Reviewer: Rowena Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Series: Twilight #1
Also in this series: Eclipse, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, Breaking Dawn, Twilight, Twilight
Publication Date: February 26th 2009
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 464
Add It: Goodreads
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Series Rating:
When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town.
But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family. These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella.
Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away - until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car.
Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward's coldness. He, and his family, are vampires - and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.
Oh, Twilight.
I remember the first time I read this book. My friend Izzy had read and loved this book. She gushed and gushed over this book until I finally agreed to read it and after I read it, I was glad that she was my best friend because she introduced me to Edward Cullen. We were those old ladies that were drooling over a forever teenager. We liked Edward before he was cool.
That first time, I inhaled this book. I read it so fast that I had to read all of my favorite parts again because I was annoyed with myself for reading through this book so fast.
It’s been a few years since I’ve picked up this book and I wanted to see if it would hold up to my love for it so I read it again and while reading it again bring back a lot of welcome memories, the story itself and Edward didn’t hold up this time around. This time around, Edward was so much more creepy in a way he wasn’t before. Let’s be real, he stalked Bella. He watched her while she slept. He was protective in a way that wasn’t exactly healthy. In short, the dude was on the creepy side.
I have to wonder if the books didn’t as popular and the movies didn’t burst onto the scene, would I still love this book as much as I did?
I’m not sure.
While I’m on my rant about this book and what made Edward a little creepy monkey, let’s talk about Bella. Edward has been alive or undead I should say, for hundreds of years and in all that time- he’s never felt anything as strong as what he feels for Bella?
Seriously? What is so great about Bella that she would warrant such adoration from one of the hottest guys on the planet?
Can she karate chop you into next week? Can she sing like the angels above were shining golden sprinkle dust upon your head? Is she an amazing athlete that you can’t take your eyes off? No to all of that. She’s just your regular bumbling idiot of a teenage girl who mumbles and who has a case of the woe is me syndrome.
I will say that Stephenie Meyer has a way with weaving a story that makes you really sit up and take notice. While she’s waxing on strong about how in love both Edward and Bella are, you can’t help but fall in line and love with everything she writes. It’s only after you put the book down and really think about what you just read that you’re wondering what the hell is wrong with you that you would lust after a creepy stalker guy with bad taste in women. In the way of plots and everything, this story is pretty simple. Not a lot is going on in this story but that doesn’t stop you from eating up every word. That’s gotta count for something.
I don’t think I could do a re-read of New Moon and I know for damn sure that I won’t ever pick up Eclipse to re-read because reading it the first time nearly gave me a concussion from the book bouncing off the wall I threw it at and almost nailing me in the head.
I will say that while I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the first time I read it (even the second time), I can still see why it’s so popular among the twi-hards (Moms and daughters). The romance between Edward and Bella is what most women dream of. Someone to love them so intensely and so fiercely the way that Edward loved Bella. Everything that they went through in this book, everything that they felt was all laid out and it was easy to fall in love with but true love isn’t like that. Edward is a fictional character who is too perfect even when he’s being a bonehead.
The story revolves heavily around Edward and Bella and it was through this reading that I realized how two-dimensional everyone else is. You hear a lot about them and you get their story but their characters aren’t as well developed as Edward and Bella. I found myself wanting to know more about Bella’s Mom’s life in Arizona. I wanted more from the other Cullens, especially Carlisle (even though I hate the way he looks in the movies).
Overall, this story was good and it’s easy to see why the series is so loved around the world but for me, this time around, the book wasn’t perfect and still, I enjoyed it.
..and that’s your scoop!
4 out of 5
Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com
Can she karate chop you into next week? Can she sing like the angels above were shining golden sprinkle dust upon your head? Is she an amazing athlete that you can’t take your eyes off? No to all of that. She’s just your regular bumbling idiot of a teenage girl who mumbles and who has a case of the woe is me syndrome.
That cracks me up!! Lol. You know, the movie and Robert pattinson ruined the book for me. Edward is a little stalker.
I think my favorite part of the book was when they did the blood typing. I don’t know why.
I don’t know how this would stand up to a reread now, especially given the saturation type coverage that the books and movies have received over the years. The book that I know I couldn’t reread is Breaking Dawn because that is the one that nearly hit the wall when I read it!
I do wish she would hurry up and write something more – especially if it is a follow up to The Host.
Thanks for such a thoughtful review!
I never actually managed to finish this book much as my friends tried to get me to do so.
But I can see how people like it, I even understand why sometimes. I think that weather you like it or not, Twilight is not exactly something you can ignore and I kind of liked the first movie 😛
Hey Izzy!
What? It’s true. I mean, I could see Edward being dazzled by someone that was more…everything than Bella but she was just a teenage blob of girl that was rockin’ that “woe is me” crap, why of all the girls in the world did he fall for her?
@Marg: It’d be interesting to see what you think of the books now, I find that I’m most curious to see for myself….so you should definitely do a re-read. =)
@Alex: I’m sorry, I didn’t see your comment. Yeah, I can see why it’s so well loved and I can even enjoy it for the most part but I’m not blind to its faults though.
What are you reading these days?