Bitten, smitten

After my post about the idiotic 5% levy, consider this an ode to books...

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I tend to avoid anything that's a little too of-the-moment. Either I get interested in something before the bandwagon starts rolling, or I get into it after all the hoopla has died down.

The latter is true in the case of the Twilight series. Some Potheads (Harry fans), after the release of book seven, no longer had an outlet for their obsession, so many shifted their attention to Stephenie Meyer's books. [SPOILER ALERT. If you haven't read the books and intend to, stop right here.]

As many have said, it's not spectacularly written. Meyer wasn't a writer to begin with, after all. But I've seen my friends—grown women—go starry-eyed at the mere mention of Edward Cullen, so it intrigued me. I also saw the movie with Kuya Vic, and I figured the book must have been way better. Hanging out at my BFF M's house one day after brunch, I spied the first three books on her bookshelf and asked to borrow the first.

I must admit, my brow was furrowed as I read the first few chapters. I was thinking about how the narrative could have been better, but told myself that it was supposed to be written from the POV of a 17-year-old. But when Edward spoke one of his first kilig lines—about maybe not wanting to give Bella back to her friends that time they had lunch—I was smitten.

Two days later, I had sped through around 500 pages—perhaps a record for me, considering I finished it in between training and errands and glorious, glorious sleep and gimmicks and other weekend-fillers. It was incredibly easy to read (even easier than Harry, to which I normally devote the entire day of release and which I grudgingly put down only when absolutely necessary). I borrowed the second, New Moon. Again, two days later, I was texting M if I could borrow the third.

There are some overly cheesy quotes here and there, but the story, the love story is thoroughly engaging. There is nothing quite like the ferocity of teenage love. It's all consuming; absolutely nothing else seems to matter. Thankfully, I knew what to expect so I was kind of able to prepare myself not to totally fall for Edward, unlike some of my more unfortunate friends who were just hopelessly infatuated, hapless victims of this gorgeous, impossibly strong, chivalrous vampire. (Sigh.) And thankfully, too, I have my own personal Edward (sans the bronze hair, cold skin, and blood thirst) so I wasn't left pining for someone so dreamy. But oh, I still felt the giddiness. And in book two, I especially felt the pain.

At four in the morning (reading still!), I was crying after Edward left Bella. I imagined H, the person I love most deeply, most passionately, doing the same thing and it killed me. I could understand the emptiness she felt, the torment over not even knowing if he was OK. I felt, too, her conflicted feelings over her own personal Paris, Jacob. I appreciated the warmth, the sunshine he brought into her darkened world. This man—well, boy, really—loved her (almost) unconditionally, with no expectations. It was impossible for me not to understand Bella's guilt over sort-of being with someone who was head over heels, crazy over her, and not being able to feel something as intense. Could it be so bad? Well, I've been there. It sucked.

I told C—a big Twilight fan—about how I found myself enjoying the books. She wasn't protective of the series, as some rabid fans are wont to be, and was actually quite happy that I finally gave in. (I have no intention of going very deep into the Twilight world. I was, am a big Harry fan, but I never really reached manic levels of fandom. No costumes or forum postings for me. Loving the books was a truly personal experience, and I was content with reading some additional info here and there. Twilight isn't quite on that level, partly because I feel like I can't lay a claim over it. Other people found it first, and I totally respect that.) C gleefully shared bits and pieces, and I enjoyed listening to her. And she clued me in on the extras in Meyer's website—particularly, a part of New Moon written from Edward's POV, and the eagerly anticipated Midnight Sun. I intend to read the online version in its entirety, because I have been curious about what went on in Edward's mind. I guess, like Bella, it was a little hard for me to grasp how it was possible for this near-perfect being (again, blood thirst aside) to fall so madly for the girl next door.

There is a bit of longing in me, whenever I read these books, but not quite as great as my embarrassing yearning to be part of Hogwarts. (Seriously though, wouldn't that be cool?) I guess it mostly stems from a need to escape, for a bit of magic to get me out of the rut of reality. Again, thankfully I have my own leading man, so there is no major pining for anything romance-related. It'd be awesome though if H's skin could sparkle in the sun.