Weaknesses...

[Malice]

Hey there TwilightFaux Listeners!

So as the title reads, this thread is for weaknesses in the writing on SM's part. For instance, issues with plot, characterization, and other random things you might have noticed that are mistakes or parts of the book you thought was weaker than the rest of the book.

Basically the issues I have notices are as follows:
- When Bella is at the attendance office, and she notes that she 'feels overdressed' when I can't find anywhere in the chapter where SMeyer tells us what she is actually wearing.
- When Bella actually comes to Forks: what is the time period? Is it at semester? It can be inferred by reading the Midnight Sun leaked copies...


Then there is one thing that really bothers me - What ever happened to the lives of the humans? Why is Bella so closed off from real people, and why can't she have more interaction with them and see those kinds of plot lines develop completely?

[wray]

Hey,

I actually had to go back and read parts of the first chapter of Twilight to remember what you were referring to...

The whole timeline thing mystified me too and still does. It doesn't seem like she could have possibly started in the middle of the semester, but there's no mention of holidays and then suddenly it's the end of the year?

You're going to laugh when I tell you about the "overdressed" line. Before she leaves for school, she is thinking about Phoenix vs Forks, her mom, Charlie, etc. Basically we are getting Bella's backstory. She talks about the rain and says she put on her jacket "which had the feel of a biohazard suit" and "new waterproof boots" and went to school. It's drizzling and she's freezing, but when she goes into the office the secretary is wearing a purple t-shirt. No sweater, no long sleeves, just a t-shirt - while she's all suited up.

That's all.

As far as things that I thought were weaknesses...I think there's a general over-reliance on one or two descriptions of Edward. His 'crooked smile' for example. And the dialogue is a little corny and overly romanticized. I realize this is first person narrative, but Bella (as she is described) had to have noticed more about him. She notices a lot. This guy's really interesting. Scary too.

Another thing - Bella is really curious about what the Cullens are...until she finds out. It seems there would be a lot more questions! One internet search?

It makes sense to me that her human "friends" are not developed. Bella is not interested in them. She meets them first and there's some interaction, but they fade into the background when she meets Edward and his family. To me, that's fine, and it's reality. When you enter a new arena, whether it's High School or a new job, many opportunities present themselves. Some look more promising than others, but over time you find those that work for you. The whole idea is that Bella is not a 'typical' High School girl, she has very little in common with the other students, but she finds her "family" in Forks. The other people that become significant to Bella are more developed in the next book - which spends a lot of time at the Quileute res.

What I think is missing is the relationship with her mother. I know her mother is not in the vicinity, but Bella describes her as her "best friend". Meaning the person she trusts the most, and goes to in times of doubt for comfort. Someone she confides in. So maybe not in Twilight, but later I was expecting that there would be some resolution in this area.

[Malice]

I guess since the entire series is first person we only get to see the parts of Bella's world that she really is interested in. Which is rather small scope for me. I usually don't go for any first person books, unless where is a lot fo action and the main character is faced with a lot of complications, or trying to solve a murder. That's where Twilight falls short for me. Main character is only thinking about one thing, and when it comes down to it, it's really not that interesting to me.

Being in a relationship, I don't just sit around the talk about how much I'm in love with my SO, we do stuff together, instead of just talking about our history, and really we have a lot in common because we are both honors students that are psych majors.

I don't get what Bella and Edward have in common. There's no chase, it's too easy.