Twilight

by Stephenie Meyer

Yes, it's time again for another review of a vampire novel. . .

17-year-old Bella has just moved from Arizona to Washington State to live with her father. Not much is going on in Forks, WA, but that will quickly change. Though she never says it (as the narrator of the story), Bella is beautiful (trite, I know), and all of the boys at her school are entranced. Except for one: the exceedingly handsome Edward Cullen. Edward, it appears, is repulsed by Bella, and that makes her even more interested in the lad. Well, as it turns out, Edward is a vampire (surprise, surprise), and Bella falls in love with him. And he struggles not to bring her over to the dark side. Teen angst and bloodsucking ensue.

I really wanted to like this novel. The first 200 or so pages are a tightly written and extremely compelling novel for young adults. Once Edward reveals his true identity to Bella (duh, who doesn't know that he's a vampire by that point?!), the story quickly deteriorates into a bad teenage vampire drama. How disappointing. I may just have to go back to Laurell K. Hamilton!

3/26/06