|  | Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
List Price: $10.99
Buy New: $3.61
as of 11/21/2009 18:05 CST details
You Save: $7.38 (67%)
New (237) Used (690) Collectible (5) from $3.49
Seller: abookarama
Rating:  4536 reviews
Sales Rank: 12
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.5 x 1.5
ISBN: 0316015849
EAN: 9780316015844
ASIN: 0316015849
Publication Date: September 6, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 4536
This book draws you in November 18, 2009
E. Irwin (California)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had never planned on reading this book, thinking that it would be too "young adult" and silly but my boyfriend picked it up on sale so I gave it a chance. After the admittedly boring set up was over, I was completely sucked into the book and characters. So, yes, I'm a 30 year old woman and I loved this book.
Now what is also true, interestingly, is that almost all of the negative comments about the book are correct. The writing is not great, it does get a bit sappy at times, Bella is annoying, etc. but I enjoyed it despite all of these things.
I'm not going to do a plot summary or gush over the romance or refute all of the negative comments but I have a few thoughts that I would like to share.
I think that those readers that enjoyed this book were able, with the help of their own imagination and insight, to really step into this world and the character's minds. I don't mean to imply that those who despised the book have zero imagination, but that they were unwilling or unable to make the leap that the author asked of her readers. That being said, a truly great author wouldn't have needed as much help from her readers.
Despite the flaws of the book, the author did create compelling characters in this book and she did tell us gripping story of forbidden love but you do have to do a bit of work for yourself. One reason that I'm convinced that this is true is that, after reading Twilight and New Moon, I went on to read Midnight Sun off of her website. MS is part of the story of Twilight from Edward's perspective. As I read that piece, nothing about Edward surprised me. Only his actions outside of Bella's presence and the exact moment he realized he loved her were new to me. Somehow the author had conveyed to me Edward's character through Bella's eyes in Twilight and I was right there with her on Edward's motivations as they are revealed in Midnight Sun. A completely incompetent author wouldn't have been able to do even that. However, as I alluded to before, I did my own analysis of Edward and some character development of my own but it was all based on information that the author had provided. I worked within her framework and understood where she was going. I believe this is what others consciously or unconsciously did when they read the book and found that they enjoyed it.
With regards to the annoyance that the love story comes out of no where, I would argue that all epic loves seem to come out of no where. Romeo and Juliet fall in love for absolutely no reason. Even Elizabeth and Darcy's love is random. Darcy hates everything about Elizabeth (her family, her situation, the country) and then all of a sudden she has fine eyes and she's witty and he's violently in love with her. Now, obviously, the feel of Pride and Prejudice is much different and Jane Austen (the wonderful writer that she is) walks us through everything much better but all of her love stories include people who love each other without much basis. That's just how love works sometimes.
In addition, some people tend to take these books far too seriously. To me the author is just telling a good story, not unlike some of the fanciful stories I told myself in my youth, without regard to any over arching message. I also don't believe that these are actually young adult books at all and I suspect that the author didn't really write them to be. It is the publishers who categorize books not necessarily the authors. The writing in the book is at the YA level but the subject matter is clearly not. These books say something completely different to adults than they do to adolescents.
So for whatever reason it is important to me to defend this much at least: the book is not utterly devoid of value and that those of us who enjoyed it are not all easily amused teenagers.
Bottom line: those of us who were able to meet her half way were able to appreciate what she accomplished despite her amateurish writing ability.
 There are better ways to kill brain cells... November 17, 2009
Sacha (Somewhere)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but it's the truth.
TWILIGHT IS THE MOST POORLY WRITTEN BOOK I'VE EVER READ.
It has absolutely NO plot whatsoever. Additionally, both the characters and events are unbelievable. I understand that it's a fantasy, but, come on, even fantasy books have to be slightly believable, or at least have believable characters.
The main character, Bella Swan, is incredibly stupid and seems to brain-dead, as she trips or gets hurt in some way every other page! Isn't she great?
The other main character, Edward Cullen, is even more unbelievable. He is not only perfect in every single way, but a vampire to boot! But, instead of burning up in the sun, he sparkles!!!!111!!!1
After they've known each other for about 2 days, they fall instantly in love, for the most shallow reasons!
When Bella is about to be killed by the "bad guy" Edward comes and saves her!
It's true love!
Sorry, Stephanie Meyer, not gonna work.
This book has plot wholes galore. I'm not even sure if it can be counted as a book. It reads more like a diary, as it describes EVERY SINGLE thing that Bella does EVERY SINGLE day. I don't really care about what happened in biology class, or where Bella sat during lunch, or how hot Edward looked today, thank you very much.
As, previously mentioned, Bella is INCREDIBLY stupid and shallow. She takes it as compliment when she finds out that Edward not only stalks her, but breaks into her house every night and watches her sleep. And, when she finds out that Edward is a vampire, she isn't scared at all. Not one bit. As long as he's beautiful and perfect, she's in love with him.
"Twilight" doesn't even have a real climax. It's never really explained why James wants to eat Bella other than "she smells good". Wait a second....isn't that exactly why Edward loves her? I think it is! Yet, James is labeled as the "bad guy" and, of course, must be killed on the spot. Makes perfect sense, right?
If you want to kill a few brain cells, I think Twilight is the best option. I know, I'm probably going to get tons of down-ratings by angry fan girls, but please, at least listen to what I've just spent 15 minutes typing.
(And advice on how to write better reviews would be very helpful; I'm new to this kind of stuff.)
-Sacha, 13 years old, Edward-hater forever
 Twilight BOOK! November 16, 2009
Amanda M. Shipton
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book arrived in EXECELLENT CONDITION! Would definitely recommend this buyer! Shipping could have been a little faster though, but other than that it was okay!
 Flights of teenage fancy, anyone? November 15, 2009
Jitter-June (Santa Barbara, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Where do I begin to write about the big phenom of Stephanie Meyer?
For not being a big fan of the mega-teen books in the first place, I have read the first two books. Not so sure I want to go any further as I get the gist that they are all going to be basically the same. But I can see how teen girls have gone gaga for it all.
Let's face it--we were all 13,14,15 years old once--and we know what crazy havoc has been done to our hormone house at that age--so to be truthful, all this fuss about this mega successful young author has the appeal to your average rock, rap, or whatever star. And, yeah, you better believe--sex sells.
Let's just be honest.The characters are flat, dull, boring and very predictably teenage. They sit around with not much going on except the impulse to get together with a juicy, good-looking, sexy brat vampire--who happens to be the cutest hunk in the class.
Ok..so we all like our secret indulgences. Actually, teen books are my indulgence. I love them. They are my pure escape into fun-land while my adult self struggles with reality's inescapable, in-your-face issues.
So on that note, these are fun, stupid books that whet the proverbial appetite for things creepy-sexy and teenage. The problem is, the TWILIGHT books are shallow and predictable. Like a big Mac or a Twinkie. Cheap thrills that go down easy. For its entertainment value only, I give this a slight three stars.
However, there are better, richer, more satisfying reads out there that both teens and adults would enjoy.
Case in point? The extremely readable and substantive, THE BOOK THIEF and the under-looked, hilarious story of a wandering cutie-18 year old, SIM0N LAZARUS.
Check these out, kids.
Good, bad, and fiction! November 15, 2009
E. Ware (Kentwood, MI USA)
Yes, it must be said that the author goes overboard with how beautiful the leading male is...we get it we get it, Edward is beautiful, we haven't forgotten, you just told us.
The beginning is a little slow, but when it picks up it easily keeps your attention.
On Bella being a role model- moms, calm down about this, seriously. She's not meant to be a heroine, she didn't beat some overwhelming odds and live to tell a valiant story of courage and perseverance: she's a girl in love with a vampire- fiction!
On Book vs Movie:
Book characters are much more intense, especially Edward, who seems too harsh and condescending at times.
Bella is a normal teenage girl with some self esteem issues "how could someone so beautiful see anything interesting in me?" but ladies, a lot of us reviewing this book are adults and we still have these issues, so this should be no shocker.
Details, details, details, I love how much more of a view you get into the story with the book vs the movie. I saw the movie first, I almost recommend it that way- so you're not dissapointed. If you're still hungry for more Twilight then read the book after the movie to get your inevitable questions answered.
I don't regret buying this book, and recommended it to my almost 21 year old sister in law who loved the movie.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 4536
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