Twilight (Twilight, Book 1)

I initially saw the trailer to the movie and heard it was based off of a novel. As I did with other movies, I bought the book so I can read it before the movie is released. I bought the book in Sept and didn't start reading until November. Once I started the story, I couldn't stop. I read one after the other non-stop. I even sped off the the store twice to pick up the next story/book in the saga. I ended up reading all four books in the Twilight Saga within a week. Once I finished them, I was still left wanting more of the story. It was a story I didn't want to end. I do hope that the author will decide to pick up where she left off and continue the story in some way. I recommend this book as well as the complete series to everyone of all ages. THANK YOU STEPHENIE MEYER FOR THE BEST STORY I'VE EVER READ.

I love, love, love this book! I finished it within 3 days and longed for more. I am almost done with the second book New Moon and already I can't wait to get the third installment Eclipse and then of course Breaking Dawn. I just came back from seeing the movie. Although the movie was good, there is no doubt the book is better because it goes into greater detail. This saga is such a page turner, exciting, romantic and a great read overall. Wow!

I buy a lot of books (mostly within the fantasy genre), and some of them end up on my book shelf for months or years before I feel inspired for that type of reading material. There are definite reasons for my method, so if the book ends up being terrible, I don't get too upset about wasting the money since I bought it so long ago. On the other hand if it's excellent (especially if it's a series), then there is a high probability that by that time the author released more books. Therefore, even though I purchased the Twilight by Stephanie Meyers quite a few months back, I only got to it a few days ago and am currently flying through book 3. Needless to say - I loved it and having the whole series there waiting for me is a happy bonus.

This book, and consequently the Twilight Saga Series, reminds me of the peaceful and utterly tranquil sensation I get while watching a river (one of my favorite activities). It's a weird analogy but that's exactly how this book made me feel - serene. I'm not usually a fan of overly descriptive narratives, but Bella's tale worked for me. Every line in this wonderful story became so vivid in my mind that I truly felt like I got to experience Bella's world first hand. May be it helped that not too long ago I was a teenage girl myself - just as impressionable, trusting and awkward at that tender age.

Now on to the actual review. Bella is a product of a broken home. She has a very distant and uncomfortable relationship with her father, a sheriff in a small town where he's lived all his life. Her mother is like a kid herself with a very whimsical personality which contradicts Bella's quiet and reserved nature. Having decided that her mother needed some time alone with her new husband, the seventeen years old Bella exiled herself to live with sheriff Swan in a perpetually rainy town of Forks, Washington. There Bella starts going through the difficult and somewhat depressing adjustment to a new life and a new school, since her insecurities and quiet personality have always made it hard for her to fit in. But her dreary and monotonous life comes to an end the first time she walks into her high school cafeteria and notices THEM. She finds out later that the five unearthly beautiful and ethereal people that captivate her dreams from that point on are adopted children of a local doctor, but as she soon learns they are a lot more then they appear to the rest of the people of that small town. Little does she know then that as of that moment her destiny is forever intertwined with one of the boys of that spectacular family.

This is not your average vampire story and is not filled with endless conflict and gore. As I said before, Bella's reflections take up a large portion of the book and any real action only starts more than halfway through the novel. I'm glad the author did not rush the beginning, since I loved seeing the world Ms. Meyer created through Bella's teenage eyes. A number of people felt that Bella was a weak protagonist having to be continuously rescued, but I completely disagree with that assessment since I believe that human strength comes in different shapes and sizes. Bella had to become an adult too early and always felt obligated to take care of her parents. She learned to never fully rely on anyone emotionally, physically or financially, becoming self-sufficient and reclusive. And like a normal teenage girl she was swept up by the excitement and danger Edward brought to her ordinary life. There was never any fear in her, just utter fascination with the mystery he represented. Bella's strength is evident in her consistency, trustworthiness and absolute loyalty that she displays to those she loves. You cannot help but to fall in love with this clumsy and intelligent girl - and this spectacular book.

As my title indicates, this was surprising and addictive! The narrative flows so easily ( as I geuss a YA novel should be..) I was lost in the imaginative story. I am much older than most of the Twilight fans, but believe that no matter what your age a little creativity and imagination keeps us healthy and alive. I've read some not so great reviews on the last 2 books of the series but..Oh well, I'm going to read them myself and decide. I'm also taking my nephews to see the movie ASAP.

I bought Twilight awhile ago to see what all the hullabaloo was about - surely, with the movie release and all the teenage girls in a tizzy, it was worth a look. I didn't plan on reading it until I was on the train home for Thanksgiving - I'm an English major at Syracuse University and needed something to entertain me for the ~7 hours it would take to get from SU to NYC. Instead, I sat down and began to read it last week... And I couldn't put it down.

Now, I maintain that Twilight isn't a particularly bad book. I've read much worse, but I've also read much better. When it comes down to it, Twilight reads like the extended edition of something one would find on Fanfiction.net. It can very easily be categorized under the heading of "guilty pleasures," and that I have already done. I have to admit, despite the cheesiness and sappiness that is the relationship between Edward and Bella, I was sucked in. Maybe it was the dialogue (albeit corny), or how Edward was always there was Bella needed him (stalker much?), but I found something about the whole affair endearing. Don't ask me why - logically I know it's ridiculous.

I think that's the whole point of my review though - I love Twilight, but I accept it for what it is. Because of this novel, I'll never hear the words "topaz" or "ochre" ever again without cringing slightly. However, I WILL go out and buy "New Moon" when I get a chance. Thank you, Stephanie Meyer, for giving me a new and irrational literary obsession.