Elsbeth T. (Etoulania) reviewed on 7/25/2010 + 3 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

This series is one of the very few instances where I believe an author's politics and / or religious beliefs get in the way of the story. Bella is completely vacuous, totally without personality. Edward is a misogynistic, controlling, manipulative stereotype. The only character with half a real personality is Jacob Black, who is effectively neutered by the end of the series into a mindless drone like all the rest of the characters - except Meyer calls this "imprinting." I have no idea why this series is so popular with these cardboard characters, but I think the only reason it even got published is the cry from the hyper-religious crowd out there for a vampire series without all the pre-marriage fornication, gore, and lack of upstanding "Christian morality." Meyer breaks all the rules of established vampire lore and tradition in favor of these neutered vampires who aren't scary, aren't threatening, and aren't real on the page. In this case, I would definitely say that breaking the rules worked against the author. Meyer's religion - Mormonism - is extremely apparent in the books, making it fairly obvious she knows nothing about the process of effacement or the concept of negative capability. I managed to get through them all only because it was like watching a train wreck where you just can't stop. I would never read them again, and I certainly wouldn't want my daughter picking these up and thinking men are supposed to treat her like Edward treats Bella.

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