Customer Reviews: Read 158 more reviews...
 Just a little in love with Edward Cullen July 25, 2008
L. C. Forder (England)
When this book was first reccomended to me by friends, I was a little apprehensive. All I was told was that it was about a girl and a vampire in love. I've never been one for chick-lit and I find most vampire books tend to be laughable, but nonetheless I gave it a try, and I was completely mistaken.
From the second I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I read the book within a day, barely pausing to eat dinner or even go to the bathroom.
I felt an instant bond with Bella's character, she was just so endearing. And where to start with Edward? I've never before felt like I wanted to kiss a fictional character like I did him. I felt completely drawn to him like a moth to the flame.
The storyline itself is exciting, not only are you always pulled into the tragedy of Bella and Edward's romance, but you constantly fear for Bella's safety as you would your own. You want to cry when she cries, you want to smile when she smiles, your heart skips a beat when hers does.
One of my favourite books to be read again and again and I can't wait for the film to bring it all to life.
I'm an Edward-a-holic July 23, 2008
Jamie fan (Wales)
This is one of the best books that I have ever read. Once you read it, you will never be able to look at a romantic male charater in a book in the same way ever again.
I picked this book up in Borders, and I thought that it would be strange, and to be honest, vampires aren't really my thing. But then my friend highly recommended it to me, and everything changed.
I am totally in love with Edward (lets face it - who wouldn't be after reading this book!?)
It is a vampire flick with a difference, leaving all traditional tales of daylight, garlic, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer far behind.
Read it. You will NOT regret it.
Captivating!!!!! July 22, 2008
S. Carey (Scotland)
I'm a little older than the target audience, however I have to say that I was entirely captivated by the story and have just finished all three books in a week. The story may not be to everyone's taste, nevertheless you'll find it impossible to stop thinking about the characters even after the book ends. It's hard not to identify with the depth of emotion that all the characters feel(not just Edward and Bella!!). It's a fantasy book so bare that in mind. But if you want a passionate read that you won't want to put down, then this is definitely for you!!
Amazing July 21, 2008
Pon
This book has to be one of the best books I have EVER read. I was definitely intrigued and pulled into the world of Bella Swan straight from the begninning. While reading it, I was awake until 4 am two nights in a row, simply because I couldn't put it down! The end of each chapter always left me wanting more.
I can't wait to purchase New Moon, so I can immerse myself even more into the world of Bella Swan and the Cullens. And I'm pretty sure that, too, will keep me reading 'til the early hours of the morning :)
 Completely over-used concept with little originality July 18, 2008
beadofblood (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Alright, so I had bought Twilight when it first came out, and at fifteen I thought it was one of the best works of literature I had ever read. I was among those screaming fan girls who thought Edward, with his charming personality and that deep, dangerous secret was the ultimate man. And Bella, with her narrative, was the perfect protagonist.
My opinion of the book changed very quickly.
Before I begin, I'll give a brief overview of the book. Bella is a seventeen -year old girl who, after much deliberation decided to move to Forks, a dreary place in Phoenix, with her father in order to allow her mother to travel with her boyfriend. There, she sees five beautiful people who quickly fill her thoughts. One in particular, Edward, behaved in a very hostile manner toward her, and later she finds out that he, among with his family, are 'Vegetarian Vampires'. Que the dramatic monologue and Mary-Sue-sh tendencies.
Firstly, the story itself was horribly cliched; Now I understand that in this day and age originality is difficult to insert into any story, as most concepts have been overused, but please, could Stephenie Meyer have not try just a little harder to pump some into her plot? The plot was contrived and annoying. Good Vampire falls for food. Difficulty and sexual tension, followed by vampire-saving-human situations ensue. Now I have a gripe with this 'Good' Vampire BS. Vampires, by nature in fiction, are supposed to be the embodiment of everything bad in humanity. At least, that is how I see it. They are meant to be dark and evil, and seductive. The whole legend of Vampires, and Vampire folklore all hover around the fact that these creatures are bad. Really and utterly bad. It is simply their nature: they kill humans to survive for Pete's sake! And yet, here we have this morally correct Vampire and it irked the Hell out of me.
This leads me onto the second point: Characterisation. Or rather the lack of it. Edward was the most boring, colorless, annoying, little doormat-of-a-character I have ever had the misfortune to read about. There was no real struggle of his Vampire side, and it was merely 'Oh Bella, I want to kiss you but I can't, I'll rip your head off. Oh woe is me'. I felt like the struggle was merely superficial, as we ever actually see him lose control. Granted, he's had plenty of time to control his urge to kill but Bella's apparent maddening scent should have made him a little wilder, no? After all, Emmett killed his first smellerific human didn't he? so why should Edward be any different? He is such a weak person that I berate myself for even thinking that he was a sexy, hot, man. He is neither. We are told over and over and OVER that he is gorgeous and bla bla bla yet we are not shown anything apart from the fact that his eyes go from 'onyx' to 'amber' to 'butterscotch' to God knows what else.
Then there's Bella. Bella Swan, 'beautiful swan', the protagonist of this story. She is ignorantly beautiful, thinks only of others, is clumsy as a personality fault, slim, smart, is loved my all boys alike and even the evil-guy has a thing for her scent. What a textbook example of a perfect character. How can anyone even begin to identify with somebody like that? She has no real faults apart from the fact that she is 'clumsy enough to be disabled' which, by the way is a convenient set-up for awe-inspiring saves by Edward Prince Charming. Here are some real faults in her annoying character. She is stupid. Seriously, she would put half the population of dumb-people to shame; she goes to meet the baddie blindly, with no regard for herself or the fact that she has a hoard of super-powered vampires to look for her mother,all of whom have better resources, better strength, intelligence and power than her. But no, she has to save her mum herself, because she's really strong herself. Right. Not to mention she is stuck up, has no qualms about wanting to be a monster, gives no thought to the fact that she would be a danger to the human population should she turn and is overall very selfish. Bella Swan is a most detestable character.
Now, at sixteen, I see that this book misrepresents the whole YA genre. It depicts immorality, and although the writer attempted to write a sort of clean, 'virgin' vampire novel, she merely ended up with a book that will, in a few years time, be forgotten completely. I am ashamed to think that girls my age and older will think that this book is anything less that a piece of well-written trash. I understand the pull that this book has; it's a romance for young teenagers who are bored with their life and want a romanticized version of theirs but really, there are books out there with much better substance. Everything about this book was luke-warm. There was no scorching-hot themes that were explored or Ice-cold concepts that were shown. It was nothing more than an attempt at being good.
What irks me is the comparison with J.K Rowling. It is truly pathetic. Granted, Rowlig isn't the best writer but the world she had created was beautiful, and comparing Meyer with her is an insult.
I hope that young, intelligent people my age will not be sucked into this lie. There are far better writers out there who can execute their novel explosively and give you something to think about, rather than a sour taste in your mouth.
*A book I would recommend is 'The Raging Quiet' by Sherryl Jordan. That book, although a one-published-wonder, is an exquisite romance. No vampires I'm afraid, but the plot is rich and the descriptions enthralling.
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