About the Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga has taken the teenage reading world by storm when the first Twilight novel was published in 2005. It was not only teenage readers that got captured by the extraordinary vampire, human and werewolf love triangle, for over 100 million copies has been sold. Twilight was one of the most talked about novels in 2005 and debuted at number 5 on the New York Times bestsellers list. Soon after the first novel was published readers were demanding more and eagerly awaited the publication of New Moon in 2006, Eclipse in 2007 and the last in the series Breaking Dawn in 2008.
Not only did we get the pleasure of reading this complex love story, it was made into 5 motion pictures with the 5th still to be released. Breaking Dawn Part 1 has swept the world with excitement and was released in South African on the 17th November 2011, with girls day dreaming about Edward again. The films have also breaking records with ticket sales as the novels, it is hard to believe that they got such low ratings. Twilight was released in 2008 and only received a 5.4 score out of 10. New Moon was released in 2009 with a rating of 4.5, Eclipse was released in 2010 with a rating of 4.8 and Breaking Dawn Part one released November 2011 with a low rating of 3.8. Breaking Dawn Part two is to be released in 2012 making people wonder if it will receive a rating lower than Breaking Dawn Part one. Despite the low rating, each film has been highly successful.
The Twilight Saga did not only break records with ticket sales and book sales, but it also brought three actors in the limelight, Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. Each a perfect depiction of the novels characters. The movies are also accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack which completes the films, colouring in the deep moods, passion and love throughout.
How it all started.
Stephenie Meyer, the author of the loved by all Twilight Sage, developed the plot for Twilight from a dream she had and drafted the story in between potty training, swimming lessons and stringed the last thoughts together when the house was finally quite for the night. Three months later she finished her first novel, Twilight. With convincing from her sister she submitted her manuscript of Twilight to various literary agencies. And to our delight it was published in 2005.
The author
Stephenie Meyer was born in Hartford Connecticut and grew up in Phoenix Arizona with her five siblings. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English. She lives in Phoenix with her husband and three sons. Before her novel Twilight she has not written anything, not even a short story. Meyer has received many praise and acknowledgments for the Twilight Saga among which are:
- A New York Times Editor's Choice
- A Publisher Weekly Best Book of the Year
- British Book Award
- 2008 USA Today's Year End list top for book positions
The Books
Twilight starts with the arrival of Isabella Swan in the gloomy town of Forks, there she meets the mysterious, captivating and charming Edward Cullen. From that point on her life takes a thrilling and dangerous turn. Bella is determined to uncover the mystery and dark secrets surrounding the Cullen family with their golden eyes, mesmerizing voices and stunning beauty. But what Bella does not realise is that the closer she gets to Edward the more she is placing herself in danger. Enchanted by Edward it is too late for Bella to turn back.
In New Moon all is not well between Bella and Edward. A paper cut at Edwards house puts Bella in grave danger when some of the Cullens can barely resist the sweet smell of Bella's blood. The Cullens leave town for Bella's safety which makes Bella sink into an overwhelming depression. She finally snaps out of her trance and focuses on her friendship with Jacob. But Bella's longing for Edward leads her to into dangerous and self destructive behaviour. The Cullens are not the only threat to Bella, a vampire out for revenge is hunting her down waiting for the right moment to strike.
Bella finds herself once again surrounded by danger in Eclipse with mysterious killing wreaking havoc in Seattle and the hateful vampires still out for revenge. She also need to make a tough choice between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob knowing that her choose has the potential to start an age old feud between vampire and werewolf. Her graduation is approaching and Bella has one more decision to make Life or eternal death.
In Breaking Dawn, Bella is pulled in one direction by her deep passion for Edward and in the opposite by her profound connection and friendship with Jacob both threatening the fates of two tribes. Her decision sets a startling chain of unpredictable events in motion with potentially devastating and unimaginable consequences. Breaking Dawn is the dramatic conclusion of the Twilight Saga.
Each book is captivating and leaves you with enough questions intrigue at the end to start with the next in the series. It is a modern day Romeo and Juliet with true love facing the ultimate challenges. You think that you have the plot all figured out and then there is a snag that throws you off completely. But to be honest, I must admit that I enjoyed the book much more than the movies. The emotions and feeling where written in more detail in the book and was not depicted (in my opinion) so well in the movies. But I still enjoyed seeing the books come to life and the characters being so close to the ones my imagination had to conjure up.
Read more about the Twilight Saga and the author.
Let us know what you thought of the books and movies.