When Janalynn pulled out the cd's to listen to while driving on our anniversary I was somewhat intrigued. This book has taken off like wildfire and been read by seemingly every female on the planet. I guess a few guys have read it but it is certainly not something you are going to bring up while hitting a few balls at the driving range with the fellas. I wanted to know what the fascination is all about.
I have heard stuff like Edward really knows how to treat a girl, he is the perfect guy.
Apparently from the book's description he is the greatest looking guy ever. Which means of course that no one will successfully be able to play his part in the movie. Right off this is where I have problems. Perfect guy except he is really a hundred years old, controlling, pale white, moody, and lets not forget the most important thing of all...a vampire. Now I will give Meyer some credit here, she writes the story in a way that makes this unlikely couple seem probable. However, I could never buy into it, it just didn't make sense.
First off why would a mature person (100 years old) want to hang out with a 16 year old drama queen? This just never worked for me. Okay yea, I get it he likes her smell, that is very well documented as Meyer points this out again and again to give credence to their relationship, however, I don't care how young Edward looks, I work with teenagers, I have them at home as well, I know their maturity level, or complete lack thereof. Teenage girls are the most irrational, emotional, immature beings on our planet. Why would the seemingly most attractive, talented, 100 year old person want a relationship with one? Don't give me the garbage that she smells good either. I could never get past that, it just didn't make sense to me.
Secondly I don't get the fascination with Edward. I have also heard that all guys need to read this to learn how to treat women. This is preposterous. First off he stalks her in the beginning of the story. Is this really what you want, a guy stalking you? He lies to her, but that's okay because he is protecting her. Oh and deep down he wants to suck her blood--that's highly romantic. He is pale white and has dark circles around his eyes--yet somehow that is a turn on. I guess if you are into that gothic/emo crap. He is very controlling--I guess you would have to be w/a teenager but still he is nearly as moody as she is.
Enough about Edward who actually is the most compelling character in the book, much more than the girl who falls for. The reader says her name so annoyingly that I came to dread hearing her say, "Bell-A" it drove me nuts. Perhaps that biased me against her, or perhaps it was just her character. I found her to be annoying at times, whiney, moody, and immature.
To be fair I was okay with most of the book until the stupid baseball game. To me that was just silly and wannabe Harry Potter Quidditch. Let's just say it was not, Quidditch was cool, this was not.
Then there was the ending part of the book with James the regular vampire who wanted to get Bella's blood. The plan they came up with to deal with this guy was so ridiculous I had to reread it cause it didn't make any sense. And then it ended at the prom. Don't even get me started. The ending was a major disappointment for me.
To be fair Meyer created a cool twist (the vegetarian vamps) on a tired theme. The book is well read by girls and women everywhere so she found her niche. I also get that the book is for teens and not on a higher level. So perhaps my criticism of the irrational thinking is a bit harsh. But for a guy it just doesn't work. We don't like to read about heroines. I know it sounds misogynistic, but it is just the truth. And getting the story from the girl's point of view has zero intrigue for me.
Overall it was about what I thought it would be, but I have to admit I was disappointed I didn't like it more, but then again it makes sense cause I don't have any friends telling me I need to read it. I guess I have to realize that it is a book written for young adults and for girls at that. I know many of you have read the book and like it, but now you have a guy's opinion on the book.
8 comments:
Hey Jared... I found your blog through Covili's. Shoot me an e-mail when you get a chance or check out my blog. I look forward to catching up.
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You have only met 1/2 the characters. The warewolves come in the second book and are awesome! I personally am a Jacob fan. He really knows how to treat a woman. He is a warewolf. Now that you have started to give a fair judgement you really need to finish the other books. I'm not going to tell you that you will like it like women do but I think you will like the other books better.
By the way she is writing the book from Edward's point of view. The first chapter is on her website. Perhaps you will find that more your style.
Actually I am glad to hear that. I like different points of view. It is the one thing I wish JK Rowling would have done. I have heard all about Jacob, but I don't know if I can bring myself to read more. It is Bella who bugs and she is the main character.
Awesome book review! I had the same problems with it, she's so whiny and dramatic and if I were a vampire, I'd sure as heck not want to hang out at high school all my life. Who wants to do that to themselves again? Also how attractive can kissing a guy who feels like cold marble be? Not very, I'd imagine.
I read some of the second book (peer pressure!) and was equally unimpressed. I also think it's really ridiculous for girls to compare their significant others to characters in a book.
It's no surprise that I agree with you. We've had this conversation already, but I thought I'd leave a supporting comment. I can't stand Bella. She is a whiny, needy twit. I read all three of the books. I agree with Erin in that the second book is actually more interesting with the werewolves. The second book also has the best ending. That said, the books are a bag of chips - kinda fun but no nutritional value whatsoever. I have no interest in reading the fourth. (But I did read one through three, so Meyer got me to do that. I have to concede there.)One more thing - from the get go I also couldn't get over the age difference. It makes me gag a bit. And please, what mother is going to believe that her daughter got the crap beaten out of her because she fell down the stairs? C'mon Meyer, can't you do better than that? I'm going to have to copy you, Jared, and blog on this as well.
LOL Jared, I live with 2 bellas at my house. Love your book review, but still a fan of the series.
I totally agree with your book review (as well as the readers voice...we mocked it on our trip as well - and actually had to stop listening for awhile). I am a Jacob fan and an Alice fan...I don't like Edward at all nor the annoying Bella. The concept of the Vampires and the Werewolves is interesting and if you skip the Bella with the hole in her soul, the other books are interesting. And as Erin said, the chapter from Edward's point of view was more up my alley.
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