Twilight

[Il Dante]

Twilight? ......What's Twilight? Isn't that a book about some cannibal guy named Hannibal? I think it's called... Twilight of the Lambs, or something like that.

[sugarcrash56]

To me it's the relationship in the book that wins people over. Twilight is not very well written, but the connection between Bella and Edward is so perfect for any romantic. Let's be honest, it's super cheesy, almost like a "I would do anything to be with you" kind of thing. I don't even think the author paints amazing descriptive pictures of Forks; I just think she does an amazing job of drawing in hopeless romantics with the Bella/Edward relationship.

[dfloyd]

It's teenage hokum, but if you are lucky you'll grow out of it.

[ben.!]

In my studies of creative writing at uni, we see Twilight as one of the worst series plaguing mainstream readers. I agree with sugarcash56, the books are horribly written.

But I think people like that idea of the perfect man. It's why Mills + Boon sells so well. Romance is best when it is that heavenly-like attraction to a heavenly-like person. So unlike reality, the romantics of which are mostly seldom and would depress us. That's my opinion of why it's a phenomenon. I believe though that it has nowhere near the shelf life of the Harry Potter series, and is more like a fad than anything else.

Another problem I found with the books is the role-model Bella puts out to girls. She acts like an absolute pain in the behind to everyone - whiny, complaining, arrogant. She palms aside the Michael character in the first book who is trying to be nice to her and friendly, trying to settle her into school. She refers to him as an annoying Golden Retriever.

No, instead, Bella goes for a person who gets visibly angry (seemingly at her) and leaves the room, as soon as she enters it. Completely silly. And Bella's attitude to guys is I believe a bad attitude to put forth to young girls. She seems to (and this might be a little extreme of a distinction) have quite a bit in common with Patrick Bateman of American Psycho actually, and I don't mean homicidal tendencies. I mean those same sociopathic judgements of people that comes across in her narration.

So yeah, as you can see I have a lot of misgivings about the 'Twilight' series.

[Nikhar]

Note:- I am sorry if we have already a thread on the series. I searched for it but couldn't find it.


I recently picked up twilight from the book shop, partly due to past recommendations and partly due to my hunger to read something, anything.

I read Twilight and New Moon and I cant wait to read Eclipse. Also, I can't wait to discuss the first two books. And what better place than my favourite online spot, Litnet.

Firstly, it's a great change to read fantasy fiction that explores a world beyond dwarfs and elves.

Now, to be completely honest, I was terribly disappointed with the first novel. Firstly, I thought there was a lot of love story in it. Had I been a girl, I think it would have fascinated me. But love stories, I don't think is a 'guy thing'. But that opinion may be purely subjective.

Or well, maybe I might like other love stories but Twilight definitely did not do it for me. Firstly, I don't think the first book was a complete love story in itself. The majority of the book only explored Edward's hesitancy and Bella's determination towards her fearless love. And in the rest of the book, we just learn how beautiful Edwards was and so many pages were wasted describing their 'incomplete kisses'.

Well, really the real book for me began with the entry of the hunter 'James' and the hunt for Bella. I usually pic a fantasy fic for such sort of things and not to get bored on such a repetitive love story. Now, even the 'hunt' wasn't given much scope. The thrills and the suspense were scarce. It did not intrigue me the way I had expected.

All in all, I felt the first part was a huge disappointment. What are your views on the first part?

Nonetheless, I read 'New Moon', partly because I had a lot of time left and well, I had already bought it.

I really liked the second book for a number of reasons and there were a few points that I did not like at all. I'll be covering them one by one.


I guess my favourite character in the 'Twilight' series is Jake Black. I liked him immensely. I could connect with him so easily (No, I'm not a werewolf , but for entirely different reasons). I really liked the way the friendship between Jake and Bella developed. Surprisingly, I also liked the bit of the love angle in it.

I felt the story was going perfect till Edward returned. From there on, I have a few very serious complaints. Again, as in the first book, the thrills were scarce. The suspense is built but it never reaches the peak. When you spend so many pages searching for Victoria, the reader expects that by the end we'd have some definite conclusions regarding Victoria. I thought the entry of the Volturi was very sudden and abrupt. It came into the book from nowhere. Basically, as far as the suspense factor goes, I think New Moon is incomplete. Maybe, the author planned it to be so and plans to complete these ends in the rest of the novels. I haven't read Eclipse and Breaking Dawn yet, so I can't be sure.

There's one thing I did not like about Bella at all. Can you be so blind in love so as to give your best friend such little appreciation? As a reader, I would have been much happier if she had maintained a better balance between love and friendship.

Also, in the end, I think it's very uncharacteristic of Jake to reveal Bella's motorcycle secret.

But anyways, I am really very interested to see how the relationship between Bella and Jake turns out. That's the main reason I'm so keyed up to read Eclipse.

The following two lines that I read in some review echoes my complaints with both the books exactly:-

a lot of build-up and little action.

"unwavering passion for Edward" and having no other goals

[Beautifull]

lol. I agree. Hey Nikhar, have you read her latest book, "the second short life of Bree Tanner"? I just picked it up from the store, and I pretty excited to read it...although I never heard about it. I think It'll be interesting, but unlike her previous books, this one is very short...I wonder if that will be a problem...

[Mr.lucifer]

Despite its popularity, its the most hated book series of the previous decade and a favorite target of snark.

[Beautifull]

Despite its popularity, its the most hated book series of the previous decade and a favorite target of snark.

Because it is so popular.

[Nikhar]

No, I havent read the second short life of Bree Tanner yet. Don't get me wrong but I don't think I'm going to read it either. I'm not even going to read breaking dawn. I have heard that Bella turns vampire in the fourth novel. And that sort of takes away the whole point of reading the book. As I said, the character of Jake made it possible for me to complete the third book. Reading the fourth book seems pointless to me.

[Beautifull]

No, I havent read the second short life of Bree Tanner yet. Don't get me wrong but I don't think I'm going to read it either. I'm not even going to read breaking dawn. I have heard that Bella turns vampire in the fourth novel. And that sort of takes away the whole point of reading the book. As I said, the character of Jake made it possible for me to complete the third book. Reading the fourth book seems pointless to me.

So far, I've read the beginning, and believe it or not, it's not like any of the other Twilight books. Actually, I think Bree was the girl who was terminated by the Volturi. But this grop is different. They actually burn in the sun, not twinkle and sparkle.
Yes, Bella turns vampy, and I lost interest in the Twilight series. I bought this book without knowing this was part of the Series, and it was cheap, being first print and all.
So you know what happens with Jacob at the end?
And to be completely honest, I didn't expect the end to be all happily ever after and crap. All the problems were easy peasy to solve.

[Astromaxis]

Despite its popularity and seemingly good potentials Twilight turned out to be a disaster. The movies were entertaining granted and sometimes you do read interested to find out what happens next but on the whole does Twilight strike you?

To me it doesn't. It just gropes around teenage hormones and creates an unbelievable romance between two people (I cannot insult the term "individual")who utterly possess not a microscopic touch of romance. It's vampire Mills and Boon as a male friend put it - you read, get entertained for a bit and then throw it out.

Many people give these lame argument that as it is fiction it does not need to be true. Ummm fiction is somewhat based on reality and if a relationship is based on hormones, immaturity, looks and bodily odours then we cannot even define it as romance; it is what is popularly called a fling - in this case it's even a badly computed sexual one, a chemical cross that fails to breed any sympathy, empathy or even sensuous excitement unless you are a hardcore sadomasochist. But, even if you are you might get numbed by the lack of diversity.

Bella does nothing but worships Edward and he, in turn, like some pompous oarasite, drinks of her blood in the spiritual sense. It's like this: I don't bite into your neck but I bite into your soul because drying your innermost intelligence and personality feeds me. After all, dominating you physically can begin and end so quickly that I won't enjoy the meal and as you are a one of a kind meal I'm gonna dry you up so bad that you'll be my food for eternity.

Yup - cannibalism course anyone?

Bella is not beautiful. She is dumb and not because she was given bad hands to play by the Fates. Her mind's poverty is an insult to a declared class of people in the States who can afford an education and good living standards. In fact, she is the worst kind of stupid. The proclaiming academic one - she read so many books but other than that what else does she do? If she were a literature student she would be punched - I mean analysis is the name of the game but she's too stupid that she reads as though she will digest intelligence only for egotistical sustenance. Never eating for ATP.

The only good sort of Twilight book was it recently released one with that Bree Tanner person. I actually wanted to read it and read the subsequent events. Bree looked like someone you could care about. But then again I don't know. I tried reading Twilight and despite some momentary satisfactions words and sentences like "my forehead dewed with sweat" made by the so-called intellectual Bella Swan made me laugh out hard.

Well, please tell me your reactions to this book.

[spookymulder93]

That trash literature has made millions of dollars so somebody obviously doesn't agree with you.

How many of us here have written anything that has made millions of dollars?

Maybe I'll write a campy zombie love story between a zombie dude and a alive chick. In the end the chick will cut out her own brain to save the zombie dudes life.

Does a zombie have a life?

I think this might turn out to be the best love story of all time.

[Ein]

I cannot stand the books or the movies. I loathe the creature who authored them, and think the she will meet a horrible life in any world that is after this one(if there is any).

There is the sentence structure for one thing; they bounce back and forth from short and choppy, to long and verbose, and to me, this is very uncomfortable to read. Not to mention all the adverbs, her sentence structure is weak, and once again not an enjoyable read for anyone whose reading level is over "Pat the Dog".

I dislike the excuse that it is children's literature, and that's the reason it can be so slipshod. For one thing, I won't/will never let any child of mine read such drivel, not only does it showcase very dangerous habits (Edward stalking Bella, Edward emotionally abusing Bella, I could really go on forever), it also takes the worst kind of person as Astromaxis said and allows this creature to be held up as role model for young girls. It flirts with pedophilia, and in general takes the worse kind of behaviors in young adults, and says, "Do this and you will live happily ever after". This book is hardly childrens' lit, and even less young adult.

The other thing that bothers me to no end about the excuse of it being childrens' lit; is the fact that great works of fiction have come from childrens' literature, and even young adult lit. I have a very old copy of a book called "Tiger Eyes" which is considered young adult, and in it the female protaganist witnesses her father's death in a brutal manner, and has to cope with it. The timing is nice, the content while mature, is nothing that all young girls at her age aren't going through. Of course it's writen by Judy Blume, who is awesome at young adult fiction.

Maybe Twilight is a reflection of our times. Where once upon a time we demanded children and young adults think, and take responsiblity for their actions, we now just spoon feed them some trite romance, and tell them that if they whine like a baby for months on end they'll get what they want, no matter if it's healthy for them or not. Of course that's just my opinion; I could be wrong...

[Babak Movahed]

Man finally someone speaking the truth. Twilight is God awful and for reasons inexplicable to me no one on this forum seemed to say anything about it.

[kiki1982]

Of course not. It's a literature forum. However, what is literature is still being debated...