Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Toothpaste · Jul 22, 2008

I read it finally this past week. I can see why many teenagers (especially girls) enjoy it, and thought there were really lovely moments in it (personally I'd go for Dr. Cullen myself, but that's just me). But I truly couldn't figure out why it is THAT popular. It seemed very cliche to me, and I could not stand the first 200 pages when Edward was being so elusive in his answers. I get it. You have a secret. Intriguing for a few pages, but after that, he just became a bit of a smug know it all. My favourite moments were when Meyers just seemed to relax and had fun with her ideas, a bit of a sense of humour. I enjoyed Bella meeting the rest of the family immensely. And while I can accept that not every girl has to be kick ass (that actually can really get to me), it seemed like Bella missed out on a lot of her own story. The big final fight sequence? She's out cold.

I too had an issue with the weather thing. What got to me the most was Bella's hatred of snow. Now I get not liking the cold, but she claimed she had never experienced snow before, so how can she have so many firm opinions on it without having the experience? She knows she hates how wet it is when it melts, she understands what black ice is, and snow tire chains - how exactly? I know, silly small thing, but it bugged me.

Tilda · Jul 25, 2008

I agree with Toothpaste above; I can sort of see why teens are all over the books, but what surprises me is how little overall criticism there is of the books. Especially considering the writing, which to me reads like fanfiction and was the reason why I couldn't even finish the first book. Wasn't anyone else bothered by the extreme dialogue tags (I was hard-pressed to find instances of "said"!), or the plot that emerged only some 300 pages in and was over in a couple of pages? I admit I struggle a lot with this book since Meyer makes many of the beginner mistakes editors and agents constantly warn people of, yet she got published very quickly, nobody seems to have touched the weaknesses of the prose in the editing process (at least take out some of the most outrageous dialogue tags, folks), and no critics pick this issue up in reviews either (PW starred the book, among others). Yet some very well written YA books get less than praising reviews - I just don't get it, sorry. Seems that it's all about the hype, not about literary quality.

Ol' 61 · Aug 14, 2008

I haven't read this book yet, but I think I'm interested in seeing the movie, so I will likely read it soon.

Interestingly, that's how I got into Harry Potter! But, just skimming over what some of you have written, I suspect Harry is far superior. Or maybe that's just my pre-conceived notion!

Ugawa · Aug 14, 2008

O man, i've started a vampire series which includes them going to a school. I'd never heard of this book before but now i have i can't really carry on with it because if i end up wanting to get it published people will say i've copied her

grr lol

XX

E. Arroway · Aug 15, 2008

It's definitely not just teens that enjoy the books - I'm closer to AARP age than my teen years and I thought that the whole series was fantastic, as did several of my adult friends.

It's absolutely true that if I were to put on my critic hat, I could find a lot to nitpick, but I didn't pick up these books expecting some awe-inspiring literary achievment. They're a great little escape - despite their length, you can read each one in a day, and probably will, as they are nearly impossible to put down.

It's just a fun mix - suspense, humor, romance, eroticism (the author is well aware that less can be more), an appealing clan of vampires, and a few werewolves thrown in for good measure. What's not to love?

I read fiction first and foremost to be entertained. These books did that, so I'm willing to forgive them their sins.

Ugawa · Aug 15, 2008

Stephanie Meyers twilight (moved from Novels)

I hope i spelt her name right, i've only heard of the book since i joined the forum.

Well the book i was writing was also a vampire novel X.X

Now i've heard there's already a best-seller YA vampire novel, which is sill up and coming, i'm starting to think maybe i shouldn't carry on with my book.

I havn't read the book but i think i've caught the main part. That some girl falls in love with a vapire or something. My book is completely different, but still, if i do finish it, would it not get published because there's already one out there and i wouldn't want people to think i copied her. Even though i started it before i even knew she existed.

I'm not saying mine is anywhere near good enough to get published yet, but in the future i'd like to hope it might get somewhere

What should i do?.

XX

Deleted member 42 · Aug 15, 2008

There are already scads of YA vampire novels, going back at least 15 years.

Don't let that stop you. Write the best book you can write.

Ugawa · Aug 15, 2008

Okay thank you

XX

jannawrites · Aug 15, 2008

I agree with Medievalist. If anything, the fact that Stephenie Meyer's books have been so successful shows there's a thriving market for them. Stick to your guns and once it's written you can worry about its place.

Good luck!

Starwise · Aug 15, 2008

There's something you very much need to know about the Twilight series. And Stephenie would probably say the same thing, too--

She was fortunate. You wouldn't believe how many editors these days would say, right now, that her book wouldn't even be touched by an agent. In fact, she mentioned that even after Little, Brown signed her with a 3-book deal, she received her WORST rejection ever in the mail one day from one agent she had queried quite awhile ago. Said agent stated that her book would never see publication. Too bad

. 'Cause she already signed her 3-book deal for a $500,000 advance. Never see publication, indeed.

The moral is exactly what you've read so far from us--write the best book you can.

kuwisdelu · Aug 15, 2008

There have and always will be vampire stories. Just write a good one. Trust me, if won't be that hard to top Twilight.

triceretops · Aug 15, 2008

It seems the audience for vampires is inexhaustible. Just when they say they've run their course and agents prefer not to see them, look what happens.

Tri

Ugawa · Aug 15, 2008

Thank you all for your help ^^

I'll carry on with it, even if it never does get published

XX

gypsyscarlett · Aug 15, 2008

Ugawa said:
Thank you all for your help ^^

I'll carry on with it, even if it never does get published

XX

Good. Go for it!

And remember- "Dracula" wasn't the first vampire novel.

billyf027 · Aug 16, 2008

Mant teens are extremely disappointed by the fourth book and are angry about it. They consider it a huge disappointment. But with the money she is getting from the movie and book sales she never has to write another book.

Telstar · Aug 16, 2008

But she is writing the 4th book

Ol' 61 · Aug 16, 2008

I agree with everyone else. Write the best book you can. Get it on paper and out of your head. And at this point, the only audience you need to write for is yourself.

bethany · Aug 16, 2008

Actually the 4th book is out. I haven't heard teens complaining about it. Many of the ones I work with say it's the best book they've ever read.

ETA- I've personally only read the first book, and probably won't read the rest, just a matter of too many books and too little time.

Telstar · Aug 16, 2008

bethany said:
Actually the 4th book is out. I haven't heard teens complaining about it. Many of the ones I work with say it's the best book they've ever read.

ETA- I've personally only read the first book, and probably won't read the rest, just a matter of too many books and too little time.

Dammit, i have to order it now, along with the third.
Not sure when i'll read them though

Probably after the movie.

Toothpaste · Aug 16, 2008

Actually it's very split, some teens think it is wonderful, some are saying it is a huge disappointment. I wouldn't know either way, I read the first one and that was enough for me.

(check out some of the amazon reviews, some are absolutely scathing! And entertainment weekly HATED it.)

willietheshakes · Aug 16, 2008

My wife (also a writer and reviewer) read all four of these in a 5 day blitz earlier this month. When I asked what she thought, when she was finished the first couple, she answered that she thought they were awful: the writing was bad, the characterizations were bad, the "message" (she's an educator as well) was disturbing...

But...

She couldn't stop. The narrative, and the relationships between the characters, had completely hooked her. She HAD to know how the series turned out.

Book crack -- you know it's bad, but you can't stop yourself.

hlcorbin · Aug 16, 2008

As (one of) your beta readers, i can tell you (i've read the entire twilight series) that your story doesnt read anything like twilight--completely different. Just keep writing and dont worry about any other books out there! Everbodys book will always have elements found in other books, just the way it goes

Grrarrgh · Aug 16, 2008

willietheshakes said:
My wife (also a writer and reviewer) read all four of these in a 5 day blitz earlier this month. When I asked what she thought, when she was finished the first couple, she answered that she thought they were awful: the writing was bad, the characterizations were bad, the "message" (she's an educator as well) was disturbing...

But...

She couldn't stop. The narrative, and the relationships between the characters, had completely hooked her. She HAD to know how the series turned out.

Book crack -- you know it's bad, but you can't stop yourself.

Your wife is exactly right. I told my husband the same thing. I just couldn't stop reading them even though I recognized how bad they were while I was reading. I complained the whole time I was reading.
And I was one of the ones who absolutely hated the 4th one. It was awful.

willietheshakes · Aug 16, 2008

Grrarrgh said:
Your wife is exactly right. I told my husband the same thing. I just couldn't stop reading them even though I recognized how bad they were while I was reading. I complained the whole time I was reading.

We can call it the Mayer-Brown Effect.

rosepddle · Aug 16, 2008

hlcorbin said:
As (one of) your beta readers, i can tell you (i've read the entire twilight series) that your story doesnt read anything like twilight--completely different. Just keep writing and dont worry about any other books out there! Everbodys book will always have elements found in other books, just the way it goes

I had someone who beta'd my book tell me that it reminded them of Twilight and it nearly gave me a heart attack. Not because I'd read Twilight and hated it, I hadn't even heard of it when she told me this, but my friend/beta was gushing over the book so much that I had to do some research. Well I saw all these fan sites and internet buzz about it so when my friend sent it to me, I had anxiety about reading it. What if it was like my book, my unpublished book? Should I just scrap this world that I'd created and loved because something else out there was like it?

I was pleased to see that there is NOTHING remotely similar in my book. My book isn't even about vampires! So for a long time I wondered why the heck my friend said that my book reminded her of Twilight? But then she told me that she loved Twilight and thought that I would see the comparison as a compliment. NOT! She had no clue that she'd caused be a few gray hairs and a possible ulcer. I guess my point is, if I'd simply given up on my book because I thought there was something out there that was wildly sucessful while my book lingered in the rough stages then I wouldn't have produced the best thing I've written to date. It doesn't matter if you have written a vampire novel when there are others out there. You may have a new twist on your Vampire...Stephenie Meyer did...her vampires sparkled.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

It's a catastrophic success!

It's a catastrophic success!

Deleted member 42

It's a catastrophic success!

no, really

Debut Urban Fantasy Author

Revolutionize the World

It's a catastrophic success!

Ma fin est mon commencement

I create people

:)

I create people

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

cant stop the voices

Not so new, not so much a kid

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.