The Twilight Phenomenon

just a quick teaser for Big Sky...

2010-01-24T20:38:00.001-05:00

New Moon

2009-12-21T11:35:00.002-05:00

So obviously it's been a long time. I've had lots of thoughts on various things Twi-related, and yet nothing super serious enough to get me to stay up way late to blog about (since that's the only way I get free time for this blog).

However, some quickies.

#1. I still haven't seen New Moon. I can't afford to pay a sitter, pay for gas to get to the theater which is 20 min. away, and pay for tickets. And popcorn, drink, candy. Because I HAVE to have those at a movie.

#2. Despite #1, I'm fairly familiar with the film, due to the wonderful internet.

#3. I actually really like the soundtrack. A lot. After hearing Death Cab's song, (meh), and Lykke Li's song (meh again), I wasn't expecting much. But I adore almost all the other songs, and Sea Wolf has been playing non-stop in my house for weeks now.

#4. I am SO glad that critics and reviewers have FINALLY taken the time to check out some of Kristen's other projects!!! Gone are the days where she's judged solely on Twilight, in which she was way under her class. Sorry Twihards, but that's just truth. With Adventureland being on 2009 Most Underrated Films list, and Cake Eater's getting a little more exposure, people have been blown away by Kristen's ability to play a character who isn't in love with a vampire. And now that The Runaways has a distributor....well, let's just say, people are excited. I'm one of them.

#5. While I still think Rob is a hearthrob, (sexy, goofy, British, musician...yum), I think he's got some growing room in the acting department. I think he can be a great actor, and I'm really excited to see Remember Me, but I think Kristen is the star out of the two of them.

#6. I'm sure Ashley Greene is delightful as a person. But her acting is not my fave.

#7. Why has Jackson gotten totally shafted on the press tour? What's up with that?

#8. Chris Weizt has been the best thing to happen to the Twilight series/fandom so far. I'm adoring that man hardcore.

#9. WHO CARES IF THEIR DATING OR NOT?!

#10. Nikki Reed is gorgeous, and the fact that she's a little off makes me dig her even more. Why people expect stars to be perfect is beyond me, but they're people too, with quirks, flaws, and issues.

Anyways, that's it for right now, and I really hope I can make it back sooner and go into some serious details about some things that I've been pondering.....hopefully BEFORE my kids go off to college. :)

Adventureland

2009-09-08T13:15:00.003-04:00

Not totally Twilight related, but a little...

Last night I watched Adventureland. I loved it, as I expected to, and I wasn't let down. I was actually a little surprised. My appreciation of Kristen Stewart is no secret, and I thought she did well as Em. I don't quite understand why all the interviewers were asking her how she found the inspiration to do the part, since she wasn't a damaged girl in her 20's working in a theme park. I mean, I think anyone could relate to that in some way. It's not about the specific scenarios, it's about life in general. EVERYONE is damaged, and I'm not the least bit surprised that Kristen pulled the part of, despite being born in 1990 (I'm old, oh gah!...) She's an actress, and she's alive. Something has happened to her in the course of her life to give her inspiration.

Like I said, she delivered what I was expecting. But the one who did not deliver what I expected was Jesse Eisenberg. He was so much better than I thought, and now I'm a fan. He was just human enough, just real enough, to let you connect with the character, and still look up to him a little bit. And he was charming, and adorable, and perfectly underwhelming. I loved him.

And I'm way jealous that Kristen gets to kiss all these hotties...I mean, Ryan Reynolds? Rob, Jesse, Adam Brody? Jealous.

Anyways, it's a good film, from someone who was born in '83, full of great tunes and performances. And the script is awesome as well. Check it out!

Quick Fast and in a Hurry

2009-07-29T10:35:00.003-04:00

Sorry to have been so totally slack on this blog, but well, I've been anything but slack in the rest of my life, hence the lack of entries here.

And I still don't have a bunch of time, so this is going to be a super fast catch up recap kinda thingy.

Let's see....Rachelle has been replaced with Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria in Eclipse. Rachelle is apparently going to be in a movie with Paul Giamati (loves him!), Minnie Driver, and someone else I can't remember right now. I say, good for her. While already there are teens across the world crying injustice, she obviously knows what's best for her career, and I think working with award winning actors on a serious film is a great choice, even if it means leaving a high grossing tween franchise. Art before money maybe?

Also, Nikki Reed has finally come back to us, hooray! She looks gorgeous, so I guess love in Greece with Paris whatshisname is treating her right. While he gets two strikes for being Paris Hilton's ex, and for having ultra douchey hair, he gets a bonus point for having good taste with Nikki.

It was nice to see Nikki and Kristen together at Comic Con this past week. I miss them being together all the time. They just seem like two cool chicks I'd love to spend the day chilling out with.

Rob is well....Rob. Smoking, sexy, British. Still filming in NY, and putting to rest those pesky rumors that he hates the limelight. He apparently is only awed by it, not petrified. Glad to hear that Rob, since it would appear that you won't be leaving that spot any time in the near future.

Eclipse, to be helmed by David Slade, will start gearing up in the next few weeks, which blows my mind. I mean, Kristen and Rob both left New Moon, went directly to The Runaways and Remember Me (respectively), and they'll both finish up those movies, have a couple days tops to do their own thing, then they head right back into Edward and Bella mode. Wow.

From what I've seen and heard from all the fanatics at Comic Con, Chris Weitz knows his shiz and the movie is going to be awesome. If people would have just listened to me in the beginning, they would have known that already. ;)

Kellan is doing a remake of Nightmare on Elm Street, and I'm less then thrilled about that. Remakes are rarely as awesome, and I really want to see him in something dramatic, and unexpected, instead of all these action-type things, which seem totally typecast to me.

Ashley is beautiful, and all about town recently, showcasing her...interesting fashion tastes. Sometimes she is so gorgeous, and then she shows up in leather short things....ugh. Oh well, we all those days I guess. She and Kellan's movie, The Warrior, some sports movie I believe, should be out before too long, so we'll see. I'm not holding my breath, and again, I wish she could be in something totally awesome. But then again, I'll be she does too.

Billy Burke, please adopt me and be my dad? You're just so freaking cool dude. So freaking cool.

Mike, I mean Peter Facinelli, (A-man-duh), is adorable, and smiley, and sweet according to everything anyone has to say about him. His wife, who will forever be Kelly from 90210, has all the luck. First Luke Perry and now Peter Facinelle. She must have been really nice to Brenda to get that much good karma.

Christian Serratos is way skinny, and pretty, and apparently starting a jewelry line. I'm curious to see it, since she's usually rocking some interesting pieces in public.

Mike Welch just remains on my blah-list. Sorry dude, you're awesome as Mike Newton, but unless you're being him, I'm not interested.

Jackson Rathbone, aside from having an awesome name, will be in The Last Airbender, which looks pretty sweet, and in which he himself looks pretty hot. I'm excited to see his role in New Moon after seeing the preview scene where he freaks on Bella's paper cut. Way to let loose man.

Haven't heard much about Angerano, or however you spell it, and I'm not too worried about it. I don't care who Kristen dates, and I don't see how she's got time to wipe her butt before she leaves the bathroom much less live a fulfilling love life with everything she's got on her plate right now. She's badass no matter what tween girls think.

So that's it for now, I know it's not up to my usual par, I just don't have time right now to make it better. So until next time, hasta banana!

SPOILERS

2009-05-27T20:17:00.002-04:00

Okay, if it looks this freaking fantastic with only tagged pictures and no dialogue, all I have to say is...

WOW.

Enjoy.

David Slade - Antichrist or Savior? Twilight Fans are...Fanatics

2009-05-05T14:26:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I am seriously ashamed to admit I'm a fan of Twilight. Not because it's a Young Adult book, not because most people who saw the movie were half my age (& let me take this second to state that 13 year olds being half my age makes me sad). Because Twilight fans have taken the root word of fan, being "fanatic", to the farthest limits of that definition.

While this whole David Slade slam is only the latest in what I personally consider "non-news", I'm going to start with it, because I can personally relate to it.

Keep in mind, I'm writing this from my opinions, which are formed on what the media gives me, not from any personal experience with any of these people. While I'm pretty sure they'd all just love me to death, me being as completely awesome as I am, I've never had the opportunity to meet any of the starts and/or bigwigs affiliated with Twilight. And while I am probably more intuitive than a large portion of the intended audience of those media blurbs, I never fully trust anything they put out there. People are misquoted, edited, and basically remixed into whatever light the media gods (or devils) currently prefer. So here's what we've got going on, supposedly, with Mr. David Slade.

David Slade, best known for directing Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night, was snagged to direct Eclipse, adapted from the third book in the Twilight series by the same name. Shortly after that news was released on the rabid hoards of Twihards, some "news" came to light.

(If you're a fanatic, brace yourself)

It would seem that at an earlier time, somewhere around the release of Twilight in theaters, that David let some personal opinions out on Twitter. While that page has since been deleted, the term I've most seen to describe them is "biting"...which is either the most horrible pun ever, or people just really are that dumb.

Either way, shortly after tweeting about his Twilight feelings, he was interviewed on a radio station in DC, and he talked about those infamous tweets.

"So, yesterday we were trying to find a movie to see, and we'd seen all the good ones," Slade recalled. "And ... having directed a vampire film and really gone for something completely different to the kind of romantic, you know, repressed-hormone teen-vampire movie, we really weren't interested in seeing 'Twilight,' but a lot of people said, 'Let's go.' "

In response to his friends' overwhelming desire to see Bella and Edward fall in love on the big screen, Slade said he Tweeted: " 'Twilight' drunk? No, not even drunk. 'Twilight' on acid? No, not even on acid. 'Twilight' at gunpoint? Just shoot me.'

"[That's like] a poem in a way," he said about the post. "At this point, it excites me, even though people think I'm a really violent and unpleasant person, I actually do have this romantic violent side to me. Maybe I should have seen 'Twilight.' "

Okaaaaay....

(Brutal honesty coming up here guys!)

If ANY 40-something year old man went to see this movie without being forced to take his teenage daughter and her gaggle of swooning girl friends, or was coersed into seeing by a wife who promised to repay his generosity with never-ending sexual favors, I WOULD BE WORRIED!

Let's see...based on Young Adult fiction, adolescent love story, fairly cheese-ball script (which is the fans fault, but that'll be discussed later), and the film patriarch is only in his 30's in real life...WHY WOULD ANY MIDDLE AGE MAN WANT TO SEE THIS?!?!?!?

Okay, I know I freaked out a little bit there, and I'm sorry. But do you kind of see where I'm coming from with one people? It really sounds like a great way to torture a man when you look at it from that perspective.

And another thing...do you think that Chris Weitz was in line at midnight to see the Twilight premiere? Do you think he watched it, even a moment of it, before he saw that it was a ridculously huge trend, and that it would be a smart career move to direct the next big thing with the next big cast? I kind of doubt it. I like to think he saw the potential that Twilight had, and figured he could do something pretty amazing with it. But that's just me.

While it is slightly unfortunate that David Slade would go on to direct Eclipse, it's obviously not affected his directoral opinion. I'm sure he does, in part, see this as a golden ticket, and it is. I imagine there is a long list of directors clammoring for the job. Lots of money, lots of recognition, good and bad, and who doesn't want a little of that?

But I also doubt, as someone who seems pretty talented at his job, that he would do a film he truly thought of as crap. Why waste the time? He has to look at it and see something, something that he can lend his own vision and touch to too take it to the next level; to build off another's foundations with the same bricks but his own style.

Considering what Eclipse is all about, I'm pretty excited to see what he does. I personally am enjoying that Twilight is being slightly removed from the ultra-sweet, overly cheesy genre into something a little darker, a little scarier, a little more real. Because that's really what it is, to me at least. It's not perfection, it's imperfection at it's most extreme, it's dark, and it's scary.

I can feel that this is taking me into the realm of why fans hurt as well as helped the Twilight movie, and that's going to be another long rant, so I'll leave it at this:

I'm pretty sure that everyone on the cast and crew of all the Twilight Saga films can appreciate that parts of Twilight are unintentionally hilarious, some are silly, and a few are downright cheeseball. They probably laugh with each other, and make snide remarks of their own. That's not a bad thing, it's reality. Just relax people, and enjoy it for what it is, mmmk?

Movin' On Up

2009-04-28T13:04:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted, and I'm sorry. Unfortunately, my real life is rather busy, leaving very little time for ruminating on all things Twilight. But since I've got a few minutes there are a few things I'd like to discuss.

(Insert quick daydream/thought of Mike Meyers on SNL-"Rhode Island...it's neither a road, nor an island...discuss.)

First of all, Chris Weitz. I have a feeling many of the uber-obsessed fans are going to start frothing at the mouth here, so if you're one of those, just leave now.

When I first heard that Chris was taking over for Catherine Hardewicke, I felt pretty much the same thing I do now. Great.

I think it's perfect. Twilight started small, cult-ish, a little unknown despite the die-hards who'd read the book. Catherine was on a shoestring budget, and made what I think was a decent film. Could it have been better? Sure. But it was good. And she came out with this magically perfect cast, whom I'll leave alone for the moment. Because I could totally go off on a really long tangent about the perfection of casting each member, and we all know I adore Billy Burke as Charlie, and Kristen, Rob, Nikki....like I said. We'll leave that alone. For now.

But then Chris Weitz comes along. A man I know only from his bit role as the Smith's neighbor in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. And he was cute. And forgetable, which anyone would be next to the smoldering chemistry brewing between Angelina and Brad. But I digress.

I had hoped that someone with skill in special effects would take over, seeing as how the wolf pack figures so prominently into the story, not to mention Bella's cliff-diving, Italy, ect. And the man is a pro at special effects.

And he has brought in actors I wouldn't even believe would go near a film with "screaming hordes of tween girls and cougars" written all over it. But the man has convinced some of the most amazing actors right now to join in, turning this romantic tween based film into something for the masses. Michael Sheen, fresh of the Oscar nom'd film Frost/Nixon?! I don't even want to know what all went into those negotiations, but I am STOKED!!! Bringing in actors like him, people Hollywood takes as "serious actors" will help all the haters realize that just because 12 year olds pass out while talking about Twilight doesn't mean it can't be a great film. And I think it will allow more people to realize how truly talented the lead actors are. Kristen and Rob are great actors, and while I did like the movie, I think Twilight may have been, to date, the worst showcasing of their respective talents.

When I say worst, I don't mean they did bad. Au contraire, they did great. They took two characters who could never exist in reality, and made them believeable. But they're so talented beyond what they can showcase by being Edward and Bella.

While you know I'm obsessed with the movie Into the Wild, where I first fell in love with Kristen Stewart, she's done so many other roles that are amazing. Speak literally took my breath away. She was in Kate Hudson's 16 minute short, Cutlass, and managed to bring a fully rounded character to life in a few short scenes. Ms. Hudson wrote and directed the short, and got her dad and Chevy Chase to take roles in it. I suggest heading over to YouTube and checking it out. By the way, Dakota Fanning was in that with her....a little foreshadowing anyone?

Last night I watched The Cake Eaters for the first time, a little indie film directed by Mary Stuart Masterson. Kristen played Georgia, a girl suffering from Freidrichs Ataxia, a neuro-muscular affliction causing her to shake constantly and slur her speech. Her heart could stop at any minute. She's 15, and wants to experience a normal life.

To Kristen's absolute credit, I did not ONCE feel sorry for Georgia. There was not a moment where I pitied her for her tragic life. She was just a girl trying to find out what it's all about. Absolutely brilliant!!! And I could go on forever....

So we've got Michael Sheen, and also Dakota Fanning, the most precoscious child star ever. That girl is amazing. She's so young, and so deep, and believable in her roles. I can't wait to see her evil side as Jane. I think the casting is absolutely perfect there. Then we've got Jamie Bower, fresh of another Oscar nom'd film, Sweeney Todd. And that kid who always scares the crap out of me, Cameron Bright, playing Jane's equally evil twin, Alec. Again, perfectly cast if you ask me.

There are so many more actors Chris has brought to the cast, and I'd love to talk about each of them, unfortunately my kids are already pulling me away from the computer. So I'll just sum it all up with this:

By bringing in actors with accepted Hollywood street-cred, so to speak, Chris Weitz has brought Twilight "out of the closet". He's topped what was already a great cake with a delicious icing. People who may have been ashamed to admit their Twi-love will no longer be afraid. The Twilight Saga has become mainstream, for good or bad, and opened doors to a whole new audience.

So thank you Chris Weitz, for doing a good job. And for not playing the media game quite as much as Catherine. As a fan, I loved all the info, but as a human, I feel for the lack of privacy the actors get, and I thank you for keeping at least some of their time free for things like, oh, I don't know....breathing?

For As Long As the Fangirls Shall Live

2009-04-07T15:39:00.004-04:00

Forgot to add this to the last post; got it from The Man's own Twitter page (which I will not be giving out, so don't ask...you'll have to sleuth it out for yourselves) ;)

Now, seeing as I'm not the subject of freaky-stalker-love-fantasies, I can appreciate the skill and beauty of this work. They did a great job, very realistic, and cute idea.

What does The Man himself have to say about this?

"Speechless"

And you know what? I can totally see where he's coming from.

edit: after some major sleuthing, and a lot of disputes about who the real artist of this piece is, I feel safe saying that Angie Swenson did it. And she did it well. :)

Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing

2009-04-07T13:08:00.003-04:00

So things have been crazy, and things have been...crazy. Anyways, quicky post here.

First, this picture. Yum to the billionth power. Lust.

Every time I see it, I hear Chris Isaak singing "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing", which is on the playlist to the right if you're not familiar with it, or just want to enjoy the full effect. :)

The next thing is etsy.com. I've seen so much awesome stuff, but here's my favorite Twilight-related gear:

Wall graphics are a personal favorite of mine, and then you combine that with twilight...here's another type, in the script I love...

And who wouldn't love to open their mailbox to find one of these in there?

For those of us who don't want to show off the fact that we're obsessed with Twilight by wearing things plastered with the obvious symbols, there's this adorable piece...

And this, which I want desperately, and not because it was Bella's in Twilight...it's just great. And expensive. But still awesome, and being handmade, totally worth the cost.

Because not all vamps are good vamps, and they sure as heck ain't getting to my cash!

Ok, so this isn't super Twilight-related...but I still love it.

If you're a fan of Bella's long knit gloves like I am, here they are...

And, last but not least, my favorite Bella Swan inspired necklace...

I know I'm being lazy by not including a picture with the links, but I just don't have time to save them all and repost, sorry guys!

Life is calling! Till next time~

Again?!

2009-03-29T00:11:00.001-04:00

Got home from work last night, sat down on the couch, told Ryan to put in a DVD so we could relax.

THE MAN PUT TWILIGHT IN AGAIN, AND SAID, "THIS IS BETTER THE SECOND TIME."

I don't know what alternate universe I'm in, or who this man is who says he's my husband, but this is AWESOME!!!

Just had to share that. ;)

This is Why He's Hot (No, Not Rob)

2009-03-27T11:24:00.002-04:00

My husband is awesome.

Of course, I had a small inkling of his awesomeness a long time ago; we've been together since we were 16, and almost 10 years later, and married, with kids, we're still together. That could never have happened if he wasn't pretty awesome to begin with.

But last night his awesomeness soared to a new level, one I previously thought impossible. I should have known better; that man always surprises me just when I think I know everything about him.

I got off work last night, and I just wanted to veg out and relax before I went to bed, so I looked through my DVD's for something interesting enough to keep me "in" the movie, but not something I'd have to pay tons of attention to, since I was pretty tired.

After looking at all of them three times, I decided I may as well watch Twilight again. I don't actually own the DVD-being poor means giving up the finer things in life, haha-but I did rent it from Nexflix. While it doesn't have fifty extra things on it, it does have the extended scenes, and my all time favorite director's commentary EVER!! Seriously, Kristen, Rob, and Catherine were so fantastic, I've watched it twice just to hear them joking and spilling the inside stuff.

And I'd just like to take this moment to say that I have a totally newfound adoration of Catherine Hardewicke for her obvious love of Billy Burke's acting in Twilight. She totally feels me on his scene-stealing perfection, and I heart her for that.

Anyways, I figured since I've already watched it three times since I got it in the mail, I'd be able to kind of zone out a little bit in the recliner and just relax. I told my husband I was going to watch it, and left him in front of the computer, watch Duke get trampled on.

Not even ten minutes into the movie, he came and sat on the couch. I ignored him at first, figuring he'd get up to go back to the game any second, but when he didn't, I started to feel a little bit of apprehension. I just knew he would laugh in all the wrong parts, and make me feel like a silly tween for watching this film.

Imagine my surprise when he left the Duke game completely (his all-time fave team) to get comfy on the couch and watch the movie with me.

MY HUSBAND WATCHED TWILIGHT WITH ME.

I seriously adore this guy. Maybe some of you have guys who went to the theater with you, and maybe they actually enjoyed it. Good for you. My hubs is not one of those guys. Between any movie that doesn't have an "X" rating and college basketball, there's no contest-basketball will be ever-victorious.

But he watched it with me, and didn't laugh. (Except when I did-"this is the sparkly skin of a killer"-gets me every time). And he even made some really astute observations that made me glow inside. "They really kind of rushed them falling in love didn't they?" "They should have drawn that out a little bit more I think." "So Alice saw her as a vampire, but he loves her too much to do that, right? And Rosalie is just a bitch who hates everything about Bella."

I mean, I am brimfull of love right now. This is a man who knows nothing about the Twilight series, other than the fact that I am addicted, and he totally got the movie, quieting my when I tried to explain what was going on, what little things meant, because he totally already got it.

This man is so freakin' great.

Now I won't have to go see New Moon at 10 pm on a Tuesday night all alone like I did Twilight. I can take him with me and hold his hand while I drool over Rob...and this Alex Meraz who is shirtless and GORGEOUS and......ok. Taking a breath now.

The New Moon is Upon Us!

2009-03-12T14:49:00.005-04:00

I got on Blogger today to do some minor work on my blogs, an effort that was totally and completely shot to hell by two things, both of which I'm laying solely at the feet of one woman. And I adore her for the marvelous distraction she's provided.

Who is this woman, and what has she shown me? Well, I'll tell you. She's my dealer. My TwiCrack dealer. If you've never checked out Confessions of a TwiCrack Addict, then do so now. I'll wait.

That awesome blog is run by one woman who makes me happy constantly throughout the day with her little tidbits of info, humorous musings, and whom I feel a certain kinship with, since she is also a closet blogger/TwiCrack investigator due to being not a teenage girl.

Today there were two things, and this first one is a doozy, so take a deep breath, and be prepared to possibly hyperventilate. I almost did.

The long-awaited GQ issue featuring Robert Pattinson on the cover is out. And it's AWESOME! Not just the pictures, but the interview is great too. That man is sex, period.

Here's a little teaser for you, this is the cover shot, and my favorite Smokin' Rob photo yet, but there's more inside...yum yum yum yum!

The second thing is the photos from SpoilerTV, who apparently have photographers camped out near the trailers of the cast. There's a TON of photos, mostly of them smoking, since they're obviously on a break during hair and makeup, but it's cool to see what the character's will look like in this movie. If you don't want any sort of spoiler, stop reading, and most definitely don't look at this link here. :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

But for the rest of you who eat up every smidgen of info you can get (like myself), I hope you enjoyed them. Here's a few thoughts on those photos...

*I'm SO GLAD Nikki is wearing a wig in this movie. I totally appreciate her dedication to her craft and her character that made her sit in a chair for a 36 hour bleaching session, and I commiserate with her hair breaking off after the movie was done from the assault that was done to it during the filming of Twilight. But the dark roots were still obvious, and it was just something little that nagged at my attention while I watched the movie, keeping my from focusing completely on the story. The wig is perfect, and it looks great! HOORAY! (Her hair has to be happier too, right?)

*Taylor's wig is still terrible. I'm sorry, I just don't like the long haired look their giving him. He's an adorable kid with his short hair, then they stick on that roadkill, and bleh! Maybe it's just me. I can't wait till we get to Breaking Dawn and he cuts it all off. Only two more movies to go, haha!

*It's amazing how much different Kristen looks with the Bella hair pieces and make-up. She is beautiful in real life, but she's also fierce, a lioness. But they make her look so soft and fragile, definitely more lamb than lion (pun intended), and I love seeing that transformation. It almost feels wrong to see her smoking as Bella, haha.

*Rob's best look is not as Edward, in my very humble opinion. However, he is gorgeous, I covet his Ray Ban collection, and he is gorgeous. Did I mention that he's gorgeous?

So...whose as excited as I am to see what Chris Weitz pulls out of his directing hat?!

Fans ♥ Twilight...A Lot!

2009-03-11T14:00:00.003-04:00

I am so amazed by some of the fan videos out there. I mean, I cannot even imagine how much time and effort and sweat and tears go into making some of these! These people are seriously dedicated, to say the least!

There are a few out there that are really just incredible, and while tiffanyd666's video has been getting a lot of buzz, and rightly so, this one from TVfanforlife is my favorite of the moment.

Not only did they use a song I can't get enough of right now, Breathe Me from Sia, but it's edited beautifully, flows in a very connected way, and one part made me giggle a little, just like they wanted me to.

If you can watch it in HQ I recommend it! Also, don't forget to pause my music player at the top right column so you don't here both of them at the same time. Trust me, you're going to want to concentrate on the video ;)

Coolness in Pencil

2009-03-05T11:06:00.002-05:00

So while I was browsing deviantart.com, the most amazing website chock full of stunning artwork of all kinds, on any and every subject, I happened to (wink wink) search "twilight".

And I found this stunning work of art, from ~R-becca, which I felt compelled to share with you. Because it's beautiful. It's fantastic, amazing, perfection. It shows the intense emotion, the pulse-speeding action of what just occured moments before this frame, and I'm pretty sure it was only done with a pencil. Freaking awesome! And it looks even more amazing up close, where you can really see the details involved in say, Edward's mouth... so I strongly suggest checking out the original here;)

And here is one of Rob that I thought was pretty cool...
And this one is just slightly creepy...

Selfish Much, Bella?

2009-02-25T20:49:00.003-05:00

So I've been thinking....a good habit, yes, I know, haha. But really, after reading my friend Laura's comment on my last entry, I started wondering what exactly it was about Bella that I found a little irritating. Because I knew there was something, but thinking about it right that second, absolutely nothing came to mind; I replied to her comment that perhaps it was Bella's naivety that threw me off, perhaps I was to mature to fully immerse myself in her character.

So I picked up Breaking Dawn during my kids naptime today, to have what I'll call a refresher course in her behavior. After reading a few chapters, up to the wedding, and Jake coming back, I realized what it was that was getting to me.

Bella is selfish.

Yes, I said it. Selfish. "What?", you're thinking, "There's no way! She is, in fact, the most selfless person ever!"

Precisely my point. She is selfish in that she takes everything onto her own narrow shoulders; every bad circumstance, every unhappy reaction, she feels certain is due to some error on her part. Never mind that Edward is a control freak, or that Jake is your typical teenaged hotheaded male. Any time something comes up between them, she takes the blame, rendering both parties guilt-free.

This irritates me.

I think mostly it irritates me because, as I am assuming most women do, I put myself in Bella's place while I'm reading; making myself, in essence, the main character. And while I can be remarkably giving when it comes to declaring who is right and who is wrong, there is no way I would ever take most of those things onto myself. An example:

When Jake shows up at Bella's wedding, they share a few happy minutes in reunion, danincg together, Jake taking pains not to screw it up by being, well, himself. But when he mentions her and Edward not being able to have a "real honeymoon", (ie: have sex), Bella gets embarassed and upset, telling him it's none of his business, but yes they can have a real honeymoon, thankyouverymuch. Jake pulls a Jake, and grabs her in his temper tantrum, causing ever-watchful Edward to swoop in and rescue Bella from the bad werewolf.

Now, firstly, I would upset if someone tried to save me without my permission first. Silly? Probably, but I've got a little bit (maybe more than a little bit) of pride, and I would want to have my say before being whisked away.

And after Edward saves her, she immediately blames herself for rising to Jacob's bait about the honeymoon, certain that she has ruined what would have been an otherwise perfect occasion. It is her fault that her best friend's homecoming ends in his being dragged away by his fellow wolf brothers. (And because I'm thinking about that particular part, let me say that I adore Seth's character, seriously.)

There is no way in any level of heaven, earth, or hell, that I would consider that situation to be anything other than Jake's own fault; for being nosy in the first place, for not just letting her do what makes her happy, and for allowing his jealousy and other unpleasant feelings get the better of him.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame Jake for being Jake. He, more so than any of the other characters, has a very realistic set of characteristic, strong emotion being one of them. And I can totally relate to losing your temper and f-ing up a situation, then looking back with horror/regret.

But when I do that, I know I'm to blame. Conversely, in Bella's shoes, I would know Jake was to blame, and I would not huddle in Edward's arms being depressed and wondering what was wrong with me. I would be huddled in Edward's arms (c'mon, would you not touch him every chance you got?), quivering with anger and frustration that my best friend couldn't keep his shiz together long enough to not ruin my wedding day/favorite mechanic's homecoming.

After reading back over this, I realize I sound kind of bitter towards Bella. I'm not! I adore her, and possible it's just envy of her selflessness and everlasting goodness that makes me annoyed by it. Like when you automatically want to dislike a really pretty girl you've just met and found out she's also smart/funny/and pretty much all around brilliant. You can't stand that she's so perfect, but you can't help but like her, because she's so perfect.

Of course, if I were to honestly put myself into a character from the Twilight series, I'd probably end up being Rosalie. Not because people consider me beautiful, (quite the opposite really; I was recently told that if I were a car model, I'd be a Honda Accord. Gee, thanks.), but because I can be a bitch, and I don't usually see a problem with that. And because I do usually eventually come around to the right side of people. But only if I think they're worth it. :)

Till next time then!

Dazzled Again...by Stephenie Meyer

2009-02-24T14:27:00.002-05:00

I just read a great new Stephenie Meyer interview from Vogue.com , and I am, once again, completely dazzled by her. It seems like I always get to a point where I can no longer trust my own hype of her...I mean, how great can someone really be? But then I read a new interview, and I'm just sucked right back in to her supreme awesomeness.

And her awesomeness is of a totally natural nature, which just makes it more, well, awesome, to me at least. She isn't super polished, she doesn't lead a life full of big happenings and cool goings ons, and she doesn't have that certain something that makes it hard to look away from some of today's rising stars.

Her awesomeness stems from her complete relate-ability. I feel like she could be a friend, or a neighbor, perhaps someone you run into at the grocery store and talk to on the toilet paper/baby food aisle. She seems to exude the kind of naturally open personality that draws people in and makes them feel comfortable. She seems at ease with herself while still seeming human about it, not like those people who are so freakishly comfortable within their own skin that nothing phases them. She screws up, she gets emotional, she deals with it and moves on. Just like the rest of us non-Twilight-penning people who share the earth with her. She is an exceptionally normal, some would say boring, person. She is the every-woman who just happens to be on top of the biggest craze since (yes, I'm saying it) Harry Potter. She is also the mom who teaches Sunday school, watches Law & Order religiously, and obsesses over her favorite band. I love her!

I think that quality of relate-ability, that ease of "connecting" with her, is exactly what comes through in her writing. Her characters seem to possess that same feeling of intimacy, like they could be people you know or grew up with, people you would run into at the post office and catch up on your respective current situations.

That openness, that friendliness, makes Bella the ultimate heroine for the masses of young girls whose minds and bodies are drowning in hormonal mood swings, who feel, as a general rule, alienated from most of society. Even their friends are occasionally suspect, and the way drama swirls through the halls of most middle and high schools, they're right to wonder if they've made the best choice in confidants.

But in Bella there is no judgment, and no feeling of superiority. She is as flawed as they are, and most will find some quality in her that they dislike, something that will make them feel superior to her in some way. While that may sound cruel, it's true (to me at least), and only makes Bella a better friend for it. It's an even playing field, a give and take of talents and loser-y qualities between them and her, creating the perfect friendship.

For those in my own personal niche of mid-twenties adoration, that feeling still remains somewhat, but other qualities are added in, making it a more complex feeling of relation. We remember clearly what it felt like to be awkward in school, having something embarrassing happening at the worst time, and the joys and heartbreaks of that first real love.

But most of us have grown from those experiences, and can look back on them with the wry smile that accompanies such memories, memories that have begun to gain the smoothing patina of age, making us more likely to smile than cringe. Some of us have moved from first love to final love with marriage, and possibly chilren. We're much more aware of the harsh realities involved in real-life love, and the fairytale qualites of Bella and Edward's love. While some people feel overwhelmed by the fairytale aspect, most of us enjoy it for what it is, and welcome it into our lives which have become to full of reality to leave much room for fantasy. It becomes an escape, a chance to relieve those earlier years without the pain and embarrassment of doing it ourselves. Instead, we can do it vicariously through Bella, and shake our heads knowingly when she mistakenly believes Edwards lines of crap about not loving her anymore, which she takes without a fight. Perhaps we look back and remember a time when we kept our mouths closed instead of fighting back, and the consequences of our actions. We smile at her inability to move on from him, maybe thinking about our own lovelorn days of love lost and all the drama that ensued; the days when every detail was carefully noted down to be completely disected at home alone in our rooms.

There is something comforting about reading about a girl, and realizing in ourselves a growth, a maturing that allows us to feel a sense of accomplishment, like maybe we did actually grow up a little bit, even though we most of the time still feel like the same girl we were then.

We also are better able to appreciate Edward for what he is: a ridiculously perfect fantasy man, the likes of who never has and never will walk this earth. Do we love him less for that? No, if anything we love him more, for we do not suffer the guaranteed heartbreak awaiting every teen girl who will undoubtably compare every boyfriend she has to him, and he will come up lacking every time. Our love for him is completely devoid of strings, or expectation. We love him for his impossbile perfection, and wholy enjoy the hours we spend with him, on the couch with a blanket, and maybe a cup of tea or bowl of icecream.

On that same vein, we know the difference between love and lust, having mostly sorted out our hormones into their own rivers to follow the right path to our brains. We can appreciate them on totally different levels, completely disconnected from each other. This opens up all sorts of excited avenues, all of which I will leave to each of your own imaginations.

As a mother, I also took something completely different away from the story than any of the teenagers who still their youth as never-ending, having children as a "one day" and not as an every day responsibility. While they may feel like they are sharing Bella's joy in having a child with the man she adores, they are completely unable to fathom the true, pure, utter beauty in feeling a life gow inside of themselves, of knowing that it was formed in love. I know none of them felt the same momentary flicker of irritation and jealously over the lines, "We're the only parents in the world who don't need sleep, and our baby already sleeps through the night." (I paraphrased there, from memory, so don't shoot me for it being incorrect.)

As parents, we also look at Charlie in a totally different light. Not as the bad guy, which light parents usually are seen in by their teenaged chilren, but as the man who is struggling to know his daughter, unable to express his feelings more completely, but feeling them just as deeply regaurdless. I get tears in my eyes (no joke, and no laughing) every time I read Twilight and Bella says all her terrible things to him when she is getting ready to run from James to Phoenix. I hurt for Charlie's sake, for the poor, bewildered look I see so clearly on his face, and for the day when my children will purposely hurt me...although hopefully not to escape from a vampire tracker.

And while this is completely gratuitous, I have to take this moment to say that whoever cast Billy Burke as Chief Swan in the movie was a genius. He is perfect, flawless, and completely underrated in his role. He brought Bella's father to life on-screen in a way that went above and beyond any expectation I would have had, if I had expected anything at all from the role. Is there a Team Charlie? I'll be the captain. ;)

But I digress, as usual....

I can only guess what the draw is in women in the upper age brackets of Twilight fandom (and I mean that in the nicest possible way), having not yet reached that stage, but I suspect it is a combination of all of the above, looked back at fondly as a memory of younger, perhaps happier, probably less complicated, and certainly more naiive times. As parents who, unlike my younger generation, have children who have already reached that age of adolescence, I imagine they relate perhaps even more to the other side of the story, that they feel a certain protectivenss along with companionship to Bella, or any of the children in the story. Instead of "that could be me", maybe it's "that could be my little girl/boy".

I have, of course, written this fully of my own perspective, and I always love to hear other people's opinions and views! So please let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree, and what your take is!

Fake Can Be Pretty Too!

2009-02-08T14:32:00.004-05:00

So after seeing a few gorgeous manips made by some seriously dedicated fans, I had to share a few of my favorite.

What do you guys think?

These two, from angieswenson at livejournal, give me warm fuzzies. Ok, so Rob doesn't like kids. Who cares? I'm a mom, and these are ADORABLE!

tinderbox210 had so many amazing ones it was hard to choose! I liked this one, it's a little feisty, precisely the reason I like Kristen Stewart.

and this one is just pretty :)

although Rob's head isn't quite right, it's still pretty sweet to me! A little Isle Esme anyone? (yes please!)

I'm still trying to get settled in my new house, so I'll get back with some actual writing sometime soon, I hope.

I Need a Human Moment ;)

2009-02-08T08:57:00.002-05:00

Ok, this blog is on hold, along with my others, until I get unpacked in my new place. Check it out here ;)

I'll leave you with this MOUTHWATERINGLY delicious fan manip. that brings to mind what Twilight might have been like if written for adults, not teens.....yum!

source

Anti-Feminist? Please!

2009-02-03T18:20:00.002-05:00

I'm in the process of a big move to a different state, which is super time consuming since my hubby is out of town and I've got two small kids and a house to deal with at the same time. So needless to say, free time is a rare thing most days.

As usual, with my free time, when I'm not blogging of course, is spent reading. But I don't want to get into a book right now because I can't dedicate my full attention to it. So, I'm doing what I always do in this situation. I'm re-reading something quick, easy, and enjoyable. This time, it's Twilight.

After reading the first few chapters, where Bella starts the ritual of cooking and cleaning up deaning, I was reminded of the anti-feminism rants I read. This is my take on it, and you'll notice it's not very long. I don't really see any need to dedicate a lot of my precious free time to such a ridiculous subject.

I think there comes a point where a line is crossed, in many of the stands that people take. For example, with racism, something I abhor, people go so far that they don't realize they've circled all the way back around to what they dispise, on the opposite side. Let me see if I can put this into clearer words.

They say that all people are created equal. Check. That is, in my opinion, the do-all and be-all in the situation. But then groups go above and beyond to do special things for different minority groups, apparently oblivious to the fact that they hated it when the white people did those same special things for their race. I think it's ridiculous.

The same thing applies to Twilight and feminism in my mind. I do not think that a woman's place is in the kitchen, or cleaning up after a man. Unless that's where she wants to be. If a man wanted to cook dinner for his mother every night, and clean up the dishes besides, people would think he was awesome, so considerate. But because women fought to get out of the kitchen, they should never go back again? Because women were forced to cook and clean for their men for years, they can never do so again willingly. There is no such thing as willingly?

Now, correct me please if I'm not understanding the issue at hand, I would love to hear it. Because it seems ridiculous to me that a woman won't let a man hold the door open for her just because he's a man and she's a woman.

And on a broader scope, the whole "helpless female is rescued by strong male" thing? Why is that so bad? I'm a very strong woman, with a mile-wide independent streak, and I have no problems with daydreaming about a gorgeous, perfect, dangerous, incredible man who can do literally ANYTHING waltzing into my life. And Bella is clearly not helpless, despite how Edward's awesomeness may make her appear. She is after all the one who saves them all.

How's that for girl power?

I think it's sad that women feel the need to be "ultra-feminist", like we don't need men for any more than procreation. While I may echo this sentiment from time to time about my husband, it is in jest, or at the worst spite, and has no truth to it. Men and women are the same. Period. Men are genetically built to be stronger, therefore taking over in situations that require machoness. Women are smarter (everyone knows that ;) ) and therefore take over the problem solving areas. The two are uniquely cut out to fit the other, working in harmony, one filling in the other's spaces. I know some strong women, and I know some smart men; saying that doing what they are good at makes them anti-feminist is ridiculous.

I think by the number of times I've used the word "ridiculous" you can tell how I feel about the whole situation. ;)

Kristen agrees; put all that energy towards something worthwhile, not bashing Stephenie Meyer's books!

People should just enjoy a fairytale for what it is and stop looking for deeper meaning in it. I mean, we're not talking about War & Peace here people. Why are you getting so worked up about ethics and rights in a story about vampires?

Next it'll be some Peta-type group saying that vampires rights are being infringed on...sheesh!

Sorry!

2009-01-31T12:51:00.003-05:00

I have been woefully absent from my Twilight blog, for which I apologize sincerely! I have tons of thoughts and little time, as usual. More so than usual actually, with all that's going on right now. But I think that some time in the near future that could all change...

Take a peek at my life here ;)

I'll leave you with a little something sweet to hold you over...

A wonderful preview of Breaking Dawn perhaps?

Feelin' Fiesty-BEWARE!

2008-12-18T23:46:00.007-05:00

This is going to be super short, because I really am supposed to be writing for my book, but I can't stop thinking about this and have to get it out of my head before I can even attempt to write anything else.

What makes Twilight obsession-worthy?
Why can't I stop reading it?

Seriously peeps, someone explain it to me. Because I really don't get it! Outside of the totally naiive minds of pre-teens, this story should, by all rights, suck.

But, it doesn't. I've read it four times (all four books in the series), in three months.

I read a lot of books. I love reading all different types of literature, from a variety of authors. I just love reading. However, I should not love reading Twilight. The writing isn't great, the style or the delivery.

I don't care; I cannot leave the world of Forks.

Is there some subliminal thing in there? Some sort of Mormon magic? Are the pages dipped in some sort of fairy tale belief inducing chemicals?

I love it, I love it, I love it!

Whatever it is about this story, the characters, the entire thing, I cannot figure it out, even for my own self, and I cannot put it down.

And it's not helping things that they cast Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

Rob is British, articulate, awkward, dirty, and beautiful. We're a match made in heaven. I want to eat him up with a spoon very slowly.

Kristen is on my very very short list of favorite actresses. Have you seen Into the Wild?! Don't get me started. And she just rocks in person, as a person.

I mean, they're both beautiful, talented, and anti-Hollywood. I am so thrilled to have new stars worth watching.

I think perhaps The Dream Stephenie had was some sort of divine intervention or something, to keep today's women from totally losing their cool over the way the men in high places are screwing up the world.

Just sayin'.

Twilight-The Movie

2008-11-29T21:02:00.004-05:00

I went and saw Twilight on a Tuesday night, at 10:oo, by myself, something I've never done before. There were maybe seven other people in the theater, and they all sat behind me, so it was like being alone in the theater with the movie.

I knew as soon as I walked out of the movie that I would see it again in the theater, something I haven't done since the Matrix was in theaters.

I wore my heavy winter coat to the show, and tucked my ticket stub in the pocket.

I cannot take it out of my pocket.

I put my coat on a few times a day to go outside, and each time I slip my hand into my pocket, I feel the ticket there. A really good feeling fills me up inside and I can't not smile because of it.

I think that's a good indication of how I felt about the movie, and a good place to leave this blog for now; feeling that good feeling, like anything is possible, and trying to hold back the little smile that always comes with it.

Always-

Ali

So This Is Goodbye (for now)

2008-11-29T20:54:00.003-05:00

I've come to realize I just don't have enough time, or creative energy for that matter, to keep up with all the writings I want to do. One day perhaps, but right now my kids take up all my time, and my writing priority lies with my attempt at a novel, and the blog I vent into about said novel.

There are so many things I want to dissect about Twilight, the actors, the fanaticism that follows both, and Stephenie's influence. But I can't commit to all of it right now, so I'm going to leave it alone for a while.

I'm coming back to finish, and I am putting one other entry in, after this, because I think it sums up my feeling about the movie pretty well, and I'm thinking it will be quickly written.

So goodbye for now, but not forever.

Fan Fiction Contest-Rough Draft #1

2008-10-27T21:09:00.012-04:00

This is the original, extremely rough draft of my submission to the fan fiction contest. I'm allowed to chose two characters, and it can be a maximum of 400 words...this one is 741 =( I'm not really looking forward to editing myself super harshly, but I figure it'll be great practice for my (hopeful) future as a published writer. ;)
Enjoy and feel free to comment!

(edit 2/1/09: I've decided to use this as a sort of mental exercise, so I come back here occasionally and mess with this story, fleshing it out a little since I don't have to worry about word limits anymore.)

Leah & Renesmee-

The weather outside the Cullen house was horrible. The muscles between Leah's shoulders twitched irritably, flicking raindrops from her thick gray fur. She shifted her hind legs, trying to find a more comfortable position in the miserable wind and wet. Inside, Renesmee slept in the room her "grandparents" kept for her there.

If you could call them that, she snorted lightly at the thought.

It was more out of habit than any real attempt at malice that she thought about Fork's resident vampires. Over the past year she had come to have a working relationship, if not quite friendship with the Cullens.

That hasn't changed the awful smell, she though, sighing inwardly.

That smell was the reason she was in wolf form, miserably sitting in the driving rain. It just wouldn't go away. She'd showered twice already today in human form, in an attempt to lessen it even a little bit. It hadn't had any noticeable effect.

Jacob had told her time and again that it wasn't that bad if she would just quite harping on it all the time. Harping! As if she had ever harped on anything in her life!

I probably am dwelling on it a bit more than I might, she thought quietly, and then quickly looked around out of habit to see which wolf had heard her. But no one had. Seth was staying with their mother for a few days, which meant he was in his human form.

Jacob wasn't in wolf form either. Jacob was driving some ridiculously expensive looking car from the Cullen's garage, following Alice in her bright yellow Porche to Seattle. Thinking about that made her shoulder muscles quiver again, this time in apprehension.

From the stories on the news lately, Jasper thought that a newborn had wandered into the city, with no one to keep it reigned it. Alice could see something with her peculiar gift, but nothing clear, and she was getting frustrated. They decided to go to Seattle to investigate, and all of the Cullen's were supposed to go with her. She knew Jacob was supposed to go too because everything quite suddenly disappeared at the same point in her vision. She had seen that much. And that Renesmee had to stay behind.

Bella had not been happy about that development. If all of them left, that meant that Leah was in charge of watching Renesmee by default. As Jake's second in command, his so-called Beta, the pack's responsibilities were left to her when he was away. As far as responsibility went, Renesmee was his most important one, and therefore Leah's as well.

Shifting again against the wind, she remembered Edward's assurances to Bella with a dour face.

Leah would never let anything happen to Renesmee love, because of her sense of honor and responsibility to her Alpha, if nothing else.

Bella hadn't been wholly satisfied with his reasoning, but Alice told her she'd clearly seen all of them returning together. Bella had settled on Edward's promise that one of them would check back after a week if they still had not found the newborn. Alice had seen them leaving and coming home again, but she had no idea how long they would be gone, and the thought of weeks away from Renesmee had made Bella almost physically ill. Though it had been more than a year since the Volturi had left, Bella still hated leaving Renesmee for any reason.

Leah gave herself a brisk shake and turned to go back inside and check on the still sleeping Nessie. Staring down at the stunningly beautiful little girl, she couldn't find it in herself to blame Bella one bit. There was just something about that child...

Once again Leah wondered to herself if she would ever, could ever, know the feeling of watching her own son or daughter sleeping before her.

Stephenie is my Inspirational Dream-Chasing Guru

2008-10-21T18:02:00.003-04:00

So I've basically spent the day reading old interviews with Stephenie Meyer on the internet. And, as impossible as it would have seemed to me just this morning, I'm more obsessed than ever. That woman gives me so much hope it's almost criminal. I get goosebumps reading her articles, and once (*sigh*) I actually had tears in my eyes. I just really get this amazing feeling of...possibilities...when I read about her and how she started writing.

Most of my life, I've wanted to be a writer. I assumed that I would really have an impossibly hard time accomplishing that after I dropped out of high school and consequently missed college. Then came marriage, kids...free time? Non-existent. So my dreams of writing felt like they had taken up residence behind an insurmountable mountain.

But they haven't!! And that sentence really deserves the two exclamation points on the end. Because this is my life dream being brought back into reality. It's really going to happen.

So, once again, thank you Mrs. Meyer. You are my inspirational dream-chasing guru. =)

Midnight Sun(set?)

2008-10-17T16:27:00.004-04:00

I'm one of those people who is always reading a book. It's just what I do. Right now, in preparation of the release of the final book, I'm rereading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. But since I'm buying the books as I read them, instead of borrowing them like I did the first time I read them, I'm currently waiting on the next book to come in the mail. While I'm waiting, I'm reading Twilight. Again. For the third time, actually, in as many months.

It's quite a bit different this time around, in a good way. A very good way; in between the second time and this time, I've read Midnight Sun twice. Any self respecting Twilighter has read Stephenie Meyer's unfinished, unfairly leaked draft of Edward's side of Twilight. As every Twilighter hopes and prays that one day she can find that special place in her mind where Forks resides with its palely beautiful inhabitants, and finish the story from our favorite vampire's point of view.

As I've said in other entries, I simply cannot imagine what it must be like for Stephenie Meyer, as an author, to have a trust breached and an unfinished first draft released for the world to see. Especially considering her obvious love for the character Edward...it must be kind of how movie stars feel when the papparazzi stalk them while they're out with their children. The inbred instinct to protect that child at all cost warring with wanting to keep faithful fans happy.

(Of course, I know nothing of either situation, and can only guess to the feelings involved. I could be horribly wrong on all counts.)

Thankfully for Twilighters, she decided to let us read her chapters from her own site, without the guilty feeling we would surely have to live with from searching out other illegal versions online. Which we surely would have done in our desperation for any and all things Twilight.

I'm so glad she did. That overhanging sense of guilt would have marred the enjoyment of such a wonderful story. And it is truly a story to be enjoyed. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the first twelve chapters of Midnight Sun. I think I've said this before, but, the love she has for Edward is something almost tangible, something that almost reaches off the pages and into the brain. After I read it I felt like Stephenie Meyer understood his character better than Bella's. Perhaps there was more of her in Edward, so she better expressed him. Or maybe there is too much of her in Bella for her to completely love her, the way most people have a problem with loving themselves as much as they should. She relates too much to Bella to be as involved and intimate. Or maybe it's just me.

Whatever the reason, it turned Midnight Sun into a beautiful, touching story, showing us Edward in a new light. We learn what he is thinking, what he is feeling, giving a whole new scope to tale of two lovers. When, before, he seemed slightly aloof, and completely in control, we learn that he is a wreck of raging emotions and conflicting thoughts, making him all the more "human" to us. We find out the moment when he falls in love with Bella, which is much sooner than we learn of her love for him in Twilight. And that moment seems much more monumental to me from his point of view than hers. She is, after all, human, and falling in love is human nature. He, however, has been wandering around for almost a hundred years feeling nothing like he does for her. Him falling in love is like me finding out I can read minds, perhaps. A completely dormant thing, which seems impossible until it happens, and then is undeniable in it's reality, because it's engraved in who I am.

(By the way, how cool would that be to suddenly discover a dormant psychic power?!)

And Edward's character isn't the only one we're given more insight into. Through his mind-reading ability, we get to know the rest of the Cullen's better as well. And Bella's classmates as well. Jessica in particular really stands out to me, perhaps because I had no idea how truly shallow and vile she was until Edward gave us a glimpse into her twisted little head. Poor girl, I could almost feel sorry for her. Emmett grew a lot for me as a character through Midnight Sun. In Twilight I couldn't help but pigeon-hole him into the "jock" persona, and he really is so much more than that.

Reading Twilight this time has been more enjoyable to me than the first time because now I know Edward. I know that while Bella has been sleeping restlessly, Edward has been watching her sleep. I know that the feeling of not being alone when Bella wakes up after falling asleep outside is because she was not actually alone; Edward watched her dream in the sun, and stayed still as a secret statue when her still sleepy eyes seemed to stare right at him.

It is with new eyes that I'm finishing Twilight this time, feeling even closer to my favorite vampires, and vampire-to-be. And I think that the same could be said of anyone who reads Midnight Sun, and then rereads Twilight. It is my sincerest hope that Stephenie Meyer can find that peace and ability to finish it, so that we can see the rest of the story from Edward's eyes. I cannot think of a companion book so desperate for publication, so perfectly executed. And that is only the first twelve chapters of a very rough draft!

Stephenie Meyer, hear my prayers: Please continue to gift us with your amazing ability and your vision of love that cannot be and yet still is. Please show us the rest of your amazing tale.

Please.

Stehenie Meyer-Enabler

2008-09-28T08:21:00.008-04:00

Reading Stephenie Meyer's story was so inspiring to me. When I finished reading the series through the second time, I couldn't wait to sit down and write my own story. But that was going to have to wait a little while longer, because that's when I found the extra chapters, story lines, and my favorite; Midnight Sun.

First of all, let me say, I cannot imagine what I would do in her situation. If someone leaked the first twelve chapters of something I was writing, I would be crushed. Absolutely crushed. And I don't think I could finish it either. I sincerely hope Mrs. Meyer does decide to let us read her finished work, but I would be the most understanding fan out there if she left us with only the first twelve chapters. I have no doubt that she'll write the rest for herself, as she's stated in various interviews. But to have to deal with that, to put yourself out there like that and have that trust violated...what a horrible thing to deal with in the usually hyper-happy world of Twilight fandom she's created. And I do think that she has created the fans, not vice versa. By being unbelievably generous, she has made the world's most faithful fan group. We wanted more, and she gave us more....so, so much more that we could even imagine.

Speaking of Twilight fandom...People around the world have noticed that Twilight fans are...different. Twilighters, as they (or "we" I suppose I should say, since I'm as addicted as anyone) have been nicknamed, are so hungry for any slight detail of anything having to do with, well, anything! Things that are on the outskirts of the Twilight world, the movie, the actors, the set, we want to know. An extra on the set got a papercut? We'll be reading about it on the Twilight Lexicon during one of our thrice daily checks of the sight. A new interview is posted on MTV.com? Within twenty minutes there will be over a hundred comments on it.

As I said before, I think a huge reason Twilighters are so obsessive is Stephenie Meyer. She is our enabler, and I for one, am thrilled with her role. Let me try to explain how it works for me. Any time I read a book I don't want it to end. I love to read series of books, because there is more detail, more back story, and the end starts off being a few books away. I always wonder about the things that happen in the book-world that don't get written about. Personal details of the characters, storied that are only hinted at in the main plot, inconsequential details that no sane editor would let get published...yet I'm dying to know it all, as all Twilighters are.

Stephenie Meyer gives us all. After reading the series, she gives us insights into her characters through interviews that were beyond my wildest hopes. All the little details that aren't vital to the actual story, all the little details that take the characters out of the book and weave them into the fabric of our lives....she fed them to us with as much love and passion as we ate them up with.

She gave us edited out chapters, something I've longed for from my favorite authors for years. Those chapters tell us so much about the characters we love, and help us understand the published books that much more. They not only give us even more depth into our beloved Cullens, but into Stephenie herself. So many personal details, lovingly written, just waiting there for Twilighters to read.

And then there is Midnight Sun. I'm almost scared to say anything about it for fear of waking up and realizing I dreamed it. That an author would even attempt to tackle the huge task of retelling a story that is set in stone from the view of another leading character is a fairly intimadating thing. But do it as well as she did...it really is a dream come true. In my opinion, she is more in tune with Edward's perspective than Bella's. Her love for him is evident in every well-written line, to parallel Bella's view. It's pretty miraculous if you ask me.

Unfortunately, the same fanaticism that has drawn people around the world to become Twilighters led one to share something that wasn't theirs for the sharing. Again, I cannot imagine the personal anguish that must follow a breach of trust that enormous. And how much sleep, I wonder, did Stephenie Meyer lose trying to decide what to do about the situation. I believe it's a sign of the love she returns to her fans that she posted it on her own site to keep us from having to read the illegal version. How many authors would even consider releasing it the way she did? Once again, Mrs. Meyer, you have my undying thanks.

There is a certain strangeness though, in being able to experience the complete satisfaction that one takes from knowing so much about a favorite story. Always before I've been left wanting to know more...with the possible exception of Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. That man could squeeze details out of thin air, and shared every last one with his fans. I shudder to imagine an unedited version of any of his books. Anyways, I feel nothing of that sense of longing for more from the Twilight series. With, of course, the exception of the last half of Midnight Sun, which I dare to hope I will read one day. But the sense of satisfaction I have is more complete still than it ever has been. Mrs. Meyer answered questions I wasn't even aware I wanted to ask. The questions that usually come years later, after finishing a book the fifteenth time, those have all been answered. And not only answered, but described in such detail that even the most introspective fan must be satisfied.

In feeding our mania, Stephenie Meyer cements her fans even more closely to her world. She gives us what so many crave from authors, going above and beyond what any has given before. And in return, Twilighter's give her their complete devotion.

...to be continued...

Inspired

2008-09-26T11:57:00.005-04:00

Google is my favorite web page, hands down. I am one of those people who Googles EVERYTHING, about five times a day. Anything that I hear about, or read about, if I don't know what it is, or if I feel like I need more details, then I'll Google it.

I had no idea what was going to happen when I Googled "Twilight".

An entire world of fansites, information about the movie, cast interviews, hate-sites, and more was opened to my wide eyes. I was a little overwhelmed, (okay, a LOT overwhelmed), but I knew that one of the first things I was interested in was the author, Stephenie Meyer.

With very little effort, I was directed to her homepage, www.stepheniemeyer.com. I scrolled through a few entries on the page about the movie, some interviews she'd be doing, and links to find out more about all things "Twilight".

If one thing is certain, it's that there is no lack of information about anything relating to "Twilight".

After reading her Bio page, I just sat back from my computer. This woman is my new hero. I mean, she is just so amazing to me! She wrote the first book with two of her three children still nipping at her ankles. Well, practically; anyone who has a couple of small ones underfoot will appreciate how incredible it is that she was a mom/housewife/author.

I've always wanted to be an author, since my first journal entry in Kindergarten. Well, with the exception of the very brief time I decided I wanted to be an artist, a teacher, and a zoologist...simultaneously. High hopes, yes? When I got older and was exposed to creative writing classes I felt even more like writing a book was the only thing for me to do. But I also felt very lazy, and so I put it off for a long time. (For the full story check out my other blog, www.thoughtwithoutmeasure.blogspot.com. It's too long to put in this one too). And writing is not an easy thing for me. People assume that because you're good at something and you want to do something, it should be as easy as getting up and eating ice cream for breakfast everyday, and as satisfying too. This is not the case. Not for me at least. Writing has always been extremely personal, and extremely emotional for me. It takes a lot out of me, and puts a lot back.

By the time I'd finally decided it was time to get on with things, I was getting ready to have my first child, who was followed shortly by my second. Most days I'm excited if I can brush my teeth before bedtime, and free time is pretty much nonexistant. So I was thinking that bringing something as huge as a book onto my plate was pretty ludacris.

Except it's not. Stephenie Meyer did it, and she did it well. She is truly an inspiration to me in so many ways. Not only has she shown me that I can write a book while living in the war zone that is a house with two small children, she has restored my faith in myself. So thanks Mrs. Meyer, I think you're pretty freaking amazing.

How Twilight Swallowed Me Whole

2008-09-24T15:30:00.007-04:00

Up until two weeks ago, I was completely oblivious to anything having to do with Stephenie Meyer, Twilight, or the mania that follows both. Well, to be honest, I wasn't completely oblivious...I rented "Penelope" about a month ago, and I watched the trailer speed by in fast forward as I hurried to watch the movie. As the mother of a two year old and a nine month old, I have no time for anything extra most days, and that includes movie trailers. Once I got to the main feature, I thought nothing else of it.

Until I went to the store to look for some new books...

I was wandering very slowly down the book aisle, just skimming the covers, mostly just enjoying the fact that I an hour free from dealing with my adorable little monsters, when a set of novels stood out to me. I stopped to look closer, and I saw for the first time the Twilight series; complete, side by side, and strangely compelling.

It's not a strange thing for a book to compel me. I'm an avid reader, usually choosing to spend any spare moment I have with a book in hand. All books are compelling to me; the chance to lose myself in another world is something I cannot pass up. Reading is my favorite form of escapism. Book series are a personal favorite of mine, simply because I do not want to story to end. Ever.

What made these books different, what made the compulsion strange, was their location on the book shelf. They were in the Young Adult section, a place I'd moved on from years before I myself was a young adult. A section I'd ignored entirely, with the sole exception of the "Harry Potter" books, since my days of required high school reading.

I stopped to look closer at them, to try and decipher what it was that made me want to pick one up and scan the jacket. It was, of course, the covers; the different red and white objects in stark relief to the otherwise solid black covers. And the simple, evocative titles. The word twilight alone conjures up all sorts of wonderful, escapist fantasies. It's a word that at once evokes the promise of romance, mystery, drama, and wonder; all things that make up my favorite kind of book.

I stood there for another moment, indecisive, and then picked up the first one for a closer look. The two white hands holding the red apple, a seeming reference to the garden encounter with the forbidden fruit, told me that there was a delicious sin somewhere in the pages beneath them. I thought for a second if there were any sins worth reading about that could still be qualified as "Young Adult". But I couldn't resist opening it to read the front and back jacket, and the opening quotation. Seeing that it was a reference from the book of Genesis only confirmed the good and evil theory, but gave me no reference to its nature. I scanned the chapter names, which all seemed fairly harmless, and decided that since I already had it open and in my hands, it couldn't hurt to read the preface.

I suppose the difference in a young adult and an older adult is showcased in my reaction. The words of "hunter" and "death" are all well and good, but I've read many, many books that have dealt with both, some great and some not so much. The word that decided me was the name of the town.

Forks.

Forks? Really? I laughed out loud and then look around to make sure no one was watching me. Confirming my solitude, I laughed again. How could anything interesting happen in a town named Forks? How could death and hunters and immanent doom befall anyone or anything in a place that instantly brought to mind other pieces of silverware?

(I have to state here that my reaction is strongly based in my personality. While I appreciate that a fork in the road could foreshadow a big decision or a turning point in a great tale, that was not the first thing on my mind. Eating is one of my top five favorite past times. It's right up there with a great book on my personal enjoyment scale. Seriously.)

After another quickly stifled giggle I finished the preface and read the first page. The town of Forks was quickly described as a place that I could see as the setting of a wonderful story, so I closed the book before I could read anymore and decide I didn't like it.

That day I bought both "Twilight" and "New Moon", because I figured if I like the first one then I wouldn't want to wait til I got another free hour to go out and get the second. And, if I didn't like the first, well...no harm, I could just take them to my local thrift store in the hopes that someone else could enjoy them.

I stayed up that night, well morning actually, since it was 3:30 am, just to finish "Twilight".

Needless to say I wasn't about to take those books to anyone else. I was hooked. I was becoming a Twilighter.

Over the next three days, I begged my husband to get the other two books for me on his way home from work, and I finished all four of them. This may not sound quite as amazing to you as does to me, because you're forgetting that I have two small children who take up all of my time from six thirty in the morning until eight thirty at night, and various hours of the night depending on when the baby wakes up to nurse.

I was like a woman possessed. Or obsessed. I literally did not sleep that weekend for more than three hours a night. All day long I would think about Bella and Edward, and their plight, and I would wonder what was next. I found myself cutting bath time five minutes short-just to be five minutes closer to finishing the story of Jasper fighting newborn vampires, and finding Alice. I woke up wondering whether Jake would ever taste requited love, and if I would ever be able to completely love him again the way I did when he was a harmless school boy, not a shapechanging string around Bella's heart. I could not pull myself away from the world of Forks, and it's pale-skinned inhabitants.

When I finished "Breaking Dawn", at 2:00 am no less, I couldn't shut the book. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the Cullen family and the world I'd shared with them over the last few days. I decided I should re-read the last few chapter again just to be sure I hadn't skipped something vital. When I'm reading something particularly addicting, I'm torn between taking it all in as quickly as possible, and dragging it out to make it last. Sometimes in my haste to get to the end of the story I don't quite take in every detail that I possibly could.

So I read the last few chapters of "Breaking Dawn" that night. Still wrapped up in the world of Forks, I went to bed telling myself I'd get online the next day and see what else I could read to prolong the magic. I was hopeful that there would be a few interviews with Stephenie Meyer that would maybe satisfy my blood-lust, (haha, terrible pun, I know), for the Twilight world.

Boy was I surprised by the world of fanaticism I stumbled into.