Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight, #1

YOUNG ADULT, PNR

About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him—and I didn't know how dominant that part might be—that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

In the first book of the Twilight Saga, internationally bestselling author Stephenie Meyer introduces Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, a pair of star-crossed lovers whose forbidden relationship ripens against the backdrop of small-town suspicion and a mysterious coven of vampires. This is a love story with bite.

“I decided as long as I'm going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.”

Universally loathed and loved by so many. Before reading, I browsed reviews from friends who I respect and saw a mixed consensus there, too. I was surprised a few of them rated so highly, but even though I hated the movie, I won't diss a book until I've read it myself.. I have a friend offline who warned me the writing was atrocious, and another offline friend who is a huge fan of the books and told me they were much better than the movie. Because of all this conflicting stuff, I didn't know what to expect going in.

What I found was a poorly written book that made me cringe and get annoyed, but was strangely difficult to put down and made a quick read.

Pros -
» Strangely hard to put down - is witchcraft involved?
» The overly simple writing style makes it a quick read
» Bella is clumsy. I like clumsy characters.
» I like stories set in schools and/or small towns.
» Um. Charlie seems like a decent father. (Although the parenting situation comes off kind of weird)
» It got younger generations back into reading
» At least sunblock wasn't involved....

Cons -
» Edward changes his moods way too much. I couldn't keep up. I can get a character or person occasionally changing three emotions in one minute with one dialogue exchange, but to have it happen every time made me want to scream and pound the walls. It was so annoying.

» The author relied too much on facial expressions. How many times can his face turn stone cold, his lips deadline and flatten, his smile disappear, he half smile, he almost smile, he...? Argh.

» Why was Bella obsessed with him from the beginning when he didn't know her and already acted like a jerk? She would have had no emotional bond unless it was a fated-to-be-mated type of story.

» Why does Bella spend her life upset he's not paying attention to her, but when he finally does, she gets instantly mad at a lame joke and stalks off upset??

» Why is there so much angst?

» If Bella is so average, why does every guy want to be with her when she comes back to town? She seems like a magnet.

» Why does her blood smell so unique/good? It's admitted it does to other vamps as well but not to the degree it does Edward. Does this mean it really is a fated-to-be-mated type of story and the author just never explains it? The smell angle has been used in other FTBM books.

» How can she be okay when he tells her if they stay together no sex will be involved, ever? Eek.

» Why can't she write her poor mother longer e-mails?

» It spawned "the movies"

» The writing is awkward and inconsistent with its rhythm, especially during the first half when they author was trying to find her footing.

» The sparkling thing was lame, but it was less lame in the book than the movie. The baseball game was just as lame - maybe more so - in the book. Seriously, out there no one could hear the impact. If they could, would thunder really cover the sound? And the bats would break?

Overall it was a strange experience. I groaned most of the time and wanted to strangle the two main characters. The angst was real. The emotions were silly. It was taking YA and young hormones to a Romeo and Juliet level.

Since I read so many paranormal Fated-to-be-mated books I'm convinced this is secretly one and the author didn't flesh that detail out. FTBM are the only ones who can convincingly do or die in books, they are attracted by the smell of their mates, they never have interest in anyone other than their mates, they get obsessively clingy and needy, and they're always meant to be together no matter what. Yes with this book no one is seeing that, including the other vamps who would know if they could possibly be FTBM because of the possibility of that in the world-building, so it's like the author just took the symptoms of that trope type but didn't actually have it. Bizarre.