Twilight (Meyer novel)

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Twilight
Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
Cover of Twilight
AuthorStephenie Meyer
Cover artistGail Doobinin (design)
Roger Hagadone (photograph)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesTwilight series
GenreYoung adult, Fantasy, Romance
PublisherLittle, Brown
Publication date
October 5, 2005
Media typePrint (Hardcover, Paperback)
e-Book (Kindle)
Audio Book (CD)
Pages512[1] (Hardcover)
544[2](Paperback)
ISBNISBN 0-316-16017-2 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
Followed byNew Moon 

Twilight is a young-adult vampire-romance novel written by author Stephenie Meyer. It was originally published in 2005 in hardback. It is the first book of the Twilight series, and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan who moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to Forks, Washington, and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. The novel is followed by New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.

Plot summary

Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie. She chooses to do this so that her mother, Renée, can travel with her new husband, Phil Dwyer, who is a minor league baseball player. Bella attracts much attention at her new school and is quickly befriended by several students. Much to her dismay, several boys in the school compete for shy Bella's attention.

When Bella sits next to Edward Cullen in class on her first day of school, Edward seems utterly repulsed by her. After tricking a family friend, Jacob Black, into telling her local tribal legends, Bella concludes that Edward and his family are vampires who drink the blood of animals, not humans. Edward reveals that he initially avoided Bella because the scent of her blood was so desirable to him. Over time, Edward and Bella fall in love.

Their relationship is thrown into chaos when another vampire coven sweeps into Forks and James, a tracker vampire, decides that he wants to hunt Bella for sport. The Cullens plan to distract the tracker by splitting up Bella and Edward, and Bella is sent to hide in a hotel in Phoenix. Bella then gets a phone call from James in which he says that he has her mother, and that Bella must give herself up to save her. She does so and James attacks her, but Edward, along with the rest of the Cullen family, rescues Bella before James can kill her. Once they realize that James has bitten Bella's hand, Edward sucks the venom out of her system before it can spread and change her into a vampire. Upon returning to Forks, Bella and Edward attend their prom and Bella expresses her desire to become a vampire, which Edward refuses to let happen.

Cover

Stephenie Meyer has stated that the apple on the cover represents the forbidden fruit from the book of Genesis. It symbolizes Bella and Edward's love, which is forbidden, similar to the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, as is implied by the quote from Genesis 2:17 that is quoted in the beginning of the book. It also represents Bella's knowledge of what good and evil are, and the choice that she has in partaking of the "forbidden fruit", Edward, or choosing not to see him.[3]

Awards and nominations

Twilight gained recognition and won numerous honors, including:

Critical reception

The critical reception for Twilight has been mixed. Booklist wrote, "There are some flaws here–a plot that could have been tightened, an over reliance on adjectives and adverbs to bolster dialogue–but this dark romance seeps into the soul."[6] Kirkus wrote: "[Twilight] is far from perfect: Edward's portrayal as monstrous tragic hero is overly Byronic, and Bella's appeal is based on magic rather than character. Nonetheless, the portrayal of dangerous lovers hits the spot; fans of dark romance will find it hard to resist."[7] Publishers Weekly's starred review described Bella's "infatuation with outsider Edward", their risky relationship, and "Edward's inner struggle" as a metaphor for sexual frustration accompanying adolescence.[8] Hillias J. Martin of School Library Journal praised the novel, saying, "Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it."[9]

Film adaptation

Main article: Twilight (2008 film)

Twilight has been adapted into a film by Summit Entertainment. The film was directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as protagonists Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen, respectively. The screenplay was adapted by Melissa Rosenberg. The movie was released in the United States on November 21, 2008.[10]

Editions

Little, Brown and Company (United States, etc.)
  • ISBN 0316160172 (Hardcover)
  • ISBN 0316033413 (Hardcover, Collector's Edition)
  • ISBN 0316015849 (Paperback)
  • ISBN 0316038377 (Mass Market Paperback)
Topeka Bindery (United States, etc.)
  • ISBN 1417755911 (Library Binding)
ATOM (United Kingdom, etc.)
  • ISBN 1904233643 (Hardcover)
  • ISBN 1904233651 (Paperback)
  • ISBN 1905654340 (Special Edition Paperback)
Alfaguara (Spain, etc.)
  • ISBN 9789707709942 (Paperback)
Hachette (France, etc.)
  • ISBN 2012010679 (Hardcover)
Sony Magazines (Japan, etc.)
  • ISBN 4789726029 (Magazine)

References

  1. ^ "Twilight (Hardcover)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  2. ^ "Twilight (Paperback)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  3. ^ "What's with the apple?". StephenieMeyer.com. Retrieved 2008-02-08. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  4. ^ "Stephenie Meyer's Official Website". StephenieMeyer.com. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  5. ^ Leila Summers (2008-01-19). "Part of 'Twilight' movie will be filmed at Kalama school". The Daily News Online. Retrieved 2008-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Booklist Review at Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  7. ^ "Kirkus Review at B&N.com". B&N.com. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  8. ^ "Stephenie Meyer's official website - Twilight reviews". Retrieved 2008-05-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ Hillias J. Martin (2005-10-01). "Grades 5 and Up Reviews: October, 2005". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  10. ^ "Stephenie Meyer's official website - Twilight news archive". Retrieved 2008-10-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Twilight (Meyer novel).
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