Book Review – Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

It’s time to delve into reviewing the wonderful world of the Twilight Saga. This series was my initiation to the Vampire Paranormal Romance world, and my most memorable reading experience in ages. I indulged in this series, escaping the real world for almost 3 weeks straight. Everyday, I’d recount the latest “Twilight” escapades I had read from the night before, to my colleagues (and thankfully, they humored me by seeming interested).

I remember how my curiosity was only slightly peaked, when the commercials for the movie were playing on TV, and my husband would groan and roll his eyes each time a trailer aired. I asked him what the big deal was, and he said it was the latest fad that everyone was obsessing over. I shrugged it off (as I was not into Vampire movies), and continued on with my life.

One day, my mom called me to tell me about a sad novel she had just read, that she couldn’t stop thinking about. She felt the only way she could get over her book, was to pull out her “Twilight” series and re-read it to put her back in a good mood. “What?” I said…”You are into the whole Twilight thing too?”

I think that helped get her out of her funk, as she immediately started to recount what the story entailed, and told me that I absolutely HAD to read the series.  She promptly decided that the books would be a part of my Christmas present, and my December was a blur of Vampires and Christmas lights!

While I’m certain that most of you have already read the main book, or even the entire series, recounting the story is fun, so I will!

The book is set in Forks, Washington (considered the most cloudy area in the U.S.). It is about a teen girl named Bella, who moves into her father’s home in Washington, and is about to be the “new girl” in high school. Bella is a solitary soul, shy yet pretty, and seemingly uninterested in becoming a part of the “in-crowd”. Despite being uncoordinated and slightly clumsy (in sports and in life in general), she still manages to become popular pretty much on her first day, as most of the boys in school are intrigued by her, and most of the girls seem to welcome her.

One particular group of students peaks her interest, however. A beautiful, highly fashionable group of five, that she notices in the cafeteria. Her new friends let her know that they are a ”family” (foster kids that live with their uncle, a renowned surgeon in town). She is told that they do not mix with the other students at all, and is given the impression that this particular group is impenetrable (which in essence, has been true).

She notices that the one out of that group that she is drawn to (Edward – who is also the one that ALL the girls are drawn to), stares at her intently, yet somewhat unkindly. That day, she discovers that she is in the same science class as “Edward”, and of course the only seat available in class, is the one next to him. Despite the fact that she is quite self conscious, and already nervous around him (as is everyone), she takes her seat next to him. To her dismay, she notices that he reacts with horror at her proximity. His eyes seem cold and black, glaring at her with pure disdain. He moves to the furthest edge of their table, to be as far away from her as possible. He appears to hold his breath and his hands clench the table as if he is struggling. His body language personifies disgust, and she is humiliated. By the end of class, he runs out of the room like a bat out of hell, and her new friends comment on his strange reaction to her.

As the day progresses, she has another unpleasant encounter with Edward, and by the next day, he is completelymissing in action (and also missing for an entire week). Now she is certain she is the cause of his reactions, and is highly insulted and hurt, but accepts this as part of his group’s “weirdness” and goes on with her new routine.

A week later, Edward is back, and her heart stops when she sees him again. As she approaches her seat next to his, she is startled when he kindly acknowledges her. His demeanor is completely different, and their friendship begins.

The friendship goes through that shy crush stage, where the two characters watch each other from afar, and then eventually seek each other’s company any way they can have it. Despite Edward’s attempt at keeping his feelings for Bella in control (for her own good), he finds that he is falling in love with her, and she does not make it any easier for him, when she gladly accepts and returns his love.

“It would be more …prudent for you not to be my friend,” he explained. “But I’m tired of trying to stay away from you, Bella.”

As they get to know each other on a deeper level, she discovers his (and his family’s secret), the dangerous urges he fights when he is with her, and the struggles they have to face to stay a couple (along with the danger she faces when she enters his world. Not all of his people are nice).

“I’ll figure it out eventually,” I warned him.

“I wish you wouldn’t try.” he was serious again.

“Because…?”

“What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?”

There are so many beautiful points about this book, that the best way to present them is via direct quotes. The words that make up the emotional closeness that the two experience as they get to know each other, is so much deeper than I could actually put into words myself. The book is so carefully detailed, so lovingly described that you actually feel like you are there. I think, the reason this book touches us so deeply, is that we can all relate. This book is about the kind of “first love” or “true love” that everyone has experienced or wishes to experience at some point in their life. You know the kind of love, when a new couple can simply not get enough of each other. There are no faults, simply complete acceptance, and unconditional love.

Some of my favorite moments in the book:

When Bella and Edward have that first conversation, driving home at night, regarding his secret.

He was suddenly resigned. “What are you curious about?”

“How old are you?”

“Seventeen,” he answered promptly.

“And how long have you been seventeen?”

His lips twitched as he stared at the road. “A while,” he admitted at last.

Here are some more quotes from my favorite parts (you know, where I *swooned* tee hee!)

Their first *real* conversation in the cafeteria,  the next day:

“Do you truly believe that you care more for me than I do for you?” he murmured, leaning closer to me as he spoke, his dark golden eyes piercing.

When Edward brought Bella to the beautiful meadow and tried to explain to her, how alluring her scent was to him, and how dangerous that was to her (well actually that whole section was very enlightening and romantic):

“It’s not only your company I crave! Never forget that. Never forget I am more dangerous to you than I am to anyone else.”

Finally my absolute favorite part was when Edward spent the night with Bella. Considering he doesn’t sleep, and could slip in and out of her room without her father noticing (every parents worst nightmare, but a somewhat romantic notion, nonetheless), the fact that he could simply sneak into her room, and watch over her while she falls asleep in his arms *sigh*…

It seemed like a miracle that he was there, his arms still waiting for me. he reached out to me, and my heart thumped unsteadily.

“Welcome back,” he murmured, taking me into his arms.

He rocked me for awhile in silence, until I noticed that his clothes were changed, his hair smooth.

“You left?” I accused, touching the collar of his fresh shirt.

“I could hardly leave in the clothes I came in – what would the neighbors think?”

I pouted.

“You were very deeply asleep; I didn’t miss anything.”

His eyes gleamed. “The talking came earlier.”

I groaned. “What did you hear?”

His eyes grew very soft. “You said you loved me.”

“You knew that already,” I reminded him, ducking my head.

“It was nice to hear just the same.”

I hid my face against his shoulder.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“You are my life now,” he answered simply.

*SWOON*

Okay, well the book simply needs to be read for full impact. For those of you who are here and haven’t read this yet – what are you waiting for? Hop to it!! There’s action, adventure but mostly *LOVE* – For those of you who have groaned and rolled your eyes throughout this review – if you read it, and if you let it, this book will warm your heart!

5 stars!!!!

Tagged as: 5 stars, paranormal romance, stephanie meyer, twilight, vampires