take it too serious then you might as well not read it.
Book Review: Bookmom's Review - Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Summary: 5 Stars
[Fun: 5/5] [Learning: 3/5] [Suitable: 4/5]
Wow! This has to be the most addicting series I've read in a long time. It is something of a typical teen romance, but with the twist of a dark gothic feel leant to it by the vampire characters. The writing surprised me, as I expected a hastily written feel to the book, without a lot of skill. It turned out to be rather well-written, though, hooking the reader with a developed sense of style from the first page. The story is about a high-school girl, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire, and the problems that you can probably imagine that it causes. Though Edward and his "family" are sort of "vegetarian" vampires (refusing to prey on humans, but instead trying to help them), Bella herself attracts more trouble than a group of mythical monsters. Edward is forever trying to conquer his instincts and protect his love. This book is full of action and suspense, and a good book for those who like a bit of a dark side (though not necessarily an evilness) to their reading. It is surprisingly lacking in gore and other objectionable content usually found in teen romances. Simply the fact that Edward is a vampire keeps a healthy distance between the two teens. However, I would react in the same way as Bella's father to some of the behavior exhibited in the story--for example, Edward (as vampires don't sleep) spends nights in Bella's room--quite innocently, but still, not behavior I would allow in my own house. Also, the level of attatchment that Bella has with Edward is very strong. Again, something to think about with teens. There is a somewhat scary vampire attack in the end, as well as references to an attempted rape, and the reader is exposed to Edward's violent vampire thoughts. All in all, however, I've read the series and would recommend it for teens over 16, and would encourage parents to be very aware of content and available to discuss some of the issues.
Audience:
* Teen Readers (16 and up)
Positive Themes:
* Conquering temptations in order to do what's right
* Enjoyable read
Objectionable Content:
* Some questionable romantic behavior
* Disobedience of authority figures
* Suspenseful vampire attack
* Attempted rape
My Recommendations:
* The other books in the Twilight series, which are currently New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, to be released in the fall of 2008, along with Midnight Sun, which has no publishing date yet. Readers may also enjoy A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray.
Bookmom - Get involved in your child's reading!
Book Review: a diamond in the rough
Summary: 5 Stars
First things first, I loved this novel and the ones that followed in succession. The way Stepeneie Meyer writes brings out the best and the worst in both her characters and the reader themselves. I saw a huge range of emotions fly across the pages and lives of Edward, Bella, and their respective friends and families. In addition to their emotions, the reader is given the opportunity to fall in love and immediately become viciously angered with the characters Meyer produces. Any piece of literature that can bring out the emotions of the reader so strongly makes a difference in the reader's life. It is something that the author strives for, and I think that the books that make you love, laugh, cry, and even become enraged with hatred are the best kind, because it means that they meant something to you or made you think.
Many people criticize the characters of Edward and Bella, but I find their thoughts to be rather superficial instead of looking past the surface. You do hear thousands of readers exclaiming that they are in love with Edward Cullen and will not fall in love with any other man, but I can understand where they come from. I can honestly claim that it is not the superficial aspects of the beautiful creature that draws me to him, but what Edward stands for, chivalry, care, protection, and loyalty that is so redeeming. Those are all things that a girl wants to find in a man she loves, or will come to love, even if he admits its all about being selfish.
A few reviews I read claim that Bella is the epitome of all that does not exist, that she should be instated into a mental hospital for being so clumsy. Being a rather clumsy person myself, obviously not up to her standards of getting hurt every day, I find that slightly mortifying that people dismissed her character because she does not flow and glide over all surfaces. I agree with one review I read about the fact that to a 17-19 year old girl, depending on which book you are reading, her first love is what her whole life revolves around. I have seen it happen time and time again to friends of mine and myself as well, although I'd like to think I never took it to that extreme.
There is a lot more to this story that what appears. You have to look deeper into the relationships of the characters and occurrences. Many, but certainly not all readers, who criticize this book as being about the superficial never take the time to look deeper and look past the obvious. It's not all about good looks and living forever, as Edward puts it nicely, but about what you do with your forever or whatever time you have. He, as well as the rest of the immortals in this novel, makes it perfectly clear that choices are what shape a person and I believe there is a lot to learn from that.
This novel is one of a kind and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes to read, as well as those who don't to maybe inspire them to look deeper and explore a world they didn't know existed.