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 enlarge | Author: Stephenie Meyer
Creator: Ilyana Kadushin
Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $17.15
You Save: $12.84 (43%)
New (29) Used (9) from $17.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  2060 reviews
Sales Rank: 1766
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 11
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 5.8 x 5.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 030728090X
EAN: 9780307280909
ASIN: 030728090X
Publication Date: September 27, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good book, not a great one, but entertaining August 20, 2008
As of the date of this writing, I haven't finished the book yet (about 3/4 of the way through) but I did want to write a quick review on my thoughts so far. I had heard much about this book and it was very hyped up for me, being described as "the next Harry Potter for teenage girls!" I knew it was a love story involving a young girl and a vampire and for awhile, I stayed away from this book because of the fact that it was a love story, being a harsh critic of them (I find most of them way too sappy *coughnicholassparkscough*) and don't usually read gothic-type novels involving vampires. But I caved in because of my curiosity and I have to say...this definitely isn't bad, so far. There is a lot of dialogue that sounds like its from the Victorian age and the writing will sometimes meander into the overly soap opera-ish romance novel territory (the author spends too much time describing Bella's desire for Edward and how perfectly beautiful he is - there are only so many times one can describe the "beautiful pale marble of his skin" before the reader says "I get it! He's a hot vampire."). But I disagree with the negative reviews - I don't get the sense that the author intends for Bella to be the absolute perfect protagonist and traditional heroine. She portrays her very well as a socially awkward, flawed and introspective teenager who just happens to fall in love with a vampire. I could relate to Bella's character and understood why she did, what she did. I can even see why they fell in love so quickly, a point of contention amongst earlier reviewers. They're teenagers - quick to fall in love (and just as quick to fall out of it!). I do agree with the earlier comment regarding the pacing - it's a bit uneven, in the sense that the first half of the book is a slow, careful buildup of Bella and Edward's relationship and then all of a sudden, with the end of a baseball game, the book quickly becomes an action thriller. Seemed a bit choppy to me but perhaps the author wanted to jar her readers into finally realizing that not all vampires are sweet and civilized and that they really are dangerous. There are definitely some questions I have that haven't been answered yet and some things in the plot that don't quite make sense (I would like it if the author had explored more fully the reasons why the Cullens are they way they are and what really motivates them) but I haven't finished the book yet so maybe there are more details left towards the end. But I am enjoying the book so far, it's an entertaining read and though there is not a *whole* lot of depth to the novel, its good enough for me to recommend to others. As far as the hype, it's deserving of a recommendation but as far as literary classics go, this one it certainly is not. If I could give 3.5 stars, I would for this book.
 This Ain't no Harry Potter August 20, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
When I originally heard about this series, I was like cool another Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But instead there is this insipid girl risking her life for so called love. The casual way she risk her life is misleading and dangerous, I was totally underwhelmed. I literally read the book out of stubborness and boredom but I was repulsed by the simpleness of Bella. To me it seems to encourage suicide.
 I Loved It, Here's Why You May Not... August 20, 2008
This book is not a lot of things: linguistically complex, rich in description, full of well-developed characters. Lovers of vampire lore will find that it is not particularly dark or detailed - Meyer seems more interested in the way being a vampire might affect your relationships than any other aspect of the myth. On the other hand, it's very fun to read.
This book might not meet any definition of masterpiece: it would be fair to call the narrative simplistic and the style is meant for teenagers, and it's meant to entertain, not to challenge. The plot is not hard to follow or hard to predict. The characters are fairly one-dimensional, especially the minor characters such as the mother and father and the "ordinary" friends at school.
And yet, this is one of the literary confections I have most enjoyed in recent years. The metaphor for teenage love is apt: what teenager has not fallen recklessly for someone who clearly might hurt her? What teenager doesn't seem, at times, ravenous for destruction and a risk to himself and those he loves the most? As metaphors for different kinds of transformation, vampires and werewolves are very powerful.
It's light reading, to be sure, five hundred pages of Meyer's book fly by faster than fifty of a Jane Austen novel I recently read. More story could have been condensed into the pages, but to what end? I enjoyed how she lingered indulgently on moments that are meant to be satisfying and titillating.
Is this about inspiring young women? Does it need to be? The protagonist of this book is caught up in the events around her: rather than seeking adventure, she finds she has attracted it. She rises to the occasion in a believable way for a teenager, but she's not meant to be exceptionally gifted. She's good at biology and she's a loner, but she's not a hero figure. Her talent if any, is balancing two realities - something many children from divorced families know how to do well.
And that should be enough. There is something very pleasurable about the idea that you might be whisked away from ordinary life by coincidence or destiny. Having a heroine who is outspoken or remarkable shouldn't be a requirement for young adult reading. Some characters get to stumble into great lives, just like in adult fiction.
The character of Edward is more extraordinary and more noteworthy both - and for good reason - the revelation of his existence and the unraveling of his mystery are the real drivers of the plot. Full of self-restraint, he harkens back to characters in 19th-century novels. He is in control and represents the ideal of a man who can act for selfless reasons even while racked with selfish desires.
Is this an exaggeration? Of course. But it's a brilliant insight into a teenage (and adult) fantasy: to have a lover both young (seventeen) and mature (he's been alive for a lot longer); someone who is passionately in love with you and yet must express himself in the quaintest, most innocent ways. It may be ground well-covered, but it's ground that has been well-covered for a reason: it's a very appealing fantasy. Meyer picked an excellent and evocative premise when she chose the idea of a teenage vampire in love with a human girl, and she deserves credit for making the most of that premise.
With all this having been said, I feel obligated to note, I am a reader of romance novels and a lover of romantic comedies who enjoys stories that strike an emotional nerve and fulfill a fanstasy even if they do so at expense of realism, artistic vision, or meaningful depth. I know that it matters more, in some cases, how well a story meets my expectations for it than how well it is written. Great prose can also disappoint you with an usatisfying ending and still be worth reading. Really masterful prose can lack a beginning or ending and still be worth reading. But sometimes as readers, we'll trade a certain amount of quality for a happy ending.
As a fulfillment of a fantasy of being considered mysterious by someone mysterious, being drawn into a world that is unique and apart from the banal, being singled out as special - this book is magnificent.
Chill out and dream a little! Good book for people who LOVE details! August 20, 2008
When I first heard of the book Twilight, I read the plot and found myself not as interested so I let it go. Before long, I heard the movie was coming out and I knew I had to get myself to read the book before seeing the movie, knowing I would end up watching it.
So when my book finally came in the mail, it took me awhile to actually sit down and get myself to read it knowing that I mostly knew the outline of the story because it was a bit obvious with the movie coming out and all.
When I started it went pretty good, I read a few chapters without stopping and I was able to put the book down. When I decided I wanted to start again, I couldn't stop reading it.
I had to know what was going through Bella's mind as she fell in love with the vampire, Edward. I could imagine what they look looked like, every scene, and every detail. I loved how detail oriented she was, like myself I can't help, but explain every detail because it only added to the importance of the story! I was so intrigued with every word and scene, I found it very hard to put down the book, but I had to sleep being in college summer school and all, plus work! I was already half way through the book and decided to buy New Moon the second book to the saga, hoping it would come before i finished.
Then it hit me when I continued to read, I was going to finish this book today, in a short few hours. I wanted to stop so I would be able to continue with New Moon, but knowing myself, once intrigued by a book, there was NO stopping and that was exactly what happened, I couldn't believe it, I finished it all in approximately a day, a new recored for such a big book. I was upset, I had to wait for my next book to be shipped, so I canceled my book and got the ebook (reading it this way was hard because its not as easy to lounge around with a laptop on your lap and according to my friends it was harder for them to concentrate looking at a bright screen, but I was fine and brave through it) and I also found myself not being able to stop and I had to get Eclipse (3rd book) and Breaking Dawn (4th book) ebook style.
So in other words, I LOVED all four books, some a little less, but nonetheless extremely satisfied with Stephenie Meyer and her imagination. I was an immediate fan for LIFE for Bella and Edward! Also I could understand why some people found the last book disappointing because they had to wait and anticipated and assume what would happen, but because I read all 4 in four days ( I know, I'm crazy =]) I knew exactly where she was going at and know finding myself wanting to re-read every book, but maybe the old fashion way, on paper!
For people who felt she was giving young girls a wrong impression, I got none and I'm 20 years old, I knew this was fantasy and imagined myself within that fantasy and not relating to the real world about the ideas, except I wouldn't mine finding myself a vampire like Edward, but we all know this isn't true and just for fun. So live a little and just let yourself get lost in this world. (well try not to be like me, I'm sure it's not healthy to read all 4 books in short periods of time since they are long!) I never write book reviews, and I found it within myself, that I MUST back up Stephenie Meyer and all her fans, and I'm glad I did. Hate all you want (bad reviewers, 1 star? come on!), but I am utterly in LOVE with this WHOLE saga and world!
 Fell for the Fuss August 19, 2008
All the fuss over this book was really making me curious to read it for myself. Romance is not my thing, but my curiosity wouldn't let me ignore the buzz. Killing some time as I was waiting to be seated at Olive Garden, I walked to a Borders Books in the same shopping center. In front of the store was a table dedicated to Twilight and the sequels. I gave in to my curiosity and decided to buy it. As I waited in the car for the restaurants pager to go off I started reading. Turned out my pager was dead so I got about 100 pages in. I guess I read close to another 50 later on that night. At this point I was totally baffled why this book was so successful. My journal entry for that day read "She is far from being the best writer in the world as some people are claiming. The whole premise is kind of silly. I'm not sure how much longer the book can go on before it is ridiculous."
Having just finished the book I agree with myself. The book is very cliché and predictable. Bella's name should be Mary Sue. I definitely feel the authors self insertion. Why doesn't Bella have any aspirations or dreams for her future? She acts like a house wife in the making. For being the main character her development is rather shallow. Besides being infatuated with Edward the only hobby she has is reading. How many times do we need a stock character that can't see her own beauty, has a man think for her, in love at first sight, pursued a male who has a secret, or is a damsel in distress? Young girls are swooning over Edward. Is he really someone you want a young girl to swoon over? He stalks and breaks in to watch Bella sleep. What 100+ person would even want to be around a teenager let alone date one? Supposedly he has hunted and eaten people, but he is 100+ year old virgin because he wouldn't have sex with someone he didn't love. Not to mention that he claimed he could accidently crush the person. Wouldn't he rather crush someone he had a one night stand with then a loved one? He could have a snack after too.
One thing that stood out when I was only 150 pages in was how everyone was depicted as beautiful. Pretty much the only people who weren't, the old lady in the book store and Bella's almost rapist. By using the Amazon search inside feature I found that she refers to how beautiful everyone is 50 times. That's a lot considering how thin the plot is. In a nutshell the book is, I hate the rain and Edward is a hot vampire. Eyes are also over mentioned. The word appears 293 times. Most of the sentences in the book start with "I..." It's like reading a diary of ditsy teeny bopper.
Up to page 375 there is hardly any action. This action ends on page 451. With 498 pages you think there would be more the 47 pages of something happening. This book should not have gone over the 200 page mark. Even with trimming off 300 pages there would still be a lot of filler.
Fans tell those who aren't drooling over the books to not take the book so seriously or to not suspect much from a young adult book. Have these fans not heard of C.S Lewis? Why can only Twilighties write a serious review? People read reviews to learn the good and the bad points. Not to mention criticism helps a writer grow.
Even though this was definitely not my favorite book my curiosity will drive me to read the rest of the series. I don't think the book is worthy of the fuss it gets, but there is something about it that makes me want to see how the story will unfold.
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