Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 27, 2008 Sarah rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2008, teen-young-adult, vampire-supernatural, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, I have to say that I picked this book up partly due to all the hype (and partly because it's involved two of my favorite genres)... I mean, so many people had recommended it to me and I finally got sick of hearing about it, so I picked it up and read it... or as least tried to.

Let me first say that I am a huge romance and vampire/supernatural fan, so when I first heard about the book I was really excited to read it because it combined two of my favorite genres.

But, I really regret ever buy ...more

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Mar 07, 2009 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it did not like it

Shelves: other, why-abandoned, what-fantasy, what-horror, what-danger-danger-wilma-robinson, what-young-adult

Updated 9/3/2012

I wanted to start out by saying that I first tried to read this book right after it came out, when no one had even heard of it. I tried again at the beginning of the hype because I love Forks and have a lovely memory of staying at a bed and breakfast there with my siblings. I then tried a third time when two people I respect said they loved it. I was never able to get past the first few chapters because the writing was SO bad. Really, really bad. (See I tried I really did.)

I fee Updated 9/3/2012

I wanted to start out by saying that I first tried to read this book right after it came out, when no one had even heard of it. I tried again at the beginning of the hype because I love Forks and have a lovely memory of staying at a bed and breakfast there with my siblings. I then tried a third time when two people I respect said they loved it. I was never able to get past the first few chapters because the writing was SO bad. Really, really bad. (See I tried I really did.)

I feel that I'm missing something because I strongly didn't like this book, I couldn't even finish it, and it's so popular. What is the appeal? I am so sick of stories where women/girls are attracted to dangerous, threatening men who are constantly on the verge of violence? Why can't women be attracted to the nice guy next door who treats them well? On top of that, the women just take it and chalk it off to the behavior just being who the man is.

A good example of where an incredibly strong, powerful and intelligent woman excuses and tolerates this behavior is the Mercy Thompson series. She makes allowances for how the men treat her because it's the way their society is. Even though she is in mortal danger when they are aroused or angry which is most of the time, she is still attracted to them and hangs around their misogynistic society.

A good example of where the same type of woman acknowledges her attraction to the man's great qualities but labels him a psychopath and refuses to tolerate anything like that is the Kate Daniels series. Kate never tolerates Curran treating her as less than a woman who can take care of herself. She makes him to adjust to her world when he's with her not the other way around and he does so while still maintaining his strength and power. The beauty is that that is what attracts him to her. He believes Kate is equal because she thinks she is and acts like it.

And she is his equal completely. Even in combat with each other they would be evenly matched. And the great thing? He never once, ever, tries to hurt her or threatens her with violence, or forces her. He's still the respected and feared leader of the shapeshifters, every bit as virulent and sexy as any of the vampire and werewolf heroes of any other book. I'm not saying all of the books in that series are perfect (the earliest ones aren't) but the authors always get this part right. Why don't more women write these kinds of heroines and heroes? This Kate Daniels series is very popular.

Even without this, Twilight is terrible. The plot is trite, stealing chunks from Buffy, bodice rippers and the Book of Mormon. The premise is contrived. It really feels like a formulaic romantic fantasy designed to sell books. I am particularly horrified by how popular these books are with women my age (in their 40s!) There is no substance here, just more teenager angst, violence, and stupidity.

Ugh, if you want a good vampire tale, there are much better ones, gobs, just about all of them in fact. If you have the sensibility of an adult who respects women, I suggest you give this one a miss.
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May 22, 2008 Christal rated it really liked it

Shelves: female-lead, ya-and-na, vampires, paranormal-romance

There's not a whole lot to say here. It's Twilight, you tend to either hate it or like it. I enjoyed it for the YA book it was and am glad it is at least getting more people reading. ...more

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Dec 14, 2008 Samantha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I read this book last summer and I just can't understand what all the fuss is about. After I read this book, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. That's my problem with Meyer's writing (same story with The Host). Characters that I can't care enough about to love or hate. It just passes the time... ...more

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Aug 05, 2008 SandyC rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-and-children-s, vampires, own-it, paranormal

My expectations for this book were way too high based on reviews I had seen. It was good, not great. The story is very intriguing -- loner teenage girl falls in love with an unbelievably hot vampire and doesn't care if he could kill her at any moment. The main character can be annoying in her single-minded goal of keeping Edward by her side forever, but if you think about it, many teenage girls are annoying and overly dramatic (at least I was!). How many times does she have to remind us that Edw ...more

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Sep 14, 2008 Cindi Kelley rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008-read

It's not the best written YA book written but it's alright for a teen romance. I love vampire novels and this fits that bill. I guess I'll have to read the rest of the series to see what becomes of Bella and Edward. ...more

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