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akookieforyou's review
4.0
Partially to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Twilight movie (still cannot believe it's been that long!), and partially due to morbid curiosity, I decided to finally check out the book that started it all.
And to my shock, I actually enjoyed my experience??? If you would've told me this when I was 12, I probably would've laughed at you. Because while I liked the first movie well enough (I was 9 and absolutely obsessed with vampires), the sequels ruined any good will that I had for the franchise, especially the horror that was Breaking Dawn pt 1 & 2.
But the book was somehow so subtly different in all the important ways that mattered. Sure the movie got the story quite on point, it kind of lost the characters (except for Charlie, who was the absolute best).
Bella felt less awkward and wasn't constantly breathing through he mouth, she felt relatable and likable. She enjoyed going dress shopping with her friends, and didn't like dancing because of her horrid clumsiness, not because she "wasn't like other girls". And Edward was significantly less creepy and ominous. He felt charming and even funny at times, which never really came across in the movie. I could even understand the appeal that he had for Bella, why she was so drawn to him, I'd probably be the same honestly.
Now I love Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson as actors. They've been quite good in a lot of other projects. But something was just not connecting right on screen for me. Due to miscasting, poor directing choices, or confusing screenwriting, who's to say, but whatever it was, it just didn't capture the most important element of the book, the characters.
So yeah, I finally get the hype. And I could totally see myself rereading this in the future. I won't continue the books though. Because I'm too afraid that they'll ruin my newfound enjoyment, and leave me frustrated and mad. Especially Breaking Dawn, my archnemesis lol.
And to my shock, I actually enjoyed my experience??? If you would've told me this when I was 12, I probably would've laughed at you. Because while I liked the first movie well enough (I was 9 and absolutely obsessed with vampires), the sequels ruined any good will that I had for the franchise, especially the horror that was Breaking Dawn pt 1 & 2.
But the book was somehow so subtly different in all the important ways that mattered. Sure the movie got the story quite on point, it kind of lost the characters (except for Charlie, who was the absolute best).
Bella felt less awkward and wasn't constantly breathing through he mouth, she felt relatable and likable. She enjoyed going dress shopping with her friends, and didn't like dancing because of her horrid clumsiness, not because she "wasn't like other girls". And Edward was significantly less creepy and ominous. He felt charming and even funny at times, which never really came across in the movie. I could even understand the appeal that he had for Bella, why she was so drawn to him, I'd probably be the same honestly.
Now I love Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson as actors. They've been quite good in a lot of other projects. But something was just not connecting right on screen for me. Due to miscasting, poor directing choices, or confusing screenwriting, who's to say, but whatever it was, it just didn't capture the most important element of the book, the characters.
So yeah, I finally get the hype. And I could totally see myself rereading this in the future. I won't continue the books though. Because I'm too afraid that they'll ruin my newfound enjoyment, and leave me frustrated and mad. Especially Breaking Dawn, my archnemesis lol.
feministcowboy's review
1.0
A book doesn’t have to be good to be enjoyed. However this was bad and I did not enjoy it.
beatrice_giglio's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
llhowes's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
paigemorgan17's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
caileyfrench's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rereading twilight for the first time in over 10 years. I'm so nostalgic I love it. Like this is trash, the writing is weak, and Bella can't stop thinking about how she's not like other girls. Everything is so toxic and immature...but I love it