Customer Reviews: Read 182 more reviews...
 Miss Harry? Here's your fix! September 3, 2008
I thought I'd never say this about any book, but this is as good as Harry Potter! However, only really for the girls.
Twilight is an incredibly intense love story between plain, 17 year old Bella and irresistable vampire, Edward. The writing is very intricate and draws you into their world and emotions in a way I have never experienced with a book before. You will want the story never to end. The intensity of the writing will draw you in and hold you ransom. You will find yourself refusing all your favourite things (for me it was food, TV and sleep) just so you can carry on reading this book. It's a unique reading experience.
Most teenage girls will be able to indentify with Bella, though she is no bimbo air head and not your typical teenager either but she is very likeable and interesting. Edward is a brilliant character for whom everyone will envy Bella, he is perfect but the read does not become cheesy, overly soppy or unbelievable.
The action near the end of the book is nearly unnecessary as the pace and writing of the earlier part of the book keep you gripped without plenty happening all the time however, you will still be satisfied with the ending.
I would say this is is most enjoyable for girls aged between 12 and 22, especially those who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. If you're looking for a horror book, then look elsewhere, the fact that this is a vampire story does not mean it is designed for horror fans. But if you're looking for a romance with depth, which will stay with you for a long time, then you will be absorbed by this book.
 What is all the hype about? September 3, 2008
I was really exciting about reading an original vampire novel, especially after receiving many recommendation to read this book. However it was apparent within a few chapters that Meyers was writing a very long (self insert) fan fiction style tirade about Bella and Edward.
I found it repetitive, lacking story line, ill edited, lacking plot or three dimensional characterisations. It is truly one of the worst books of modern times.
 Enjoyable enough, but not worthy of such hype! September 2, 2008
Having heard that the Twilight Saga had come to rescue the world from literary boredom, I eagerly snapped up a copy of Twilight - the first book in the saga - but remained cynical about the hype. Unfortunately, I was right to be cynical.
Admittedly, the first half of the book is very absorbing, though not particularly well written. The intensity of emotion between Bella and Edward is at times spine-tingling - but so much of the book left me feeling frustrated. The frequent use of the word "Adonis" and other such descriptions of Edward left me cringing. Also the second half of the book felt like a bit of a let down - like a decent independent film going all "Hollywood" at the end. Twilight reminded me of the many Point Horror books I used to read when I was younger. The book also reminded me of the LJ Smith Nightworld series. Twilight is nothing exceptional or new. In fact, I would say that the the Nightworld books (from memory) were better.
Oh dear, I feel I am being unduly harsh. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy reading the book(i'd have given it 3.5 stars if I could), but I can in no way endorse the hype that is surrounding it. It is good. And no doubt it will rake in millions as a film. A film which, admittedly, I will probably go to see. As for reading the rest of the Saga? I have not made up my mind yet. Perhaps on a rainy or sunless day. Ha.
Flawed, but enjoyable. August 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Now let me give Twilight haters this. Almost every single thing the negative reviews said about this novel is true. It really is. What are the negative things said about it, you ask? These are the most common observations I read when I read countless negative reviews and things I had also picked up myself whilst reading:
* It's unoriginal.
* The prose is overly filled with adjectives, mostly describing how beautiful Edward is, and constantly reminding us of that fact on every single page.
* The narration is overly detailed. e.g. the narration tells us that she gets up, brushes her teeth, what tooth paste she uses, what corners she drives round, which parking place she takes, what she has for dinner, how she cooks the dinner, and the list goes on.
* The vampire myth, or its world, does not have very much depth.
* We are reminded, far too often, how dangerous Edward is.
* We know at the very first page that Bella hates rain and cold, and that she is clumsy, and yet the author insults are intelligence, also reminding us of this on every page as if we might forget.
* Bella has no personality.
* Edward has no personality.
* Actually, nobody has a personality.
* The love that Edward and Bella share is completely superficial.
* The tone of the novel is inconsistent (pages 1-300 are completely different to the pages 301-430)
There is an element of truth in all of these points, though I would like to contest some of them, if only a bit mildly. The first and most common criticism is its unoriginality. At its bare bones, it is a teenage romance novel. It is what it is. Yes, it is unoriginal, but it was not trying to be anything new and amazing, and why is it things have to be original these days, anyway? I commend anyone that can come up with anything completely original, but also I'm not sure why unoriginality equates bad quality and vice versa. It boggles my mind.
The second point I want to contest to is Bella having "no personality". I cannot help but think that it is up to the reader to see something in her, or to relate to her somehow, because I did not see the non-personality. I saw a frustrated, lonely, but, emotionally, a typical teenager. I do not know what her haters problem is, I can only guess, I only know that I disagree. As to the rest of the characters, the narration did keep mentioning different names and I could not determine the difference between them all - they were pretty lifeless. Character development is not this novel's strong point.
The third and final I part I want to disagree with to a degree is that Edward and Bella's relationship is completely superficial. I am not disagreeing on the grounds that they fell in "love" with one another because of appearances, but I am disagreeing to the point that their romance is typical of teenagers. Meyer is not writing about two adults in their forties falling in love, she is writing about two hormone raged adolescents. What do you expect? Even so, their conversations do begin to progress into deeper meaning behind their attraction for one another; think to when Edward explained why he would never hurt Bella. He explains that her personality, and her nature is unusual, and that is what attracted him to her, why he cannot read her mind, and why he could not bare to lose her - because her mind works differently to everybody else's.
Now, before you think I am flanking to this novel's defense, I will say this simply: This novel is an enjoyable read, but it is very, very flawed for the reasons listed above. The author is far too repetitive and tangential. She seems unable to develop her characters, or give good reasons for their actions; the last 100 pages of the novel feel like they are tacked on from a completely different novel. The "threat" that Bella comes under is too coincidental, out of nowhere and stupid to believe. The author seems to think that her readership are stupid and need reminding of certain things on every page (Bella's clumsiness, Edward's beauty, Bella hates rain, Edward is dangerous), there's no depth to any characters but the protagonist, perhaps Edward too, if we push it. The exclusivity of this novel is also a problem. With Harry Potter I recommended to anyone from my grandparents, to my best friends. Twilight? Would not feel right recommending it to a male. Men reading Twilight and enjoying it seems implausible to me. It really hits its market dead on centre. Everything about this novel is girly, and I think that is a major flaw (only on an aesthetic level, it is obviously very good for marketing and business).
But this book is enjoyable. There must be a reason. Quite frankly, to be overly bothered about its flaws is missing the point a bit. It is just a teenage novel. You would not go and read a Point Horror book and then write negative reviews for it saying how badly it is written, or how obvious the twist was at the end, because most people accept the Point Horror books for what they are, and hey, no one is talking about a Point Horror book, or making a film out of it! People's problem with Twilight is that it is popular, but it is no different to the Point Horror books. It is a novel aimed at teenage girls. Think of a milder and ever so slightly better written Mills & Boon novel, only with vampires, and that is Twilight.
I noticed the many drawbacks the novel had, but I still enjoyed it, because I am one of those people that like to fall into a nice romance. The writing is easy and accessible, you turn the pages, you're drawn in whilst you're reading it, you want the protagonists to just flipping kiss, you finish it, and you want the next book. Is that not what enjoying a book is all about? It is just a nice light read to tune your brain off too. Who cares if it will not win the next Booker prize? I would fully recommend this to anyone who enjoys a cute little romance and quick, gliding read.
 Bella and the Vampire August 29, 2008
17-year old Bella has just moved to a small town to start her junior year in high school. She's not looking forward to it until she sees her science lab partner and - BAM! - she falls in madly love with gorgeous but silent Edward. He, however, seems mad at her for no reason and keeps his distance. Then, when Bella's life is in danger, who should save her but the enigmatic Edward!
This young adult novel for ages 12 and up would probably be a big hit with teen girls as Edward is the perfect teen boy - handsome, tender, and selfless - and gawky Bella is no one to be jealous of. There is almost no action for most of the book, (it's just Bella uncovering the mystery that is Edward and the two falling in love) and when some action finally happens, it's not all that exciting as Edward, a vampire, can save anyone, anytime.
As an adult reader, I found it more than a bit unsettling that Edward, who is over a hundred years old, is romancing an innocent teenage girl. And aside from Bella and Edward, none of the characters is developed at all. My biggest complaint, however, was that none of the teenagers spoke or acted like teenagers - they were way too mature, sophisticated, and eloquent to be believable. The writing did hold my interest, though, and I kept wondering what would happen next. (Answer: Not much, but it's still good.)
This quick read about a teenage vampire is different and I enjoyed it. I think teens will love it.
|
