What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, while very mild by the standards
of its genre, this is a vampire romance, so there is talk about
blood and romantic kissing, as well as one battle with bloody
injuries.
Families can talk about the view of vampirism here. It sounds
like a one-way ticket to superhero powers -- what's the
downside? Why is Edward reluctant to let Bella become one? Why,
aside from her love for Edward, might Bella want it?
This is the downside to Harry Potter. Before J. K. Rowling smashed the page limits to smithereens, no publisher in their right mind would have allowed this book to be nearly 500 pages. It would have been cut down substantially, and it would have been a better story for it.
This incredibly long book is really two books. The first two-thirds is a fairly engrossing, if not terribly imaginative, vampire romance, with lots of smoldering eyes, palpitating hearts, mood swings, and a nice touch of fantasy. Then in the final third it turns into an action-thriller, as another vampire sets his sights on Bella.
Despite its length it is very readable, though it's all too easy to read a hundred pages, enjoy it, and then not be able to remember anything that actually happened. The vampires are not only presented sympathetically, but with their amazing superhero-ish powers, spectacular looks, and hipster style, they make vampirism seem like a sensible and appealing lifestyle choice -- though they would certainly fit in better in Soho than in Forks, WA. Still, it's mostly good fun, and passes the time pleasantly.
This incredibly long book is really two books. The first two-thirds of TWILIGHT is a fairly engrossing, if not terribly imaginative, vampire romance, with lots of smoldering eyes, palpitating hearts, mood swings, and a nice touch of fantasy. Then in the final third it turns into an action-thriller, as another vampire sets his sights on Bella.
Despite its length it is very readable, though it's all too easy to read a hundred pages, enjoy it, and then not be able to remember anything that actually happened. The vampires are not only presented sympathetically, but with their amazing superhero-ish powers, spectacular looks, and hipster style, they make vampirism seem like a sensible and appealing lifestyle choice -- though they would certainly fit in better in Soho than in Forks, Washington. Still, it's mostly good fun, and passes the time pleasantly.
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