Reading Challenge: The Twilight Saga

As part of my reading challenge for 2013, I am re-reading my tried and true favorites. I started this off with a series that I've read countless times and that I had missed last year when I was avoiding re-reads in an attempt to read 40 new books in a year. Twilight. Sigh.

In case you live under a rock and have never heard of the Twilight series, here's a little synopsis for you. Bella is a high school junior who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father. Upon moving to this rainy, dismal little town, she encounters a group of incredibly beautiful students, one in particular who catches her fancy. Edward. Bella comes to find out that Edward is a vampire (as is the rest of his unusually attractive family) and she fall desperately in love with him, and him with her despite his lust for her blood. Running around with a bunch of vampires proves to be pretty dangerous for Bella so Edward decides to take his family and leave Forks to spare her from the inevitable pain and possible death that awaits her if she continues to be with him. This throws Bella into an intense depression, after several months she finds companionship with her new best friend Jacob (who is also in love with her). Turns out Jacob is a werewolf and Bella is once again thrown in to the world of the mythical while she struggles to go on day-to-day without Edward, whom she still pines for. In an effort to have some fun and take a few risks, Bella decides to go cliff diving. Alice (Edward's psychic sister) has a vision of this and assumes that Bella has committed suicide, in a round about way Edward finds this out and is destraught. Bella and Alice go on an adventure to Italy to save Edward from his own self-distruction. After that debocle, Edward and the rest of his family (the Cullens) come home to Forks and life resumes happily for Bella and Edward, while Jacob is miserable because the girl he loves is in love with his natural enemy (werewolfs + vampires = enemies). A love triangle develops as Jacob tries to convince Bella that he is a better fit for her. Meanwhile, Bella has decided she wants to become a vampire and after many long debates Edward reluctantly strikes a deal that if Bella marries him he will change her. I'll stop there in case you don't know how the story ends because it's a good story and I don't want to ruin it for you!

This series is comprised of four novels Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn plus one novella called The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner in which author Stephenie Meyer delves in to the side story of a new born vampire that goes hand in hand with Eclipse.

I know most people who are going to read the Twilight series already have, but if you haven't read it let me just tell you that it is one of the most absorbing series I've ever read. When I first was introduced to the series I was very reluctant to read it. I don't like to do things just because everyone else is doing it, so since it was such a phenomenon, I resisted the urge thinking it was probably not as good as everyone thought it was. I saw a trailer for the movie one night when I went to the movie theater and I was like "Hey look Cedric Diggory is in a new movie!" Then when my co-worker brought me the book one day and told me I had to read it, I gave in. I read the first book in less than a week. I remember specifically that I finished Twilight around 6:00PM on a Friday night and immediately went to Target and purchased the entire series. I finished New Moon the next day and was done with the series in less than two weeks. Yes, it's that good. And I agree with you nay sayers out there, it's not that it's the most well written YA series out there, it's more about the characters and relationships that completely suck you in!

Here is why Twilight is so good: Remember what it feels like to fall in love for the first time and how consuming it is? You don't really have to remember because Stephenie Meyer captures it so completely. A lot of people say that Bella is stupid to be so engrossed in Edward, when he leaves her whole world falls apart. Well, do you remember being 17? That's what it was like, so give Bella a break already. What makes Twilight wonderful is that it is the ultimate love story and each relationship whether it's Edward and Bella's love and devotion, Bella and Jacobs undying bond of friendship, or even Bella's relationship with her father Charlie is perfectly crafted. This isn't just a story about vampires and werewolves and a mortal girl stuck in the middle, this series would be nothing without the relationships.

One of my favorite quotes from this series comes from New Moon: "One thing I truly knew — knew it in the pit of my stomach, in the center of my bones, knew it from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, knew it deep in my empty chest — was how love gave someone the power to break you." - Bella

I love this quote because it is exactly what the over-reaching message of this series is. It captures that totally high school mentality of being consumed by the one you love.

A couple thoughts about Bella: Bella catches a lot of flack for not being a strong female role model or literary heroin, but I disagree. I'll give it to you, Bella's a brat and kind of annoying here and there. But she is also brave and loyal and would do anything for her family and friends, even give her own life. Her every motivation is driven by love, I don't think that makes her weak.

I'll admit that this last re-reading of this series wasn't my favorite read through. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the first time I read this I turned around and re-read it, and then re-read specific parts and books in no particular order because I couldn't get enough. Honestly, this was the first time I've ever read it and felt a little bored. But I think that has to be expected. Plus, I really prefer to read this series in the fall, it's got a moody atmosphere to it that fits nicely in to late September and October. That said, I'll love this series forever and will likely re-read it as the need strikes throughout my whole life.

"And then we continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of forever."

Here's a cute little collage I made from emogo.com!

Reading challenge update: Completed 6/50

Here's what I think: Let the Hunger Games Begin

It's been a few months since I finished The Hunger Games series and I've still got Hunger Games on the brain. I'm anxiously anticipating more information about the upcoming movie based on the first book in the series and have, like any obsessive fan, been scouring the Internet for any information I can find! In my searches I've seen a lot of speculation and suggestions on who should be cast in the leading roles and I decided to throw my two-cents in.

In the role of Katniss Everdean, the leading lady of The Hunger Games, I would cast Hailee Steinfeld. Hailee has enjoyed fast recognition for her role in True Grit this year and is even nominated for an academy award for her outstanding performance. Not only does Hailee have the right look, build and is an appropriate age to grow with the character of Katniss, she had already proven her "grit" and would be well able to deliver the tough-girl with a soft edge. What I like about Katniss is that she is so flawed, she is brave and strong but is guarded and can never see through to the truth of things until it smacks her right in the face; Hailee has the ability to bring this kind of complexity to life in a realistic way.

I have a feeling that no matter who lands the role of Peeta Mellark, I will be a little disappointed. It's like when Robert Pattinson was first cast as Edward in Twilight. Fans of the book were outraged because every one of them had a distinct picture in mind of this character that they had fallen in love with. But, just like with Rob, whoever plays Peeta will eventually become a heart throb and girls will fall all over themselves for him. Personally, I would like to see someone like Chord Overstreet (Glee) in this role. He is a little older than the character but can get away with playing a younger role. His blond hair, bright blue eyes and strong build are exactly what I picture when I think of Peeta.

Where it's harder for me to cast the role of Peeta, it's exactly the opposite for Gale Hawthorne. Since the first time I saw Drew Roy, I knew he would be the perfect Gale. First, he's not bad to look at. Really, really, not bad. He's got the perfect "look" for Gale - olive skin, dark hair and piercing grey eyes. He's also got that brooding, teen angst thing going for him.

Not only do these young actors have the right look and feel of the characters in The Hunger Games, they are also very talented. I would be excited to see these three actors develop into the roles of Katniss, Peeta and Gale and really make The Hunger Games stand out among other "teen" flicks with their abilities to bring the characters to life.

Here's what I think: Taylor Lautner has good taste in Girlfriends

Previously linked to Selena Gomez of the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, Taylor Lautner has shown excellent taste in perfectly respectable and adorable girlfriends.

His pairing with Selena Gomez was a match made in Disney heaven; she is cute as a button and wholesome as can be. I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent an entire Friday night immersed in the fantastical world of Wizards of Waverly Place and I’ll tell you what, Selena Gomez is just about the only reason to watch. Not only is she a spunky little actress, being a child of Disney, she’s multi-talented as a singer and dancer too.

But alas, it was too good to be true. The stars split after a brief courtship- must be hard maintaining a teen romance when you’re fast becoming a megastar (don’t even pretend that you readers don’t LOVE Twilight and are counting the days until New Moon).

Since the split with Gomez, Lautner has stayed single, not even playing the field from the looks of it, and just keeping a low (as low as can be expected) profile. Until now.

Taylor Lautner has recently been linked to Taylor Swift, the sweet-as-a-kitten country singer who has been enjoying mainstream success with her country-pop cross-over album Fearless. This match up may be even cuter than the wizardly Disney pairing! Taylor and Taylor? Come on that’s got matchy matchy his and her’s written all over it!

If you delve a little deeper into my blog history you can find that I think Taylor Swift is just about the cutest thing since the invention of puppies. Clearly, Lautner has his sites on stable, wholesome girls. And that’s not surprising considering his apparently advanced maturity level at only 17-years-old. Maybe he’ll be the prince in the slightly older Swift’s (19) love story.

But no hard feelings, Gomez and Swift remain close friends despite the relationship switch up. This just might be the cutest and nicest love triangle in Hollywood history.

Here's What I think: Vampire Chic

With the huge success of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga and subsequent Twilight film, vampires are back in the lime-light. But long gone are the capes and head-to-toe black ensembles. Twilight's Cullen family has brought a whole new spin to vampire chic.

As depicted in the film, the Cullen family captures the audience with their beauty and savvy fashion sense. The pallet is mostly neutral, with form fitting garments and one of this season's popular fashion trends -- ruffles!

Whether the fashion world is as enthralled with Twilight as the rest of the world or the Twilight costume director was ahead of the trend, ruffles are sweeping the retail circuit. As shown in the picture above, poofy sleeves, ruffled collars, and crocheted details are hot this season. (These items can be found at www.pinkice.com)