Twilight / Life and Death by Stephenie MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amusing Rewrite
I am a fan of Stephenie Meyer’s writing, and that certainly started with Twilight. I’ve enjoyed watching her mature and develop along with her characters. It makes them all familiar and comfortable, which allows my reading experience to be far more pleasurable. It’s like I’m visit with friends.
The side by side view of the original story and the rewrite was amusing. It was nice to see how they compared; the similarities and contrasts. I felt some things worked better with Bella while others did with Beau. Certainly, the endings were appropriate for each, and I was glad to see how everything played out.
I struggled at times with exact gender role reversals. I didn’t think they were necessary, especially with historical context to some back stories. That could be my prejudice because I love the originals, but I felt they could have held in both versions. Not everything needed to change, but it was author’s preference. Plus, I understood what she was doing with the rewrite; a complete flip.
I loved how much better Beau and Edythe seemed to communicate. It felt like less misunderstandings occurred all around. Also, the story felt better organized and complete, some elements from the overall saga pulled into the rewrite. For me, it allowed nuances to be clearer and the intent to be more defined.
I’m not saying I prefer either version over the other. They both have merit, and they are both entertaining reads. They each have their own style and appeal. It was just refreshing not to see the identical tale regurgitated. It was a true rewrite from another perspective.
Well done!
J.M. NORTHUP 