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Book Review of Twilight (Twilight, Bk 1)

Twilight (Twilight, Bk 1)
GeniusJen avatar reviewed on + 5322 more book reviews


Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com

I have always been a sucker for vampire stories. Get it? Sucker? Vampires? Okay, enough with the bad puns, you get the idea. So when the woman who ran our school district's Scholastic Book Fair recommended TWILIGHT to me, I was intrigued. And when I cracked open a copy, I went from intrigued, to engrossed, to breathless with anticipation in a matter of about ten minutes. This is a fantastic book!

TWILIGHT is to blame for me walking around like a zombie for a week because I stayed up way too late every night reading it. TWILIGHT almost made me wish I was back in high school - but only if my high school were filled with unnaturally beautiful vampires, and one was fangs-over-heels in love with me. TWILIGHT is the reason I read fiction: it's a wonderful new story that sparks my imagination and transports me to another time and place. Have I mentioned that I love this book?

The plot in a nutshell is that seventeen-year-old Isabella Swan reluctantly moves to the rainy town of Forks, Washington. She soon discovers that in addition to the boring locals, there is also a family of vampires attending her high school. They are taking classes, driving too fast, and avoiding the cafeteria food, just like real teenagers. Since Bella is a magnet for trouble, she attracts the eye of one extraordinarily handsome vampire. It isn't long before she's smack in the middle of the vampire nest.

Described like this, TWILIGHT might not seem extraordinary, but it is. The way the story unfolds and the feel of the gray, cloudy setting really roped me in. I like the characters - I understand what makes them tick. Furthermore, this book's unique take on vampire lore is intriguing. I also enjoyed the humor that was sprinkled into what might otherwise have been a fairly serious love story.

This a well fleshed-out story that I highly recommend. But don't pick up TWILIGHT during finals week or when you're resting up before piloting a transcontinental airline flight. Accept the fact that you won't get any sleep until you've finished this whole, thick book. Then dive in and enjoy!