This love story between Bella, a modest, clumsy girl, and Edward, a suave, mysterious boy, would have been a lot less touching or interesting, or even, somehow, realistic, if there wasn't this one unique twist: she's a human, and he's a vampire.
The story is compelling. You keep reading despite the fact that the actual plot doesn't start until half-way through the book, because the characters are so impossibly irresistible. Edward's "family", -all vampires- are some of the most well-drawn characters that you will ever meet. Impossibly excellent in physical and mental abilities, socially graceful and for the most part impeccably charming and friendly, they leave you pining to have that unnattainable perfection in your own life.
And speaking of that plot that makes its debut when the novel is half over? Three "evil" vampires stumble upon Bella and the vampire family on an outing, and one takes an instant obsession with her blood. It may not be very well thought-out, but it certainly gets things moving.
This book is not very thought-provoking. It will not leave you breathless or trembling. Nevertheless, read only a little bit, and you will understand the love that is sweeping the nation for all things Twilight. You will most like find yourself sighing, wishing that you had a friend like Alice or a father like Carlisle.
The setting for this book is in a small town called Forks, where it apparently is overcast and rainy quite frequently. Sunny days come out when its convenient, but read this book and you will find that thunderstorms can be convenient for their own reasons, too . . .
The writing is done in a beautifully simple style. The words take no effort to read, and although the picture they paint tends to be a little idealistic, it is clearly well-stylized.
This is a book worth picking up for some light reading.