Good but far from great - Rated 
I had high hopes for this one seeing as everyone seems to love it. And I was hooked by the premise.
To be honest, I never really warmed up to Bella or Edward for that matter. At first it was fine, it was intriguing. I was waiting for the moment she would find out about Edward. Up until that point, all good, though the numerous references of Edward's eyes, gracefulness and the fact she was dizzy around him all the time started to wear thin really quickly. But when she does find out - which was a little of an anti-climax for me - it wasn't much.
The best parts came in the last 150 pages when finally the book began get some momentum and Bella actually became interesting - and there was action!! I always thought there was something missing in the romance - I wanted to go beyond Edward's good looks, his charm and his eyes and the fact that he was 'dazzling'. Alright we get he's a god in her eyes...really.
The emotions conveyed by Meyer are very vivid though, you can't help but be completely absorbed. And there's some good humour amongst it all. If I'm going to read the other books, I'll be more interested in characters like Jacob and Billy. But somehow I think Bella is always going to be Edward obsessed...I hope there will be some good separation between them at some point to spice this story up a bit.
Believe what you've heard, this book is great! - Rated 
For a long time I had been reluctant to read 'TWILIGHT'. On the surface it does sound like something that I would be interested in and the pretty cover, I will admit, kept drawing me in, however, the plot just did not pique my interest. However, on another book lovers site I asked the users if I should read this book and the result was a resounding "OMG you MUST read this book!" and this was coming from the adults! So with that said I immediately ordered it and still it sat on my shelf for well over a month. Finally I decided to give it a go, and once I picked it up I was utterly unable to put it down! Now with my life as hectic as it is these days I have found it hard to find time to read at all, but I was easily knocking out 100 pages of 'TWILIGHT' a day, forgetting all about the pile of laundry in the corner...it wasn't going anywhere. So this review is for anyone who is on the fence about reading Stephanie Meyer's stunning debut, my answer is now a resounding "OMG you MUST read this book!"
Very Surprised - Rated
When i first bought this book i stupidly thought it was a horror, simply because of the mention of vampires. I am so happy i was wrong. When i found out this book was a love stroy i thought i wouldnt like it, simply becaus im a guy. However this simply is one of the best books i have ever read. The characters are extremely real and loveable and i love it how meyer (author) lulls you into a false sense of security thoroughout the book so when something bad happens (I wont spoil it dont worry) It is really suprising and kind of hard to deal with. i finished this book the day after i got it at 3 in the morning because i simply couldnt but it down. BUY THIS BOOK ITS INCREDIBLE!!!.
Not bad, but not outstanding - Rated
I've read a lot of positive reviews on this site praising this book, and while I agree that it's not terrible, I don't think it's necessarily as good as the hype.
Firstly, I'll start with the parts I did enjoy (there may be some spoilers here):
I really enjoyed the beginning, and the first 200(ish) pages with the description of rainy Forks setting the scene, and starting a new school, and the creepy gang of teenagers sitting on their own in the cafeteria. This all set the scene well and I liked the way Edward was a mystery at first, glaring at Bella. It immediately enticed the reader.
The things I disliked was the middle when Bella and Edward started hanging out together. I found their dialogue incredibly dull and erratic - like one minute they were being all soppy and the next Edward (or Bella) was 'snapping' or saying something 'angrily'. There was far, far too much description about the way in which the characters were speaking and it left me, as a reader, feeling frustrated and confused as to whether the characters were angry or happy or god knows what.
Bella and Edward's relationship also seemed very superficial and somewhat insecure, as they were either confessing their undying love or arguing about how Edward should stay away from Bella as Edward could kill her yada yada yada. It made you think whilst reading it - if they argue this much then what's the point of being together!? It was very repetitive and they just went over the same ground again and again. By the middle of the book I almost wanted to give up as I disliked both Bella and Edward and found them dull characters with not much likeability factor.
There was, however, a saviour in all of this and that came with the proper introduction of Edward's vampire family and the 'tracker'. Finally - some excitement and not just drab schmaltz! Here the reader was introduced to characters such as Alice, who had so much potential and was very likable, as was Jasper and Emmett. I would definitely have liked to have read more about Rosalie - I found her very intriguing. It's such a shame they only really came into the story towards the end as I would've liked to have learnt much more about them. I understand that in the later books there may be more about them but I don't really want to read those after this one.
This book is okay and I may recommend it to others, but equally I think there are better teen vampire stories out there such as The Night World series by L.J Smith, which are more fast-paced and exciting, with more likable characters.
Stunning - not just for teenage girls - Rated
I'm a 46 year old mum and I always have a book on the go - sometimes heavy, sometimes light. I picked this up in the supermarket, not initially realising that it was aimed at teens.I was absolutely hooked. The story is fast moving and absorbing and when I came to the end, I was straight out to buy the next instalment, and then the next (even coughing up for the hardback - I simply couldn't wait for the paperback!).
The trilogy is great - if you teach seniors, encourage them to read it. If you have teenage daughters who are sick of reading beyond homework and school, encourage them to try it. Friendship, comaradary, tension, love (invited and unrequited), a choice of two heros and a hefty dose of sexual temptation (with agonising restraint). At the end of it all, they'll decide for themselves who the girl should have chosen. I'm sure they will love it.
|
