Thanks for that. It was good to get to read a clear and concise argument for why you disliked it. So many Twi-haters are very vague about what it is that makes it so distasteful to them. I have never read romance before...in fact it was a genre I steered clear of. Although Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Bronte's Wuthering Heights were both quite fascinating to me (mandatory reading in high school) but more for the insight into the austere and completely alien (to me anyway) English culture during those times. I must admit I did not see Bella as passive or helpless, although there were occasions during which she was either one or both of these things but not to the extent that I felt her whole persona could be classified as this. I don't think her clumsiness was depicted as desirable in general but it was obviously one of her traits that drew Edward to her. Edward did not appear as cliched to me because all the fiction (novels and fanfic) I read has male characters whose masculinity and sexuality is so far removed from his portrayal that he comes across as brand new to me.

I must admit I am more drawn to the story behind the vampires and the Cullen family and their back stories which we do get to read more of in the next few novels. I like that sort of genre. I think Bella could have been written better....that I definitely agree with, it would have caused less of a back lash I think.
Guess I'm more of a popcorn reader than I thought.
Anyway thanks again for taking the time to reply.