852 and counting …

• Posted in Books I've Read

Finished Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. This post contains some spoilers so if you haven’t read the book yet, you may want to skip this one.

This is a young adult novel about Bella Swan, who goes to live with her father in Forks, Wash., and falls in love with Edward Cullen, a beautiful boy who just happens to be a vampire. I’d heard a lot of people raving about this book, which is why I decided to read it (Hi, Chasity!).

I can see why people love the book so much. Bella is a great character with a wonderful voice. She considers other people’s feelings before her own and tries to do what’s best for everyone. Like telling her classmate Mike that her friend Jessica likes him when Mike asks Bella to a dance. Or going dress shopping with her girlfriends even though Bella isn’t going to the dance. She even makes her father, Charlie, dinner almost every night.

It was really refreshing to read about a teenager who is smart, thoughtful, and not obsessed with designer labels and being prom queen. Bella reminded me a lot of one of my favorite heroines of all time — Beauty in Beauty by Robin McKinley (If you haven’t read that book, go get it. Now.)

But I also had some serious problems with Twilight.

The first half of the book was entertaining, as Bella adjusts to her new life in Forks and the horror of humiliating herself in gym class every day (sports rackets become deadly weapons in her hands). Bella also slowly realizes that Edward isn’t human and tries to figure out what he is — and soon becomes obsessed with him.

And this is where the book goes downhill for me.

At its heart, Twilight is a modern, angsty, fairy tale version of Romeo and Juliet, except with vampires instead of feuding families. Romeo and Juliet is a story/concept I’ve never particularly cared for, which is probably one of the reasons I didn’t love Twilight. I’ve never understood the appeal of obsessive love. Also, I’m a little burnt out on vampire books right now.

And then, there’s Edward. He’s smart, he’s gorgeous, he does everything well — he’s perfect. Even his breath smells good — all the time. And I didn’t like him for that. To me, the most interesting heroes are the ones who have some weakness. Edward doesn’t. Sure, he has to resist eating Bella, but that’s about it. As one of the other vampires says, they don’t have any weaknesses. Even their beautiful appearance is designed to lure in their prey (humans).

Then, there’s the way Edward treats Bella. He alternates between aloof and cold and warm and adoring. He watches her while she sleeps and goes berserk if someone (even Bella’s father) tries to interfere in their relationship. Creepy, not romantic, but Bella gives herself over to him with no reservations.

Edward also feels because he’s a vampire that he knows what’s best for Bella — always. Another thing I didn’t like about him, especially since Bella demonstrates time and time again how brave and smart and thoughtful she is.

Bella says it herself best near the end of the book, when she tells Edward that people have to be equals to have a real relationship. Bella and Edward aren’t equals, and they never will be – which is why Bella wants him to turn her into a vampire. So they can be together forever.

Me? I want Bella to remember how smart she is and find a healthier relationship. But I know it won’t happen.

So, I’m going split decision on this one. Thumbs up to Bella and the first half of the book; thumbs down to the rest. (Don’t hate me, Chasity!)

Up next: Probably Don’t Look Down by Suzanne Enoch.

9 Responses to “852 and counting …”

  1. Chasity says:

    Now I’m wounded. You’ve bounced right in there and slashed my taste in books right to shreds. Someone hand me a roll of duct tape so I can attempt to reassemble my shreds. I hear duct tape works wonders for situations like this.

    I think one of the reasons I liked this book so well is that it is the angsty, vampire version of Romeo and Juliet. I do believe Romeo and Juliet is the only Shakespeare I finished without referring to Cliffnotes.

    In this book I love Bella. She’s smart, caring, considerate, and a clutz. She tends to cling to Edward just a bit, but that’s okay, she’s in high school, she’s never had a real boyfriend, and she’s obsessed. Most girls that age have been obsessed over a boy at one time or another (Buffy and Angel, Chasity and well, that’s a whole bag of M&M’s that I shall not open…)

    Edward reminds me of Angel. Perfect. Great hair, gorgeous, older vampire, who knows it all. He has the whole Alpha male personality down to the nines. He knows he shouldn’t be with Bella, but he can’t help himself.

    I can’t site any specific reason why I liked this book so well. For whatever reason, I took the bait, and Miss Meyers pulled me right in.

    The second book, New Moon, is a necessary if evil read if you plan to finish the series. Are you planning to finish reading the series? If so, save your money, and I’ll loan you my copies.

  2. Jennifer Estep says:

    I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wound you, and I’m not slashing your taste in books. Like I said, I can see why folks love Twilight. It just didn’t appeal to me in the same way. (And I really wanted it to). 🙁

    Besides, I’m sure lots of people roll their eyes at my taste in books, which runs more towards action-adventure and fantasy. In fact, I pitched a fantasy idea to my agent one time, and she groaned. So, don’t feel bad.

    Meyer also pulled me in with Bella. She’s such a great, great character, and the writing and descriptions are so vivid and beautiful in places (like when the gang goes to the beach).

    The book really starts off well … I was just disappointed with what happened to Bella after she met Edward. How completely obsessed she became with him, to the point of losing herself and turning her back on everything (including her parents).

    I know that was really the point — that they can’t live without each other. Yeah, there were boys that I obsessed over back in high school, but I’ve just never liked those kinds of stories. To me, the best romances are the ones where two people compliment and enhance each other, not have to spend every single moment together.

    You’re right about Edward being like Angel in several ways. But I have to admit that I always liked Spike more than Angel. Even when he didn’t have a soul, Spike tried to be good for Buffy. Angel didn’t — he was just evil when he didn’t have a soul. And I thought Spike treated Buffy as more of an equal than Angel did. But enough about Buffy …

    I’ll probably finish reading the series at some point (after I whittle down my to-be-read pile some more). I do want to see what happens to everyone.

    The way you write about New Moon — is it not as good? I’ve heard some folks say it’s more of a stop-gap book to get the final one, Eclipse …

  3. Chasity says:

    I was just kidding when I said you wounded me. I know I have weird tastes in books, my hubby gives me neverending heck about the books I’ve read. Heck he even picked up Carrie Vaughn’s werewolve series, read about 5 chapters and wanted to know how in the world I read such crap. I think I rolled my eyes at him and flipped him off when he said that.

    Most of the reviews I’ve read about Twilight claim they can’t stand Bella. They think she’s whiny and self centered, or something to that effect. I disagreed. Bella was my favorite character.

    I do happen to agree with you about Spike. Angel was a hottie back in the day, and I had a mini crush on him. But the whole Evil Angel really turned me off. Spike on the other hand was just bad enough without being evil, and his crush on Buffy was so adorable. Plus I really like it when he says bloody… 😳

    Twilight builds up this whole Edward/Bella relationship and they finally get together after so very many obstacles. New Moon essentially is an undo of everything that went on. I will tell you this in New Moon Edward is gone, and Bella turns into a weepy, annoying girl for the first bit. Since you didn’t like Edward in Twilight, you may very well love New Moon. I didn’t. I hated it. I read it feeling like my eyes were bleeding, but I kept trucking because I had already purchased Eclipse and it didn’t make sense to me not to read it.

    I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that there is going to be one more book to finish up Bella’s story.

    Jeez I just wrote you another novel.:grin:

  4. Jennifer Estep says:

    I don’t think your taste is weird. Everybody likes different things. If we all read the same books, the world would be really boring. Besides, I’m a chick, and I like all these spy and crime and thriller and fantasy novels. How weird is that? 😎

    I didn’t think Bella was whiny at all. She basically gives up her life in Phoenix so her mom can be happy with her new hubby. That’s not whiny or selfish. But Bella was a little obsessed. That’s what annoyed me (about the story in general).

    Oh yes, Spike was a bad boy, but not too bad. 😉 I really started liking him when they got rid of Drusilla, and he was by himself. They *so* need to make the long-rumored Spike movie.

    Don’t you hate when authors do that? I know you’ve got to keep the conflict going (especially if you’re writing a series), but it annoys me when everything is overcome in Book 1 and everyone’s happy then – BAM! – Book 2 comes along and everyone’s facing the same old problems again. At least give folks a new villain to face off against or something.

    Terry Goodkind comes to mind. I swear the characters in his “Sword of Truth” series are never happy and together for more than the last 2 or 3 chapters of his books. Then, the next book starts where the last one left off and IMMEDIATELY everything’s gone to the dogs again.

    Sometimes, books and TV shows remind me of a soap opera (primetime or otherwise). The whole point of a soap opera is to get characters together — then abruptly tear them apart. Then, put them with someone else … and it just goes on and on and on. Done well, it can be entertaining. Otherwise, it’s just annoying. 🙄

  5. Chasity says:

    My reading habits are eclectic at best. I have everything from historial facts, to mysteries, romance, action, and of course Buffy novels, and somehow I’ve managed to read most of the Hubby’s Star Wars books. I bet we have over a thousand books on our bookshelves. We often head to Mr. K’s and do the trade in thing.

    You’ll have to recommend some good spy novels. I personally love assassins and spies.

    Yes Bella was obsessed, but I think the whining remarks come from the next book, New Moon.

    Oh Spikey. Much, much, much more delightful after Drusilla was gone. The Buffy bot just ticked me to pieces. SMG really pulled off that character. And I agree about the Spike movie. Have you read any of the season 8 comics? I haven’t yet, but I’m planning to if I can find them somewhere.

    Yes, I hate when authors do that. It kills me. After what you said about Terry Goodkind, I think I’ll be skipping his stuff. I like everyone to eventually end up happy, or at least not yo-yo’ing between together and apart.

    Don’t get me started on Soap Operas. I used to be addicted to Days, but in the past several years, I’ve thrown the towel at it. Every so often I’ll watch an episode but that’s only if my sister in law is watching and yells at me to come check out EJ naked. That man is the hawt.

    Have you read Lilith Saintcrows Saint City books? Dante Valentine absolutely kicks ass. She can be a bit stubborn, but Lilith pulls it off so well. If you haven’t read them, give them a try. Dante is a necromance bounty hunter who is summoned to assist the Devil. I was hooked after the first one. There are 5 altogether, the last one just came out this month. I’ll miss that series.

  6. Jennifer Estep says:

    Oh, Mr. K’s! I love Mr. K’s. I have a bunch of stuff I need to take there myself.

    Spy novels? I love all the old Bond novels by Ian Fleming. The original Bourne novels by Robert Ludlum are pretty good too, although they are completely different from the movies (which I also love).

    I have a stack of the Season 8 comics to read, and I just picked up the new Angel comic, “After the Fall,” which is basically the next season of that show. I’ve been getting mine at Mt. Empire Comics in downtown Bristol, but I’m sure you can order them online straight from Dark Horse. I read the first three Buffys — they are pretty awesome. 😎

    Don’t get me wrong. I like Terry Goodkind a lot. But I’d just like him to let his characters be happy a tad more before they’re off on their next great adventure.

    I’ve heard several people raving about the Dante books. Looks like something else I’m going to have to add to my TBR pile. 😉

  7. Chasity says:

    Mr. K’s is the bestest. I adore that place. You can find anything your little heart desires at a really good price. Plus they give decent trade credit. Last time I went I took a box of Lawrence Sanders, Sue Grafton, and Anne Rice. The guy doing the trade just looked at me and shook his head. It’s also about the only place you can find the backlist Star Wars books. Hubby just loves that.

    I usually don’t travel to Bristol much, it’s kinda out of the way from here. Kingsport is much easier for me. Plus I get so lost in Bristol. Our home office is there and I swear I couldn’t find it for my life. They tried to send me there a few months ago and I flat out refused. And yes, I realize there are really on two roads that will take you anywhere, but it confuses me. I can get to the race track and to the mall. That’s it 🙂 I may try ordering from Darkhorse or I may suck it up and go to Cavalier Comics in Wise and see if Brian can order them. You know we so need to have a Buffy party. Hang out and watch Buffy all day, eat, and debate. That would rock. It’s been ages since I’ve done that.

    You really do need to read Dante. I think you’ll like it. But of course I said that about Twilight too 🙂

    Have you read all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood yet? I swore I wouldn’t read them. I swore. I broke down when I found the first one at Walmart for $4. It was on from there. I went so far as to buy ebooks for a couple I couldn’t find at the bookstore. Those are like crack. Buffed up, jealous, man titty crack. I know you’ve posted reviews on a couple, but I’m too lazy to go back and see where you stopped. And before you say it, I know exactly what you don’t like about them – MINE, MINE, MINE, don’t touch, stay away, jealously. 🙂

    Wow. We’ve managed to take up a whole book review talking a bit about the book, and a lot about other things.

  8. Jennifer Estep says:

    The only thing I don’t like about Mr. K’s is they won’t give you cash for paperbacks. Which means I get more trade credit and bring more books home. It’s a vicious cycle. Sigh. 🙄

    Don’t feel bad. I can get to my dad’s house in Lebanon, but that’s about it. Anything else above Abingdon or Kingsport is a mystery to me.

    I’ve read the first four BDB books. I got the fifth and latest — Lover Unbound — for Christmas, but I haven’t read it yet. Maybe in a few weeks. Lover Awakened with Bella and Z was my favorite. I thought they were the most well-developed characters she’s come up with so far.

    You’re right. I do really enjoy the BDB books, but the possessiveness drives me nuts. I’d kill a guy if he tried to do that to me. 👿 I’d enjoy the BDB books a lot more if Ward would just dial that down a little bit.

    BTW, I’ve asked for the first Dante book for Valentine’s Day … 😉

  9. Chasity says:

    I kinda like Mr. K’s no cash policy, it keeps me stocked in books. As much as I read, I need all the books I can get. I used to go to the library all the time, but I’ve read almost everything they have. So it’s Walden’s and Mr. K’s for me. Oh and BAM in Kingsport. That place is nice. I actually found a couple books there around x-mas that were early releases 🙂

    I had forgotten you had said your dad lives in Lebanon, since our move I’m only about 25 mins from there. I’ve only been there like 3 times.

    I liked Bella and Z much better than Marissa and Butch. But I must admit I was pulling for Butch and V. But oh well.

    A Dante book for Valentine’s day? Nice. I do think you’ll enjoy it.

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