Twilight . . . finally

Well, I will admit it. I did really enjoy the Twilight Saga. Alas, there goes my reputation as a Book Snob! Ahh! What is the attraction in these books? The compelling chemistry of an impossible love story is almost irresistible, and Mrs. Meyer has created a hopeless tangle of fate-fraught passion and vain self-denial. Aside from the fun of reading these books, there are so many great questions that rise from the concepts, characters, and plot that it is easy to engage the always eager Twilight fans in debates and discussion.

Twilight was definitely my favorite of the books in the series. It was an easy read, full of overly-delicious romance—more on that later—and written in a style that bordered on tongue-in-cheek so often that I found myself putting the book down and giggling (stay tuned for my favorite quotes). The first part of the novel centered on the expansion of the Bella-Edward relationship. Once the trembling lovers have finally come to an understanding, three-fourths of the way through the novel, some outside action finally intrudes on the concupiscent couple. At this stage the external conflict is introduced: some less scrupled vampires have homed in on the luscious Bella besides the virtuous Edward. In a breathless flight from one danger to another, Bella and her faithful vampire friends finally face down the deadly predator and rip him into small pieces and burn his remains. What is not to like about this? Basic, yes. Fun? Definitely.

This same basic formula repeats in the remaining books. The beginning is focused mainly on internal conflict and the anguished relationship, followed by a stand-off of the good guys against the bad guys. In fact, the plot of New Moon is merely extended in Eclipse—from the internal conflict, now complicated by the addition of a rival for Bella’s affections, to the outside threat of the evil blood-lusting Vampire bent on killing Bella in gruesome ways. The final book concludes with the same threads—the relationship goes through its final metamorphosis, not without the indispensible emotional gyrations, and the breathless couple find that the ultimate consummation of their relationship produces most unexpected results. Another bad-guy/good-guy stand-off ensues, but in the end nobody that we care for dies, all problems are avoided, and pretty much everyone gets exactly what they want and more. Forever.