At first glance this book is sappy, repetitive and juvenile. By no means, is it one of the greatest pieces of literature of our time-- or any time for that matter. However, in an age where the media portrays men as cheaters, morons, predators and leavers, it is no wonder why this book has had such intense success. Edward does what he says he will. He not only makes promises, but keeps them. Edward shows up. Every time, physically, emotionally, mentally, Edward shows up for Bella.
Friday, Twilight, the first book in a four part series by Stephenie Meyer, will be premiering in the theaters as a movie. The buzz on this is ridiculous, almost rivaling Harry Potter. So as an astute participant in today's pop culture, I read the first book. I kept asking myself, "Why is this so popular? It is cheesy and nothing really happens." I kind of started to think the main character, Bella, was an idiot. Edward, the vampire, he keeps saying, "I could eat you any minute. Stay away from me." And Bella's response? "I'm in love with you. I'll never leave you". It took me over 250 pages to figure it out.
But then it absolutely hit me. I was brushing this book off as cheesy, because it was actually striking something in me. What I was reading was so personal, and intimate between the two characters, that is was like eavesdropping on someone's conversation in a restaurant, or reading somebody's journal about their love life. The way that Stephenie Meyer writes Edward and Bella's slow, and innocently obsessed relationship, was taking me back to my 17 year old butterflies in the stomach. Remember when you almost hyperventilated the first time your hand accidentally touched that guy's hand, who you thought was soooo hot? Or that crazy sick feeling in your stomach when he actually held your gaze, on purpose for more than three seconds? The anticipation, the promise, the potential of getting the attention of someone you deemed completely out of your league.... It's like that.
The next thing I realized was, "Of course this book is doing well! It is just a new twist on the oldest story ever told!" The story of Edward and Bella goes right there next to Pretty Woman, She's All That, Pretty in Pink, Big and Carrie, Veronica and Logan... The list is centuries long. This is any story where the awkward, outcast and unsuspecting girl catches the eye of the perfect, beautiful, rich guy, (who was untouchable to any other woman alive) and not in spite of her ordinary and horribly awkward self, but because of her ordinary and horribly awkward self, he falls in love with her.
Every woman wants to be perused the way Edward pursues Bella. He is strong and beautiful, controlled and charming, and he picks her. Out of all the women across the world in almost 100 years of his vampire life, he picks her. Then he becomes vulnerable with her and takes her on the adventure with him.
Who wouldn't want to be the object of that perfect man's affection? For him to never take his eyes off of her even in the presence of a hot waitress at a restaurant? Every girl wants her man to open doors and pull out chairs and deny his entire previous existence, abandoning everything he knows, the norms, and the expectations, to capture her heart and protect her from the evils of the world. Ever girl wants a man who is insanely strong, but would never hurt her. However, that strength would be conjured up and used at its most intense force if the object of his affection were to be threatened.
Edward also lays his heart bare, exposes himself emotionally and becomes vulnerable to Bella. Edward takes Bella on the adventure into his world, never making her feel anything, but worthy of his time and attention. He invites her in to meet his family, share his history, explains the secrets of his potentially horrifying life. He lets Bella ask a thousand questions about him, never making her feel silly or stupid for wanting to know about him. Edward shows all his vampire "flaws" and then leaves the choice up to her. Stay? Or go? Edward takes the lead. He puts the breaks on their physical relationship, asks to meet Bella's father, defines their relationship. Edward isn't afraid to touch Bella, appropriately, in front of his family. Edward is the first one to say, "I love you."
If that weren't enough, Edward makes Bella start to see herself. It is a true story, the one where a girl thinks she is unworthy, and plain and boring? Then the confident friend/lover/stranger shows them otherwise, helping the girl take part in her own story and opening her heart to the possibility that she is worthy, lovable, even precious.
After the guy does all that would you let him go? Even if he were a vampire? And maybe it isn't so different from human relationships. I mean when we, mere mortals, enter into an engagement, "Will you marry me?", either party is actually saying, "I could eat you alive at any moment. I will let you down and break your heart countless times for the rest of our life together." But we hopefully are also saying, "I will love you and protect you, forsaking all others for the rest of our life together. I will say, 'I'm sorry' and, 'I was wrong', 'will you forgive me?' I will show up for you. Go on this adventure with me."
And the other says, "Yes".
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