A few short hours after announcing that Twilight would definitely be my first book in the R.I.P. Challenge, I finished it. According to my records, I did indeed start it on September 1, so without realizing, I wasn’t even cheating a little bit on the challenge!
I read Twilight based on a recommendation from my daughter. I have to admit I’m a little surprised it turned out to be her cup of tea. Twilight is the story of Bella, who moves in with her father to Forks, Washington in order to allow her mother to follow her baseball-player husband on away-game trips. She immediately notices good-looking Edward Cullen and his beautiful siblings — they keep to themselves and are considered mysterious by the rest of the students. Edward notices Bella, too. In a relatively short period of time, Bella is sure of three things: “First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him — and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”
Twilight is aimed at a teen audience, but I believe fans of vampire fiction of all ages would enjoy this suspenseful book. My daughter devoured the book in less than 24 hours, and while I didn’t tear through it that fast, I have to admit that a 498-page book usually takes me a bit longer to read when the beginning of a school year is in full swing. The book is the first in a series including New Moon and Eclipse. The book is fresh, telling some of the familiar parts of the vampire story without being derivative. I think the novel would appeal to fans of vampire fiction as well as those who usually don’t read that sort of book. All of us can relate to Bella’s feelings about being the new girl and crushing on the handsome boy. I really enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequels, too.
[tags]twilight, stephenie meyer, literature, review, fiction, vampire, books, r.i.p. challenge[/tags]
I think this is a really great cross-over title. I think this is a YA novel with definite appeal to adults. I think many YA titles have adult appeal if I'm being honest. But this one especially. I agree that this is a vampire book for those that aren't necessarily vampire fans. I read it in 2005, upon the recommendation of a friend, and even though it wasn't "my cup of tea"–I'd never even considered reading a vampire book–I fell in love with it immediately. I did devour it in one night, one sitting.
I think you're right about many YA books having adult appeal. I never really stopped reading them altogether, partly because I'm a teacher, but partly because they are pretty good, quick reads, and I don't think many people give them the credit they're due. 🙂
My daughter raves about this series. When I get my hands on her copy, I plan on reading it for the First of Series Challenge that starts in January. I really enjoy most young adult books that I've read. So I'm excited about this one.
Hi Dana,
I recently finished the first 3 books in the Twilight series (I also devoured Twilight in one evening!) which I bought to add to my classroom library and was pleasantly surprised as well. It's just really great character-driven fiction and I think the students will really enjoy it for Bella's "realness" and Meyer's ability to somehow make a story so fantastic and UNbelievable totally believable in the end. The other two books are awesome as well and I'm eagerly awaiting book 4, which comes out in May of 2008.
I really loved this book when i read it. And its sequel. But Eclipse isn't out over here yet, so I've a bit of waiting to do before I get around to reading that one 🙂
Oooh, happy to hear you enjoyed Twilight – it's one of my favourites. 🙂