Customer Reviews

The Twilight Collection (Twilight)

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

First, let me start by saying that I truly enjoyed reading this saga; I pre-ordered the fourth volume and am eager to get my hands on it. Meyer has created a wonderful piece of storytelling, an entertaining diversion from daily life. I felt the pull of the characters, I even found myself swooning...and I am a working married mother of two who is rapidly approaching middle age, so that is no small feat.

BUT.


I wondered if something was wrong with me, as I sat feeling dissatisfied, even ill at ease after finishing. With the critics raving and half the blogosphere dedicated to this story, I worried that something cynical had crept into my being. After some serious deliberation, however, I have come to the opposite conclusion. So here's my problem.


Other reviewers have already noted Bella's helplessness, her shortsightedness, and her lack of appeal once the reader sees her subtly belittle her human community in favor of the beautiful, tortured, enigmatic Edward. What has struck me most since finishing is this: Meyer has stated--a few times, I think--that one of her models for this saga was Romeo and Juliet. I see that in the story very much: lovers kept apart (to a degree) by (almost) insurmountable obstacles, pining for one another, completely obsessed with one another, whose burning passion can only end in tragedy. Romeo and Juliet are such marvelous literary figures because of the power of this type of romance--readers are swept into their pathos, feeling their pain and their love. And who WOULDN'T want an Edward? Not only is he beautiful beyond description (a fact which is highlighted with a little too much frequency for my comfort), but he will be so forever; in addition, he is completely available to Bella in a way we mortals can't experience: without the genuine need to eat, sleep, study or relieve himself, he can be at her side 24 hours a day. He can watch her lovingly while she sleeps. He adores every aspect of her, everything she does. And he can induce breathlessness in almost every encounter. What female--or gay male--does NOT want such a relationship?

Alas, this is the stuff of fiction. But good fiction (good fantasy) in my opinion highlights truths about the human experience. J. K. Rowling created an entire world, full of details, but the ultimate message of her saga was fundamentally human and available to us all: connection, compassion and courage are more important than magic. Her saga ended with that message, and as a result, I consider it to be fine work of literature. Meyer's vampires, however, are basically superior to the humans around them, and Bella's obsession with them, or with Edward in particular, is difficult to argue against when you consider the bland nature of the human characters. "True love" is supposedly the theme of the saga, and innumerable adolescent girls are waiting for their own Edward. To them I say this: Dear readers, I was there once--young and hormonal, swept off my feet by romance and chemistry. It was a necessary developmental stage, but not the end of romantic maturity. Nor should it be the end of Bella's journey. For "true love" does not inspire detachment from the world, but connection to it. The passion fades--people get fat and bald and tired--and seeing a life tell its story on another person's face is a great blessing.

Thus this saga is a snapsot of adolescence, but not a desideratum of love. Those adolescents out there torturing themselves with dreams of an ideal love will survive, and God willing, grow into a deeper capacity for relationship. I would respect Meyer greatly if she had the courage to end the story with Edward and Bella apart, and give Bella the opportunity to grow in wisdom and strength. That would make this story a truly human one.

I own the individual books in Stephenie Meyer's best-selling vampire series, yet I am going to purchase this collector's set as it is just so beautifully packaged [I saw it at a local bookstore] and Amazon offers a great discount.

What is not to like in this wonderful series? All three books tell a compelling tale of love, friendship, and challenges that the main characters have to deal with. At heart, this is a love story between a mortal, Bella Swan, and a vampire, Edward Cullen. The first book in the series, Twilight focuses on the budding relationship between Bella and Edward and how Edward's immortality and specifically vampire nature poses obstacles to their love for each other. New Moon develops the story further as Bella finds herself lost and depressed after Edward decides to leave in order that Bella will have a 'normal' life. This brings lots of turmoil into Bella's life, and also causes her friendship with Jacob Black, the young American Indian who is also a werewolf to develop and strengthen. In Eclipse, Bella and Edward, once again reunited find their relationship tested by Bella's friendship with Jacob, and also a potent threat in the form of an adversary, a female vampire with vengeance on her mind.

All in all, this is a highly readable series, not merely entertaining, but well-written, and thoughtfully developed. The characters really grow on you, and as a reader, you really begin to care about them. I truly look forward to the next offering by Ms Meyers, and would recommend this gorgeous collector's set for fans of the genre, and as great holiday gifts for young and not-so-young readers!

Told through the perspective of the main character Bella, this story describes the struggle of loving a vampire. Not like other vampire stories, Stephenie Meyer writes Bella and Edwards' story like they were just two high school sweet-"hearts", only this is true love with a twist.

This book is filled with twists and turns and includes many unexpected elements, so if you ever are in need of a best-seller read, no matter what you like to read, pick up Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipes {and The Host, another fabulous book by Stephenie Meyer}, you won't be disappointed, I wasn't!
The Twilight Collection (Twilight)

Not even 50 pages into Twilight and I was hooked! I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. This saga is about a romance between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. And before you say, oh this is just another romance, there is a twist. Edward is a vampire! The first book, Twilight, starts out with Bella, the shy girl with low self esteem, meeting the BEAUTIFUL and mysterious Edward Cullen. Right away there was a connection, though not love at first sight, more like predator meeting prey. But their love grew against all odds. To gushy, right? Well by the end Bella has to fight for her life against the vampire James. Unfortunately, its kind of obvious who wins since the series continues.

New Moon is the second book, and everything starts out perfect, but it doesn't stay that way. Edward leaves telling Bella that she would be better living a normal human life. This plunges Bella into a deep depression. Though, Bella found out that when she did something dangerous, that she could hear Edward's voice. So one day she went cliff diving and almost drowned. Alice, Edward's vampire sister, saw this in one of her visions (she had the power to see into the future). The only problem is she didn't she Bella get rescued, and she thought Bella was committing suicide. Word got to Edward that Bella was dead, and he decides to kill himself too. He decides to piss off the vampire royal family, and he would be quickly killed. Unfortunately again, it is pretty easy to see how everything works out, because there is a third book in this series.

Eclipse. This book has Bella being hunted by Jame's lover Victoria. If that wasn't enough there are mass killings, believed to be new born vampires gone wild. And if that also is not enough, Bella's best friend Jacob confesses his love for her, and she might feel that way about him too. Though, the other twist is Jacob is a werewolf, which are mortal enemies of vampires! By the end a war breaks out, and Bella's life is in greave danger. I won't say anymore, and I'll let you found out the end for yourselves. Juicy right? These books pull you into the story, using Bella's first person point of view, and allow you to feel every emotion that she feels. And if you don't like the fact that the point of view is through a woman's perspective, well just wait, because Stephenie Meyer is writing Midnight Sun, which will be the story through Edward's eyes. Also, if you want the story to continue, you're in luck. The fourth book of the series, Breaking Dawn is said to come out in August 2008. Also, Twilight the movie is going to most likely come out in December 2008 too!

Stephenie Meyer does a fantastic job of creating characters you actually believe to be real. You feel their love and their heartbreak you live their story. Magical.

I just want to say thank you Stephenie!! This set is well worth having in your collection. The Special Edition New Moon is awesome just in itself, the extras w/it are cool too. Thanks again and any fellow Twilighters must have this in their collection!!

While I agree with most of the criticism this series has gotten, I have to admit that it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I don't think Meyer set out to make an anything that was out of this world, that was full of meaning and/or symbolism. It was written simply for herself, and reading it with that in mind - it is quite a fun read. I think that part of the problem may be the hype, and I am not one to read "bestsellers" as I usually find them disappointing and over-hyped. When I read these books however, I didn't realize they were so popular. I spent a few months on the Olympic Peninsula, far from home and looking for something to keep me occupied. These books certainly did, and I have even started listening to the first one again (I downloaded them from the library on audiobook - if you don't want to spend money, I suggest this is a good way!) and I NEVER read books more than once. It just gives me that feeling... of happiness and comfort. I don't have to think about every little thing, I can just enjoy them. I think that's what these books are really good for... don't think about them too much and just enjoy! The only criticism I have is that the word "incredulous" is way over used!

Stephenie Meyer is now at the top of my favorite authors. The way these books are written just compel you to keep reading. I am a very avid reader and read in all my free time. After all the girls in my class read it they insisted that I read it. I wasn't real excited to start Twilight seeing as I didn't really think 'vampires' was my sort of thing. After only 30 minutes of reading I was already hooked. The story itself is like none other that I've read and it is amazing to find a book that you can't predict the ending! The first time I read the set I borrowed them from a friend. I'm now rereading them again after buying the whole set.

I'm sure my review is doing the book no justice but I just thought I'd give it my 5 stars. Can't wait for the last book. :) (Fall 2008)

This series offers an awful role model as protagonist, and I doubt the entire plot ever existed in the authors mind until the last chapter was written. It was the most anticlimactic denouement in memory incorporating an internally inconsistent deus ex machina plot choice for resolution. I couldn't wait to be through with it, was angry I wasted my time for days/weeks after then completely forgot about it till I came across it in the list of "top choices." Clearly the series format was utilized to make it more lucrative. I hope this review will save at least one person from reading it...

I never would have guessed that I would ever become obsessed this way about any book(s). Stephanie Meyer has a real gift in her writing to just transport you and your emotions into her story. These books were written for young adult so are easy to read. It took me about 3 days each. I'm over forty and these books in many ways make me feel like a teenager again. Those long lost feelings of first love entanged with the danger involving vampires and werewolves. I highly recommend these books!