Because I am flush with Twilight saga fever. It’s true. It’s BAD. Basically, you turn into a teenage girl reading these books. Or, perhaps more accurately, you must turn into a teenage girl to truly enjoy the books. That’s what I think it is. Although, if you can’t or don’t want to remember the thrill of teenaged swooning, this probably isn’t the series for you.
I grabbed Twilight off the book shelf when we found ourselves at WalMart, of all places, on Christmas Eve morning, of all days, searching desperately and unsuccessfully all over town for chains, of all things, for our stupid car. We were supposed to be on the road already, to the deep dark middle of nowhere, but we’d heard a storm was coming along the pass where we’d be driving. And WalMart — a store I loathe for many reasons but mostly because, damn, them blue vests are grody — was, oh, our fourth bust of the morning, something like that? At that point, we were three hours behind schedule and hating each other a lot earlier than planned. As I wandered around the snack aisles, making eyes at the Little Debbie Snack Cakes, I suddenly realized I hadn’t packed any books. No. Books. Oh, no. NO. Sweet baby Jesus, NOOO!! I began to panic. One cannot go up to the deep dark middle of nowhere without being armed with a book to keep one from killing oneself and Twilight seemed the least objectionable of the selection available at GrodyVestMart.
But now I’m hooked. HOOKED. GAGA. HELPLESS AGAINST ITS POWER. Once I neared the end of book one, I even ventured to the one and only bookstore in the deep dark middle of nowhere hoping against hope that they’d have book two. When I saw they didn’t, I suffered a severe internal flip out and slowed waa-a-a-aay down on book one so I would not be bookless in the boonies. Once home, I basically sprinted to my bookstore and purchased the next two books — um, unmatching, such is my frenzy now. I mean, my version of Book One, Twilight, is a small paperback, with the movie Edward and Bella on the cover. My version of Book Two, New Moon, is a larger paperback, black with a flower, part of a whole cohesive look. And I bought the third book in hard cover, for Lord’s sake, because it’s not out in paperback yet and I simply had to have it on hand. The cover matches the look of my Book Two, but it’s hard cover. Nuts. I don’t buy hard covers. Or last time I did was during the Harry Potter frenzy. Sadly, I anticipate buying the fourth in hard cover too because I will need it. Like, Friday. I’m sure once my feeding frenzy has passed, the asymmetry of my collection of these books will really freak me out.
Finished book two in one day — today. Book three is for tomorrow, I guess.
Oh, and also? I even dragged MB to the Twilight movie yesterday with all the squealing teenage girls. I mean, I think we were the only people who weren’t squealing teenage girls. Still, not enough of a deterrent. Couldn’t you have waited for it to come out on DVD, Trace? No. No, I could not. Because I actually CHECKED and it’s not scheduled for that until Feb. or March. So yes. We went to the movie and looked like chaperoning weirdo parents or something. Whatevs. I do not care anymore. Gimme more teenage vampires. Gimme more star-crossed adolescent love. Gimme. Gimme. Now. I am completely vamped out.
(And …. I just clicked over and saw Sheila’s post about her books read this year and she mentioned this same thing. Just found that as I was writing this. Hahahaha.)
All this to say: Um, excuse me, I cannot talk to you right now …..
Oh, but Happy New Year!
2008, you can suck it. Boo-bye to you!
Ha ha, you have no idea how many copies of Twilight I have checked out at the cash register in the past several weeks at the bookstore! I have to admit–the third one cooled things off for me, and the fourth one, I’m having trouble finishing. It’s true, there are “better” vampire novels out there, but- really? If you’re not hard-core into vampires? It’s just right! Happy reading, T, and Happy 2009!
(P.S. I thought the movie was well done, especially in light of my low expectations, and I lucked out that there were no screaming teens in my theater at the time. Just some kid behind me constantly explaining stuff to his gammie.)
I CAN’T GET ENOUGH.
We have just had identical experiences. I also bought book 3 and 4 in hardcover, realizing that I was insane – but I seriously can’t wait.
I am in love with these books.
I just finished book 2. I love Alice. I love Jacob, especially. I love Charlie.
I am hooked. Irrevocably.
This describes PRECISELY my experience in the month of September last year. One of my high school students brought me the first three books and said, “Miss? You REALLY need to read these. You’ll love them.”
I said Sure honey, took them, and didn’t give it much thought until I started on a Thursday afternoon.
By Saturday night I had finished those first three. And the thought of going through an entire Sunday waiting for Monday morning, then waiting until Tuesday because my student would need to bring me her fourth book from home… well, that just was an untenable position. It was crack cocaine, and I HAD TO HAVE IT NOW. I drove to Wal-Mart late at night and found Book Four and finished it by Sunday afternoon.
I, too, am completely helpless against the power of Twilight. The screen saver on my cell phone is Robert Pattinson looking all haunted and in love… [pantpantpant]… y’know, I thought Cedric Diggory was super-hot in Goblet of Fire, but DAYUM!!! He’s even better as a vampire. Phew.
sheila — Hahaha! I know! I was cracking up when I got to the Twilight part of your 2008 books post because I literally was just writing this post — I had no idea you’d been reading them. I started Book Three last night, read THROUGH New Year’s, and am now about halfway through. They’re fast reads, aren’t they?
Oh, and yes. I do LOVE Jacob. I’m actually pretty conflicted about Jacob/Edward.
I think I need to write a review about the movie — I was a little conflicted about that, too.
NEVERTHELESS!
Last night, while the rest of the world was partying, drinking, ringing in the New Year with hats and noisemakers, while bottle rockets were literally going off right outside my window, I was curled up under a fluffy quilt devouring a book about teenage vampires.
GraD — I am so in love with you right now. Your cellphone screensaver is Edward!! Hahahahahahaha!! That is brilliant!
I’m glad you’re enjoying them. I guess that they’re just Ok for me. I didn’t enjoy Twilight until the end of the book, and I liked the plot of the werewolves in New Moon. I guess there was too much romance for me – I liked the action in it though. I still prefer Harry Potter over Twilight.
I just went out and bought Book 3.
To me, it’s the focus on the romance that distinguishes these books. It’s why tweens around the nation are freaking out in a giant shrieking collective. I wish these books had been out when I was 13 years old – but whatever, I’ll embrace my inner tween right now!
I don’t really see the comparison with the Harry Potter books – they seem totally a different thing to me, apples and oranges.
I love Charlie so much. Have I mentioned that?? I love him!!
Funny thing: on the day before Christmas, I had to go pick something up at Staples. Naturally, as I waited in line, I had my nose buried in Twilight. I carried it with me wherever I went. I was insane. I get to the counter, and then had a conversation with the girl there about the photos I needed to pick up, etc. My book was lying on the counter (which just seemed WRONG to me – because I should be READING IT. AT ALL TIMES.) The girl behind the counter was about 23, 24 years old – and she glanced at the book and said, “I love that book.”
Then commenced a major fangirl gush-fest that was so much fun that she rang up my order wrong. TWICE! We were laughing so hard – I said, “It’s the influence of Edward – don’t worry about it.” And she, as she rang me up again, said, “Oh no, Jacob is my favorite.” “Oh, so you’re a Jacob girl, are you??” “I love Jacob SO. MUCH.” she said, as she took my money. We were deadly serious.
I was begging her not to tell me what happens. She promised.
She also told a funny story about how she was sitting on the couch with her boyfriend and she hadn’t seen him in a couple of days. No matter. She had other things to do, and was tearing through one of the Twilight books. Her boyfriend was like, “Uhm …. do you want to … talk … or something? We haven’t seen each other …” She said to him, “JUST LET ME FINISH THIS CHAPTER.”
It was such a funny conversation – I love how we immediately bonded.
Sheila: The only reason why I mentioned the Harry Potter books is because I’m not into the romance of Twilight at all. I’ve read them, but only because the action and plot line of the vampire vs. werewolf.
I think I enjoyed H.P. so much more because it focuses more on their friendships and the trials that they endure together. The romance doesn’t come in until Book 5, and, even then it’s minor.
I can understand how young girls (and plenty of us adults) find Twilight amazing, though. I just can’t relate to Bella.
I guess I have heard that comparison bandied about – not just from you – and I wondered what it was based on (except for the fact that both are phenomenally successful series). They’re geared towards different demographics, the writing style is different – so I didn’t get the comparison.
I’m about to start Book 3 – and I am imagining (don’t tell!!) that the werewolf – vampire war is just going to intensify.
What will Bella do????
hahahaha
Oh, and I haven’t seen the movie yet. I’m kind of resisting it. I saw the girl who played Bella make an absolute fool of herself on Letterman and she doesn’t seem Bella-ish at ALL to me. But I will reserve judgment til I see it. Maybe she can capture the clumsy (I love how clumsy Bella is) grown-up-before-her-time depressive and passionate Bella perfectly.
sheila — Hahahahaha! I’m laughing at how twitterpated that girl became just talking about Twilight. And the boyfriend. Totally on the outs. Non-existent until she finishes the series. HA.
Oh, and I’m nearing the end of Book Three today!!
And about the movie — you know what, sheila? I’d keep resisting it, if I were you. I mean … okay, I’ll say it: Not as good as the book. The acting …. um, bothered me. It’s hard for me when I feel actors don’t capture the essence of who the character is in the book. I understand, different mediums and all, but it was almost like — with Bella and Edward — they didn’t read the book or something. Their performances, both of them, felt too shallow. To me. Edward is actually funnier than portrayed in the movie, drier, and Bella is more passionate. Edward looks good, I think, but he’s more than JUST smoldering as a character. There’s more to him than that. I find myself wondering what the first choice for Edward — Henry Cavill from “The Tudors” — would have done in the role, although he may be too old.
I do have to say this: the kid who plays Jacob looks EXACTLY RIGHT to me. He is gorgeous. Beautiful. Good Lord, he’s breathtaking and I’m not exaggerating. Apparently they’re thinking of recasting him for movie two — for, um, size reasons — and there are whole fansites out there right now where tweener girls are FREAKING OUT about this possibility. Honestly, MY inner tweener is freaking out, too. They need to keep the Jacob they have now. He looks EXACTLY right. He’s promising to bulk up, etc., which is good, great, let him do it.
I will resist the impulse, I MUST, to click over to the tweener fansites and add my GROWN-UP WOMAN freak out.
On a side note: I love that on Stephenie Meyer’s website, in the FAQ section, she says someone emailed her this question:
Is Twilight autobiographical?
I still howl when I read that!
Twitterpated–wow, really? I missed the Letterman interview, but I am blindly fond of Kristen Stewart (Bella) after the excellent turn she did in “Speak” (a movie I’m pretty convinced no one saw). Sheila, they did a nice job casting/writing Charlie and I think you would love him in the movie. Everybody in the theater laughed at Jacob, though–I think the movie tried to communicate too many nuances and they got lost.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the movie because I wasn’t fond of the director, but I was impressed. . . but now I hear she’s not involved in any future development and that’s sad. If they also dump the music director (Alexandra Patsavas–love the work she’s done for TV) I’ll be really disappointed.
I am reluctantly trying to finish the final book so I can post about the so-called controversies and my happiness at seeing so many “reluctant readers” (not to mention regular readers as those here) hooked by the series.
Geez, as I was writing, you commented on Jacob, T–I just realized I said the wrong character’s name! I meant everyone in the theater laughed at Jasper. Sorry! (Personally I thought he was cute.) I do hope they can make it work with the current actor who plays Jacob. I’m not a screaming tweener (hee!), and I’m actually not a fan of the character, but he did a great job and I hope he doesn’t end up locked in this kind of role so we can see him in more things.
ITA about the casting of Edward. Many have said they thought Stewart wasn’t how they pictured Bella, but I feel that way even more about Pattison as Edward. But I can’t stand Nikki Reed (Rosalie) in anything, so all my annoyance is pretty much directed there.
Sorry to be posting so much, but I had the misfortune of being at the elementary school and not the high school when the movie came out, so I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss! This is the best place, anyway. 🙂
Tracey, I have no conflicts re: Edward vs. Jacob. There is only one for Bella (and me, of course, because you know that I have to put a face with every character in any novel I read, and thank goodness I hadn’t seen the movie, because just seeing the movie posters, I can tell you the casting was lousy). Anyway, there can be only one fictional supernatural man in my world. It’s (DUH) Edward, hands down. If you don’t believe me, go read Midnight Sun’s first 11 chapters on Stephenie Meyer’s website, and then tell me there is anyone besides Edward. You can’t. I sigh just saying his name. Edward.
I think Twilight is going to turn into a whole blog series for me. A new obsession, of course.
I have resisted seeing the movie so far, because Cedric Diggory is ALL WRONG for Edward.
I think if I had to rank them: Twilight, Breaking Dawn (loooooved this one, almost as much as Twilight), Eclipse, New Moon. There just was not enough Edward in New Moon, but oh my goodness, when there was… well, he totally rocked my world.
I can’t wait to write my post on who would play whom if I were to cast the movies. Of course, my casting could only ever happen in SarahK Fantasy World(TM), because I have cast a younger David Boreanaz as my beloved Edward. So unless David (I call him that, we go way back to last summer when Frank and I watched Buffy and Angel) can go back in time 23 years to play my Edward, the correct cast will exist only in my head.
I need help.