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Title: Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Number of pages: 544
Genre: romance, fantasy
Book Number/Goal: 24/50
My Rating: 1.5/5
Review: I admit that romance is not my cup of tea, so I may be biased. I had picked this book to see what's all the hype is about, and I found the experience unfulfilling. The setting is boring, the action is slow, there are no adventures, catastrophes or torture - nothing happens besides the school stuff and relationships. Bella Swan is the most unsympathetic protagonist ever, plain and shallow and self-absorbed, she's either moping, whining or admiring her "perfect" boyfriend. Edward Cullen, being a control freak and borderline creepy, is somewhat more likeable, but he's neither violent nor suffering enough to be truly interesting.
The basic premises sound artificially constructed and implausible (Bella's irresistible attractiveness to vampires, weird ethics of Cullen family, and the incomprehensible refusal to solve all the problems by turning Bella into a vampire, seeing that there are no apparent downsides of being one). There's no sense of tension and drama because I didn't care what happens to the characters, and it's a chore to get through all the high school gossip. The only redeeming scenes are the ones with the vampire-hunter at the end, that guy comes off as genuinely dangerous and brutal - unfortunately, they're spoiled by knowing that everyone who matters will survive for the sequels.
For some reason, this book is extremely popular, so maybe it's great in its own way - but it's not for me.
To be fair, Midnight Sun: Edward's Version of Twilight is much better, at least the beginning, before the family stuff starts. An insight into a mind of a killer contemplating the best way to kill his prey is much closer to my idea of entertainment!
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Number of pages: 544
Genre: romance, fantasy
Book Number/Goal: 24/50
My Rating: 1.5/5
Review: I admit that romance is not my cup of tea, so I may be biased. I had picked this book to see what's all the hype is about, and I found the experience unfulfilling. The setting is boring, the action is slow, there are no adventures, catastrophes or torture - nothing happens besides the school stuff and relationships. Bella Swan is the most unsympathetic protagonist ever, plain and shallow and self-absorbed, she's either moping, whining or admiring her "perfect" boyfriend. Edward Cullen, being a control freak and borderline creepy, is somewhat more likeable, but he's neither violent nor suffering enough to be truly interesting.
The basic premises sound artificially constructed and implausible (Bella's irresistible attractiveness to vampires, weird ethics of Cullen family, and the incomprehensible refusal to solve all the problems by turning Bella into a vampire, seeing that there are no apparent downsides of being one). There's no sense of tension and drama because I didn't care what happens to the characters, and it's a chore to get through all the high school gossip. The only redeeming scenes are the ones with the vampire-hunter at the end, that guy comes off as genuinely dangerous and brutal - unfortunately, they're spoiled by knowing that everyone who matters will survive for the sequels.
For some reason, this book is extremely popular, so maybe it's great in its own way - but it's not for me.
To be fair, Midnight Sun: Edward's Version of Twilight is much better, at least the beginning, before the family stuff starts. An insight into a mind of a killer contemplating the best way to kill his prey is much closer to my idea of entertainment!
