Yes, I read Twilight. I wanted to be informed before dismissing it as teenage-girl boyfriend/girlfriend tripe masquerading as a vampire novel.
So, now that I've read it - it is indeed heavy on the tripe, light on the vampire. After reading Anne Rice, or Dracula, or anything else in that genre, this doesn't really measure up.
After enduring about 80% of the book (according to the Kindle) there is a couple chapters of really good action, with something of a promise of character development that doesn't quite develop, and then it goes back to the boyfriend/girlfriend tripe. Rather disappointing, and not promising enough that I'd consider reading the rest of the series.
But at least I'm no longer calling something rubbish that I haven't read.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who felt they had to read these books (yes, I forced my way through all four) in order to justify my criticisms. After getting through it, I knew I was absolutely correct in my views of the books. If you gave up after one, thank your lucky stars, because it just get worse the further you get. All I can say is I would be absolutely ashamed were my daughter (if I ever have one) were to behave this way, or even to look up to and want to imitate Bella.
That said, congratulations for not just criticizing the books, but actually reading them so that your criticisms can be informed.