So, after hearing about the books and movie for weeks, I finally bought the first book in the Twilight series and have been reading it for the past week. I’m almost done, but I can’t wait any longer to say: what is up with this book? (If you haven’t read them, there may be spoliers coming up, so stop reading this entry now.)
I will admit that it is entertaining, and I may continue reading the series — but it is also fluff to the extreme. I mean, I read a lot of fluff books but Twilight really tops them all. After 400 pages, I have finally gotten to the point where some action takes place other than Bella and Edward mooning at each other. An evil vampire wants to eat Bella! Excitement! Except I know she survives, because there are three more books to go though. But up until now, I’ve been rolling my eyes on a regular basis. Here’s a rough paraphrase of the first 300 pages of the book:
Bella: I hate this town. It’s boring and too rainy.
Edward: (looks dark and mysterious)
Bella: Ooh, who is that boy?
A day later…
Edward: (inexplicably saves Bella from getting crushed by a van)
Bella: You’re so beautiful.
Edward: You smell tasty.
Bella: What?
Edward: Yeah, I’m a vampire.
Bella: I’m scared. But not really. I can’t look away because you’re so beautiful.
Like one more day later…
Bella: What did you do last night?
Edward: I watched you sleep.
Bella: Wow, that’s not creepy at all.
Edward: I make up for it by calling you old-timey things like “my delicate flower.”
Bella: I love you.
Edward: I love you too. But I also sorta want to eat you.
Bella: Did I already say that you’re beautiful? Because you are.
Seriously, the love story is the most bogus thing I’ve ever read. Granted, my opinion is probably colored by all the things Becca posted when she was reading the series, but come on — it’s a 12-year-old’s idea of love. They fall madly in love — willing-to-die-for-each-other in love — in like 3 days. There is no actual basis for the relationship other than 1) each of them thinks the other is, like, totally hot (never mind that Edward thinks Bella is totally hot because he can’t resist the smell of her blood) and 2) Edward is really polite.
I’ll probably finish the first book tonight, and keep reading the series. Like I said, they’re entertaining. But it bothers me that there are thousands of pre-teen girls out there — and many older women as well — who think that this is what love is, and that Edward Cullen is the perfect man just because he’s beautiful and polite.
Catch me while I swoon.
txrunnergirl says
LOL, I had the same thoughts when I was reading Twilight. Entertaining, but definitely written for adolescent readers. 🙂 But, I have to admit, I was left wondering what would happen next and so I kept reading. I think I liked the 3rd book the best, because there’s a great big vampire fight! You’ll have to post your opinion of the next one if you read it…just don’t waste your time going to see the movie!