So...I read Twilight

[psubrat]

And I liked it. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed the book considering I'd heard so many mixed reviews. When the hype started, I'd decided that I could do without reading it. I'm not a bandwagon person (unless you count hometown sports) and I tend to shy away from things that everyone loses their minds over. This time, I made an exception. I was curious.

So, after devouring Twilight in two days, I went out last night and bought the other three books. I've heard the criticisms about them, but again, if I start something, I'm damn well going to finish it AND I'm curious.

What exactly did I like about Twilight?

• I liked Edward...not enough to jump into the "OMG HE'S SO HOT I WANT THE SPARKLY VAMPIRE" group. I'm intrigued, especially with his gift of being able to read minds. I also enjoyed his struggle with his feelings for Bella and the "If I'm already going to hell, I may as well go all the way."


• The Cullens. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better and learning about their pasts.


• The Tracker storyline which was a lot more interesting to me than the young love bit, but that's personal taste.


• Meyer's fresh take on the vampire legends - it's creative and she's made it her own. I respect and admire that -- though I could have done without the sparkle motion.


• The true-to-life portrayal of a teenaged girl's first love, the overwhelming need to be with that other person 24/7 and the fact that everything else fades away. I remember how I was at that age, falling in love for the first time and wanting nothing more than the rest of the world to go away so that I could be with my boyfriend uninterrupted. While I didn't necessarily always like Bella, I could relate to her situation with her family so I bought into her emo-ness and lack of self-esteem and self-confidence.

What didn't I like about Twilight?

• I thought the first few chapters were choppy, like the author didn't know where she was going or how she was getting to where she wanted to be. But once I got past that first bit of awkwardness of those chapters, I felt like Meyer found her voice and the story began to flow.


• Bella constantly referring to Edward and his family as beautiful or "insert similar descriptor here". It became so annoying that I started skipping over those words. I GET IT, he's gorgeous and flawless. I didn't need to hear it every time Edward or his family appeared. Ugh. It took me right out of the story to the point that I was rolling my eyes so far back in my head I could see behind me.


• Bella's lack of development. As soon as she meets Edward everything else about her ends. There's no more interaction with Jessica and Angela, or the rest of her friends, because she obsesses over Edward 24/7. Again, even though I can relate, it's my age which made me want to reach through book and slap her around. Even though we are privy to knowing that a garnet is her favorite gemstone, she instead tells Edward that her favorite is currently the color of his eyes. In fact, even though Edward asks question after question about her likes and dislikes, we as the reader never get to hear her answers so it makes it harder for us to get a complete picture of her.


• The fact that the Cullens (minus Rosalie) are suddenly all about Bella. I know the story is told from Bella's point of view, but her acceptance into their lives and their fierce protection of her seemed too easy to me. I know Alice said that they've seen the changes in Edward and that Bella didn't, but I as the reader would have liked to have seen those changes as well. Perhaps this is answered in the following books?

Despite the above listed dislikes, I really did enjoy the story once it go moving. Now I'm off to read the rest of the series (which is freaking huge! o.0).

Comments

[angstchic.livejournal.com]

This was a nicely balanced, fun to read review. So, what did you seeee behind you?

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I really did like the book, as evidenced by how fast I read it, but it had its flaws.

So, what did you seeee behind you?

My headboard since I was reading it in bed. Or the back wall since I read it in the recliner. ;)

[flanneryflyer.livejournal.com]

You've basically hit the nail on the head: the concept of the books and the plot is entertaining, the writing is weak. There's only so many times "beautiful" can fly.

I think you'll enjoy the next two books; she seems more comfortable with her characters and the world she's created. The writing doesn't get any better, but as long as you can get past weak adjectives and lack of any subtleties (subtext, metaphor, etc), you'll probably like it. It's definitely not great literature, but it's a fun way to pass the time :)

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

There's only so many times "beautiful" can fly.

Amen, sistah. Good lord that was annoying. I wanted to poke my eyes out every time I saw the word beautiful.

I'm looking forward to the rest, but I've heard horrid reviews (and I read cleolinda's review which is hilarious, btw), so I guess we'll see what I think.

Oh, and your icon? Freaking rocks! LOL!

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

My writing isn't so subtle either, so that didn't give me any problems; but if I heard "beautiful" one more time my head was going to explode.

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

Like I said, all those beautifuls took me right out of the story.

[whitesangria.livejournal.com]

The first three books are fine. The fourth? Yeah. Not so much. Though I must say I liked Kelley Armstrong's "The Summoning" better.

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

kaelsu2 said yesterday that I should read Kelley's books, so once I get through the rest of this series and the other books that I've been given for recovery, I'll have to look into reading her books.

I've heard the fourth book reads like really bad fanfic, but since I've committed to reading the series, I'm definitely reading the fourth.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

K. Armstrong's books kick some serious ass.

Also, Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, and Gerry Barlett's 'Real Vampires Have Curves", Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, PC & Kristin Cast's "House of Night" (it's also YA, but the characters and writing are SO much better than Meyers), and Kim Harrison's 'The Hollows" series.

[summ3r-daze.livejournal.com]

Check out s. meyers website where she has posted the first bunch of chapters to Midnight Sun. It's Twilight written from Edward's pov and it's a fun read.

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll definitely have to look it over once I finish up here. I hear Meyer said she probably won't finish the book, which is too bad. That would be cool.

[eyesthatslay.livejournal.com]

Good review, hon. You're like Fox News...fair and balanced!!

I have to laugh that you didn't like the sparkly bit, because I. was. all. about. it. I am kind of a bling girl though. :P

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm not a sparkly motion kinda gal. Though I thought it was a neat twist to why they can't go out in the sun. Maybe it was just Bella's description that turned me off. I think by that point I'd had enough of the "beautiful" descriptors. Oi!

OMG!!!!!

[samolly.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy to hear you've started the series! I saw the movie w/ my stepdaughter and then went home and read the first book in 24 hours, then finished the 3 others w/in the week while working full time and dealing w/ 2 toddlers! It is my new fandom, I never thought I'd do another fandom after Buffy, but I am HOOKED! SM writing IS flawed, but she's a great story teller, and there are so many ladies in the fandom that can write, so the fics are great.

Re: OMG!!!!!

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

OMG!!! ::glomps you::

How have you been?????? How are the girls? Where the hell have you been, woman??? I tried emailing you a couple times, but they bounced back. 0.0

I'm not sure if I'll get immersed in the fandom, but we'll see how the next three books go. I sort of jumped head first into the Doctor Who fandom which was very unexpected, so I completely understand you thinking that way.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I started it this morning, just the first few pages, but I got sidetracked by putting stuff from the TiVo onto DVD and then catching up on Buffy season 8 comics. I was WAY behind.

Does this mean you're sticking around now? Huh, huh, huh? Does it? ::hugs::

Re: OMG!!!!!

[samolly.livejournal.com]

I'm great and the girls are great,crazy, but still great :) And I am totally back, I've been slowly dipping my feet back into LJ, catching up with folks, making some new friends. I haven't been updating my page but I hope to do so soon.

I understand about being WAY behind, a barely had any free time as it was, and Twilight makes me stay up way past my bedtime!

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

I really AM going to read it.

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

You should. Like I said, despite it's flaws, I really enjoyed it.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Your thoughts were very similar to mine in this area. I noticed the movie seemed to fix a few of the book's shortcomings, although it also -- as movies tend to do -- left out some stuff I thought was important. In any case, I just finished the book (it took me about a week) and was surprised at how much I liked it.

[psubrat.livejournal.com]

I was completely shocked that I liked it because of the mixed reviews I'd read. Now I want to see the movie to see how well they stuck to it. It's playing in my hometown at the dinky theater, so I may have to go one night and leave the toddler with the hubby. I can drive now, so it's good.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Go for it, I think you'll enjoy it even if it does have some of the natural limitations of film.