Scan barcode
A review by nams
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
When I read Twilight for the first time in 2008 (before the movie came out), I was obsessed - with a capital O - with it! I read it so many times that you could read any sentences and I could tell you where it was located on the book page. Now 15 years later, I already suspected that my opinion would have changed. Warning: The following review may contain small spoilers.
Don't get me wrong, the plot of Twilight is not without potential but I wish the implementation would have been different. I always liked that Bella and Edward found their way to each other early in the book so the book didn't climax with them getting together at the end as it is common in a lot of romances. However, by now it is common knowledge - or at least should be - that their relationship is far from being healthy. Both of the main characters are too quickly "in love" (read "obsessed") with each other that you have to ask yourself as a reader what the basis of their deep emotions is supposed to be. Bella's thoughts and emotions are so superficial and over the top that it seems to work in her favor that Edward can't read her thoughts - otherwise he would know that she probably doesn't think so differently than other girls her age. Edward's behavior, on the other hand, resembles that of a stalker. How is it possible that Bella is not concerned when she learns that he has been entering her bedroom and watching her sleep for weeks?! The book's plot paints a wrong image of love, selling toxic behavior as romantic. It is not okay for a romantic partner (or any other kind of partner) to patronize you the way Edward sometimes does to Bella. Moreover, how is it okay to portray it as romantic that a teenage girl wants to give up her whole life for a century-old vampire she has known for a few months?
Despite its many shortcomings, the plot still caught my attention and I just wished that Twilight could be rewritten in a healthy way, giving the book more depth and stronger characters.
Don't get me wrong, the plot of Twilight is not without potential but I wish the implementation would have been different. I always liked that Bella and Edward found their way to each other early in the book so the book didn't climax with them getting together at the end as it is common in a lot of romances. However, by now it is common knowledge - or at least should be - that their relationship is far from being healthy. Both of the main characters are too quickly "in love" (read "obsessed") with each other that you have to ask yourself as a reader what the basis of their deep emotions is supposed to be. Bella's thoughts and emotions are so superficial and over the top that it seems to work in her favor that Edward can't read her thoughts - otherwise he would know that she probably doesn't think so differently than other girls her age. Edward's behavior, on the other hand, resembles that of a stalker. How is it possible that Bella is not concerned when she learns that he has been entering her bedroom and watching her sleep for weeks?! The book's plot paints a wrong image of love, selling toxic behavior as romantic. It is not okay for a romantic partner (or any other kind of partner) to patronize you the way Edward sometimes does to Bella. Moreover, how is it okay to portray it as romantic that a teenage girl wants to give up her whole life for a century-old vampire she has known for a few months?
Despite its many shortcomings, the plot still caught my attention and I just wished that Twilight could be rewritten in a healthy way, giving the book more depth and stronger characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship