No spoilers. I think.

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.

Yes, I've enthusiastically joined the coven. I can't get over Edward Cullen! Twilight is the first off the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, the others being New Moon and Eclipse (the fourth installment, Breaking Dawn, is bound to come out soon).

The novel doesn't exude the typical bloody-gory theme that's usually associated with vampire stories; rather, it dwells on the romance between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen - two creatures not meant to be together, yet trying to bridge a gaping hole, to transcend the level where all their differences lay just so they would be truly inseparable. They struggle to find a compromise between their two worlds, until they come to the point of realization that there are sacrifices to be done, some things have to be given up, and either way there will be painful tradeoffs.

Twilight is a refreshing take on the dark-sided romance stories, compared to those books which leave you feeling more cynical than you already are. There's nothing more contagious and seductive as the recklessness of first love coupled with the liberating feeling of danger looming when you're keeping vampires around for company. The novel even borders on emo - sick and masochistic. But that's probably a harsh way of putting it. Bella, knowing that Edward's a vampire and could therefore get her killed (or preyed on) anytime, still chooses to be with him, that is, to die, than to be separated from him. Edward on the other hand suffers as much in doing his best to curb his appetite so he would be able to get close to Bella without being as dangerous.

Using Bella's first person perspective, the novel uses a very graphic description of the characters, places, events. It's like playing a scene in your head. I get giddy a lot, it seems so accurate. Haha.

[SIDE NOTE: I'm surprised I wasn't disappointed when I found out that Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory in the HP movies) took Edward's role in the adaptation coming this December. I guess I couldn't imagine Edward's face when I was reading because it sounded too perfect. I couldn't think up anything that would suffice. Haha.]

However, aside from the teenage romance, I was deeply intrigued as well by the issue of Edward's immortality. When you can live forever, what do you live for? Imagine having everything you'll ever need in your lifetime - even time is not so precious a commodity anymore, you have all of it. What's still out there to strive for?

For Edward, of course, the answer would be Bella. He's never found anybody like her in his hundred years of existence, now he would never let her go.

Never? But Bella's a mortal. She's supposed to die, in time.

Oh anyway, I don't wanna give away anything here. I'll be looking forward to the sequels, and of course the movie. Stephenie Meyer's incredible.

Labels: books, twilight

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