Twilight (Meyer novel)

"Twilight (novel)" redirects here. For other novels of the same name, see Twilight (disambiguation) § Literature.
Twilight

Cover of Twilight
Cover artist Gail Doobinin (design)
Roger Hagadone (photograph)
Country United States
Language English
Series Twilight series
Genre Young adult, fantasy, romance, vampire
Publisher Little, Brown
Publication date
 October 5, 2005
Media type Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
e-Book (Kindle)
Audio Book (CD)
Pages 498[1] (Hardcover)
544[2] (Paperback)
ISBN 0-316-16017-2
Followed by New Moon

Twilight (stylized as twilight) (2005) is a young adult vampire-romance novel[3][4] by author Stephenie Meyer. It is the first book in the Twilight series, and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan, who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington. She is endangered after falling in love with Edward Cullen, a vampire. Additional novels in the series are New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.

Twilight received lukewarm reviews. Some praised the novel's tone and its portrayal of common teenage emotions such as alienation and rebellion. Others criticized Meyer's prose and argued the story was lacking in character development. It reached number five on the New York Times bestseller list within a month of its release[5] and eventually reached first place.[6] The novel was named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of 2005.[7]

The film adaptation, released in 2008, was a commercial success, grossing more than $392 million worldwide[8] and making an additional $157 million in North American DVD sales as of July 2009.[9] The book was the biggest-selling of 2008;[10] in 2009, it was the second-biggest selling, losing only to its sequel New Moon.[11]

As of 2008, Twilight has been translated into 37 different languages.[12]

In October 2015, Stephanie Meyer announced a new gender-swapped version of the novel, entitled Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, with characters Beau and Edythe, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Twilight saga.[13]

Synopsis

Plot summary

Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula to live with her father, Charlie. Her mother, Renée is traveling with her new husband, Phil Dwyer, a minor league baseball player. Bella attracts much attention at her new school and makes friends quickly. A shy girl, she is dismayed by several boys competing for her attention.

When Bella is seated next to Edward Cullen in biology class on her first day of school, he seems repulsed by her, hurting her feelings in the process. He disappears for a few days, but warms up to Bella upon his return; their newfound relationship reaches a climax after Bella is nearly crushed by Tyler's van in the school parking lot. Edward saves Bella, stopping the van with only his hand.

Bella annoys Edward with questions about how he saved her life. She hears that Edward and his family are vampires who drink animal blood. She is told legends of the local Quilyeute people by a friend Jacob Black who she met during a camp out (a character who becomes more important in the later books in the series). Disturbed by recurring nightmares, Bella researches about Vampires. To her dismay, she then realizes that Edward hadn't come to school on the blood typing day was because he is a vampire; she compares the characteristics of the vampires in the myths to the Cullens, and finds many similarities. Convinced he's a vampire, she finds herself in the state of bewilderment.Bella is saved by Edward again in Port Angeles when she is almost attacked. Driving a silver Volvo, Edward takes Bella to dinner and home. As they drive, she tells him of the stories that he is a vampire. Edward says he tried to stay away, finding her scent too desirable. Over time, Edward and Bella fall in love.

Their relationship is affected when a nomad vampire coven arrives in Forks. James, a tracker vampire who is intrigued by Cullens' relationship with a human, wants to hunt Bella for sport. The Cullen family try to separate Bella and Edward, and send Bella to Phoenix to hide in a hotel. James calls and claims to be holding her mother. When Bella surrenders, James attacks her. Before he can kill her, Edward and other Cullens rescue her and destroy James. He still attacks the girl. Edward prevents her from becoming a vampire, and she is treated at a hospital. After they return to Forks, they go to the school prom together. Bella says she wants to become a vampire, but Edward won't help.

Bella's desire to become a vampire increases throughout the series. Edward continues to refuse as he hates being immortal and does not want Bella to suffer the same fate.

Main characters

Development

Meyer claims that the idea for Twilight came to her in a dream on June 2, 2003. She dreamed of a human girl and a vampire who loved her but still wanted her blood. Inspired by her dream, Meyer wrote the draft of what is now Chapter 13 of the book.[17] The first drafts were titled Forks instead of Twilight; the publisher requested the title change. At first, Meyers didn't name her two main characters. She chose Edward, influenced by Charlotte Brontë's Mr. Rochester and Jane Austen's Mr. Ferrars. She named the female lead Isabella, thinking she would have chosen that for a daughter. Rosalie and Jasper were originally named Carol and Ronald.[18]

Meyer continued writing to the end chronologically, not worrying about the backstory. She lettered the chapters instead of numbering them, Chapter 13 being E. The last chapter of the first draft kept getting longer and longer, so she wrote epilogue after epilogue. However, she realized that she wanted to explore many of the events in the backstory and the reasons behind the events in the chapters, so she planned to write a 5-6 chapter backstory. Instead, these turned into twelve chapters by the time she was finished.[19] In a matter of three months she had completed a novel.[20] She has said she was writing for her own enjoyment, never thinking of publishing the work.[21] She finished the manuscript on August 29, 2003.[22]

Her sister liked the book and encouraged Meyer to send the manuscript to literary agencies.[23] Of the 15 letters she wrote, five went unanswered, nine brought rejections, and the last was a positive response from Jodi Reamer of Writers House.[24] Meyer had merely sent out letters to literary agents inquiring if they would be interested in a 130,000-word manuscript about teenage vampires.[25] Luck helped. An inexperienced assistant at Writers House responded to her inquiry, not knowing that young adult books are expected to be about 40,000 to 60,000 words in length.[25] Due to that error, Reamer eventually read Meyer's manuscript and signed her up as a client.[25] During the editing process, a chapter that used to be Chapter 20 was cut out of the manuscript along with Emmett's account of his bear attack and some parts of the epilogue.[26]

Cover

Stephenie Meyer has said the apple on the cover represents the forbidden fruit from the Book of Genesis and Bella and Edward's forbidden love. She uses a quote from Genesis 2:17 at the beginning of the book. It also represents Bella's knowledge of good and evil are, and the choices she makes.[27] Meyer says, "It asks if you are going to bite in and discover the frightening possibilities around you or refuse and stay safe in the comfortable world you know."[28] An alternative cover features Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, the actors who play the lead characters in the film adaptation.

Awards and honors

Publication

Meyers inquiry letter was initially rejected by 14 agents.[30] Eight publishers competed for the rights to publish Twilight in the 2003 auction.[24] Little, Brown and Company originally bid for $300,000, but Meyer's agent asked for $1 million; the publishers finally settled on $750,000 for three books.[31] Twilight was published in 2005 with a print run of 75,000 copies.[24] It debuted at #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list within a month of its release,[5] and later peaked at #1.[6] Foreign rights to the novel were sold to over 26 countries.[32]

In October 2008, Twilight was ranked #26 in USA Today's list of "Bestselling Books of Last 15 Years".[33] Later, the book went on to become the best-selling book of 2008.[34] and the second biggest selling of 2009, only behind its sequel New Moon.[35]

For the tenth anniversary release Meyer released Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined alongside the original Twilight. Life and Death is a reimagining of the story with Beau (a male human) and Edythe (a female vampire) as the leads.

Critical reception

Initial reviews for Twilight were generally positive, with Publishers Weekly called Meyer one of the most "promising new authors of 2005".[36] The Times praised the book for capturing "perfectly the teenage feeling of sexual tension and alienation",[37] and Amazon.com hailed the book as "[d]eeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful".[38] Hillias J. Martin of School Library Journal stated, "Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it",[39] and Norah Piehl of TeenReads wrote, "Twilight is a gripping blend of romance and horror".[40] 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.[41] 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."[42] Christopher Middleton of The Daily Telegraph called the book a "high school drama with a bloody twist ... no secret, of course, at whom this book is aimed, and no doubt, either, that it has hit its mark.[43] Jennifer Hawes of The Post and Courier said, "Twilight, the first book in Stephenie Meyer's series, gripped me so fiercely that I called the nearest teenager I know and begged for her copy after I misplaced my own."[44] Roberta Goli of Suite101.com gave the novel a positive review, saying that while "the first half of the novel lacks action", the writing is "fluid" and the story "interesting". She also praised the depth of emotion shown between the main characters for pinpointing "the angst of teenage love."

Kirkus gave a more mixed review, noting that, "[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."[45] The New York Times review stated, "The premise of Twilight is attractive and compelling — who hasn't fantasized about unearthly love with a beautiful stranger? — but the book suffers at times from overearnest, amateurish writing. A little more "showing" and a lot less "telling" might have been a good thing, especially some pruning to eliminate the constant references to Edward's shattering beauty and Bella's undying love." [46] Although the Daily Telegraph later listed Twilight at number 32 on its list of "100 books that defined the noughties", it said that the novel was "Astonishing, mainly for the ineptitude of [Meyer's] prose".[47] Elizabeth Hand said in a review for the Washington Post, "Meyer's prose seldom rises above the serviceable, and the plotting is leaden".[48]

Book challenges

Twilight was on the American Library Association's (ALA) Top Ten List of the Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2010, for containing a "religious viewpoint" and "violence".[49] The Twilight series was on the same list in 2009 for being "sexually explicit", "unsuited to age group", and having a "religious viewpoint".[50] A NYC Psychologist addressed issues in the Twilight series and how it relates to women and expectations of healthy relationships versus illusion based relationships with her short film "Into The Twilight Haze".[51]

Adaptations

Film

Main article: Twilight (2008 film)

Twilight was adapted as a film by Summit Entertainment. The film was directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as protagonists Bella and Edward. The screenplay was adapted by Melissa Rosenberg. The movie was released in theaters in the United States on November 21, 2008,[52] and on DVD on March 21, 2009.[53] The DVD was released in Australia on April 22, 2009.[54]

Graphic novel

On July 15, 2009, Entertainment Weekly confirmed rumors that a graphic novel adaptation of Twilight was in the works. The book was drawn by Korean artist Young Kim and published by Yen Press. Stephenie Meyer reviews every panel herself. According to EW, "it doesn't look simply like an artist's rendering of Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson. In fact, the characters seem to be an amalgam of Meyer's literary imagination and the actors' actual looks." EW magazine published finished illustrations of Edward, Bella, and Jacob in their July 17, 2009 issue.[55] The first part of the graphic novel was released on March 16, 2010.[56]

References

  1. ↑ "Twilight (Hardcover)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  2. ↑ "Twilight (Paperback)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  3. ↑ Gregory Kirschling (2007-08-02). "Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' Zone". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  4. ↑ Mike Russell (2008-05-11). "'Twilight' taps teen-vampire romance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  5. 1 2 "Her Literary Career - Stephenie Meyer". Time.com. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  6. 1 2 "Children's Books - New York Times". New York Times. 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  7. 1 2 Jennifer M. Brown and Diane Roback (2005-11-03). "Best Children's Books of 2005". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on November 23, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  8. ↑ "Twilight (2008)". Box Office Mojo. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  9. ↑ "Twilight - DVD Sales". The Numbers. 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  10. ↑ Debarros, Anthony; Cadden, Mary; DeRamus, Kristin; Schnaars, Christopher (2009-01-14). "The top 100 titles of 2008". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  11. ↑ Debarros, Anthony; Cadden, Mary; DeRamus, Kristin; Schnaars, Christopher (January 6, 2010). "Best-Selling Books: The top 100 of 2009". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  12. ↑ Kenneth Turan (2008-11-21). "Movie Review: 'Twilight'". LA Times. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  13. ↑ New Twilight Book, New York Times
  14. 1 2 Meyer, Stephenie (October 2005). Twilight. Little, Brown and Company.
  15. ↑ .Meyer, Stephenie (April 2011). "A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On Endings and Inevitability". The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Little, Brown and Company. SM:"He's such a pessimist—oh my gosh, Edward‘s a pessimist."
  16. ↑ . Meyer, Stephenie (April 2011). "A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On Literary Inspirations". The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Little, Brown and Company. SH:"...there's something a little Rochestery about Edward for me." SM:"Yeah."
  17. ↑ Walker, Michael R. (Winter 2007). "A Teenage Tale With Bite". Brigham Young University Magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  18. ↑ "The Story Behind ''Twilight''". StephenieMeyer.com. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  19. ↑ Meyer, Stephenie (April 2011). "A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On How It All Began". The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Little, Brown and Company.
  20. ↑ Lev Grossman (2008-04-24). "Stephenie Meyer: A New J.K. Rowling?". Time. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  21. ↑ "BookStories Interview with Stephenie Meyer". BookStories. Changing Hands Bookstore. August 2006. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  22. ↑ Meyer, Stephenie (April 2011). "A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On How It All Began". The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Little, Brown and Company. SM:...And I finished it around my brother‘s wedding, which was—he just had his anniversary—I think it was the twenty-ninth of August?
  23. ↑ Damian Whitworth (2008-05-13). "Harry who? Meet the new J.K. Rowling". London: The Times. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  24. 1 2 3 "Stephenie Meyer By the Numbers". Publishers Weekly. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  25. 1 2 3 Rosman, Kathleen (22 January 2010). "The Death of the Slush Pile". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Twilight Series - Twilight - Outtakes". StephenieMeyer.com. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  27. ↑ "What's with the apple?". www.stepheniemeyer.com. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  28. ↑ Meyer, Stephenie (April 2011). "Frequently Asked Questions, Question A". The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. Little, Brown and Company. It asks if you are going to bite in and discover the frightening possibilities around you or refuse and stay safe in the comfortable world you know.
  29. ↑ Trevelyn Jones (2005-12-01). "Best Books 2005". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  30. ↑ Rebecca Murray. "Interview with 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer". About.com. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  31. ↑ Cecelia Goodnow (2005-10-08). "Debut writer shines with 'Twilight'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  32. ↑ "Stephenie Meyer". Waterstone's. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  33. ↑ "USA Today's best-selling books of last 15 years". USA Today. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  34. ↑ Mary Cadden (2009-01-15). "New star authors made, old ones rediscovered in 2008". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  35. ↑ Debarros, Anthony; Cadden, Mary; DeRamus, Kristin; Schnaars, Christopher (January 6, 2010). "Best-Selling Books: The top 100 of 2009". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Official Bio". StephenieMeyer.com. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  37. ↑ Amanda Craig (2006-01-14). "New-Age vampires stake their claim". London: The Times. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  38. ↑ "Editorial Reviews". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  39. ↑ Hillias J. Martin (2005-10-01). "Grades 5 and Up Reviews: October, 2005". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  40. ↑ Norah Piehl. "Review: Twilight". Teenreads.com. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  41. ↑ "Stephenie Meyer's official website — Twilight reviews". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  42. ↑ "Booklist Review at Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  43. ↑ Christopher Middleton (2009-08-07). "Twilight: high school drama with a bloody twist". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  44. ↑ Jennifer Hawes (2009-07-13). "Living a real-life romance". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  45. ↑ "Kirkus Review at B&N.com". B&N.com. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  46. ↑ Elizabeth Spires (2006-02-12). "'Enthusiasm,' by Polly Shulman and 'Twilight,' by Stephenie Meyer". nytimes.com. New York: New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  47. ↑ Brian MacArthur (2009-11-13). "100 books that defined the noughties". telegraph.co.uk. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  48. ↑ Hand, Elizabeth (2008-08-10). "Love Bites". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  49. ↑ Frequently challenged books of the 21st century, ALA, 2010.
  50. ↑ Frequently challenged books of the 21st century, ALA, 2009.
  51. ↑ Frequently challenged books of the 21st century, a Psychologists view, Dr. Niloo Dardashti.
  52. ↑ "Stephenie Meyer's official website — Twilight news archive". Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  53. ↑ "Summit Home Entertainment's Saturday Release of Twilight Unleashes With Over 3 Million Units Sold" (Press release). Summit Entertainment. 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  54. ↑ Gillian Cumming (2009-04-19). "Stephanie [sic] Meyer reflects on bright Twilight as DVD looms". The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  55. ↑ Tina Jordan (2009-07-15). "'Twilight' exclusive: Graphic novel version on the way!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  56. ↑ Meyer, Stephenie (2011-10-24). "'Twilight' Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1". Retrieved 2011-10-25.

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