Obsession

The book club met the other night to discuss Twilight, and it's unanimous - we're all obsessed. Curls and I had finished Eclipse, Lissful was just starting it, and our fourth member just finished Twilight. This made it a bit difficult to discuss, since we're all in varying stages of reading the series. We were only supposed to have read Twilight for the meeting, but most of us got carried away - very thoroughly and blissfully carried away.

None of us find it odd that Bella and Edward are so immediately and intensely drawn to each other. I think we've all experienced some form of completely losing ourselves to a person. There's not always rhyme or reason to it. It's not always something you can explain.

Curls did have some concern about Edward's controlling nature. In many ways, it only makes sense to the story. He's a vampire, for one thing - they're sort of known for that. Then there's the age difference. He's got a good hundred years on Bella, he's bound to be the dominant person in the relationship. And Bella's a magnet for trouble and he's trying to keep her safe. When it comes to fantasy, a dominant and controlling male can be very appealing. However, this is young adult literature, so is Edward's ordering Bella around, her feeling the need to ask him permission - is it a good message to be sending to young girls? We're not sure on that one. It may make a great fantasy vampire novel, but we wouldn't want any girls thinking that's how Prince Charming should behave. Of course, any girl actually naive enough to be looking for Prince Charming is going to be seriously disappointed - real life is not a fairy tale. One would hope that young girls have enough sense to realize that Edward is only appealing because this isn't real.

We were all completely in love with Edward after reading Twilight. There's so much about him to like. He's forbidden for one thing. Who doesn't understand the attraction of the forbidden fruit? He loves her intensely for another. In over a century, he's never been so drawn to another woman. Did your knees just go weak? Mine did. It's not just physical either. He wants to know and understand everything about her. Since he can't read her mind like he can everyone else, he's always asking what she's thinking, unbelievably curious about what's on her mind. Very sexy. Since his attraction to her is very carnal, while his love for her is very pure, he's always exercising a great deal of physical control around her. There's nothing that will drive a woman, or a girl, quite so crazy as being so wanted and so loved. It's the ultimate aphrodisiac. In the end, all Edward wants is for her to be happy - would much rather Bella didn't love him, because she'd be much better off. Bella honestly didn't have a chance. How would any woman?

I don't think it's about Edward being the bad boy. I mean, he is in one sense, he's a vampire, but other than that, what's bad about him? He's not a killer, well maybe at one point, but he only killed bad people. He manages to have all the dark mystery, the commanding strength, the arrogance of the bad boy, combined with more intelligence, compassion, self-control and sensitivity than one could ever expect from a man. He is the total supernatural package. You want a man that can recite you poetry and compose symphonies in your honor? Edward. You want a physically commanding brute who can crush anyone that tried to hurt you? Edward, again. You want a man rich beyond your wildest dreams? Yes, Edward's that too. You want a man who only has eyes for you? You guessed it, Edward. You want a man that can give you eternal life, and the two of you can remain young, beautiful and in love forever? Yes, Edward. How many of us wouldn't want to go back to that moment in time when we fell so permanently and intensely in love and stay there young and happy forever?

Comments

[Polly]

Yeah, I'm Team Edward, too.