Sunday, November 6, 2011

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers


Bibliography:

Meyers, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Hachette Book Group USA, 2005.

Summary:

When her mother remarries, Isabella Swan chooses to move in with her father in a small town of Forks, Washington. It is her junior year in high school and she meets Edward Cullen. It does not take her long to fall passionately in love with him. Edward falls in love with Bella too. This is not your ordinary love story because Edward is a 90 year old vampire. His family is different because they do not drink human blood, but live off of animals in the wild. While playing baseball with the Cullens during a thunderstorm another group of vampires are moving through the town of Forks. James finds Bella's blood irresistible. James lures Bella to Phoenix, Arizona and tries to kill her. She is injured, but Edward fights to save her and kills James. This leaves James' girlfriend or partner with a vow to kill Bella for revenge.

Critical Analysis:

The setting of Forks is realistic and the perfect setting for a vampire. It is gloomy or rainy most of the time. This is not a town where the sun is shining. The woods make the story realistic. The story is told through Bella's eyes in first person. The theme of the book is love. Bella and Edward have a strong love for each other. Amazon Books states that this story is "deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite."

Edward is described as charming, beautiful, well mannered and very protective. He is almost over protective and feels like a stalker at times. His skin is cold and like a marble statue. He glistens in the sunlight. The protagonist, Bella, does not recognize at first that he is not human. Bella, the protagonist, is an average girl. She does not believe she is beautiful. She is clumsy and stubborn. Her character undergoes changes throughout the series. She is a well developed, dynamic character. She could represent any teenage girl.

James and his gang of vampires represent evil in the story. Bella encounters life and death situations with James. She is seriously injured by him. The Cullen family conquer evil by killing James, but the conclusion leaves a new quest for Victoria to avenge James' death. The theme appears to be the choice of free will. Bella is given the choice to walk away from Edward when she finds out he is a vampire and Edward has the choice to not become involved with Bella. Edward also uses choice to not hunt humans. Even with free choice Bella and Edward are drawn together.


Strengths & Weaknesses:

This novel has something for everyone. There is suspense, humor, romance and tragedy. I did not find any weaknesses. Stephanie Meyers writes so that you keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. I did not find any weaknesses in this novel.

Awards and Reviews:

A New York Times bestseller
A New York Times"Editor's Choice"
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly"Kids' Book Adults Would Love"
An Amazon "Best Book of the Decade * So Far"
An ALA "Top Ten Books for Young Adults"

"Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts [this story] will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer's tantalizing debut."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it."-School Library Journal (starred review)

 "In the tradition of Anne Rice. . . this dark romance is gripping." -Booklist (starred review)

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