Synopsis

When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town.

But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family. These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella.

Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away - until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car.

Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward’s coldness. He, and his family, are vampires - and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.

What the Critics Say

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Twilight is an incredibly intense love story between 17 year old Bella and Edward, the irresistable vampire. The writing is very intricate and draws you into their world and emotions. You will want the story to never end.

Most teenage girls will be able to identify with Bella; she is neither your airhead bimbo, nor the most beautiful girl in the world. She is just a very likeable and interesting teenager with awful hand leg coordination. Edward is a brilliant character - one whom every girl will envy Bella for; he is perfect and yet his perfection does not make the book cheesy, overly soppy or unbelievable.

And while Twilight is definitely their story, Meyer hasn't ignored the other characters - we hear their stories, feel their emotions and are able to identify with most. Of course identifying with vampires or werewolves isn't easy. The beauty of Twilight is the seamless fusion of fantasy with real world situations and emotions - you know that vampires don't exist, that the story you are reading is a fantasy and yet so real are the characters and their emotions that you get swept away by them.
Twilight is essentially a novel that concentrates on characters and emotions, more than the plot. Meyer has come up with some interesting ideas about the world of vampires but if you like mushy romances or fast paced thrillers then look elsewhere. Similarly, if horror flicks is what you need then try an R.L. Stine, Stephen King or V.C. Andrews. The fact that this is a vampire story does not mean it is designed for horror fans.

This book, the first of a four part series by Meyer, will be a most enjoyable read for girls aged between 12 and 25, especially those who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. If you're looking for a romance with depth, one that will stay with you for a long time, then this is the book for you.

Additional Information

Twilight was initially rejected by 14 agents, but became an instant bestseller when published originally in hardback in 2005, debuting at #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list within a month of its release and later peaking at #1. That same year, Twilight was named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of 2005. The novel was also the biggest selling book of 2008 and, to date, has sold 17 million copies worldwide, spent over 91 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list,and been translated into 37 different languages.

Read more about this novel at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(novel)