Monday, May 12, 2008

what i just finished, and what is next on the list


Not too long ago, during one of my many trips to Stacey's Bookstore, I walked over to the "Teen" section, as I often do (Have you seen the good reads that are coming out for teens these days?), and judging a book by its cover, I noticed Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I grabbed it off the shelf, weighing the thickness of the novel, and thought, "Do kids really read books this fat?". 

So the back cover of the book reads, "Best Book of the Decade....So Far", "HOT LIST" pick, "Best Book of the Year", "A New York Times Editor's Choice"! By now, I'm thinking I'm already a step behind because I haven't read this book! I buy it immediately, and begin my read on the train ride home. When I walk in the door, the first thing I say to my boyfriend Andres is, "I'm in love with someone else." He takes a step back and says, "Huh? Who?". I say, "Edward Cullen".  

I continue to read, never letting the book leave my side, finding myself with a giddy smile on my face page after page, and then I realize that little high school girl inside me wanting to come out. Ok, enough with my experience of reading the book, you most likely want to know what it's about, right? Well, I could explain it, but then you would think one, I'm a nerd, two, it's only a book for girls, and three, eh? But I'll try. Very bluntly, it's a present day story about 18 year old Bella falling in love with Edward, a guy who has physically retained his 17 year old physique after turning to a vampire in 1908. Bella temporarily relocates herself to live with dad in small town, Forks, Washington. Walking into the high school, she's treated as that strangely beautiful new girl, admired by all the boys- in particular, Edward, who you later find out cannot resist the smell of her blood. From the moment they lock eyes on each other, it becomes that innocent flirtation that exists without actually conversing. It takes you back to your high school days when you wish you could interact with that one flawless looking guy/girl. The interaction, and sexual tension (on Bella's part) between the two of them becomes so intense that you forget reading a teen book. Because Edward and the rest of his vampire brothers and sisters have been raised not to hunt human flesh, especially those of the people in Forks, he resists the temptation of Bella's scent and decides to vow to forever protect her. 

If it sounds all lovey dovey, it is, but in a really good way that keeps you reading. It gets dangerous, and really interesting when another group of vampires travels through Forks and picks up on Bella's scent. That's all I'm saying! Go pick it up and read it if you haven't already! Then come back and let me know what you thought-especially if you are a male. I'm really interested in getting a male's point of view of the story. There is a second and third book following Twilight, but while I wait for the second one, New Moon, to come out on paperback, I've gone ahead and started on Meyer's recently published, The Host (Meyer's first adult novel).

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I think Twilight is being released as a movie pretty soon. Just an FYI in case you want to swoon over Edward Cullen for real. This book has been popping up everywhere lately.

Mary Danielson said...

Oh, Twilight. It may actually be the most addicting book series ever. So, so wonderful! I can't wait to hear what you think of the later stories! I bet you end up loving them just as much - Edward & Bella's story just never gets old.

...and I just finished The Host! It took me a little while (maybe four or five chapters?) to get really into it, but soon I couldn't put it down. Her writing in it is definitely more sophisticated than Twilight, but Stephenie Meyer still has the best characters around. Be they vampires or aliens or just normal people, she always makes her readers identify with them. Just amazing storytelling all around. Glad you've discovered her!!

Kelly Krysten said...

Twilight was by far the best book I've read this year! I loved it to waaayyyy the excess. I'm looking forward to reading The Host. I've heard great things! I hope you enjoy it.
Ps: I love your blog. I'll definitely stop by again.

Junia Isabel said...

Mary-It made me feel good to hear that it also took you some chapters to get into The Host! I found myself rereading a lot towards the very beginning trying to grasp what was going on, and who the narration was coming from. I think a lot had to do with the fact that I was fresh out of her Twilight writing style that it took a bit to get into this new voice and story line. But just like you, I'm not able to put it down now. I'm lugging that big book everywhere!
Kelly-Thanks! I'm trying to work on blogging everyday! It's always on my mind, but because I work all day behind a computer screen, whenever I get home, I feel I need to rest my eyes before I become a zombie! The Host is getting me pretty hooked-and I've become supremely jealous of Stephanie Meyer! I just saw an interview where she admitted to never writing anything before Twilight, and that it just came to her in a dream, wrote about it and BAM! look at her now! If only it was that easy, right? :)