harry potter part deux?August 29, 2008 About six years ago, i finally succumbed to the hype and started reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone. About six DAYS ago, i bowed down to fangirls everywhere and picked up Twilight.
My thinking is that if even a few people love something THIS much; if so many can be so passionate about it; there's just got be SOMETHING special there, right? This logic is bolstered by my pleasant surprise and eventual love of that teen wizard,
So now its 2008 and the kids who grew up with Harry and Hermione and the lot have found a new love. They are flying away with their teenage urges and dark despairs; taking this romantic, dangerous journey.
So, everybody's more sophisticated now, right? We've all learned how adverbs practically DEFINE weak writing? We DEMAND technical proficiency and emotion-laden, economical, meaningful prose?
No. No. No. This book is horrendous. There are some good, imaginative ideas. There are a few nice descriptions.
But i don't think i have ever encountered a professional, published work of literature so in need of a good editor, or just ANY professional editor.
Here is a sentence i love for its insanity,: (page 8)
'Even the air filtered down greenly through the leaves.'
So, she's telling us that everything is green around them, all the trees and grass and everything. This sentence specifically attempts to say that the canopy of leaves acts as a filter allowing only green sunlight through.
Green light is shining on the scene. Air does not have a color. If it does, you might want to hold your breath.
However the literal meaning of the sentence is that virtually everything in the scene acts 'greenly.'This is probably the best example of an adverb's weakness and inability to truly describe anything meaningful in existence, if this word even does exist.
You do not do something greenly-YOU ARE GREEN.
virtually every page has a similar example of a muddled, unclear, underedited, first-draft quality sentence. This assassinates the flow of the story. Reading it is like getting random electric shocks of varying intensities.
ON THE SAME PAGE, Ms. Meyer writes 'It was a faded red color...' as if there were things in the world that could be red, but not as in the color red. Ya see, if something is a red color, then it IS RED. That's how you say it in English.
Anyway, i'm gonna be a lot more suspicious the NEXT time everybody thinks something is so great.
Better than The Vampire Chronicles (or just as good at least!)August 28, 2008 I was skeptical when I had purchased the saga, however, I was completely immersed in the story line. It is a wonderful, romantic tale that I just wasn't able to put down! Kudos to Stephanie Meyer & her fabulous characters! I am a huge Anne Rice fan, and I LOVE the Twilight Saga just as much, if not more!
Twilight - A Modern Day Fairy-Tale RomanceAugust 28, 2008 I can understand why so many individuals don't like this book. It's hard to get into, I understand that. Romance novels aren't for everyone. However, I strongly suggest that readers give this book a chance. With or without its fellow brethren (there are three other books in the series), this book entices readers to follow along page after page. Any reader could follow the story line of, and be content with, only the first Twilight Saga book, though I highly suggest picking up the remaining three. And while the story may be written with an audience of teenage girls in mind, it delivers to both teenage and adult readers alike. I realize that this isn't the first novel of its kind on the market, but it does bring a fresh breath to the sub-genre of vampire romance novels, and I highly recommend it.
Dazzled!August 28, 2008 Twilight is an excellent book. Edward is breathtaking. I fell in love with his character. I can't believe that he isn't real!! :) This book will leave you wanting more. Good thing there is a sequel!
Don't waste your time!August 28, 2008 This book is nothing but fluff. Bella's character takes the womens movement back 10 decades, with her constant damsel in ditress bit. Jane Austin wrote stronger female leads in the 19th century. Edward might as well have been made of stone. His one dimensional character is sooo boring, I could hardly keep my eyes open. As for the story itself...well, if you like to know every excrutiating detail of some boring girls life with some vampires thrown in the mix, then this book is for you.
