Vampires, Vixens and a Lacking Vocabulary

This is a look at the first book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.

Twilight is a book for, at most, elementary-level readers.  Stephenie Meyer seems to have no editor, extensive knowledge of sentence structures and grammar, or a vocabulary that allowed her to choose between synonyms.   This author continually used the word “deliberate” and other forms of that same word.  She appeared to be unknowing of the fact that other words are available like “ponder”, “decide”, or “calculate.”  Sure, it is nice that she found a word that is uncommonly used.  Way to go, Meyer, but there are other words that could better explain or describe a situation.  You don’t have to keep using the same word over and over in one book just because you are proud that you learned its definition. 

            The grammar left much to be desired.  This writer seems to have a particular fetish for hyphens.  She used them like she used “deliberate.”  These little lines were placed in dialogue, narrations and the middle of sentences which made it seem as though the computer was set to randomly insert this certain punctuation mark anywhere possible, even when it was illogical.  Here is an example of Meyer’s abuse and fascination of the hyphen: “Now let’s say you placed in that room a glass of hundred-year-old brandy, the rarest, finest cognac – and filled the room with its warm aroma – how do you think he would fare then?”  This is not the worst sentence.  A lot of the time, her sentences which include hyphens take about five times to read before one actually figures out what she is trying to convey.  There are about two hyphens on each page.  Once again, way to go, Meyer, on using something that is uncommon, but there are such things as commas and periods that would actually be the appropriate punctuation to include instead of employing little dashes in insensible locations.  As a writer, one has the responsibility to allow readers to at least slightly understand a piece of literature the first time it is read, and to use proper grammar.

            Stephenie Meyer also has difficulty creating vivid or even mildly conceivable depictions of settings and characters.  She describes Bella and makes several attempts at portraying Edward, the vampire boy who Bella falls in love with (Whoever could have predicted that one?), and, to put it gently, fails miserably at giving the reader a sense of what these characters look like.  Meyer even explores the scenery of Forks and of the vampire family’s home and the same effect is achieved as the audience is left wondering why words were wasted to explain what the author is obviously incapable of explaining.

            Bella’s thoughts and mind are supposed to unique.  They are apparently on an unusual “frequency.”  Yet, the author never explains how this is possible.  Furthermore, one is never given a demonstration of how exactly this girl is different than every other human being.  Her decisions and ideas and emotions are nearly identical to what the average person would be doing, thinking or feeling.  If a writer is going to proclaim that her main character is completely diverse in her ways, then the author should follow through with several supporting examples of that statement.  The only facet of Bella’s personality that blatantly stands out is her irrational anger at things that do not justify such fury.  Her temper will flare up at things that are illogical and this does not exactly make sense with the rest of her character.

            Those of you who are environmentally conscious and dislike the killing of trees should not pick up a copy of Twilight to purchase.  The large font wastes many pages that could have been devoted to a much better literary work. I will give the book credit for two positive points.  Meyer used a new perspective on vampires in that they did not have fangs and could choose to consume animal blood rather than a human’s.  However, these aspects of the book do not cancel out the negative impressions left by all the previously mentioned points.  For readers who wish to further their intelligence and spend time wisely, I would suggest reading a different book. 

            Stephenie Meyer created three other books to complement Twilight.  If you wish to see how well those turned out, read the review on New Moon, the second book in this vampire series, included in the next issue.  The other two books will be discussed in the following issues.

 

Reviews

[Legion]

I think it is called "pandering to the lowest denominator".

[Tracy]

I absolutely agree with you. Stephanie Meyer sure pulled the wool over the eyes of her fans. The writing was terrible. How many times in Twilight did she refer to Edward's eyes as "butterscotch". I read Twilight, though God knows why, and I was thoroughly amazed that the woman was ever published. Her paragraphs were incoherent at the best of times. I do believe she wrote the book entirely in her sleep.

I hope her fans realize they have fallen in love with a genre rather than the literary masterpiece of a "genius".