Review of the Twilight novels
I admit it, I have read the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer; and no, it's not as bad as you've probably heard.
For those who don't know, the plot centers around a bookish slacker named Bella who decides to move in with her father in Forks, Washington, after her mother's remarriage. Bella quickly discovers that her high school biology lab partner and his whole family are vampires, and that there is a pack of werewolves living on a nearby reservation. She becomes involved in a romantic triangle with a vampire and a werewolf, and works with them to keep the town safe from other vampires.
I like the series for a number of reasons. Stephanie Meyer is a good storyteller who knows how to build suspense to keep readers from putting down the books. Meyer has created a vivid and original fantasy series with an intriguing take on vampires and werewolves. And yes, I like sparkly vampires. Bulgarian and Malaysian vampires sparkle in folklore, and it's the most unique weakness I've ever seen an author give a vampire. (It is a weakness - Edward and his sister Alice find their lives threatened because they sparkle in New Moon.) And I much prefer sparkly vampires to the derivative Hollywood ripoffs who can't take a bit of sunlight without spontaneously combusting. Aside from the supernatural aspects, the series is populated with profoundly flawed yet three-dimensional characters who, while not necessarily likable, are both well-drawn and believable and who are capable of learning from their mistakes.
The Twilight Saga is also a genuinely romantic, sexy, and frankly sensual series that deals with first love in a realistic manner. The female protagonist is not an object to be desired - she is a fully fledged character who feels desire of her own and makes her own choices. Rather than being "tamed" as in the typical romance novel, Bella gains independence as her relationships progress and she learns to assert herself.
At the same time, there are serious flaws in the novel. I just don't buy Meyer's "It takes a monster to kill a monster" formula. A human with a grenade should be able to take out a vamp.
And yes, Bella's relationships with Edward and Jacob are abusive. Edward was born in the Victorian Age, and believes men should be in charge. The first three books repeatedly show Edward using his vampire powers to control Bella, and Bella using her superior human intellect to resist his control. And Jacob really does not take rejection well, turning to increasingly, well, monstrous behavior to try to force Bella to be with him. The underlying theme of the novels is that abusive and sexist monsters can become prime husband material through the power of repeated forgiveness, which sends a dangerous message to the young girls reading the series.
Then there are the uber-rich, uber-white vampires and their conspicuous consumption as a desirable trait; a portrayal of the Quileute tribe that veers dangerously into "Noble Savage" territory; and an unquestioned ageist message about growing old being the greatest horror.
So Twilight is clearly a mixed bag. But overall, I found it to be a fun series, and understand why it's so popular among my students.
For those who don't know, the plot centers around a bookish slacker named Bella who decides to move in with her father in Forks, Washington, after her mother's remarriage. Bella quickly discovers that her high school biology lab partner and his whole family are vampires, and that there is a pack of werewolves living on a nearby reservation. She becomes involved in a romantic triangle with a vampire and a werewolf, and works with them to keep the town safe from other vampires.
I like the series for a number of reasons. Stephanie Meyer is a good storyteller who knows how to build suspense to keep readers from putting down the books. Meyer has created a vivid and original fantasy series with an intriguing take on vampires and werewolves. And yes, I like sparkly vampires. Bulgarian and Malaysian vampires sparkle in folklore, and it's the most unique weakness I've ever seen an author give a vampire. (It is a weakness - Edward and his sister Alice find their lives threatened because they sparkle in New Moon.) And I much prefer sparkly vampires to the derivative Hollywood ripoffs who can't take a bit of sunlight without spontaneously combusting. Aside from the supernatural aspects, the series is populated with profoundly flawed yet three-dimensional characters who, while not necessarily likable, are both well-drawn and believable and who are capable of learning from their mistakes.
The Twilight Saga is also a genuinely romantic, sexy, and frankly sensual series that deals with first love in a realistic manner. The female protagonist is not an object to be desired - she is a fully fledged character who feels desire of her own and makes her own choices. Rather than being "tamed" as in the typical romance novel, Bella gains independence as her relationships progress and she learns to assert herself.
At the same time, there are serious flaws in the novel. I just don't buy Meyer's "It takes a monster to kill a monster" formula. A human with a grenade should be able to take out a vamp.
And yes, Bella's relationships with Edward and Jacob are abusive. Edward was born in the Victorian Age, and believes men should be in charge. The first three books repeatedly show Edward using his vampire powers to control Bella, and Bella using her superior human intellect to resist his control. And Jacob really does not take rejection well, turning to increasingly, well, monstrous behavior to try to force Bella to be with him. The underlying theme of the novels is that abusive and sexist monsters can become prime husband material through the power of repeated forgiveness, which sends a dangerous message to the young girls reading the series.
Then there are the uber-rich, uber-white vampires and their conspicuous consumption as a desirable trait; a portrayal of the Quileute tribe that veers dangerously into "Noble Savage" territory; and an unquestioned ageist message about growing old being the greatest horror.
So Twilight is clearly a mixed bag. But overall, I found it to be a fun series, and understand why it's so popular among my students.