My Twilight

I think the last thing I expected was to get all caught up in the Twilight furor, but that is exactly where I find myself a month after starting this series.  I read Twilight during a rainy weekend in Florida, bought the next three, and have been hooked ever since.  

From the days of Danny Glick in Stephen King's Salem's Lot to Anne Rice's collection, I have been a closet vampireholic.  I even loved Quentin in Dark Shadows--that's how far back this obsession goes with me.  And now that I have completely dated myself, I'll get back to Forks--back to the theme of goodness that I see throughout the entire book.  It comes not from stereotypical human heroes, but the "bloodsuckers," who have worked to fit in with the regular folks in this Washington town, and many other towns before this for centuries.  I am not fearful of the Cullen clan--well maybe Jasper a little bit--I am afraid of the humans who threaten each other in their depravity (such as the thugs chasing Bella in Port Angeles) or the careless ones. 

The theme of opposites runs through almost every aspect of this book.  Not only the obvious good versus not-so-good, I particularly found it interesting that Forks was too green for Bella who was used to living in the desert climate and brown colors of Arizona.  Another opposite that actually annoyed me was that Bella was essentially the parent to both her mother and her father.  She frets and worries over them the way a parent does over a child.  I think the care and concern Edward shows her is another endearing quality he has that makes him so appealing.  Sometimes hard to remember that he is a vampire....

There is also an undercurrent of prejudice and fear that I think Twilight treats with interesting respect.  The Quilheute know what the Cullen secret is, and they avoid them.  But Bella's ability to take what she knows, and continue to pursue a relationship with Edward is brave both emotionally and physically.   Since we don't know Edward's thoughts in this published version, all we come away with is Bellavision--she is able to see only the good in him.  Again, a juxtaposition in our preconceived notion of what is good versus what is evil.  Even the encounters with the rogue hunters serve only to prove that Edward and his family care deeply not only for Bella, but all the residents of Forks as well.

I have also heard some rumbles from those that think the Mormon Meyer intended this as a lesson in abstinence, but I disagree with that.  I think it is a lesson in healthy trust and love--it is the sparkly, beautiful goodness of our favorite vampire Edward Cullen who perseveres and gives us all a tutorial in unconditional love.

I am almost finished with the third book, Eclipse, and I have not seen the movie yet because I didn't want these characters to be spoiled for me.  Post-book movies have a way of doing that.  But I hear good things, so we'll see.

It took very little time for Edward to put me at ease.  Both with his care for Bella's well-being and his history, the character of Edward is completely that of an innocent--the very antithesis of what a stereotypical vampire was to me before this.  And his breath?  Sweet is the last adjective I would have connected with a vampire's breath.  Until last month.

I have not been a fan of fiction for many years, much less, science fiction, but that is the most the wonderful thing about these books.  They have made me think.  Not only did I buy into this whole scenario, I have begun looking around on cloudy or rainy days to see if I can find an Edward of my own.

Please link up to your own post with Mr. Linky below and leave a comment to let us know you have posted.  Also, I need suggestions on what our next book should be!  If you don't have a blog, please just leave your impression of Twilight in a comment.  I am excited to see everyone's thoughts and opinions!   Lauren