Twilight

Ah yes, the phenomenon that has kicked all other romance tales in the face, has produced an ongoing string of vampire novels (almost making its own genre), and has given the world a new appreciation for feared and deadly mythical creatures.

"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."

Bella Swan moves from the dry and sunny Phoenix to the gloomy and continuously wet Forks where she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen. With his porcelain skin, eyes that change colour, mesmerising voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. But Bella can see that he is harbouring some deep and dark secret, and she is determined to find out what that is. But what Bella doesn't realise is that the closer she gets to Edward, the more she is putting herself and those around her in danger. Now it might be too late to turn back...

I only read these books solely because they were international best-sellers and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I honestly don't understand what makes the Twilight saga so impressive. The books provide no challenge as far as reading them is concerned. Stephanie Meyer uses prose and I will give her credit for having characters that actually speak proper English and no cyber-language or ridiculous and made-up words, which is how most teenagers seem to speak in the present.

This book was purely an introduction to the characters, the setting, and to the situation that is the driving force behind the other three books. Really, it's just a love story, so I can sort of understand why it has made such a splash with the female portion of the world's population. There is a sort of dream-like quality that manifests itself in the writing. Using copious amounts of words and devices such as similes to describe something simple or small. The imagery that the book portrays is quite lovely. So I'll give you that.

And now the books are being made into films, so there is obviously something appealing about them, though I personally can't see what it is. Twilight was a fairly simple read that you could easily go through within two weeks.