The past few weeks I have barely watched tv. I have missed the last Grey’s Anatomy, have weeks of Oprahs backed up on our tivo and have my Sunday night programs from last night waiting for me to watch them. I think those programs will be sitting there for a little longer before I get a chance to watch them. The reason I have neglected my favorite characters is in exchange for some new characters. Bella Swan and Edward Cullen have entered my life.
If those are new names to you, you are probably not a teenager into vampire books. Either am, er, was I until I discovered these little gems known as the Twilight series written by Stephanie Meyer. At dinner a few weeks ago, my friend told me she’s been reading these books and explained that they are really written for teenagers…and they have vampires in them. I scoffed at her (she did, after all, make fun of the fact that I had taken a pottery class). I was an English major in college. I read big kid books, like Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, John Steinbeck. I do of course, have many other favorites, but I do try to read some of the classics in between some fun reads. But my friend persisted and said how great they were. I hate vampires, and didn’t think much of the books after dinner.
A few days later I meandered over to the Border’s by my work and as soon I was walked I was accosted by the biggest layout of Twilight books. Maybe it was a sign. I casually walked over, and picked up the first in the series (there are now four) and thought about it. I put it back and walked to find a better read. 45 minutes later, I walked back to the display and picked up the first book again. I walked around with it, kind of embarrassed that I was holding a teenager’s book. I put it back again and walked away. I went over by the Oprah books and picked up what looked to be a riveting, but probably kind of boring read. Fine, I walked back one last time, grabbed the damn book and got in line before I could change my mind. I just bought the first in the series, and told myself I could always come back for more if I liked it.
Three days later I was back at the bookstore looking for book number 2 (New Moon), NEEDING to know what was going to happen with Edward and Bella. Only 2 days later, yep, you guessed it, back at the bookstore to buy number 3 (Eclipse) and 4 (Breaking Dawn) (why waste gas and have to go back?). Kevin and I both know that once I get locked into an obsession, it’s there to stay for quite some time. An example? After watching Walk the Line, I couldn’t find enough information to satisfy my desire to learn more about Johnny and June Cash. This went on for weeks, WEEKS, and if I think about it, I start googling again. Another example…after Elizabeth Smart was found, I would wake up at ungodly hours to turn on the news to learn more about what happened. I kind of feel like she’s my friend after all that. Creepy? Most definitely. There are plenty more, but I will save myself the embarrassment and anyone calling the authorities on me.
So here I am. A new obsession. I had to leave the book at home today, because I get too tempted to try to read when I should be working, or taking longer than necessary lunches when I am actually really busy at work. I guess it just surprises me, because even when I was a teenager, I never got into very teenager-y things. I hated New Kids on the Block. I wore a uniform to school, so I never got into the latest fads. In fact, if it was popular, I tried to be different and not love it. So perhaps the fact that I love these books is a way for me to live through my teenage years once again, but in a different way. Whatever the case may be, I love them. I am slightly obsessed with them. And I will be seeing the movie this weekend. Please, read them with me so we can talk about them incessantly and I won’t feel like such a loser anymore. You might even get slightly obsessed right there with me.
