Jul 16, 2008 12:26
(Mostly critical) thoughts on Twilight so far:
- The preface is just confusing. Honestly, why have it there at all? All it does is create unrealistic expectations about the ending, which probably isn't that good anyway.
- Edward is only marginally attractive. And I've been fixated on my share of fictional men, believe me.
- All the spiel on how beautiful the Cullens and their adoptive children are reads like something out of a bad romance novel. I mean, I could understand if it was just Bella saying so, as teenaged girls are prone to exaggeration, but it seems to be the view of the whole town. This kind of thing is subjective, anyway.
- The writing itself isn't that good. I liked all the details about Charlie's house and the mentioning that he clearly hasn't gotten over Bella's mother, but that's it. Seriously, the constant descriptions of Edward could use more colourful adjectives.
- Why wait until Bella is talking to Edward to explain why she decided to go to Forks? It isn't that revolutionary a reason, and only makes the reader confused as to why it's suddenly mentioned then.
- Not a big fan of the inconsistant characterization. I understand that Edward does have a reason for being hostile and then nice to Bella, but at this point it only makes him look like an ass. Bella herself seems like a wimp, so why confuse us by making her so angry at Edward in the infirmiry?
- Is there really a point to all of those guys asking Bella out? I understand that she's a newcomer and thus a novelty, but does that really have to be illustrated in their romantic interest in her?
- The dreaming about Edward = creepy. I don't think mentioning that is neccessary. Perhaps later, to illustrate the graveness of whatever situation, but now no. One can already see that Bella is plenty obsessed with Edward.
- Using a local tale told by Jacob to lead Bella to the fact that Edward might be a vampire is clever. However, I got bored at the part where she decides to go for a walk after researching vampires. Less mention of mundane stuff, please. Of course, that may have been due to the fact that it was midnight and I was sleepy.
Conclusion: It's a book with fairly average writing, set in a rather boring place. The concept behind it is rather outlandish, and would read well as a fantasy novel, but this clearly isn't. It's more like a supernatural teen drama or something. So.....eh. I don't see what everybody is raving about. The idea isn't executed in any special way, and how it is laid out as is rather mediocre.
Then again, maybe I'll think differently when I read it all.
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twilight