Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

Rating: 4 1/2

The first in this pleasantly surprising vampire series, Twilight is the story of Bella, an ordinary girl who moves to the seemingly dreary town of Forks in Washington State to live with her father. At high school, Bella finds herself to be quite the popular new girl, especially with some of the male students in her classes. But it is when she meets the Cullens that everything changes. Mysterious, reclusive and astonishing beautiful, the five Cullen students intrigue Bella, and she finds herself captivated by Edward and his strong reaction to her presence. When Edward impossibly saves Bella's life during an accident, she is determined to uncover the secret he is hiding from everyone. But she could not imagine how dark it is, and what she is letting herself in for.

I must admit that I was not expecting much from this series, having never shown much interest in any type of vampire fiction. But after all the fabulous reviews I have read on blogs and after watching the film trailer, I knew I'd have to read it soon. The fact that I went to the library and borrowed the second in the series before I'd even read the first shows how much I enjoyed it!

Twilight is not your typical Romeo and Juliet story, but is intense and tragic all the same. Meyer's description of vampires is interesting, almost scientific, with their eyes changing colour with hunger, and their bite is like a poison. Less glamourous perhaps, but a great deal more fitting in a story like this. I am fascinated by the Cullens and their individual pasts, especially Carlisle, and what would make him create such a family for himself, especially after what his life had been like. Some of the Cullens' stories are revealed slowly over the course of this book, and others in later parts of the series, but all with enough differences and enough heart to feel painfully real. Edward is suitably intense and beautiful, and it is hard to imagine anyone playing him in a film. As Bella herself often thinks, it isn't obvious why he would be so passionate about her, but that too in part is revealed over time. Twilight and its characters are very seductive but with enough doubt, mystery and action to keep anyone gripped. Its a good thing there are three more books after this one!

Other blog reviews:
Rhinoa's Ramblings
Naida at the bookworm