In Defense of The Twilight Series

 

Just for the record, I am by no means suggesting that the Twilight Series is the best book series ever. In fact, in my opinion, it isn't. But I am merely suggesting that it isn't as bad as many have played it out to be.
Based off of my observations, the only people who are quick to judge the series are those who have not even read them or have just watched the movies. The movies are not much like the book. Sure, they have the same characters and follow a similar plot line, in reality, the books have rich imagery and profound points that, quite frankly, are not in the movies. Therefore, the movies should not play apart in criticizing the book series.
First of all, the Twilight series helped changed the idea of vampires. Now, some would say that that's a bad thing. I admit, this new idea of vampires is a bit a stretch but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with that. Meyer took the horrific, deadly vampire from Dracula that usually shows up in our nightmares and shed a positive light on it. This new breed of vampires (ones that posses super speed, strength, and the ability to read minds) are fascinating. Whether it was intentional or not, the author shows how one should reject stereotypes and common beliefs.
Bella is an extremely relatable character. Just like me (and many others) Bella loves books. Her fascination with literature brings her to life. Like the common person, Bella battles insecurities and feelings that she doesn't belong. The reader can't help but want to sympathize with her and relate to the way she feels like she's  not extraordinary.
The Twilight series shows what it means to be a family. It is heartwarming to see how the Cullens act around each other. Many Cullens were adopted into the family but their endless support and care for one another prove that you do not need to be blood to be a family.
There is more to the plot line then a love story. I have nothing against love stories but I have to admit that eventually they can get boring. Lucky for me, there are many other points of interest. The Volturi are a fascinating group of vampires and I can easily imagine them having their own series. One can imagine what will happen to Bella's mom, her friends, and all the other minor characters. These great backstories are insightful and can make those who hate romance novels a bit more interested.
Many would say that the ending of the series was anti-climatic. Not really, sure there was no finale type end but it was realistic. Why would a group of the most powerful vampires (Volturi) want to waste their time fighting? I'm not sure if this is want the author wanted to do but she shows how war and fighting are not worth it. The Cullen's and Volturi's agreement suggests that there are better ways to sort out an argument.
Stephenie Meyer gives an honest portrayal of first love. Bella and Edward's love was awkward and sweet. It wasn't glamorized like it can be in the movies and other books. There were heartbreaks and misunderstandings but everything resolved itself with time. This type of honesty is a breathe of fresh air.
The Twilight series is a relaxing series to read. One does not need to grab a dictionary or analyze each line and there is no tough symbolism to work out. It reduces stress by allowing the reader a break from everything else.
Lastly, the author masterfully conveys very prominent topics and ideas of today through the eyes of a teenage girl. These topics include marriage, abortion, adoption, first love, mortality, family, friendships, dreams and temptations.
Although it is not the best written, there are many exciting and cleverly throughout portions in the Twilight series that make it deserved to be read.

To see my review of Twilight, click here :http://fancycheesebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/09/twilight-by-stephanie-meyer.html

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hazel wants a life beyond her cancer. But no matter how much she tries to escape it, it never lets her forget. Against her will, Hazel continues to return to the support group, which is really a group of people who talk about their stories. For once, her attention is caught. Augustus Waters stole her attention. Living her dreams, falling in love, Hazel can't remember the last time she felt this way. But she knows what she is; she's a grenade. Is risking the happiness of her loved ones worth preserving her new found joy?
I loved the idea of a novel being able to change your life. In The Fault in Our Stars, An Imperial Affliction changed Gus's and Hazel's life just as The Fault in Our Stars has changed mine and many others' lives. I am happy that there is a book out there with such an honest and witty voice. Hazel's point of view was original and memorable. This novel was more than just a sob story but rather a bright and exciting awakening.
The characters in this novel are the most memorable characters I have ever read. By the end of the novel, I felt as though I have known these characters for years rather than the few days I spent reading this novel. I hated to see the novel end because I knew it would mean that I was not going to be able to listen to Hazel and laugh with Isaac. These characters were perfect in every way. I still think about what Augustus would say every now and then. Even though they necessarily are not real people, they were incredibly realistic.

 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Ten strangers are invited to an exclusive island by a mysterious U.N. Owen. One by one the guests start dying just as a certain poem predicts. This U.N. Owen knows all there secrets and is using it against them. The smallest mistake can lead to death. The pasts that the guests are desperately trying to forget seem to be following them everywhere they go. All the remaining guests are starting to panic, which one of them is going to die next and which one has any information about the twisted millionaire?
The plot is incredibly well thought-out. In most mystery novels, the suspect is relatively obvious but definitely not in this one. I was left guessing until the very last second. Unlike most mysteries, the story wraps up well and leaves no questions and loose strings. The ending was heart-stoppingly suspenseful. My favorite part of this novel was the setting. The island provided an excellently scary and suspenseful environment to match the plot.
The characters were each unique but were all connected in the sense that they all committed murder that was untouched by the law. All ten characters were clearly well-thought-out and had interesting backstories that were just as well-planned as the rest of this story. All of the characters could have been the murderer. Although all characters were deep and were constantly changing, the most mysterious one was U.N. Owen. After it was revealed that his name was a play on the word "unknown", I grew extremely excited about finding out who he was.

Full-Ride by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Becca Jones is the daughter of a criminal. She and her mother have decided to leave their old home behind and start fresh in a place where no one knows their past. No one seems to suspect a thing with her mother's careful decisions and her father's lawyer's help. Becca feels almost normal. Of course she doesn't have a Facebook account, cell phone, or the big mansion she used to live in but things could have been worse. She could have had to stay at her old house where everyone was judging her. As she begins to adapt to her new life, she starts to plan for the future. But going to college might dig up her past and Becca isn't sure she wants to risk it.

The overall plot was extremely original and I don't recall reading many thrillers with this kind of theme. I would have liked the ending to be wrapped up better rather than the cliffhanger I was given but other than that, the ending was perfect. The pace of the story was great for the most part but about two-thirds of the way through it got a bit slow and then suddenly in the end the pace picked up instantly.
Becca and her mother seemed to be rather boring and somewhat stale characters in the beginning but slowly began to grow and change. Her father was the most interesting character in the story. This is probably largely due to the fact that everything happened because of his actions. He had a complex personality that was much more difficult to understand than Becca's and her mother's. Becca's friends add a bit of personality into the story but sometimes feel as though they are present purely to add suspense and fill up the plot.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Susie Salmon has died. But no one knows how or who killed her. The only evidence comes when a dog uncovers her elbow. No matter how much her family is trying to deny it, they can't shake of the feeling that maybe Susie is actually gone and never coming back. Soon they begin to accept the truth but not easily. The next thing Susie knows, her entire family is falling apart not to mention all the pain her former friends are in. Lindsey, her little sister, is tired of all the negative attention she's been getting. Her mother is confused as to what she wants in life now. Her father doesn't want to let go of all the memories. And her little brother has no idea as to what's going on. Will both Susie and her family finally move on?

The overall plot was kind of unclear in the beginning. But as the story progressed the main plot seemed to be the journey that everyone close to Susie took after she died. The main theme of the story is rather intense which can make it seem unappealing at times. The tone was also extremely intense at the beginning and even though it started to mild out eventually, the echo remained even after the story was over. Overall, I thought the book was great.
Susie was an average main character. There were times were you forgot about her and the significance of her being the narrator of the story. The secondary characters were the most important and relatable. Some of these characters include Lindsey, Susie's mother, Susie's grandmother, Samuel and Susie's father.