Tiffanie Meets Twilight

The first time I had ever heard about the Twilight series, I was writing for The Lowell Sun newspaper.

“Hey, Tiffanie, have you heard of this Stephenie Meyer yet?” Rachel asked me amongst the newsroom scuffle.

“Um, nope. Should I have?” I asked cautiously.

“Well there is going to be this huge midnight release party at Barnes and Noble this week for her new book, Breaking …something or other. Why don’t you get the scoop on it? I guess it’s pretty big.”

After “Googling” Stephenie Meyer, I was bombarded with dozens of links regarding this new, top selling author. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I called Barnes and Noble, waiting to retrieve information about a midnight extravaganza regarding a book that consists of a love triangle between a vampire, a werewolf, and a teenage girl.

So who would’ve thought, months later, I would be hopelessly addicted and enthralled with this woman’s work? Not I. But like an addict to their drug of choice, I was hooked.

Now I’m not saying that I ran out to the closest bookstore after getting off the phone with Barnes and Noble that afternoon. After all, I was still rather baffled by this vampire romance craze. Why was it so special that even the Barnes and Noble associate had to stifle a retort of disgust when I casually admitted to not knowing much about the series? None the rest, I forgot about it after leaving work that day.

Then it reared its mysterious head again when I started noticing the bumper stickers. No, not the ones on the back of vehicles, but the ones you send to your friends on Facebook while procrastinating on that 10 page paper: “Edward Cullen is a VILF,” “Team Edward,” “Addicted to Twilight,” “Breaking Dawn: Give me the book before someone gets hurt,” and my favorite, “People who get annoyed by Twilight bumpers stickers haven’t read the book.”

Facebook Bumper Stickers

Well that last one just screamed for my attention. Maybe I would pick up a copy of the book. After all, I’m always looking for something new to read. I was only hesitant about the series after hearing it was like the new Harry Potter. My thoughts on Harry Potter: little boys running around with magic wands. Not exactly my cup of tea.

Yet I was daring and bought a copy. But let's back up a few steps. Embarrassingly, I have to admit, I saw the movie first. I was forced into it, I swear. Normally, I would refuse to see a movie before I read the book. Never judge a book by it's movie, ya know? But oddly enough my boyfriend wanted to see the movie and knew I was interested as well; so we went opening weekend. Needless to say, I was enamored after the first ten minutes. Leaving the movie theater in a daze, I couldn't help but think, if the movie was that good, the book must be unbelievable. In my opinion, as an English major and a bookworm, the book is almost always better than the movie.

Finally, I got my hands on a copy of the book. Within minutes of opening it, I was entranced. I couldn't put it down. Meyer unfolds a story of romance, suspense, innocence, and the supernatural in a unique and captivating flow of written words.

Now keep in mind, this is merely how I became acquainted with the Twilight phenomena. I have not yet begun to feed you the oodles of details on why I adore it. But rather than overwhelm you with all this Twilight enlightenment, I will simply leave you with a quote:

"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him--and I didn't know how dominant that part might be--that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him." (Stephenie Meyer, Twilight)