4.1.09

Twilight

Book title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Status: Finished

Synopsis:
Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks to live with her dad, she isn't expecting to like it. But her biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her with his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, whose mind he cannot read. As Bella discovers the truth about Edward's nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret, but now, nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Comment:
The novel is better than the film adaptation, in greater details and all, but it's far from perfect. It's no literature, not even close, and Edward's portrayal as godlike perfection and how Bella found him irresistibly attractive can be annoying sometimes (..。)

This is so shallow, way sexist, to fall in love beyond redemption simply out of physical attraction.

Though Edward's inner struggle is better featured in the novel than in the movie, something's still missing, I still can't feel it, why are they so madly in love?

Don't take me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe in love at first sight, but one needs something beyond that love sparkles to make it work.

You don't need a reason to fall madly in love with a guy you just met, but constantly appreciating ONLY that guy's dazzlingly good look? Sorry, this kind of skin-deep "love" simply couldn't last, and it gets more and more boring. Fortunately, when it gets to Bella being formally introduced to the Cullens, of whom every single one of them stood out (in terms of character and ability), had a history of their own, the storyline gets a bit more interesting. The hunt is predictable but entertaining regardless, as compared to Bella's endless mumble of how perfect Edward was ( ̄∇ ̄+)

There are flaws, of course, and inconsistencies here and there. Didn't Meyer always emphasized that "Jasper had more trouble sticking to the Cullens' diet than the rest of them -- he hadn't been trying as long"? I just don't get it, Edward told Bella that after her vampire conversion, Alice saw in her vision that she was to find Jasper then came to live with the Cullens, why then, the difference in "special diet" adoption period between Jasper and Alice? Well...never mind......