I rest my case... The kids, adults too, love it!

I haven't read Twilight yet, but I watched the movie this weekend and fell in love with the soundtrack. I'm already an Iron & Wine fan and was delighted to hear a song of theirs that I hadn't yet heard. Beautiful, poetic lyrics, I tell you. I've been listening to the Twilight soundtrack this evening as I re-edit chapters 1, 2, and 3. Mostly 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth', though. CHECK...IT...OUT! Stunning.     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBHfwWpV … re=related

I'm with you, Angel: I'm gonna buy the soundtrack and the DVD as well. Check out the song Full Moon by The Black Ghosts, too, when you get a chance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zGpWI8q … re=related

I read the first two all the way through and the first hundred pages of "Eclipse." I enjoyed the story of the first book, but the writing made me want to pull my hair out (but I didn't have any, so I just kept reading). By the time I got to the third book, I realized that Bella, as a character, was weak and did nothing but cause trouble for herself and the other characters. She seemed to be the perpetual "damsel in distress," and when she didn't evolve much (at all) by the third book, I gave up on it. Meyer's writing is atrocious, but then I dislike any writing style that relies on adverbs and telling instead of creative evocative images. Bella was weak, Edward was a good-looking vampire...that's the story in one line! There's not much more to it. When it comes to female protagonists, I much prefer a Buffy the Vampire Slayer or an Anita Blake. I want ANY protagonist to do more to help him/herself than do the other characters in the tale.

Most agents and editors will admit that the quality of writing for the YA market is nowhere near where it needs to be fore the adult market (usually). Most readers in general don't know what goes into crafting good fiction. They just know when they "like" something. That's even more true when it comes to juvenile fiction. To someone who has practiced and practiced their narrative voice, reading Twilight can be pure agony. It's truly the concept of the story that makes a discerning reader continue, much like "The Da Vinci Code." Because of that series, it will be difficult for me to ever respect her work should she decide to write more REAL adult fiction. "The Host" is just Twilight with a twenty-something protagonist.

D.L. Rankin wrote:

Most agents and editors will admit that the quality of writing for the YA market is nowhere near where it needs to be fore the adult market (usually). Most readers in general don't know what goes into crafting good fiction. They just know when they "like" something. That's even more true when it comes to juvenile fiction. To someone who has practiced and practiced their narrative voice, reading Twilight can be pure agony. It's truly the concept of the story that makes a discerning reader continue, much like "The Da Vinci Code." Because of that series, it will be difficult for me to ever respect her work should she decide to write more REAL adult fiction. "The Host" is just Twilight with a twenty-something protagonist.

Totally agree.  As the novel I'm writing is in the YA genre, I tend to read alot of YA.  I loved Twilight, although I did find Bella weak and often selfish.  The first time I read it I loved it, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, but on the second round of reading the series (I had since joined this forum) I couldn't help but notice the writing itself.  The 'he muttered' etc started to grate on me.  As I said before I love the Twilight series, but I've since found other YA books 'City of Ashes' & 'Wicked Lovely' etc which I do think are well written.  However, in a few of the books I've been reading I've noticed mistakes such as the entirely wrong word being used such as 'he made his way across that path' instead of 'he made his way across the path.  And there was me thinking my work had to be perfect when submitting.  xxx

I must confess to the guilty pleasure I received in reading the Twilight series. I never really tried to figure out why, I just did and I left it at that. I love to write and I want to write well, but I have to give kudos to Stephanie Meyer for doing it, finishing it, selling it and touching the nerve of millions upon millions...wouldn't mind her bank account either at this point. The way I've always looked at books is that there are writers and there are story tellers; Stephanie, like Clive Cussler and Dan Brown are marvelous story tellers and I'll always enjoy the escape even with the faulty craftsmanship. In times like ours, that kind of escape is precious - just like the "B" movies in the 1930's and 40's when people suffering the depression and WWII left their worlds behind for a couple of hours.

Like the book or don't like the book...either way whoever wrote that review is an asshole!!

I admit ive read the whole series. When i'm reading i dont tend to notice the writing unless its a blaringly obvious mistake (unfortunalty noticed a few in the true blood series thus far haha). I'm not good with grammar or spelling so that tend to help me not getting distracted by it... even if it makes it harder for my own writing.

The series i thought flowed really well and was easy to polish off in a bit over a week. The ending of breaking dawn kinda irritated me - i dont lke endings where EVERYTHING is perfect and happily ever after! Jacob, bella, edward, the family, her dad, the baby, the other vampires, the other werewolves, EVERYONE gets exactly what they want - yeah right -.-

also - what the hell is with vampires sparkling?!?!?!

I personally got hooked on the books as the way she describes her love to edward (the power of it not her utter submission and uselessness) is how i feel about my partner. As much as he has done things to hurt me - including moving out on me recently - with no warning - and after 2 years and me moving states to be with him - i still cannot tell him to piss off. i was pissed at him and have serious issues we need to work out now but i just love him too much.

Thats why i personally liked the books - i related to the love.

The whineyness, uselessness, clumsyness, patheticness, and weakness of bella drove me nuts. Edward doesnt deserve vampire status. and everything was too happy happy.