Twilight | TNCC Library Blog

by Stephanie Meyer

Isabella Swan, 17, narrates this riveting first novel, propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts. Bella’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

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11 thoughts on “Twilight”

I don’t want to like this book, or the three sequels, but I do like the book, and I have read them all and Meyer’s adult SF novel, The Host. She is a really good storyteller. It’s only after I finish one of her books that I wonder why I liked it so much. (Actually, The Host is a better written novel). A good storyteller keeps me reading almost despite myself.
I do love SF and Fantasy, so that may be part of the attraction of the books.

I’d like to speak to a comment made during Monday’s presentation, about Bella being empty-headed (or whatever the adjective was), compared to Edward. I don’t think the novel suggests that we see Bella that way. Consider, for example, the near-end of the novel, when Bella comes up with the idea to save her own life. Both Edward and Emmett are infuriatingly surprised that she is able to come up with such a brilliant idea. Bella is also able to evade Edward’s entire “family” when she realizes she has to meet her killer alone. I think buying into the “he’s centuries older, so he’s smarter” trip is too easy, and not at all what Meyer intended to convey.

I agree with you Jackie, and I think that’s why I kept reading the book and the series. Bella does have a spine and a bright mind–but she is more passive in the first two books, and in the second, self-destructive.

You know, I found that the characters in _Fledgling_, for example, BECAME passive once they became part of the vampire’s family. Do you think Bella’s passivity might be part of The Vampire Effect on humans? Is there anything in the novels that suggests that Bella might have been a different teenager if she hadn’t fallen for Edward?

Interesting point. I agree with you. In fact, that was one of the oddest aspects of Fledgling, that the humans did seem like servants, essentially, passive and accepting. Perhaps that is an aspect of being under the “thrall” of the vampire in general? Maybe obsessive love is like a drug. (now this sounds like a bad 70s top 40 song).

I really did not enjoy the book at all. The book did not have enough substance for me. It was very safe for my 14 year old niece to read. I could have kept this book on the shelf.

I’m fascinated by the thread here, and I wish I could add something. I just don’t think I can ever read a book about vampires.

If you ever read a vamp book, this is the one to do. It is very G-rated. It’s really more about love.. It is a kind of catalyst to action, a metaphor to base the content around. It’s a way to create a really dangerous love interest who isn’t truly dangerous at all.

I agree with T Booker, this book didn’t have enough substance. In fact, it didn’t have much of anything. What happened to the day when a vampire was something to be feared, not glorified? Is this what we really want our children reading? Where are we going to grow our literary minds if they keep reading things of this nature? I would say it is more appropriate for a 10 year old.

I don’t usually enjoy SF or Fantasy, and honestly if it wasn’t required I probably would have never read the book. But after reading Twilight I was hooked and finished all the books in the series. Although I agree it’s not gory like your average vampire novel, I still think it’s a great book.

I enjoyed the book. I dont know if its because I am young but I liked it. Bella and Edward were my favorite chacters. When I firsted opened the book I was interested but as I read and got into it I started to like it. The book to me was romantic, intense, outgoing, funny, not scacy, and mysterious. Its not a good description for a vampire novel but it worked for. Like Mrs. Ray said, wants you read and start the first book you just have to finish the next three and I will.

rayl on October 29, 2009 at 3:32 pm said:

I don’t want to like this book, or the three sequels, but I do like the book, and I have read them all and Meyer’s adult SF novel, The Host. She is a really good storyteller. It’s only after I finish one of her books that I wonder why I liked it so much. (Actually, The Host is a better written novel). A good storyteller keeps me reading almost despite myself.
I do love SF and Fantasy, so that may be part of the attraction of the books.
blackwellj on October 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm said:

I’d like to speak to a comment made during Monday’s presentation, about Bella being empty-headed (or whatever the adjective was), compared to Edward. I don’t think the novel suggests that we see Bella that way. Consider, for example, the near-end of the novel, when Bella comes up with the idea to save her own life. Both Edward and Emmett are infuriatingly surprised that she is able to come up with such a brilliant idea. Bella is also able to evade Edward’s entire “family” when she realizes she has to meet her killer alone. I think buying into the “he’s centuries older, so he’s smarter” trip is too easy, and not at all what Meyer intended to convey.
rayl on October 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm said:

I agree with you Jackie, and I think that’s why I kept reading the book and the series. Bella does have a spine and a bright mind–but she is more passive in the first two books, and in the second, self-destructive.
blackwellj on October 29, 2009 at 4:53 pm said:

You know, I found that the characters in _Fledgling_, for example, BECAME passive once they became part of the vampire’s family. Do you think Bella’s passivity might be part of The Vampire Effect on humans? Is there anything in the novels that suggests that Bella might have been a different teenager if she hadn’t fallen for Edward?
Lisa Ray on November 3, 2009 at 4:07 pm said:

Interesting point. I agree with you. In fact, that was one of the oddest aspects of Fledgling, that the humans did seem like servants, essentially, passive and accepting. Perhaps that is an aspect of being under the “thrall” of the vampire in general? Maybe obsessive love is like a drug. (now this sounds like a bad 70s top 40 song).
T Booker on November 4, 2009 at 5:30 pm said:

I really did not enjoy the book at all. The book did not have enough substance for me. It was very safe for my 14 year old niece to read. I could have kept this book on the shelf.
Susan Pongratz on November 4, 2009 at 7:40 pm said:

I’m fascinated by the thread here, and I wish I could add something. I just don’t think I can ever read a book about vampires.
Lisa Ray on November 9, 2009 at 3:14 pm said:

If you ever read a vamp book, this is the one to do. It is very G-rated. It’s really more about love.. It is a kind of catalyst to action, a metaphor to base the content around. It’s a way to create a really dangerous love interest who isn’t truly dangerous at all.
Angela J on November 10, 2009 at 6:41 pm said:

I agree with T Booker, this book didn’t have enough substance. In fact, it didn’t have much of anything. What happened to the day when a vampire was something to be feared, not glorified? Is this what we really want our children reading? Where are we going to grow our literary minds if they keep reading things of this nature? I would say it is more appropriate for a 10 year old.
Katharina Southcombe on November 11, 2009 at 1:15 am said:

I don’t usually enjoy SF or Fantasy, and honestly if it wasn’t required I probably would have never read the book. But after reading Twilight I was hooked and finished all the books in the series. Although I agree it’s not gory like your average vampire novel, I still think it’s a great book.
Crystal Goodson on November 11, 2009 at 8:25 pm said:

I enjoyed the book. I dont know if its because I am young but I liked it. Bella and Edward were my favorite chacters. When I firsted opened the book I was interested but as I read and got into it I started to like it. The book to me was romantic, intense, outgoing, funny, not scacy, and mysterious. Its not a good description for a vampire novel but it worked for. Like Mrs. Ray said, wants you read and start the first book you just have to finish the next three and I will.