My Review of Twlight for Young Adult Literature

After reading Twilight I was amazed…at how Stephanie Meyers could have such a huge fanbase when her writing is so amateur. Here we have your classic ‘good girl’ (who is severely lacking any form of personality) falls for ‘bad boy,’ only this bad boy is a sparkling hunk of vampire meat. Don’t worry, you read that correctly. I said ‘sparkling.’ Stephanie Meyer butchered the classic vampire persona by allowing her vampires to not only come out during the day, but to sparkle like a million Swarovski crystals when their cold, statuesque bodies are touched by sunlight. Now, I could suspend my current vampire knowledge to accept this ‘twist’, if only Meyers had included a gripping plot and rich, dimensional characters to go along with this idea of hers.
Meyers’ characters, however, are as flat as the pages they’re printed on. Our protagonist, Bella, who is supposedly loveable because she’s clumsier than any human has a right to be and has no self esteem, lacks any real feeling. She’s got no interests, quirks-other than her ability to fall down-and no desire outside of being with Edward. She comes to Forks playing the martyr and though she is immediately welcomed by several students-especially the males, who are apparently blown away by her gorgeous looks and winning personality-she has no interest in anything they say or do. Bella lives only for Edward from the moment she laid eyes on his angelic, god-like face. Every physical detail of Edward is brought to our attention every time he graces a scene with his breathtaking presence. His chocolate eyes are dazzling, his fallen-angel face is mesmerizing, and even his breath is stunning. (Shouldn’t it smell like blood and rotting meat?) Yet Edward has no personality either, which makes him and Bella perfect for each other.
The first rule of fiction is to show and not tell. Somehow Meyers missed this memo-she must have thrown it in the trash with every classic rule about vampires. Any time a new character appears in Bella’s life a list of physical descriptions is the first thing on her mind. There is nothing left to the imagination, except perhaps how this novel ever attained such high status in the literary world.
Writing style aside, the characters and plot are not at all believable. Bella and Edward’s relationship is founded on the fact that her blood smells absolutely delicious and he’s constantly fighting the strong urge to drain every last drop from her body. Of course, how could Edward not love her, when she is so immediately accepting of what he truly is? There is no disbelief, no fear, no second guessing as to how vampires could actually exist. I myself am a huge fantasy buff, and I’d be hard pressed to accept that someone was a vampire even if they bit me. Bella, simpleton that she is, simply loves Edward for the beautiful, blood-sucking creature that he is, and he loves her because her blood smells yummy.
Her complete obsession with Edward grows throughout this agonizingly long book, and this is the main reason I would strongly advise young readers to stay away from that book (that and the fact that they might mistake this book for something that is considered good fiction, and be forever misinformed). She spends her every waking moment wanting to be with Edward, and even finds comfort in the fact that he used to watch her while she slept, unbeknownst to her. Bella is only seventeen and yet near the end of the book she is begging Edward to make her a vampire so that she can spend the rest of eternity with him. Never once does she think about the fact that being immortal means watching everyone you’ve ever known, and will ever meet, die. She’s ready to give up her peripheral parents and move away to sparkle in the sun with her amazingly handsome boyfriend.
Twilight is akin to the harlequin romances, like those of Danielle Steel. If you’re headed to the beach and need an easy read, that you wouldn’t mind dropping in the ocean, than this book is for you. If you require no substance or character development, then Twilight is what you want. If, however, you’re looking for a worthwhile read, I’d go elsewhere.