Twilight

i don't know what i can say that others haven't far better than i could. (then i go and write a freaking essay on my random twilight thoughts, go figure) There are many obvious issues with this book that i was aware of when reading for the first time but many that went over my head.
it's so unrealistic but at the same time knowingly how deeply (and stupidly) i loved at 17 I'd probably throw it all away for a hot vampire boy i didn't know too
i read this at some point between 2006-2008, i don't remember much of what i thought at the time. i wasn't as into it as some of the kids at my school were but i read them all and remember talking about them with my friends.

a year(?) ago i watched this youtube video called something like ‘sorry smeyer' about how she got absolutely bodied for stuff which was kind of out of her hands (basically that she was writing wish fulfilment and wasn't trying to be a model to young girls or best seller) and how while there are some questionable things in the book she didn't deserve the strength and amount of hate she got. it was an interesting video and must have planted a seed. two months ago i randomly watched the first twilight movie and unintentionally ‘ironically' got back into twilight. i found all the Twilight memes from the tumblr Twilight renaissance which had been going strong for a few years i guess. and discovered that midnight sun was officially published. i read it because i didn't want to reread the whole series but wanted to remember what fandom was talking about. i watched all the movies in a few days while i was recovering from my covid vax and a fun time was had by all. i ended up deciding to listen to twilight when i needed a break from ‘serious' reading. (hey, I've read much worse for dumber reasons)

reading midnight sun made me appreciate Bella's character a lot more this time around as she had more of an obvious personality. While it was hilarious to read from Edward's perspective it really hit home all the fucked up stuff he does (wish i could remember what teen me thought about Edward watching her sleep). i just feel so sorry for Bella. she's infatuated with a guy who is terrible for her, the only thing she seems to appreciate about him are his looks and mysteriousness (no judgement i was obsessed with a guy in high school I'd never spoken to lol, being a teen is fun) and then when unexpectedly they get together the only thing they really do is stare into each other's eyes and tell each other how much they love each other. except when edward tells Bella she's stupid and puts her down. :( like Bella IS being stupid but that's no excuse Edward!!!
The fandom for this series is so fun and im glad it's become so far removed from the author and the less savoury things in the story. i mostly enjoyed myself while reading this book but the most interesting part was the beginning when she was figuring out wtf Edward was. The longer it goes the more infatuated she gets and i feel bad for her, she really needs good friends. by the time we get to the james stuff i was

it was fun to read this as an adult. i have a lot of thoughts, so stay tuned for more

i hate this book. i really hate this book.

I really liked reading these books - before the movies and ‘seeing' those two actors when I read, therefore spoiling the characters for me with their less than stellar acting skills.

I started it, but never finished it. It just never held my attention and I was forcing myself to read as far as I did.

I have read the indonesian version.. But i really want to read again in its original version...

I don't like age gap relationships, and in this book it's a teen and an immortal. I'm sure the it's a great book and I have no doubt Meyer is a good author, but it just wasn't for me.

get ready, because here we go

here's the thing about twilight (and all of stephanie meyer's books); i think they would be perfectly fine and entertaining if they were written by someone else. stephanie just has sero clue of how to write romance, and it's all she does! all of her love scenes and communication between love interests is intensely cringy and unrealistic to a point where i can't enjoy it. she milks every idea she comes up with for all it's worth until it's no longer interesting.

she also doesn't know how to write interesting characters. bella swan is one of the most boring narrators to literally ever exist and that is a fact. she has zero personality herself. besides edward, all she does is write boring emails to her mom, read, complain, and go to school. oh yeah, and think about edward. big surprise.

also, i don't know if anyone else feels like this, but in all of stephanie's books, as soon as a character becomes a love interest, i don't like them anymore. i actually thought edward was intriguing and not that annoying UNTIL him and bella start their weird romance shit. then he becomes cringy and boring and super whiny. same with jacob; i really liked his character in this book and new moon, until he confesses his undying love for bella. than he becomes a total asswipe.

UGH!

I have a love/hate relationship with this book. One the one hand, it's an easy and engaging read. It is very easy to fall in love with Edward Cullen just as Bella does, and it is very easy to speed-read through this book only to start it all over.

But on the other hand, Bella Swan drives me insane. She has a bizarre inferiority complex when it comes to Edward, and a determined death wish. She's completely obtuse and at the same time, strangely endearing. I don't quite know how to describe it.

Stephenie Meyer's writing isn't top-notch by any means, and she often falls to repetition of descriptive phrases – Edward's “liquid topaz” eyes, anyone? – but she knows how to weave a story, and she sure as hell knows how to keep your attention. I'll be the first to admit her book just about ate my brain for a good few weeks after I finished reading.

I can understand the buzz. The romantic connection is compelling but not my kind of book.

är det en five-star book? nej.
ger jag den five stars? ja.

★★★☆☆ —1) Twilight
★☆☆☆☆ —2) New Moon
★☆☆☆☆ —3) Eclipse
★★★★☆ —4) Breaking Dawn

I devoured (no pun intended) the Twilight series growing up, after Harry Potter and Percy Jackson but before The Hunger Games. After finishing the first, I was adamant: “This is what love is. I get it now.” Instead of Team Edward or Jacob, I landed on Jasper, because I was a very cool fan, and by that I mean I'm an anxious person and the idea of a partner who could regulate my neuroticism for me was alluring.

As Twilight surged in popularity, much of the praise was drowned out by intense derision. The writing was laughably bad. Bella wasn't even a character; why was she so universally desired? The younger fans were insufferable. The older fans were embarrassing. The vampires were feminine, probably even gay. So flamboyant, to allow yourself to sparkle like that. Twilight represented the downfall of young adult literature and the paranormal fantasy genre as a whole. It was all the proof we needed that women, young and old, are superficial fangirls lacking both composure and taste. Nothing attracts more gleeful vitriol than teenage girls, and what they love.

In the years since first reading the series, I've found myself in a tug-of-war. The amount of genuine upset lobbed at this franchise, its fans, and its author were unwarranted and unfair, and, I believe, fueled by sexism and ageism (& garnished with homophobia).
That being said, Twilight taught millions of young, impressionable, mostly female readers about intimacy and relationships. Dry nonfiction, health classes, and awkward talks with parents don't hold a candle to a fun romp full of angst and passion that you and all your friends are talking about. The impact of Twilight in shaping the minds of its readers by framing certain behaviors and dynamics as attractive cannot be overstated. Romanticizing a possessive, isolating relationship with someone who loves you but overtly wants to hurt you has dangerous implications.

Essay done with, this wasn't as bad as I feared. However, it was still bad. Very nostalgic, very easy to gobble up quick, but in many ways troubling. I'm between 2 and 3 stars, but I think this may be as good as it gets, so I'm feeling generous. Here are some of my takeaways:
- Edward chuckled so many times that at one point I said angrily, out loud, to the air, “you GOTTA stop chuckling”- Charlie has apparently only been feeding himself fried eggs for seventeen years, and doesn't even wash the dishes after Bella cooks. This is why Renee left you, bud- Why does Bella refer to both of her parents by their first names? Phil I get, but not them- I am concerned Bella may have an actual inner-ear issue. Her clumsiness is laughably over the top and an active impediment to her daily life. She also refers to herself as handicapped more than once- Edward is a stalker and Bella is pleased when she finds out- Edward has sudden mood swings and bursts of rage that Bella and the reader are meant to interpret as indicative of his superlative love for Bella- Bella panics constantly about Edward leaving her, and Edward keeps reassuring her that he'll never leave but then immediately backtracking to say he must abandon her for her safety- I would prefer if Edward would just explain things to Bella instead of physically dragging her all over like she's a ragdoll. You know, like a relationship- The running theme of Edward thinking he knows better than Bella what is best for her is paternalistic, controlling, and removes what little agency she has. If someone is crying after you trick them into going to prom, don't insist they come to prom with you. The number of times Bella was put in or out of cars while vehemently protesting makes Edward seem more like a kidnapper than a boyfriend- If you are immortal, why would you choose to relive your high school years perpetually? This is like the final form of college kids hanging around their grade school years after the fact. You're 150, all-powerful, gorgeous, and a psychic, and you're at prom? Make it make sense- Overwhelmingly Mormon. The focus on eternal life and love, Edward horndogging over Bella's long khaki skirt (???), all the “natural man is an enemy to God” shame Edward is tormented by, Bella focusing on what she can do to make things easier on Edward as he struggles with how much he desires her

Onto New Moon I sprint. Also, here's some interesting video essays about Twilight by Lindsay Ellis, Big Joel, and Sarah Z, for anyone interested.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THIS WHOLE SERIES!!!!!

Is it bad? Not really. Compared to the copycats that came after this, it's practically Shakespeare. Still an average read.

I find it hilarious that Twilight is both on the best books of all time list and the worst books of all time list. I personally subscribe to the latter train of thought. Bella is a cookie-cutter, Mary Sue damsel in distress, Edward is creepy and honestly at times a bit abusive, and Jacob is just....he's just annoying. Lord, I have tried this book probably three times and have never gotten past 50% of it.

The Twilight books firmly instilled my dislike of new young adult fiction. After avoiding Twilight like the plague, a friend finally talked me into reading them. I read each in about a day. I will admit, they draw you in. But then they just end.. blah. And nothing ever happened... except fighting over this overly shy and selfish girl. Way too teeny for me.

⭐⭐⭐
This book is good and worth reading. I enjoyed it but it felt a little lacking. I may recommend it to a certain audience. It gave me mixed feelings, possibly with potential it didn't quite live up to. It's a good experience, not amazing, but not bad.

I honestly tried to read this book, but I couldn't do it. The plot was doing nothing for me. Bella and Edward bored me. The vampires sparkling instead of burning irritated me.

If you want to read a vampire/human romance story that works, try Anita Blake and Jean Claude.

Now, to tell you the truth I don't particularly love this series but I don't think it's complete rubbish either. This book, however, is my favourite of the whole series and the only reason why I ever finished reading the series. That's why I'm giving it four out of five, although it's probably more of a three point five.

Ok dogpiling on the book is bordering on cliche. Wanted to read it before my daughter did to make sure it wasn't entirely objectionable. Never thought you could make being a vampire more lame - really, I'm immortal and so I'm going to go to highschool the rest of my life? ugh.
Actually reveals the futility of these review sites. My loving or hating this book is entirely irrelevant.

Каюсь. Читал это дерьмо лежа в больнице, так как наивно качнул его по топу либрусека.

I was so obsessed with this series, it was one of the first books that got me to love reading. Which is weird because I am not too big of a fan of it anymore...

The books are great and all, and I reread them lots and lots of times, but Bella kinda ruined it for me over the years. I can only take so much melodrama.
However, the series was good and I loved how Stephanie Meyer wrote her vampires with such interesting personalities and characteristics. I did love this series and everything, just not Bella.

this book was the catalyst for my parents' divorce. yes i am absolutely 100% serious. no i will not go into detail.

I would've loved this when I was 13-15. Start was really good and it's an easy read, but the relationship stuff made me cringe.

I think that this is way better than the movie! I really like this. It was a kind of insta love thing but I enjoy those so I didn't have any problems with it. I loved how different it was to the movie bit it was still really good.