We sound very similar. I HATE all those things about Twilight that you mentioned, but there's even more to it. The fact that Bella does all the housework while her father watches sports on ESPN, the way that her father just found it funny when Jacob kissed her even though Bella was very upset, the way Jake plays with her feelings of feeling that she has to protect everyone by threathening to ill himself if she doesn't kiss him.

And words like "chuckle" and "chagrin" are overused all the time. And Bella is pretty much flawless. Sure, she's clumsy, but everyone finds that endearing. Edward overreacts all the time, and Ms. Meyer says so herself, and every character must have flaws, but Bella makes Edwards faults seem perfect. Therefore, his overreacting tendencies are seen as part of his perfection.

I haven't read them in a while now. I get too annoyed with the characters, but once in a while I get sucked into the story and have to tear myself away because I don't want to like them.

Cheers, from your equally Twilight-disoriented
Flo

i agree with you, i like how you started out all angry and ticked off, but the you got down and all calm. i personally have some of the same feelings about twilight, they are aggrivating but i am addicted to them. the same goes to harry potter.

I have to say, this is a very good essay and you make a very compelling case here. And it does make me want to pick up Twilight and give the book a shot, despite my negative feelings toward the series.

... However. There are just certain aspects of Twilight I can't get past. Yes, the sparkling is one thing but moreso is the fact that from what I caught of the movie, Edward seems to do a whole lot of angsting- so much that it stopped sounding like existential angst (which isn't a bad thing, by any means) and started to sound like... well, like whining.

Though, in all fairness, I'm probably also heavily prejudiced toward Anne Rice, as her Vampire Chronicles were my first exposure to the supernatural romance genre, to the point where I can't imagine any other writer or story being as good.

Very good essay. I can't stand Twilight either, but you bring to light several points that I hadn't realized before. Especially in your rave paragraphs about how and why Bella and Edward are attracted to each other. Great job!

Ein schöner, persönlicher Essay. Der Altersunterschied würde sich vielleicht nicht so bemerkbar machen, weil Edward sich nicht „altersgemäß“ verhält. Ich finde es eigentlich ganz erfrischen, dass der Mann schöner ist als die Frau (die dann aber sinnigerweise Bella heißt).
Ansonsten möchte ich mich den anderen Reviewern anschließen: rein vom Stil her sind die Bücher schlecht geshrieben. Das könntest du besser.

LG Franziska

The Sam/Leah v. Sam/Emily relationships are really good examples; somehow, I'd skimmed over that while reading the series. It's not right, the imprinting. In fact, I find it quite ironic because the series is based on choice; when imprinting, you have no choice.

The series wasn't well-written in my opinion. Meyer needs to refine her writing skills. Sure, she has the good story in mind but it's the way it comes across in writing that really matters.

It was a good essay though.

You listed a few of the reasons that those of us who dislike Twilight choose to do so, but you forgot the main one.

The purple prose in that series is a train wreck.

The story values style over substance.

Otherwise, I almost see what you mean, but the books are not written well.