If Meyer wanted to revise some of the emotional abuse in “Twilight,” she might not have mentioned that Edward likes Bella specifically because of her codependent personality.Įdward’s other private thoughts are equally eye-roll-inducing. Meyer confirms that Bella is “selfless to the point of self-destruction” because she rushes to adulthood to care for her childlike, “harebrained” mother.īella’s interactions with her mother are all the more interesting because of Edward’s ability to read minds, but seeing Edward’s frequent thoughts and curiosity about Bella’s self-sacrifice should give the reader pause. While this novel does feature Bella at her most complex, it is largely due to Edward’s fixation on Bella’s unimpeded selflessness. It is painfully clear from these lines that Meyer had no intent to make Edward less problematic in “Midnight Sun.” When Meyer switches perspectives, the reader must confront the fact that no matter how much Bella adores Edward in the rest of the series, his experience of their relationship is gross and predatory. This allowed the reader to feel like an awkward teenager singled out by some hot, otherworldly boy from school.

Moments like this remind the reader that one of “Twilight”’s biggest selling points was that it was told from Bella’s perspective. I was much, much worse.” Now I readily welcome Edward’s low self-esteem - he’s earned it. How was I better than some sick peeping tom? I wasn’t any better. But now? Edward continues, “I was repulsed by myself as I watched her toss again. Well, between Edward’s endless self-deprecating internal monologue, he explains that he needs to make sure he’s there to “catch the meteorite before it touch her.” As a 13-year-old, I would have swooned. Here’s the thing: Some nostalgic part of me wanted to give Edward a chance to explain why he watches Bella sleep. I began reading “Midnight Sun” as a former “Twilight” fan, and I hoped Meyer would rectify some of the problems that dampened my excitement for the series as a burgeoning tween feminist. It’s 2020, and we can reasonably expect that Stephanie Meyer might realize that her audience no longer thinks stalking, emotional abuse and casual racism are acceptable - even if is coming from a sad, sexy, sparkly vampire. However, the “Twilight” series has several glaring problems. In all seriousness, I didn’t have high expectations for this novel, but I am not in the business of tearing down media that is enjoyed largely by young women.

Popular literature’s favorite clumsy teenager returns alongside her hell-bound boyfriend in Stephanie Meyer’s 672-page “Twilight” companion novel, “Midnight Sun.”ġ3 years after an early draft was leaked online, the story of the first “Twilight” book from the perspective of Edward Cullen is on the shelves and let it be known, Edward Cullen is tortured and sad.

Midnight sun book online