book review… the “Twilight” series
One of my 101 Things goals was to read a 100 books and to review half of those. I can’t really see these books being reviewed one without the other, so I’m gonna go for the whole shebang. (Bearing in mind, of course, that I have no qualifications to review ANY book other than that I like to read. Is that enough?)
Now, you should know a couple of things first…
- I was loving some teenage love long before this series came out. I was watching sappy teen love stories way before HSM. Whenever Disney runs some old made for tv movie, Griff says, “Oh, cool, a new one!” “Um, no. I saw that before you were born.”
- I spent every Tuesday night for seven years watching “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” I own the box sets (most of the seven… I need to look into the others) so that one day, I can watch them again with Griff and then with Eliza. So I was confused a bit between the Joss Whedon vampire lore and the Stephanie Meyer vampire lore. I got over it.
One other thing… I hadn’t planned to read these books. But I’ve got a 10-year-old reading on an eighth grade level, and it’s an ongoing thing to find books for him to read that are both challenging and age appropriate. He asked me one night back in February if he could read “Twilight,” and I gave him my standard answer of “I don’t know. But I’ll read it and see.”
So I bought the first one on my trip to Arkansas to meet my niece, London, and I read it in a night. It was just so very sweet. Now, it’s not challenging. It’s not going to change your perspective on life, unless it encourages you to accept different people in different ways. If so, super. If not, so be it.
Griff asked me if I liked it and if he could read it. “Yes, and yes.” Oh, goodness, he was excited. I thanked him for wanting to read it because I wouldn’t have read it without the provocation, and I was very glad to have read it. And then he asked the most important question in his boy mind… “There were vampires, right? Was there lots of fighting? Lots of people die?” “Um, no. It’s more of a love story.” “A WHAT?! No, Mom. You got it wrong. It’s about vampires.” “Right. Vampires in love.”
I’ve now read all four, and he’s refusing to read any.
The first one is this lovely, tender love story between Bella and her Edward. I imagine it would be hard to dislike Bella, what with all of her insecurities and clumsiness and openness. And Edward, beyond Bella’s imagination, loves her completely. Isn’t that every teenage girl’s dream? To be loved beyond words by the most handsome, sophisticated, generous man imaginable? Come on, it’s that every grown up girl’s dream?
Now, the second book, “New Moon,” I didn’t love so much. I understand Jacob is important to the series plot, and I enjoyed Jacob in and of himself as well as his relationship with Bella. It’s an honest look at how friendships can go awry when one loves in one way and the other in another.
But, for me, the lure of the story was the dynamic between Bella and Edward, and there wasn’t much of that in the second book. (Luckily, it’s short, and you’ll soon be deep into book three.)
“Eclipse” was more of Edward and Bella, and it was more of what I wanted. As a mama, I appreciated Edward’s insistence that they keep their relationship at a certain stage physically. I didn’t care why he chose that route. If my kids are afraid of something horrid happening if they engage in certain acts too early, I’m ok with that, even if it might not be completely grounded in actuality. So sue me. I also sneak veggies into their muffins. I’m a mom. Work with it.
But, “Breaking Dawn” was where I really loved the characters the most. At that point, I’d developed favorites in the Cullen family, enjoyed various relationships outside of just Edward and Bella. And without giving away too much of the plot (go on… go to the library and put your name on the waiting list), the mama in me felt Bella’s choices. And I loved the final showdown with their enemies. Convincing and very true to each character.
Now, in Griff’s book reports, he has to give the book a number rating on a 1-10 scale. I’m not sure I like 1-10… too much free play for me. But on a 1-5, I’d give the series a solid 4. (And I won’t even say anything about how I liked the book because it was short. If I break him of nothing else this year, he’ll stop that.)
(And before you ask, I haven’t seen the movie yet. We’re having a DVD player mutiny in our house. One won’t spit out the DVD that’s in it now, and the other apparently sent its remote into exile. But yes, that sweet little Robert Pattinson is hot as heck, and I do feel a bit like a cougar thinking it. But to be completely honest, I said he was hot as heck back when he played Cedric in “Harry Potter” so whatcha gonna do?)
So, now. You know what I think. Tell me what you think.
Filed under 101 Things in 1001 Days | Permalink |Tagged with: 101 Things in 1001 Days • Books • Twilight
5 Responses to “book review… the “Twilight” series”
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Sweetmother! There are no words to describe my LOVE for all things Twilight. It’s a little embarrassing! (Have you seen my Facebook profile pic?)
I’m glad you like it too!
(BTW,RP was in Harry Potter? Which one? I’ll be getting it from the library asap!)
He played Cedric in the fourth movie. Yum.
Oh yeah! I read all four books in about 2 1/2 weeks and I am now reading them a second time! It’s amazing how many things I can relate back to Twilight and that my friend is probably sad … but it is what it is!
The newspaper on campus interviewed me about stuff happening at the BSM and in the conversation we talked about things happening in real life and movies and books etc. I was quoted as liking Twilight and since then I have had so many students ask me about it … surprised that I am an addict just like them! (At least I was also quoted as saying that I don’t believe in vampires …)
Glad you liked it!
Was wondering if Griff read the choose your adventure books. I loved those as a child.
lots of love
He has the ones ya’ll gave him, but I’m not sure if he’s read them yet. I’ve got a stack of books he’s supposed to be reading, but he keeps checking different things out from the library at school. Come the summer, he’ll have to read my stack.
I really liked Bella in the first book as well. I will warn you that she doesn’t come across as well in the movie. Shy and I both felt they got her all wrong and that she came across as B****y in the movie. Maybe you will agree and maybe you won’t. Especially since we differ on our opinions of the books. I loved the 2nd boo, hated the 4th book and really preferred Jacob over Edward.
I think that’s fabulous! I love it when people see books differently than I do.
As a 40 something mom, I poo-pooed the Twilight series for a long time. I prefered the Sookie Stackhouse novels (True Blood) I felt they were more grown up. HA! After finishing the Sookie novels, I was craving more of the vampire genre, and deigned to read Twilight. I was hooked from the 1st chapter. I find them to be very well written, and I am happily amazed that our elementary and middle school kids are reading at this level. I loved the romance, and the excitement of the waiting for the love to develop physically. I, too, was a big fan of Jacob, and during the 2nd and some of the 3rd book, I was hoping Bella would choose Jake. But, it is as it should be, and I love the way the author resolved the issue of should she or shouldn’t she. (change) After reading the Twilight series, I find the Sookie books ridiculous! What about you?
I actually haven’t tried the Sookie Stackhouse novels yet, but everyone says I should. I’ll try them and let you know.