Title: Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Cover: Gail Doobinin (design), Roger Hagadone (photograph)

Publisher: Little, Brown

Release Date: October 5, 2005

Pages: 512 (498 US Hardcover)

Chapters: 24 (+epilogue)

Followed by: New Moon

Site: stepheniemeyer.com/twilight

Buy: Amazon iTunes

For Twilight movie info, click here!

Summary

NOTE: SPOILER ALERT!

Isabella Swan decides to move from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington to live with her father Charlie, in order to allow her mother to travel with her new husband, Phil Dwyer, a “strictly minor league” baseball player. Even though she never had many friends in Phoenix, Bella quickly discovers she is the new subject of curiosity and envy at her new school in Forks, where she is quickly befriended by several students. Much to her embarrassment, she discovers that several boys are vying for her attention.Bella finds Forks a bit repetitive and lacking in joy. She never liked the ever-raining city as a child, and even referred to it in Twilight as her “own personal hell on earth”. However, the one exception to her boring life in Forks is Edward Cullen, the gorgeous, mysterious boy she sits next to in her biology class. Through careful observation, Bella realizes that Edward is more than he seems to be, but despite having many theories she cannot bring herself to believe that there is a supernatural explanation for Edward’s behavior.From the first day she saw him, Bella believed Edward disliked her as he acted with mysterious tension and even danger when she first sat next to him. However, his attitude towards her soon begins to change. He displays supernatural abilities in saving Bella from being hit by an out-of-control van about to crush her in the student parking lot of the high school. After seeing a dent in the van in the shape of Edward’s hand, she realizes the vehicle hit him and that he seemed to be holding it away from her. Bella confronts him afterwards with the strangeness of the situation, but he refuses to talk to her about it. As time passes, Bella and Edward are repeatedly drawn to one other, even though Edward is trying to keep away because, he thinks he is dangerous to her.

Bella eventually learns from her friend Jacob Black of the Quileute (pronounced Quil-yoot) tribe and her own observations that Edward and his family are reformed vampires who substitute animal blood for human blood in their diet.Despite the obstacles presented by the vampiric nature of the Cullen family, Edward and Bella fall deeply in love. Their foremost problem is Bella’s alluring scent, which “sings” to Edward and makes it difficult for him to restrain himself from drinking her blood. However, despite this and Bella’s strange knack for constantly landing herself in dangerous situations, they manage to stay together safely for a time.The seemingly blissful state of affairs is thrown into chaos when another vampire coven sweeps into Forks and James, a tracker, sets his sights on Bella. Thrilled as much by the idea of outwitting a clan of vampires as by Bella’s scent, James begins an interstate game of cat and mouse. Under the assumption that James has kidnapped her mother, Bella is lured to her former dance studio, where James attacks her. Edward, along with the rest of the Cullen family, rescues Bella before James kills her. In the chaos James bites Bella, which complicates matters further; the venom injected into a victim of a vampire attack starts the process of turning the victim into a vampire. Edward takes up the task of sucking the venom out of Bella, thus saving her from the transformation while also restraining his urge to drain her.The book ends with the two going to Bella’s prom. Beneath the surface, tension remains as Bella wishes for Edward to turn her into a vampire while Edward refuses to do so. The reason for Edward’s adamant decision not to turn Bella into a vampire is not revealed.

Reviews

Recently, a normal guy, read “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer. This his my evaluation of what a guy thinks about Twilight. Link

In the past few month’s I have been reading. sounds normal right? What if I told you what I was reading, would you still consider it normal? For a guy to be reading…Twilight…would you think that’s normal? I certainly have my reasons, I assure you that. You see, curiosity is a funny thing.

Like everyone, I saw this fad pickup with immense speed. Bookstores held millions of copy’s, and all you heard from people (particularly girls) was “Twilight, Edward, Twilight, Edward!” Apparently, Stephanie Meyers must have come up with one heck of a good series of books, because it was EVERYWHERE. Heck, even walking into Wal-Mart you will see an entire shelf dedicated to the works of Meyers, “The Twilight Saga.” For those who do not know, there are four books in the “Twilight saga.” The first is Twilight, followed by New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.

Why did I choose to read it though? To be honest I was curious about what made every girl in the world go completely psycho over it. Of course all I had heard about it was Edward, and how “perfect” he is. Finally, after the counsel of some of my female friends I decided to pick up a copy. I began reading it the next day.

To be Honest, the beginning of Twilight was very slow, and actually bored me. But I was still determined to find out why it made the average girl so… obsessive. I came to enjoy it as the story went along. It became almost addicting to read. Like a mystery, it kept me wondering, What happens next, What will I learn about the Cullens, and what is the main plot of the story.

Around the spot in the story when Bella went to Port Angeles was where i really got hooked. The story began to unfold, and we learn a lot more about the vampiric characteristics of one of the main character, Edward Cullen. The plot begins to thicken when Bella learns that Edward is constantly tempted to kill her by his thirst for her blood, even though they both want to have a solid relationship. I don’t want to spoil to much of the story so I’ll leave the rest to you.

Overall, I actually thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It’s not just a cheesy romance novel. The plot is so complex and intertwined I actually had fun using my brain to keep up with the plot. It is so easy to connect with the heavily described characters, making a great image of humanistic qualities. And also, the vampires are really cool

The movie was also great, and very well put together. The acting in it was simply amazing. I liked the film for the content though, unlike the 90% teenage female audience that was screaming the entire movie over Edward and the other vampire males. It went hand-in-hand with the book as far as following the storyline.

What makes girls so obsessive though? Now, Ive seen girls that are addicted to the story as if it were Harry Potter simply because they genuinely support and enjoy literature (and a great piece of literature it was). Like my mother for example, who picked up the series and read all four books in two weeks. Others won’t admit it, but what they are really addicted to is Edward, who would apparently make the perfect boyfriend. They are actually obsessing over a fantasy! Well, fantasy at least until they could obsess over the actor who plays him, Robert Pattinson.

The point I’m trying to get across guys, is don’t be afraid to read it. Don’t think just because your reading a romance about a “perfect” guy, with a girl as the main character, doesn’t make you “gay” or give you a reason to feel “gay”. In my opinion, its the stupidest thought ever if you’re thinking that. Take Romeo and Juliet for example, it is one of the most popular pieces of literature in the world, and has been for quite some time. But you wouldn’t feel any different reading that would you? I think you get my point. Trust me, I’m on the third book and I feel great that I’ve read this series.

Overall, this book was great. I sincerely recommend it to anyone who has the time to take to really enjoy this book, and the entire series!

Publishers Weekly
‘In our Best Books citation, PW called this tale of a teen attracted to a vampire, a “riveting first novel, equal parts suspense and romance.” Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.’

Michele Winship – KLIATT
“In a style reminiscent of Anne Rice, Meyer brings the macabre to a small Washington town in a novel combining mystery, romance, fantasy, and sensuality. Isabella Swan has moved to her father’s house in tiny Forks, Washington, a twilight town where perpetual rain and mist stand in stark contrast to her mother’s home in Phoenix. Isabella is the new girl who discovers that small town life is pretty slow-paced, and small town people are pretty friendly. She settles in quickly, and finds the most intriguing thing about her new school to be the Cullen family, a group of four amazingly beautiful young people who keep to themselves in school. Edward Cullen is Isabella’s lab partner, and he avoids interacting with her or even looking at her. However, when an accident almost ends her life, Isabella finds out the truth about Edward and his family, a group of benevolent vampires who have chosen the misty city so that they can blend in and live among humans without discovery. Isabella and Edward begin a courtship dance in which they are drawn closer and closer, knowing the danger of their being together. Isabella soon discovers that not all vampires are kind, and the book shifts into suspense mode with Isabella running for her life. Meyer’s description of the lovers’ emotions is palpable, and readers will be drawn into the couple’s spiraling dance, feeling the intense longing that comes from being a hair’s breadth away from the thing you want most in the world. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Little, Brown, 288p., Ages 12 to 18.”

KLIATT
“To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, September 2005: In a style reminiscent of Anne Rice, Meyer brings the macabre to a small Washington town in a novel combining mystery, romance, fantasy, and sensuality. Isabella Swan has moved to her father’s house in tiny Forks, Washington, a twilight town where perpetual rain and mist stand in stark contrast to her mother’s home in Phoenix. Isabella is the new girl who discovers that small town life is pretty slow-paced, and small town people are pretty friendly. She settles in quickly, and finds the most intriguing thing about her new school to be the Cullen family, a group of four amazingly beautiful young people who keep to themselves in school. Edward Cullen is Isabella’s lab partner, and he avoids interacting with her or even looking at her. However, when an accident almost ends her life, Isabella finds out the truth about Edward and his family, a group of benevolent vampires who have chosen the misty city so that they can blend in and live among humans without discovery. Isabella and Edward begin a courtship dance in which they are drawn closer and closer, knowing the danger of their being together. Isabella soon discovers that not all vampires are kind, and the book shifts into suspense mode with Isabella running for her life. Meyer’s description of the lovers’ emotions is palpable, and readers will be drawn into the couple’s spiraling dance, feeling the intense longing that comes from being a hair’s breadth away from the thing you want most in the world. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.)”

School Library Journal
“Gr 9 Up-When Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks, Washington, a damp and dreary town known for the most rainfall in the United States, to live with her dad, she isn’t expecting to like it. But the level of hostility displayed by her standoffish high school biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her. After several strange interactions, his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed have her intrigued. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, and their attraction to one another grows. As Bella discovers more about Edward’s nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure that has her making a desperate sacrifice to save her one true love. One of the more original vampire constructs around, this recording of Stephenie Meyer’s debut novel (Megan Tingley Books, 2005) is narrated with great style by Ilyana Kadushin, who makes the infinitely romantic tale of star-crossed lovers resonate with a bittersweet edge. Although Edward and Bella’s romance and subsequent danger develops slowly, the pacing is appropriate for teens who want learn all the details in this suspenseful tale. An excellent purchase for both school and public libraries.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.”

Kirkus Reviews
“Sun-loving Bella meets her demon lover in a vampire tale strongly reminiscent of Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. When Bella moves to rainy Forks, Wash., to live with her father, she just wants to fit in without drawing any attention. Unfortunately, she’s drawn the eye of aloof, gorgeous and wealthy classmate Edward. His behavior toward Bella wavers wildly between apparent distaste and seductive flirtation. Bella learns Edward’s appalling (and appealing) secret: He and his family are vampires. Though Edward nobly warns Bella away, she ignores the human boys who court her and chooses her vampiric suitor. An all-vampire baseball game in a late-night thunderstorm-an amusing gothic take on American family togetherness that balances some of the tale’s romantic excesses-draws Bella and her loved ones into terrible danger. This is far from perfect: Edward’s portrayal as monstrous tragic hero is overly Byronic, and Bella’s appeal is based on magic rather than character. Nonetheless, the portrayal of dangerous lovers hits the spot; fans of dark romance will find it hard to resist. (Fantasy. YA)”

Tunes

Stephenie Meyers Soundtrack:

1. “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?” — Travis
2. “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” [video edit] — My Chemical Romance
3. “Creep” [radio edit] — Radiohead
4. “In My Place” — Coldplay
5. “By Myself” — Linkin Park
6. “Dreaming” — OMD
7. “Please Forgive Me” — David Gray
8. “Here With Me” — Dido
9. “With You” [reanimation remix] — Linkin Park
10. “Time is Running Out” — Muse
11. “Dreams” — The Cranberries
12. “Tremble for My Beloved” — Collective Soul
13. “Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)” — Billy Joel