I’ve stayed up late reading before, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever stayed up until 4:40 a.m. reading. But that’s exactly what I did this morning, and then got back up at 8 a.m. to finish reading the latest in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, Eclipse. I just couldn’t put it down. That’s a mark of a fabulous author and a fabulous story. Things I admire about Meyer’s series:
* The characters — They are real (even when they’re not). Seriously, there are vampires and werewolves, but in many ways they are so very human with very human emotions — love, fear, hatred, pain. I CARE what happens to them. I believe that if I drove into Forks, Washington (which, incidentally, is real), I’d happen upon Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. And I love how complex she’s made the characters. Every one of them has good qualities and not so good qualities, just like real people.
* The setting — As I mentioned above, Forks, Washington is a real place, a small town on the rainy Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Forks even has a Twilight Points of Interest self-guided tour and Stephenie Meyer Day now in appreciation for how much attention the books have brought their town. Meyer does such a good job of describing the setting that when I went through the photos on the Forks Web site, everything looked exactly how I imagined it.
* The love story — Yes, Edward, Bella and Jacob are teenagers, but Meyer does an excellent job of creating a love story that you believe with all your heart and soul is going to last forever. Soul mates in the truest sense of the word.
* Satisfaction and anticipation — Each book leaves the reader both satisfied with the story contained within it and eagerly anticipating the next installment. I know come next fall, I’ll be very eagerly awaiting the arrival of Breaking Dawn.
Have you read the Twilight series? What attracts you to it? If you’ve read Eclipse, what did you think? And are you an Edward or Jacob girl? 
September 18th, 2007 at 4:18 am
I’m still listening to Twilight. Not even half through, and I’ve taken a break. I’ll go back to it now, though.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:07 am
I LOVED “Twilight” and couldn’t wait to get my mitts on “New Moon”… but… I was disappointed, to the point I didn’t finish it. And so, haven’t picked up “Eclipse”.
You’re saying I should, huh?
September 18th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I’ve loved the whole series, Marianne. You might give New Moon another try and then go on to Eclipse.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
My girlfriend was just telling me about this series tonight, so it’s funny to see your blog here on the same day. Her daughter was even wearing a Twilight t-shirt.
I’ll put it on my list of books to buy.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Oh my Heck! I love this series! We’ve purchased 3 Twilight books so far. One for us, two for friends, and we also have New Moon and Eclipse. Did you know Stephenie is possibly coming out with a book in Edward’s pov, too?!!! (Lots of jumping up and down with excitement.)
My daughter and I are totally Edward Cullen girls! To the core! I love Jacob, but Edward is magical. When Bella smells him, I smell him. When she touches his cool, steely body, I chill.
Stephenie Meyer is amazing. I was madder than heck with New Moon, but it’s because you’re supposed to be suffering during that book right along with Bella. Don’t ever give up! Read it through and then go on to Eclipse. You won’t be sorry.
When I grow up, I want to be like Stephenie Meyer. LOL
September 20th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Piper. I’m totally an Edward girl too, though I ache for Jacob sometimes and hope he finds a girl worthy of him.