Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

A friend sent me the books. I've read about 100 pages and haven't been this bored with a book for a long time. I've read and enjoyed similar novels by Anne Bishop and Anne Rice and Donna Boyd. I loved Buffy and Angel. I loved Veronica Mars. I love YA fiction.

I know I shouldn't make a judgment after just 100 pages, but compared to other, similar novels (and TV shows) that engaged me right away, IMHO Twilight is lifeless and without depth and color. Something's missing.
 
AuntiePam Wrote:
I know I shouldn't make a judgment after just 100 pages, but compared to other, similar novels (and TV shows) that engaged me right away, IMHO Twilight is lifeless and without depth and color. Something's missing.

Though I haven't read a lot of these kind of books, I am a big huge admirer of Buffy and Angel. I've got even less right to complain about Twilight, as I didn't get any farther than the sample chapter posted on Meyer's website. [I almost always sample books online before buying. I'm cheap, you see.] But I, too, found it very unappealing, and in examining what I read and what I've heard about the series in relation to Buffy I think this is why. I think this is what's missing: Bella is boring. She is a character, it seems to me, who is entirely defined by her hopeless relationship with her equally boring-sounding vamp boyfriend. She cannot stand as an interesting personality on her own, and has no power to effect events around her. And that last is, perhaps, the biggest problem with the character, because, ultimately, "it's about power". Buffy, by contrast, effects events around her -- she acts, rather than being constantly acted on or acted around. This would be true even if she didn't have powers that essentially make her a superhero, because she would still remain a dynamic personality, as opposed to someone defined by her romantic relationships.

Bella has no agency, and, [based on the blurb for the last novel, Breaking Dawn], this continues throughout the series. It even seems to persist once the books start to develop some sort of plot. In fact, [again based on the Breaking Dawn blurb], the only major way in which Bella seems to be able to effect events is to choose in what way she will lose what little agency she has. I could be totally off, but as an outside observer who's read a bit and done some research on the books as I've watched them become a phenomenon, this seems to be one of the story's major problems. Doesn't appear to be hurting sales though.

I apologize. I think I've got all the theorizing out now.
________
MOTORCYCLE TIRES
 
Last edited:
I was addicted to the first book but somewhere during the second and third Meyers completely lost me. Looking back I wonder why one earth I liked it so much, it seems like a really bad fanfic...small town girl falls in love with an outrageously handsome vampire that just happens to go to her school and, lo and behold, they are apparently soulmates and she gets taken in by him and his outrageously beautiful family and it's liek OMG!!!


*****spoliers****


It wasn't so bad in the first book but after Edward left and she turned into this semi-suicidal, moping thing for the whole book because she just 'couldn't live' without Edward, it was a bit much to swallow and made me wonder what sort of message Meyers was trying to send to her younger female audience.
And when Edward finally gets back he's an ass and she's a total doormat and just drops Jacob like a hot potato.

Add to that she's the stereotypical 'damsel in distress', running off and making stupid decisions that keep getting her into trouble and constantly needing the guy to come rescue her. As well as being utterly selfish and apparently blind to how she hurts or might hurt other people....by the third book it was old, really old.
 
I really love the twilight books...yeah I'm one of those girls thirindir mentioned!! :) But I have to say that although there's barely a plot lineTwilight had a better plot than the other two.....sad though that it started 5 chapters toweards the end of the book!!! Its almost as if she writing memoirs not a story! :)

Umm that stuff does get rel old real quick....But I stand buy my principles and will buy breaking dawn since i cant Not finish a series!! But I wont be in a rush to buy it either!!!
 
I have to agree with previous post about Bella. God I hated her by the end of the third book. I know I will read the last one coming out later this year just to see how Meyers ends the series, but I don't really expect to like it as much as I did the first book. My sixteen year old daughter likes these books, and I truly believe that this is who Meyers wrote these for. But I also have to wonder where her head is at. I don't believe at 16 you can fall instantly in love and feel like your life is over when it isn't there. I know that is how it is when your that age, I see that sometimes in my own girls. But as a forty something mom you realize differently. I guess what I am trying to say is that I wish Meyer had written Bella a little bit stronger, and not such a doormat for Edward. She could have done this and all the teens out there that love this series would still love it. And Bella would be just a little bit better role model.
 
sic's mom said:
I know I will read the last one coming out later this year just to see how Meyers ends the series, but I don't really expect to like it as much as I did the first book.
Click to expand...

Or if you don't want to put yourself through that, look it up at Wikipedia. I've done that if I'm watching a movie and want to see how it ends but (for whatever reason) I can't finish watching. There are plot summaries for everything at Wiki.

mjolnir, excellent analysis. Buffy had the same background as Bella. Parents separated, new school, worried about how she'd fit in. Buffy was attractive, smart, witty, caring, and insecure. Meyer tells us that Bella has these same qualities but we don't see them. Buffy engaged with the people around her. She was interested in them. Bella isn't interested in anyone but herself, and Edward, and neither of them have anything to offer. How boring.
 
Oh no.....another generation of black clad teens who think their vampires........


groan...............
 
I dont think I'm a vampire.........*Runs off to hide fake fangs!!:)* I just read them for something to read!! I cant not have anything to read and up popped twilight so........
 
i have read it and got a few people hooked including guys.
but the guys who i didnt went and saw the movie -twilight some were confused

i think that bella is not a good role model, i mean hello leave men to save us? hello we dont need them...*do we?* i mean so what if edward left *sniffs* if we were independent we would try to forget it, and move on. as my sister says build a bridge and get over it. i mean i did cry when edward first left but i soon got over it. i mean who should we choose, the guy we fall in love with who leaves and is a total dick, or the guy we've known whose a friend and actually cares. i choose the actual caring guy
 
Last edited:
QuickTidal said:
Thanks for the prompt replies. I have been on the fence about reading it, and it seems as if it's the type of series I'd like. It seems rather silly not to read it because it has a certain amount of romance in it.....so maybe I'll order the first book.....
Click to expand...

I would borrow a copy and skim the first few chapters. Most of the replies here are positive, but I've heard just as many people dog the writing/author/story/abominations of vampire myth, etc.
 
Well, I'm a 30yr old married woman and I loved this series. Yes Bella did get on my nerves a lot, but she is a teenager. I loved the storyline and most of the characters. My favorite book in the series is the last book Breaking Dawn!!

I wouldn't try to push the story on any guys (especially my Hubby) until after the New Moon movie comes out. I think once he sees the SPOILER: Werewolves he will come around to the story.

I felt that the 3rd book was the best when it came to action. I liked New Moon, but I think Eclipse is better in that sense.

I would definitely recommend this series.
 
I liked the first book when I read it, and I thought the second and third were ok. But on reflection I realize that there's something really creepy with Bellas reliance on Edward. And the whole scene where he's telling her how dangerous he is and she's like "I dont know you and I don't care" really bugs me. I know it's supposed to be romantic or whatever, but I guess that sort of romance isn't for me.
Also, as other people have mentioned she just gets really whiny and self absorbed and while teenagers are certainly like that often its difficult having to stomach reading about it for 1000 pages.
There's some subtle ideas put forth in the book that I just can't help but think make a bad role model out of the story. While I don't think ALL books need to be made good models, obviously, I think YA should have that in mind. I think if I had a teenager I would try to talk to him or her about these ideas before they read the book.
 
hearmonicaroar said:
I liked the first book when I read it, and I thought the second and third were ok. But on reflection I realize that there's something really creepy with Bellas reliance on Edward. And the whole scene where he's telling her how dangerous he is and she's like "I dont know you and I don't care" really bugs me. I know it's supposed to be romantic or whatever, but I guess that sort of romance isn't for me.
Also, as other people have mentioned she just gets really whiny and self absorbed and while teenagers are certainly like that often its difficult having to stomach reading about it for 1000 pages.
There's some subtle ideas put forth in the book that I just can't help but think make a bad role model out of the story. While I don't think ALL books need to be made good models, obviously, I think YA should have that in mind. I think if I had a teenager I would try to talk to him or her about these ideas before they read the book.
Click to expand...


That's interesting. Can you give some examples of which ideas your referring to?
 
All in all a good series, looking for serious Vamp reading head on over to Fevre Dream by George RR Martin.
 
also a good vamp book called bloodsucking fiends by christopher moore is good
also any books by mary janice davidson are also good.
 
Well I'm a 46 year old male who loves to read. My daughter fell in love with the movie and after watching parts of it off and on I decided to read the book. I have read the first two books and found them a easy read after Erikson. :eek: I have to say I enjoyed them both and will read the last two when they come out in paperback. I found the writing well done and it kept me wanting to read more. It was nice that the story in each book wraps up nicely so I can wait for the paperbacks without feeling I'm missing out.
 
Last edited:
I think the books are embarrassingly bad. There is nothing of worth in them. At all.
 
If everyone agreed the same way on a book or series, then there would be authors out there who may never sell a book. Everyone has their own tastes and ideas when it comes to story lines. Not everyone will agree all the time. That's what makes us individuals with our own tastes. Another words you can't always go by what someone has said. The same as with movies, one person might like a movie, and another might hate it. It's a chance when we pick up a book if we will like it or not.
Now getting back to this series in question. Read them, like them. The books are their own unique style of vampires with a love interest that evolve around teens.
 
i do agree i mean i first picked it up after a friend poked me to read them she said it was good and i got totally hooked into it and i admit and i stil do was wonderin where and when my edward cullen would appear
*looks sheepish*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Sponsors


We try to keep the forum as free of ads as possible, please consider supporting SFFWorld on Patreon


Your ad here.
Back
Top