I never got into the whole Twilight phenomenon, choosing whether to buy Team Jacob or Team Edward underwear. I didn’t read the books or watch the movies (though I could get never get away from talk of Robert Pattison’s hair). But when a friend offered to loan me the first three books, I decided to give them a try. Why not, right? Maybe then I could go buy Team Jacob underwear.
So I cracked open book Uno, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I tried my best to put out all thoughts of the movie clips I had seen, and concentrate just on the writing and the characters in the book. Which didn’t really work out for me. I wasn’t all that impressed. Before you Twihards start boycotting my blog, let me explain why.
The writing really wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. The same words were used over and over again (Edward was perfect, Bella was clumsy, Edward was perfect…) and there was a lot of telling vs. showing going on. I never really connected with Bella, she seemed a little off, and not like the fierce female I think Meyer was trying to make her be. And the love connection between Bella and Edward? I’ve been seventeen, and I never fell head over heels, would turn myself into a vampire, for a guy that I met a handful of times. It just didn’t seem believable- then again, I’m reading a story about vampires, so hey. Also, I was really bored through the first ¾ of the book. Nothing was happening. I didn’t care about kids going to school. I wanted some action, or drama, or…anything.
I tried my best to like the book, but it wasn’t until the last chapters that I started to get invested in the characters. And with a book as thick as that, it was a challenge to keep reading. If it hadn’t been for me writing a review, I probably would have stopped before the half way mark. But the ending did help me like the book a bit, and convinced to the give the second novel a try. Let’s hope New Moon has a bit more action than Twilight.
[Rating: 2]
I’ve read the Twilight series. It was kind of “eh” for me. I’m trying to think of the one word that I thought was used repeatedly but it escapes me. I’ll let you know if I think of it. Something that was repeatedly used when talking about Edward’s perfect skin.
New Moon has more action, but I found Bella to be even more whiny. I really liked Eclipse though. I like the characters of Jasper and Alice and you get their back stories in Eclipse.
Good luck with the rest of the series.
So glad you decided to read this and save me the trouble…LOL! I had heard all the hype, but never invested the time, because I’m just not a vampire romance kind of girl. But honestly, I felt like maybe I needed to read it just so I could join in the conversations around the water cooler. As always, your reviews are thoughtful and balanced.
–Maria
I got the book but I can’t finish it.I’m not even half way. I saw the movie though. It was ok. Great review. As always.:)
I struggled through the first one of these a few years ago, and was terribly underwhelmed. Between Bella’s constant falling over her own feet, Edward’s weird sparkling and horrific stalker tendencies…well, there wasn’t a lot for me to like! Needless to say this book’s been sitting forlornly on my shelves for a while, and I won’t be moving on to the others! 🙂
I have spent a good chunk of my time mocking Twilight and it’s fans. I went to see the first movie in theater, drunk, with 7 other drunk people and laughed the whole time… which I know is super disruptive and somewhat rude, but the movie was so over the top it was hilarious.
After my Chick Lit awakening I decided that maybe I needed to back off. Maybe it was time to try and figure out why so many people flock to these books. So I gave Twilight a try. I tried really hard to get passed my preconceived thoughts about the characters and my feminist issues with the book… and honestly I put it all aside and didn’t finish reading it because the writing was SO. BAD. I was bored, I was intellectually insulted, and I was struggling. By the time it got to Belle and Edward laying in the grass re-describing all events in the book so far from Edwards point of view I was done.
There are aspects of this book that are very “teenage girl emotional” and I get that. I was rather melodramatic as a teen and I could see myself eating this up 12 years ago. I see where Meyer was trying to make a strong young woman but, as you said, there is a lot of telling and not showing. She tells you that Belle is strong but rarely proves it…especially since Belle is constantly tripping over herself.
Frankly, the stalker vampire boyfriend is too much for me. Stalking is NOT love.
Anyway, thank you for your review. It is spot on to how I experienced this book.
Just as a heads up. If you thought Twilight was boring than New Moon is going to be a whole new level of bored to tears as Belle spends most of her time sulking about Edward leaving her.
I’m so not a fan of paranormal lit. Vampires, werewolves, witches, what-have-you, are of absolutely no interest to me. Especially, if they’re also poorly written melodramatic romances. So, I chose to avoid the Twilight series altogether. Looks like I was right to do so!
Author
Thanks everyone for stopping by! It’s always great to see that people agree with my opinions! I was half worried Twilight fans would come hate on my page- quite relieved that hasn’t happened! My review for the next two will be coming soon, and I think I’m going to pass on the 4th. I’ve read enough!
I actually read the four books. I did dislike the fact that the only way to describe whiteness is marble, and tht every single character feels chagrin at least five times each chapter. I also feel that Edward is not only a stalker, but an insecure, controlling, dominant, whiny and unhealthy role model for what teenager girls should be looking for in a guy. He doesn’t “allow” Bella to make her own choices, at least regarding her friends. He even (SPOILER ALERT for book 2) disables her truck to stop her from going to see a friend in need. He blackmails her into (SPOILER ALERT for book 3) getting engaged and (SPOILER ALERT for book 4) marrying him, and even then she has to get a bodyguard because he knows what is best for her and her body, to the extent that she is in physical danger ¬¬ . It is kind of creepy that Meyer thinks this is the kind of relationship that teenager girls should be looking for.
I enjoyed the series, couldn’t put them down. The third was the hardest to get through for me. Though I did find too much repetition, I resigned myself to the fact they were written for YA.
I recommend The Host, by Meyer. The characters were relatable, likeable and more mature.
I totally understand where you’re coming from. I did read them, and I did like them, at the same time realizing that the writing wasn’t that great and Edward was kind of a stalker and Bella didn’t seem to care that her whole life revolved around this vampire. There is something to be said about the hook that Meyer gets in, even I found it hard to put down and I was 21 when I read them all, not an obsessed 17 year old.
I used to work in a bookstore and the months leading up to when “Breaking Dawn” came out (the summer before the first movie was released) I had sooooo many girls telling me I needed to read the books. I figured if there were that many books flying off the shelves, there had to be a reason. I read all 4 the summer of 2008 and was hooked. Then the movie came out and I found myself toning down how much I liked the books (and movies) because I was, well, embarrassed. I always made sure to say that I read all the books before the movie came out and girls became obsessed with all things Twilight. And let me tell you, they are insane – I actually overheard some girls talking about the Rolling Stones cover with Taylor Lautner on it..they were about 14 and one of them said (and I swear on my life I am not making this up) that they would definitely have sex with him. Whaaaa??? I mean, sure, he’s good looking for a kid but um, YOU’RE 14! Yeesh. Anyways…off topic, sort of. Point is – we’re not the target demographic, and that’s fine. I liked them, some of my friends liked them, but we’re also aware that they are most definitely not the “great literature” that those 16 year olds think they are. I’m glad you gave them a try though. They do start slowly and pick up. I’m interested in seeing what you think of the next ones!