Twilight Series

[Heather]

I'm one of those people who avoid those things that have been over hyped to excess (i didn't read the Harry Potters until the 5th book had come out and then couldn't wait until the releases etc) So I didn't read the Twilight series until the hardback release of the last book and even then I was scheptical but I have to say I enjoyed the characters and the way Stephanie Meyer put a different spin on Vampires, no longer being the bad guys and all. I still put it up there as quick chic lit reads but it was entertaining and I would read them again and again ya know like on an airplane or on vacation etc. They weren't life changing or emotional like a Pride and Prejudice or how deeply I got into the good vs evil in Harry Potter but I enjoyed the little trip they took me on.

I don't have kids and read for my enjoyment but after reading some of the other reviews and comments I can see how the relationship between Bella and Edward can completely be construed as destructive. I was a TEAM Jacob fan the whole time knowing that in my gut he was a better choice for her but I also know the feelings that the heart wants what the heart wants and sometimes there's no logic involved it's all emotion. So having experienced things like this in my own relationships in the past I could totally relate maybe not to the extent of the complete and total obsession. I however would have mixed feelings about letting a daughter of my own feel that that was completely healthy but hopefully we would talk about it and she could make her own distinctions between fiction and reality. I mean I'm still looking for my Mr Darcy ... so maybe I'm not the best role model ;).

All in all I think the way she handled the 'sex' aspect of it was respectible for teenagers and while I would not be an advocate of getting married at 17 ... I liked the way Meyer took that into account into her story. Again ... I enjoyed the series as a quick enjoyable little jaunt and nothing more.

[Suzanne]

I was and still am 'team jacob' also :) I never liked Edward so i am in no way sticking up for his character, i always thought Jacob was a happier, healthier choice for Bella :) And i agree Harry Potter is a million times better than twilight!

[Lauren]

I don't think it's a lack of intellect that allows teens to think of Edward as a role model for future (or current) boyfriends. But in my intereaction with teens I've heard them say they would want a boyfriend like Edward. For young women it is a challenge to balance the desire to be wanted and desired with the sense to stay away from someone that is giving an unhealthy amount of attention. In high school a boy should not be the only focus of your life and your decision making process.

I've read 3 of the books and will eventually read the fourth and I think Bella does grow a bit. She stands up for herself more and acknowledges that she has choices and needs to make them fully informed. I still think that she needs some seriously lacking direction in her life. Her parents perhaps should have passed on the having kids bit since they apparently think the kids role is to care for them.

And I always liked Jacob so even though I know the outcome, I keep rooting for him. Guess I should get used to disappointment from this series...

[Dacoroman]

I have read all the books from Twilight Saga. The subject is interesting but the writing manner is kinda childish. I'm not an English native so... I couldn't find the grammar errors, maybe because I wasn't looking for them. The style is too simple, some of the words are repeating for too many times. Over all those are OK books. Don't have high expectations: it's just a tube book. Pity for those who don't commute by train/tubes.

[Elizabeth]

I was drawn into the series as an English major who wanted to see what all the hype was about. I was a little biased, having been told by multiple people that the books were "bad," but I wanted to see for myself. Now I own the entire series (so far -- I have not read Midnight Sun out of respect for Stephanie Meyer), but not because I thought they were good.

I thought the love between Bella and Edward was quite twisted and strange, in that he never seems to make her feel good about herself until after she's become a vampire and has been "perfected" -- something the average teen reader can never attain. She often says she's not good enough for him and looks at herself quite negatively. In turn, he doesn't trust her to make her own decisions or to live her own life. I don't see the attraction between the two as something much beyond physical: obviously he is gorgeous to Bella and her blood is attractive to Edward.

I much preferred the "realer" relationship between Bella and Jacob because he was able to drag her out of the hole she was living in when Edward left and with him, she could be herself in all senses of the phrase.

But I don't mean to turn this into a Team Edward v. Team Jacob post. I just meant to comment on what irritated me while reading it.

I also found that while most other major characters are very well defined, Bella seems to be a placeholder meant to allow every female reading to empathize with her. She does not have a physical description that is one-tenth as complete as Edward's and, aside from being someone who reads the classics over and over, she doesn't seem to have many hobbies or much of a personality. She didn't even seem to have friends in Phoenix before moving to Forks. She has little to no history and her defining characteristic is her clumsiness. Her only other trait might be considered a "self-sacrificing" nature, as she always wants what's best for others -- Edward, Jacob, Charlie, Renee -- but I believe that stems from her general deficiency of self-respect as opposed to a separate good will. In any case, she seems to be a void that we can all fit into, less a character than a purposeful lack of character.

However, there are some good things about the books. Despite all of these constant irritants, I kept reading them and enjoyed what I read. They're "catchy," like pop songs you know have no merit. I bought them and continue to read them so as to better my own writing, to make it "catchy" too -- but hopefully with more quality writing.

[Elizabeth]

PS!
I also wanted to note that Edward and Bella don't seem to fall in love at all; the moment that they acknowledge mutual positive feelings for each other, it's everlasting love, something which irritated me to no end. Having been in love myself, I know it takes time to love someone and the "love at first sight" message that the book put out was quite a bit too much for me.

[Lauren]

I love your comparison to catchy pop songs with no merit. That's how I felt. I'm about to finish the fourth one (which is a bit boring to me) and while I've enjoyed them for what they are I was rather unimpressed.

I liked that she made the vampires different. She used elements of the old lore and redefined ather parts. There were good and bad vampires not all painted with the same brush of vampire is evil blood thirsty monster.

Bella, while bland and a chump, seems to stand up for herself more after the time she spent with Jacob. I appreciated that and thought, "it's about time!"

I found the 4th book predictable and the repetitive description of the same thing annoying. Yes you see better, yes vamp skin is like marble/stone lets move on with the story.

Nice filler books between stuff with a bit more substance to them.

[[deleted user]]

I thought the books were okay, but didn't love them or anything. They were infinitely better than the movies, I can tell you that! I DETESTED the Twilight movies, and only watched them because my roommates thought it was suitable torture for a bet I lost! :P Can Kristin Stewart even move her face?

[Jane]

Love the Kristin Stewart comment. I did not read the books but enjoyed the graphic novel adapted from the first novel. I tried the movies but I must be too old to appreciate the teenage angst. And I'm not sure if Mr. Pattenson (sp?) can move his face either - as beautiful as that face is it seems to have one expression only.