Is the Twilight Series worth beginning?

[owenwheeler]

I'm debating as to whether I should Twilight and delve into the entire series.  I recently finished the Sword of Truth Series (got progressively worse imo), and am about finished with the Earthsea Cycle.  I have heard that the Twilight series is the new HP, as far as compelling story and being impossible to put down.  Any guidance?

[Nelsmom]

You will get a lot of opions on this series.  I would suggest that you read the comments on the threads already started.  For me I liked her book The Host alot better than the Twilight series.  I am refusing to get the last book in the series because I just didn't care for the others.  They were good but just not as good as most books like that that I have read.  I felt she did a much better job with The Host.

Toni

[Shurtugal]

I Would reccomend at least reading the first book and seeing if it's something you would like to continue. I wasn't goin to read them until my girlfriend got me to start it and i was surprised to find that the first one, Twilight, is acutally really good. Im about to start New Moon, but im waiting until after Brisingr comes out and i read that first before i start it or the rest of the twilight series..  who knows maybe you will really love it. but i would definatly reccomend at least reading the first, be patient with it and see what you think after the first.

OH and by the way, what did you think of the earthsea books??

[amberrenee81]

Even though Twilight and HP are both massively popular, they're totally apples to oranges.  HP has these themes of good vs. evil on a large, whole-wizard-world way, and notions about the power of love and strength of friendship, and Twilight is not written that way.

There is some good vs. evil, some right vs. wrong moral stuff in there, but Twilight and its sequels are supernatural romance all the way.  The drama inside Twilight is the way the main characters feel about and relate to each other, an the supernatural stuff is just on top of that.  I hope that all makes sense- I recommend Twilight, if only just to see what all the fuss is about, but that series really is much more light romance reading. 

[FantasyFan]

I absolutly loved the Twilight series. I read the whole series in a month. Especially the first 2, I highly recomend them. They are very easy reads. I also agree with you about the Sword of Truth series. I had to stop at book 5.

[Eneri009]

I agree that you should give the first book a try. See if it's for you as for myself I loved the books. I have read all of the series and enjoyed reading what happens to the characters. I'm kind of hoping she might do spin offs to some of the many interesting characters especially Breaking Dawn.

[darkshines]

I would absolutely recommend Twilight!  I was never a big reader (I wanted to be, but I get distracted so easily).  I picked up Twilight after seeing it at the bookstore & reading the description.  I sat down planning on reading a couple of chapters and ended up reading the entire book in one day.  It is a truly amazing series and I've been recommending it to everyone.  I ended up reading each of the books in a day (each) - even the final book in the series, Breaking Dawn (I was up until 4:30 am - it is 700+ pages long - but SO worth it).  Now I'm an avid reader (I was missing so much) & have even gone back & read the books multiple times (I just can't help myself).  Delve into the Cullen world - you won't regret it!

 

[Pantsparty]

That's exactly where I was. I haven't read much at all because I am still recovering from nursing school However, a friend of mine persuaded me to read Twilight, and I had the entire series finished in about 4 days. I have since gone back to read the entire series again, and I'm sure that won't be the last time (ok ok..I know it won't be the last. I've already had my nose in them again!) The books are easy reads, and I think Stephenie Meyer does a fantastic job in pulling the reader into the story. I definitely recommend reading this series. Atleast try Twilight, and go from there

[luciadelabyss]

It depends on a couple things, actually. They are well written books with believable characters. They are set in the senior year of high school,. so there is quite a bit of romantic drama. Meyer has an interesting alternate take on vampires that allows them to be out in daylight. She has lots of back story for the vampire clan in the beginning, which makes them seem like real people and not stereotypes. Meyer must be around teenagers constantly, because her dialogue reads conpletely authentic. I am middleaged, and this story took me back so clearly to my teen years! The story has attracted several of my friends who don't like vampires in general; one friend in medical school bought the entire set and finished them in about 10 days. Another friend who manages a movie theater is finally reading them since her entire crew (guys too) have been passing the books around for weeks! As long you don't mind reading from the teenage perspective, complete with anxiety, tears, and romantic drama, the books are really good! The buzz on whether Meyer is the "next Rowling" is interesting, specifically because one of the actors from the HP world will be in the Twilight movie. Robert Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory, is playing Edward Cullen..the main male lead.

[docsnurse1962]

The Twilight Saga Series is ABSOLUTELY worth reading!! I and my coworker had a very difficult time putting the books down.  I received the series on Monday and started on Tuesday we both were done reading ALL four by Sunday!!  I am not a teenager by anymeans and my coworker is in her early 20's.  Edward and Bella are totally captivating. Though I believe a 5th book IS in order to bring Renee into the story more and her reactions.  We absolutely LOVE these books.

[paulgoatallen]

Aside from all of the comments about actual content, I think this series is worth reading from a historical persopective alone. I mean, no one can argue that these four novels helped to redefine YA fiction – and dark fantasy for that matter. Reading books like these that are such landmarks works, I think, helps the reader to gain invaluable insights into other comparable works, genre trends, etc.  For that reason alone, I would suggest reading them... I mean how can you have a comprehensive discussion about, say, vampire fiction, if you haven't read the Twilight saga? 

Paul 

[nano]

No.  Not unless you're in high school.  The Host was good but The Twilight series is a Nancy Drew kind of series.  I really couldn't get in to the life and feelings of a high school girl so I never made it past the first book.  Read Jim Butcher's Dresden series.

[Anthrogrl]

I recommend checking the books out from your local library, or borrow a copy from a friend before buying them.

I read Twilight, and while I felt that Meyer gave a fresh spin on the vampire genre, I just wasn't impressed enough to continue the rest of the series.

My biggest pet-peeve with the book was Bella's character; it was very Mary-Sue (I mean, her name is Bella Swann!) and she seemed too perfect; I didn't feel like she was a real person.  To be fair, I'm neither a fan of vampires stories nor of contemporary romance, and this series is aimed at teens/pre-teens.  As a woman in my twenties, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

If you're looking for a good vampire novel, try Stephen King's Salem's Lot.

I feel that the Harry Potter series is more suited to adult tastes, and is much more original.  Ignore all of the hype from the movies; the HP series is actually extremely good.

[Paula717]

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paulgoatallen wrote:

Aside from all of the comments about actual content, I think this series is worth reading from a historical persopective alone. I mean, no one can argue that these four novels helped to redefine YA fiction – and dark fantasy for that matter. Reading books like these that are such landmarks works, I think, helps the reader to gain invaluable insights into other comparable works, genre trends, etc.  For that reason alone, I would suggest reading them... I mean how can you have a comprehensive discussion about, say, vampire fiction, if you haven't read the Twilight saga? 

Paul 

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I totally agree Paul. I enjoyed them. It was an interesting story, about vampires (always a plus), easy to read and romantic (which I'm a sucker for).

As someone suggested earlier, read the first one and go from there.

[AGN]

I liked the Host better as well, which surprised me.  When I started the Twilight series, I got through them quickly.  With the host I read 50+ pages and couldn't get into it.  Later I decided to give it a second go and loved it.  One of the reasons I am a horrible library person unless I love the book from the start.

[Belle_Papillon]

The Twilight series is not "original" at all.  The premise of the book is a total ripoff of Charlaine's Harris Sookie Stackhouse series.  Stephenie Meyer was obviously a big fan of it and decided to set it to a H.S scene.  She appeals to most non-readers in that her writing style is that of a Highschooler which is who it's written for.  I am a huge fan of vampire books and I only got past the first couple chapters of twilight before I had to stop reading.  Vampire's that glitter in the sun??? What kind of craziness is that?????

Read the Sookie Stackhouse series instead.  You'll thank me for it later.

[Piscean_Wolf_L…]

Ok here's my opinion about each book:

1- I LOVED TWILIGHT! The first book of the series is [in my opinion] is wonderful, the best! It is well writen, good suspense. It introduced the charaters well, explaining the personalities of the main characters [the movie and the book are two DIFFERENT things, beleive me], but what I loved the most was the ending. I really liked it.

2- I hated New Moon, it was well written but the characters pissed me off, especially Bella and Edward. I couldn't identify with any of them. I really couldn't. I don't understand how someone [supernatual or not] could act the way they did.

3- Eclipse..I did not like the plot, I think that she just wanted to write a 3rd book.

4- Breaking Dawn....just kill me...seriously just kill me....the ending was TOOO perfect for my taste.

5- Midnight Sun [which is a partial book], I loved because it was Twilight but in Edward's POV. I truly loved it but you'll be frustrated because it stops when it starts getting good!!

In Summary, Stephanie Meyer should have stoped with Twilight while adding more chapters.

Remember this is my personal opinion...

[heybaby]

I read Twilight  last week to see what the talk was about. It is not an awful book at the same time I did not think it was all that great. Maybe for teenage girls. I am unsure if I will complete the series at this time. There is to many other books I want to read. If you have read The Host the books differ completly. I would personally read The Twilight Series.

[krb2g]

I found the series to be such a quick read that it wasn't a huge time commitment to read it. That said, the writing wasn't particularly memorable, Bella made me cringe (both because she's such an empty husk [the only thing I felt like I knew about her, besides how Edward is the most beautiful/perfect man alive, was that she's clumsy] and because she obstinately refuses to consider anything but becoming a vampire housewife), and the plot was at first predictable and then weird in disappointing ways (at least for me). Definitely check them out of the library or borrow them from a friend first, and if the first one doesn't grab you, then don't feel compelled to read the rest (I think the first was the most satisfying).

[latingirl808]

you are right about host being a better book than twilight series but i for enjoyed the twilight series  but before i got the host i had already read twilight ....but on my opinon i think u should read breaking done it has a lot more to than you think