Book Reviews: The Twilight Series

Though it has been years since I found the time to read, Twilight gave me something worth making time to read.

Stephenie Meyer not only brought a book worth reading... but (so far) four books that I just couldn't seem to put down. The Twilight series has especially gained popularity with teenage girls, after watching the movie (and I have been instructed by my 13 year old to include "Oh My Gosh, Edward is so cute!") but, as always, the books are so much better!

If you have been pulled into the movie Twilight, please read the books. (There's so much more that the movies leave out!)

Also, please do not read this review if you do not want to know any Twilight spoilers.

Twilight

The first book in the Twilight Saga is, appropriately, titled 'Twilight' and introduces Bella (the main character) and Edward (the lusty vampire who is "so cute!")

I did not start reading until after having watched the movie, but the story its self is so incredible that "knowing what will happen" did not discourage me in any way from staying up until 4 in the morning with a flashlight. That's right, I am a 25 year old woman who sat up reading until the sun was ready to rise. There's something about Stephenie Meyer's writing that pulls you in and keeps you there. But enough about my personal opinion...

Twilight is a book for all ages, and may appeal to both sexes as well. A powerful love story that will make any woman swoon, yet it is appropriate for adolescents. In this first book, Bella is a 17 year old who meets Edward in school. However, there are suspenseful elements to this book that will keep anyone flipping pages until their eyes have blurred... and the fact that this is a vampire story appeals to males as well.

New Moon

The second installment in the Twilight Series is equally addicting, especially for females who have been baited by the love story of Bella and Edward. (When a story can make you feel love instead of simply showing you love... it's a good story.) In the same way, although it is never your first choice to have a broken heart... New Moon does not show you heartbreak, it gives you a heartbreak that is suspenseful as it is confusing.

When Edward leaves Bella, she finds comfort in a close friend (Jacob, who apparently is "really hot!") that has a secret of his own. For the guys, the vampire story continues to unfold as well but this is only background to the powerful attraction between a mortal girl and her dangerous obsession.

Eclipse

As danger is growing around the small town of Forks, Bella struggles with the difficult decision between Edward and Jacob... and her decision is one of life, or death. The pull of these characters intensifies the emotion you will feel throughout this story.

Ultimately, the Twilight series is one long and wonderful love story. Individually, these books are all wonderful to read but the feel of the story seems to change with each book. This can be a wonderfully frustrating thing if you should be cleaning the house but you just can't put the book down... maybe just one more chapter...

Stephenie Meyer is a clever writer who has made many mothers happy (teenagers are finally reading again!) and the suspense is absolutely faultless. To give my personal opinion again, the dialogue between Edward and Jacob in Eclipse is the most entertaining dialogue I have read in years.

Breaking Dawn

This final (published) novel in the Twilight series is, as most final novels are, a disappointment. Not that the story itself isn't wonderful... or that the ending isn't a happy one... but when a story has pulled you in like Twilight will, you will always feel a bit unsatisfied when the story has concluded.

There are a few absurdities in Breaking Dawn that might seem a bit ridiculous... more ridiculous than a teenage girl falling in love with a vampire ("who is the cutest guy ever!") and a werewolf ("who is even hotter!") all in the same year.

The point of view changes, halfway through Breaking Dawn, from Bella's perspective to that of Jacob. I was frustrated for the first two chapters about this shift, but his story is compelling enough that you will forgive the author and even understand her reasoning.

If you feel as unsatisfied as I did about the Twilight series being finished, then you might be delighted to know about Midnight Sun.

Midnight Sun

It is difficult to review a book you have not yet read... but this character development exercise will (someday) be published into Edward's version of Twilight. You can read the first chapter of Midnight Sun by clicking here, courtesy of Stephenie Meyer.

The Twilight Movie

The Twilight book saga was popular long before the movies came out, but something about the casting has made the Twilight story, in general, highly addicting for teenage girls and young women.

A great story (well, condensed into a movie it is still at least a good story) stocked full of very attractive actors (and I don't care what my daughter thinks about Edward or Jacob... I'm on Team Jasper!) is sure to be a trend that will put the Harry Potter legacy to shame.