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ninalechthaler's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
sammerry's review against another edition
1.0
This book is utterly terrible, but I can’t seem to stop reading it. The dialogue is clunky, and the plot occasionally makes no sense.
1. The Characters
First, my thoughts on the main character, Bella Swan. She, for the lack of a better word, is boring. No, it’s not the lack of a better word - she truly is painfully boring.
In the first few pages, it was said that she moved from Phoenix to Forks so that her mother can spend more time with Phil and be happier. That’s great! It’s a sign of altruism. But what was life like for Bella in Phoenix? What was her school like? Who were her friends? There were no descriptions of her life before Forks, so it’s hard to connect to her as a character right off the bat.
So she goes to a new school and people began crushing on her and liking her. Uhm… why? Even Bella herself admits she is uninteresting. She was described as plain, but two guys were already fawning over her.
Ok, so Bella is a Mary Sue. I dislike Mary Sues.
And, BOY, she keeps getting herself in unnecessary trouble that she couldn’t get out off by herself! It’s annoying. But that’s where the second lead character comes in.
Edward Cullen. He is creepy. At first, he keeps telling Bella to ‘stay away from him’ which Bella complies with. But pages later, he’ll approach her and converse with her, then tell her again to ‘stay away from him. Bro, YOU approached HER. And frankly, YOU’RE the reason why SHE’S in danger and needs to stay away from you in the first place.
Despite Edward telling Bella that she should stay away from him, he does the complete opposite. He stares at her, comes near her, and follows her around.
2. Toxic Relationship From the get-go, I knew this was going to be an instant love story. I have no problems with instant romance, however, Twilight gives me valid reasons to hate it.
I have no words for how disgusted I am by Edward and Bella's relationship. It isn't love, and it isn't a romance; it’s a toxic relationship.
By definition, a toxic relationship is a relationship characterized by behaviors on the part of the toxic partner that are emotionally and, not infrequently, physically damaging to their partner. While a healthy relationship contributes to our self-esteem and emotional energy, a toxic relationship damages self-esteem and drains energy. A healthy relationship involves mutual caring, respect, and compassion, an interest in our partner’s welfare and growth, an ability to share control and decision-making, in short, a shared desire for each other’s happiness. A healthy relationship is a safe relationship, a relationship where we can be ourselves without fear, a place where we feel comfortable and secure. A toxic relationship, on the other hand, is not a safe place. A toxic relationship is characterized by insecurity, self-centeredness, dominance, control. We risk our very being by staying in such a relationship. To say a toxic relationship is dysfunctional is, at best, an understatement.
Source: https://healthscopemag.com/health-scope/toxic-relationships/.
To start, take it this way. If someone interested in you does the following:
1.) Followed you without your consent
2.) Watches you wherever you go
3.) Makes these decisions not on your account, but for themselves
Would it be okay to continue your relationship with them? Absolutely not! But this book seems to have different ideas.
First of all, the issues with Edward and Bella's relationship begin with the portrayal of Bella as a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued at all times. Bella was written to be a clumsy and accident-prone character to give others a “valid” reason to rescue her. Then, Edward Cullen comes in as her savior, but their relationship is far from healthy.
Viewing this with a perspective of reality, their relationship is largely about terror and control. Edward follows Bella (Ewwww, stalker much?) under the guise of "protecting" and "caring about her”. The problem with this is that Edward is protective of Bella without her consent. Without consent, Edward’s “protective” behavior is a way to establish dominance, and the establishment of who’s dominant between a couple is a major red flag of a toxic relationship.
Also, Edward stalks Bella by following and monitoring her and viewing other people’s minds to keep track of Bella’s whereabouts. But this was portrayed as something “hot” or as a “protective” act. In reality, stalking is nothing like that. Any reason for stalking is not an acceptable excuse.
3. Toxic Codependency To add to the reasons why their relationship is problematic, they also have toxic codependency.
If someone in your life is making you feel any of these symptoms, it is time to acknowledge that the relationship might be unhealthy.
1. Low Self-Esteem:
Codependency is a strategy for getting affirmation, a sense of purpose, and self-worth. When we place our self-esteem in the hands of another individual, however, it varies depending on his or her mood. Forming numerous relationships and focusing on your inner qualities is a healthy method to build self-esteem.
2. Compulsive People-Pleasing:
Codependents spend much too much time trying to please their more emotionally demanding partner, often at the sacrifice of their own well-being.
3. Extreme Reactivity:
Dips in their partner's mood might cause the codependent to have strong emotional reactions.
4. Feeling Powerless:
When we focus all of our emotional energy on an unstable individual, we may feel as though we have no control over our own life.
5. Isolation
As a codependent relationship develops, all other connections in our lives begin to weaken and eventually evaporate, leaving us alone with that one person.
6. Obsession:
Codependents rely on their connection for a sense of self-worth, thus it becomes everything they think about over time! In comparison, nothing else seems to matter.
Source: https://breathelifehealingcenters.com/toxic-codependency-looks-like/
^Sounds a lot like them, right?
Not to mention, Bella began to distance herself from her friends and even from her father once her relationship with Edward began to blossom (Oops, toxic codependency!). She also puts down herself whenever she’s with Edward (“You’re far too good for me.”). At around 200 pages, Bella seemed to have isolated herself from everyone except Edward which implies that all she needs is Edward, which is not a good message to be showing to a young impressionable audience.
It looks like Bella is nothing without Edward and that she has no life outside of him. I can’t express how much I hate this view of love, but I’m going to drop quotes to counter this view.
“If you’re nothing without it, then you probably shouldn’t have it.” - Tony Stark
“I wanna be me with you.” - Ruby, from Steven Universe
- I love this quote because it implies that “I like being myself and I like doing things on my own, but I also like being with you and I like doing things with you, so why not be myself and also be with you?”
——
I get that this is a fantasy novel, but I’m viewing this with a lens of reality. It’s largely because teenagers are impressionable, and if they read this book, they’ll most likely think Edward’s behavior is normal (which is not). I can’t count how many teenagers (that I know personally) want to have a boyfriend like Edward.
If you love Twilight, there’s no shame there. Just be aware of the dangerous messages this story has, and please do not aspire to have a toxic and abusive relationship like Edward and Bella.
1. The Characters
First, my thoughts on the main character, Bella Swan. She, for the lack of a better word, is boring. No, it’s not the lack of a better word - she truly is painfully boring.
In the first few pages, it was said that she moved from Phoenix to Forks so that her mother can spend more time with Phil and be happier. That’s great! It’s a sign of altruism. But what was life like for Bella in Phoenix? What was her school like? Who were her friends? There were no descriptions of her life before Forks, so it’s hard to connect to her as a character right off the bat.
So she goes to a new school and people began crushing on her and liking her. Uhm… why? Even Bella herself admits she is uninteresting. She was described as plain, but two guys were already fawning over her.
Ok, so Bella is a Mary Sue. I dislike Mary Sues.
And, BOY, she keeps getting herself in unnecessary trouble that she couldn’t get out off by herself! It’s annoying. But that’s where the second lead character comes in.
Edward Cullen. He is creepy. At first, he keeps telling Bella to ‘stay away from him’ which Bella complies with. But pages later, he’ll approach her and converse with her, then tell her again to ‘stay away from him. Bro, YOU approached HER. And frankly, YOU’RE the reason why SHE’S in danger and needs to stay away from you in the first place.
Despite Edward telling Bella that she should stay away from him, he does the complete opposite. He stares at her, comes near her, and follows her around.
2. Toxic Relationship From the get-go, I knew this was going to be an instant love story. I have no problems with instant romance, however, Twilight gives me valid reasons to hate it.
I have no words for how disgusted I am by Edward and Bella's relationship. It isn't love, and it isn't a romance; it’s a toxic relationship.
By definition, a toxic relationship is a relationship characterized by behaviors on the part of the toxic partner that are emotionally and, not infrequently, physically damaging to their partner. While a healthy relationship contributes to our self-esteem and emotional energy, a toxic relationship damages self-esteem and drains energy. A healthy relationship involves mutual caring, respect, and compassion, an interest in our partner’s welfare and growth, an ability to share control and decision-making, in short, a shared desire for each other’s happiness. A healthy relationship is a safe relationship, a relationship where we can be ourselves without fear, a place where we feel comfortable and secure. A toxic relationship, on the other hand, is not a safe place. A toxic relationship is characterized by insecurity, self-centeredness, dominance, control. We risk our very being by staying in such a relationship. To say a toxic relationship is dysfunctional is, at best, an understatement.
Source: https://healthscopemag.com/health-scope/toxic-relationships/.
To start, take it this way. If someone interested in you does the following:
1.) Followed you without your consent
2.) Watches you wherever you go
3.) Makes these decisions not on your account, but for themselves
Would it be okay to continue your relationship with them? Absolutely not! But this book seems to have different ideas.
First of all, the issues with Edward and Bella's relationship begin with the portrayal of Bella as a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued at all times. Bella was written to be a clumsy and accident-prone character to give others a “valid” reason to rescue her. Then, Edward Cullen comes in as her savior, but their relationship is far from healthy.
Viewing this with a perspective of reality, their relationship is largely about terror and control. Edward follows Bella (Ewwww, stalker much?) under the guise of "protecting" and "caring about her”. The problem with this is that Edward is protective of Bella without her consent. Without consent, Edward’s “protective” behavior is a way to establish dominance, and the establishment of who’s dominant between a couple is a major red flag of a toxic relationship.
Also, Edward stalks Bella by following and monitoring her and viewing other people’s minds to keep track of Bella’s whereabouts. But this was portrayed as something “hot” or as a “protective” act. In reality, stalking is nothing like that. Any reason for stalking is not an acceptable excuse.
3. Toxic Codependency To add to the reasons why their relationship is problematic, they also have toxic codependency.
If someone in your life is making you feel any of these symptoms, it is time to acknowledge that the relationship might be unhealthy.
1. Low Self-Esteem:
Codependency is a strategy for getting affirmation, a sense of purpose, and self-worth. When we place our self-esteem in the hands of another individual, however, it varies depending on his or her mood. Forming numerous relationships and focusing on your inner qualities is a healthy method to build self-esteem.
2. Compulsive People-Pleasing:
Codependents spend much too much time trying to please their more emotionally demanding partner, often at the sacrifice of their own well-being.
3. Extreme Reactivity:
Dips in their partner's mood might cause the codependent to have strong emotional reactions.
4. Feeling Powerless:
When we focus all of our emotional energy on an unstable individual, we may feel as though we have no control over our own life.
5. Isolation
As a codependent relationship develops, all other connections in our lives begin to weaken and eventually evaporate, leaving us alone with that one person.
6. Obsession:
Codependents rely on their connection for a sense of self-worth, thus it becomes everything they think about over time! In comparison, nothing else seems to matter.
Source: https://breathelifehealingcenters.com/toxic-codependency-looks-like/
^Sounds a lot like them, right?
Not to mention, Bella began to distance herself from her friends and even from her father once her relationship with Edward began to blossom (Oops, toxic codependency!). She also puts down herself whenever she’s with Edward (“You’re far too good for me.”). At around 200 pages, Bella seemed to have isolated herself from everyone except Edward which implies that all she needs is Edward, which is not a good message to be showing to a young impressionable audience.
It looks like Bella is nothing without Edward and that she has no life outside of him. I can’t express how much I hate this view of love, but I’m going to drop quotes to counter this view.
“If you’re nothing without it, then you probably shouldn’t have it.” - Tony Stark
“I wanna be me with you.” - Ruby, from Steven Universe
- I love this quote because it implies that “I like being myself and I like doing things on my own, but I also like being with you and I like doing things with you, so why not be myself and also be with you?”
——
I get that this is a fantasy novel, but I’m viewing this with a lens of reality. It’s largely because teenagers are impressionable, and if they read this book, they’ll most likely think Edward’s behavior is normal (which is not). I can’t count how many teenagers (that I know personally) want to have a boyfriend like Edward.
If you love Twilight, there’s no shame there. Just be aware of the dangerous messages this story has, and please do not aspire to have a toxic and abusive relationship like Edward and Bella.
rainbow_ric3's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
apm1998's review against another edition
1.0
Growing up this movie was my life. I'd never read the book but the movie was my holy grail. I mean, every teenager wants to live the experience of forbidden love right? Im 22 now and decided to pick up the book and finally read it. I was so excited but only made it half way through before loosing my marbles. This book was so boring and bland. Was it because i already knew what was going to happen? Maybe. But no one can tell me the writing was nothing but bland and oh god the "romantic scenes" *vomit*. So CRINGY! After i finished the book i looked at myself and thought "was it always this bad?". Anyways i'm gonna stick to the idolized movie version that i watch alone on a Saturday night as a guilty pleasure.
duvyna's review against another edition
1.0
I filed this into my creepy old guy hits on underage teen girl category, doesn't really matter that the creepy old guy looks young. He really is way too old to be interested in living teen drama any... You also have absentee parents because the plot wouldn't work if they were around and parenting, and of course, there is a series amount of co-dependence with our poor teen girl just not able to function without her old enough to be a grandparent vampire in touching distance. The writing was really sub-par and you will hope Stephenie Meyers fires her editor.
mgunn78's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
irrumnaaz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lauratoria's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ktpryor's review against another edition
5.0
I read this at a time in my life when I loved vampire stuff. I fell hard for all the characters and the fantasy world they lived in. Twilight became part of my life when I felt incomplete. The books were pretty great, but the movies ruined it all.