Teenage novels usually lack any sense of drama that is grounded in real world physics. A note left in a locker doesn’t cause the girl’s knees to buckle, a dropped tray in the cafeteria doesn’t cause the world to spin off its axis, and a first kiss doesn’t cause the participants to spontaneously combust. It’s hard to find an exception to this rule within adolescent literature, and oftentimes most authors decide to embrace the melodrama and exploit it, and its readers, for all its worth. A select few among these have decided to breathe life into the overtired cliches and paper-thin characters. This is where Stephenie Meyer slips into the running.
Twilight, Meyer’s first novel, focuses on Bella, a 17-year-old girl moving from Phoenix to Forks, a tiny town in northeast Washington. From desert to temperate rain forest, Bella’s hopes and fears reflect the climate change. As she’s trying to adjust, she catches the eyes of the gorgeous-yet-unattainable Edward Cullen. She can’t get over his ethereal beauty and his arrogant indifference, even though his interest in her seems to be objective at best. Finally a nearly-fatal accident (with an impossible rescue by Edward) becomes the catalyst for their relationship.
The evidence stacks up that Edward’s more than just a member of a strange family: he disappears on the occasional sunny days, has extremely quick reflexes, and even admits a supernatural ability. With a little prodding, Bella finds out of a legendary treaty between the werewolves and the “cold ones” and finally makes the connection that Edward and the Cullens are indeed vampires. From there Bella and Edward’s feelings for each other spiral into a degree of romantic love usually only available in paperback.
Meyer introduces some novelties to the genre that really haven’t been seen yet (like so many other supernatural creatures, vampires usually have a cookie-cutter presence). Her characters are somewhat believable, even in their dutiful (read: obligatory) romantic chastity. However, the real pull of the story is Edward. He waits by or in Bella’s bed while she sleeps, hangs on every word she says, and finds creative and endearing ways to show his love. It’s no wonder that Bella and Edward’s relationship have set fire to so many young girls’ hearts.
But this is where the book begins to raise concerns. Meyer downplays her heroine (who speaks in the first person – important to note considering the audience), giving her an inescapable inferiority complex. It’s unclear if Meyer is trying to show us Edward’s perfection or Bella’s self-awareness. “He was too perfect, I realized with a piercing stab of despair,” she says at one point. “There was no way this godlike creature could be meant for me.” The constant struggle within Bella between wanting to be with Edward and thinking that she is not worthy of him not only wears a little thin, but goes so far to be a bit destructive in the example it sets. Instead of a strong female lead, Meyer creates someone who is willing to throw away her entire life on a whim and is only stopped from doing so by her strong-willed boyfriend.
While Twilight often gives a step-up in writing to similar adolescent books and gives energy to a tired subject, it handicaps itself by its damsel-in-distress-meets-prince-charming fairy-tale fantasy. Indeed if Bella had more to offer in the way of a commanding presence and feminine dignity, it would have turned the tale into an altogether refreshing experience. As it is it does little more than a flirt with its own potential – and the dreams of impressionable teenage girls.
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July 26, 2007 at 2:37 am
Donna B.
Love your redesign. I never was that fond of white-on-black.
I’ve long been desirous of an extra couple of days added to the week, so I could catch up on the apprarently hoppin’ world of adolescent literature. Your review — one of the best I’ve seen from you about any medium — reignited that desire. Even though you carefully detail the book’s flaws, you connect them to larger trends, and possible correctives, in the genre at large. Viva le renewed-critical-blogging!
September 6, 2007 at 2:46 am
Beth
Hey Whit! I know it’s been several weeks since you posted this, but I just stumbled across it in my “no Spanish” mode, so I thought I’d give it a run. I was happy to see that you thought Bella’s “inferiority complex,” as you so nicely put it, was one of the major problems with the novel. Honestly, both of the main characters bother me quite a bit (probably not the best reaction to have to a book, I know), but I think I would like the character of Edward more if Bella didn’t think he was so gosh darn perfect. Helloooo, potential doormat. My cousin jokes about her friends choosing sides in the “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” debate, and I told her I was all for “Team Bella” — that kid needs to grow a backbone! I guess she’s lucky Edward’s got a good head on his shoulders, or she would just be falling apart. And sometimes, I just don’t see what Edward sees in Bella…but that’s another debate for another day.
I know what I just said probably didn’t make a lot of sense, but thse books have so much potential — in the story, the characters, the way Meyer handles a lot of it is kind of refreshing — and it’s the main character that’s dragging it down. I had never really thought of the broader implications of Bella’s “weakness”, but now that I think back on a few comments I’ve heard from younger readers, it makes a lot of sense. Good review!
September 23, 2007 at 10:01 am
Anthea
I love this books!!
My favorite character is Jacob Black
Anthea 😉
November 27, 2007 at 8:47 pm
SceyDee Erickson
omg best book ever!
December 6, 2007 at 11:00 pm
yasmin
I want to see a movie of these book! is the best bool I had read!!!!!!!!!
December 7, 2007 at 12:11 am
Laura
I just wanted to thank you for writing this review. I must admit that I’m sick and tired of hearing all praise for the Twilight Series.
About two years ago, I was going through the bookstore to find a book for my novel study. And stuffed between a million other books in the back selves was this thick book showing two hands holding an apple. I read the inside flap, and eventually bought it. Later on, I realized something while reading it-
it wasn’t THAT good.
Stephenie Meyer’s writing skills aren’t as good as other authors’, in fact, she’s not really talented at writing to a point where she deserves all this praise. I mean, I could even say that reading your review about the book was better than reading the book itself.
It DID have its moments though, and I think you’re right- Edward is the thing that keeps us interested. He’s pretty much everything a girl could ask for (with… exceptions). And I admit that the reason I keep reading (and in some cases- re-reading scenes) the books is because I find Edward such an attractive character, it’s almost pitiful.
So once again, thank you. I’m glad someone actually can actually see the flaws in this modern fairytale, and not see it as ‘the best book I’ve ever read in the 13 years I’ve been alive’.
January 5, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Erika
Love That Book ! ❤
January 20, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Captain Wasabi
Great critical analysis. I was trying to write one of my own and I looked at this and I said to myself, “Wow, I definitely need to put more thought into mine.”
Good points you have. Bravo!
February 6, 2008 at 2:08 pm
michelle
oh my gosh!! this ones a really great book…i really really love edward cullen……..!!!!!
February 22, 2008 at 2:52 pm
clarcy
i love your book…
March 12, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Alexandra
well I do respect all the critique that you’re giving Meyer, but this book, which I read in swedish was one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, just had to defend Meyer quite a bit.
I love this book!
April 1, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Caroline
ok i love these books!! its obvious that your very bright and payed attention to the books. not that i didn’t like your critique, i just disagree with you on a few points. I really do think that Bella is a strong female lead. You just have to remember that the story is being told from her point of view, and often people don’t see themselves in the same light as others do. If you pay attention to subtle hints in the dialogue, you can see that Bella is a lot more beautiful and strong then she gives herself credit. She is intelligent, hinted at by the fact that she was in all advanced placement classes back home. She is obviously brave, after all she is hanging out with a group of vampires and is willing to sacrifice her life to save her mother’s. She is also not giving up her life “on a whim”, but rather for true love. The concept has been used before plenty, but the whole vampire thing makes it pretty unique. I think that in the twilight book from Edward’s perspective we will get to see a whole other side to Bella, and see that she really is a strong female lead.
June 19, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Fay
Nice review. I just read Twilight because my 13 year old student told me it was great and I used to enjoy the trashy vampire romance novel genre despite the endemic poor writing and overused cliches. I think that your observation of Edward as being the driving force of the book is certainly the case. I hadn’t really noticed it but I did tell my fiance that Bella really is very 17 years old. I don’t know how much she has really rejuvenated the genre though. The only difference I saw from other books like this was the lack of explicit sexual scenes. Very good critique though, good job.
July 18, 2008 at 3:17 am
adsoofmelk
I had a fairly longish post about this book on my blog, and I can’t say how much I agree with you. Many reviewers on Amazon also pointed out another aspect of the novel that annoyed me terribly: the fact that Bella is truly a “Mary Sue,” a character who’s perfect, adorable, and if she has a flaw, it only makes her cuter — and the world essentially revolves all around her. There’s no major growth or development because she amounts to a blank page, all the easier for some readers to insert themselves in the starring role.
Bottom line, Edward is a predator, a killer — and the book portrays that as being just fine, even desirable.
September 2, 2008 at 11:35 pm
andrea
this is the greatsest book iv ever read and my favorite character would be edward
September 2, 2008 at 11:39 pm
andrea
hey im andrea and i have something to say to carolina and that would be that she is telling the story from her point of veiw but its her point of veiw about edward
November 15, 2008 at 10:55 pm
charlyn bullock
I love the book so much and can’t wait to see the movie!!
November 27, 2008 at 1:15 pm
ObsessedwithFilm.com: Twilight Review « Voice from the Depths of the Cultural Coil
[…] Also, if you are here because you clicked on the trackback link at OWF, here’s my Twilight book review. […]
April 3, 2009 at 11:04 pm
jane
jacob sucks.. edward rules
February 8, 2010 at 3:06 am
Carol
I just want to say that despite the fact that Meyer may not write well enough and the book may be “wrong” in so many ways, I loved all of them. I don’t even really know why… and it freaks me out to realize that. ‘Cause when a person criticizes the book, I don’t really have anything to say. I know that the book series is weak, melodramatic… but it has the certain amount of good fantasy. When you read it, you can believe in magic, beauty, perfection, unconditional love, eternity… who does not want to believe that happiness is possible and can last forever?
In books like that, you feel like everything will be alright, no matter what happens. For this kind of books, you know that the author will give your so wanted happy end. And, stupidly, you feel good when it happens.