Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1) in LDS supporting Stephenie Meyer

Dec 04, 2008 Scott rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adults, fantasy-sci-fi

I started this last night (12/4), and I'm already enjoying it. I'm through chapter 1 (I guessed which page that is), and so far what I like most is the care Meyers takes to let us into Bella's world, which helps the reader to care about her.

After I took Shauri to see the movie, she enjoyed it so much that I promised to buy her the books for Christmas. She couldn't wait, so she ran out the same night to Wal-mart and picked up the first book. She is through it already, can't wait for the next one, I started this last night (12/4), and I'm already enjoying it. I'm through chapter 1 (I guessed which page that is), and so far what I like most is the care Meyers takes to let us into Bella's world, which helps the reader to care about her.

After I took Shauri to see the movie, she enjoyed it so much that I promised to buy her the books for Christmas. She couldn't wait, so she ran out the same night to Wal-mart and picked up the first book. She is through it already, can't wait for the next one, when she went to several bookstores in town looking for the next one they are all sold out--so she watched the film again!

12/8. I'm more than halfway through (p. 348--I can't seem to get goodreads to let me update the page status, since I have 3 books in my "currently reading" shelf; only one has that option at the moment).

I am enjoying the fact that Meyer supplies all the juicy tidbits that aren't in the movie, espacially things that let you get to know the characters and believe their motivations. The behavior of Carlisle and Rosalie, for example, seem much more believable now that I know where they are coming from--Carlisle's religious upbringing as a source of his compassion (but which also forced him to flee, because his father would have killed him), and Rosalie's jealousy (she wishes she were human, which is much different than mere unfounded anger, which seemed to be her motivation in the movie script).

I am finding myself more and more annoyed by Bella. What I liked most about the story when I saw the film was its emphasis on free will--even though Edward had a strong instinct for murder, especially toward killing Bella (because her scent was uniquely attuned to his taste), he chose instead to go against his nature and instead care about her and work to protect her.

That seems like a very important message in today's world, when many young people don't understand that you can choose otherwise than your feelings dictate--many seem to believe that they have no choice at all.

So it has become very irritating to me that Bella constantly tells herself and Edward that she has no choice but to be with him. Sometimes she softens it to "unthinkable" or "unimaginable" that she would leave him, but more often it is "impossible." She describs herself often as physically weak, and that doesn't interfere with my love for her, but this unwillingness to even consider that she has choices with regard to Edward I am not enjoying. I can tolerate it, but it definitely takes away from the book, and I hope that we see some moral development in her over the course of the series, where she develops more moral fortitude.

It also annoys me that, as an LDS member who was raised with "For the Strength of Youth" and other helpful standards, Meyers doesn't portray her characters with a little more imagination when it comes to protecting themselves from moral dangers. (I'm not complaining that she doesn't have them BE Mormon or even be nonmembers who follow all LDS standards; it is clear that she meant for them to be mainstream people who have no religion, are okay with alcohol, and who contemplate premarital sex.)

What I see, however, are two people playing with fire whenever they spend time alone together, and the consequences of "messing up" are more serious for them (Bella dying) than most consequences that today's youth would have to face. I am surprised that Edward doesn't say, "You know, even though I am finding that I can control myself around you, it would be better if we don't take chances. So how about we try to be around other people most of the time we're together."

Yes, it sounds unromantic, and it would take away from the "delicious" danger factor that keeps the story going. But it also seems more believable, if he really does care about her.

I downgraded my stars for the book from 5 to 4. I still have over a hundred pages left to go, though.
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Aug 28, 2008 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fantasy-take-me-away

I really loved this book. This was the first piece of fiction that I voluntarily read. I shouldn't say voluntarily because it was the nagging of many others that finally got me to read it. I hate to be the one who follows the hype, but I could not help but be sucked in. The author is an amazing story teller. There's something about the way the words are written, it's as if they are for me and the story is for me to read and make mine. It was just enough, mystery, romance and danger for me. ...more

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