Twilight Book Review and English Reading Comprehension Practice

Book Review: Twilight

Twilight is the story of Edward and Bella’s romance. Forget any vampire romance you have read before; Twilight is so unique it is almost like it is in its own genre. The book is marketed to young adult readers, but it has the ability to cross age barriers and will satisfy both teenagers and adults alike.

The story is told in the first person from the perspective of Bella, so the reader only ever knows what she knows, making Edward and his family a mystery that is slowly unravelled throughout the book. Even by the end of the book, I was still thirsting for more of the Cullen family backstory—hopefully, their characters might be developed further in future books.

Bella herself is a well-written and realistic character. Shy and lacking in confidence, her sarcastic inner voice narrates the story for the reader. Twilight is simply and yet beautifully written. The descriptions of Forks leave you feeling like you can almost smell the damp air and hear the rain falling on the roof.

The romance between Edward and Bella is both touching and compelling. There is a melancholic feel to their impossible love, yet at the same time, they both are unwilling to give up hope that their relationship is not doomed. The book reaches a fever pitch of excitement as the romance between Bella and Edward turns into a frantic race to stay alive.

I have heard Twilight described as “a vampire story for people who don’t like vampire stories,” and I think I would agree with that. This book really has something for everyone: young adult readers, vampire fans, or romance enthusiasts will all find Twilight to be an appealing story. For a young adult novel, the book is quite long, but do not let that put you off reading it because each page is to be savoured. Believe me, this is one book that you won’t want to end.

Reading Comprehension Exercises: Receiving a Birthday Telegram

1. C
2. C
3. True: “The prediction is that by 2050, there will be a quarter of a million centenarians.”
4. False: “But the potential to live a long life is a complicated mix of genes and other factors that keep us healthier.”
5. False: “It is low in fat and salt, and includes only modest amounts of meat.”
6. False: “It also helps to live in very sociable communities, where families and friendship are an important part of everyday life.”
7. High
8. Predictable
9. Tend
10. With
11. Inherited
12. Habit
13. Many people are sent birthday telegrams by the Queen. / Many people have telegrams sent (to them) by the Queen.
14. The new shop, which opened last week, sells fruit and vegetables. / The new shop, which sells fruit and vegetables, opened last week.
15. Cry
16. Because of the flight delay, nobody arrived in time.
17. How many centenarians are there in the UK?