while I'm at it, let me address the thing that annoys be about the writing without ever having read the series.
The word
SAGA.
Dictionary.com, help me out here.
1. a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family, etc.
2. any narrative or legend of heroic exploits.
3. Also called saga novel. a form of the novel in which the members or generations of a family or social group are chronicled in a long and leisurely narrative.#1? No sorry, Washington may seem cold and dreary but its got NOTHING on medieval Scandinavia and Iceland.
#2? Well some of you will argue about who is a hero and I doubt you'd convince us. But perhaps one or two actions in the whole series of events may be considered "heroic". We'll let that one slide on a case by case basis, it's still not a story about those exploits. They are far too rare and any exploits seem to be misplaced.
#3? I really hope that none of you will try and cling to this one the most. If the information I have is correct none of the novels could be said to really focus on a different "generation" of characters (unless maybe Edward starts diablerizing other licks. Heh, V:tM joke). While the story may be considered long by the time you've reached the third page I'd say it's far too riven with angst to be leisurely.
And before any of you try and invoke the Holy Trilogy, I would like to remind you that despite your opinion of the over all story arc it undoubtedly qualifies for definition 2 and 3.
This post is etymology only. If you wish to argue these points please rebut with etymological analysis.
Spoilers welcome.