Honestly, if I were Bella, I would have gone for the werewolf.
Rob Pattinson (AKA Edward Cullen of Twilight fame) was hit by a cab on Thursday while trying to escape a mob of fans. I immediately wondered if Rob channelled Edward, moving the with vampire-like strength as he read the minds of the teenage girls who were so attracted to his milky white skin.
I just don't see it. OK, he's got that mysterious, bedroom eyes thing going for him, but the pale skin thing isn't just for the movies. Maybe it's just that he's 23 years old, and my tastes have become more sophisticated.
This coming from the girl who puts Adam Sandler at the top of her list. You know the list, made ever-popular by Friends. You put five famous people that you could enjoy the company of without it being considered cheating. This is all in good fun, of course, because the chance of me ever meeting let alone having a chance with Sandler, Dave Matthews, Ed Norton, Ewan McGregor, or Barack Obama (I had to add him. He is the most powerful man in the free world) is slim to none. Not to mention that I think all of these men are married, and I am 100% certain I am not on their lists.
Adam Sandler, however, is my number one. He is absolutely hilarious and has that cute boy next door thing going on. Of course, Billy Madison is my all-time favorite mindless movie. I must have watched it 900 times in college. I still keep it in my Netflix Queue. I believe that Billy really saw the penguins and that the battle between shampoo and conditioner will rage on.
But, back to Ed (Cullen, not Norton). Reading about Rob (not Ed) cheating death by cab, reminded me of the moment I became an Ed (not Rob) fan in the Twilight series. I have to admit, I was not always certain of Edward's motives. Even through Breaking Dawn, I was skeptical of what he was doing with a girl like Bella. Then, I read the draft of Midnight Sun, Twilight from Edward's point of view. I now can see what makes at least Edward's character so attractive. Being able to read Edward's mind is a power that Meyer so graciously gives us in her fifth novel of the series. Stephenie Meyer, (if you are reading this), finish that book! Please! Just because some jerk leaked the novel doesn't mean you should deprive yourself and your fans from publishing your best book yet. I, as a fan who has paid good money for all of the books, appreciated her allowing me to legally read the book on her website after all was said and done, but I would loved to have a finished bound copy on my shelf!
In other Stephenie Meyer related news, I am working on a novel. How does this relate to the famous author of Twilight? She was 29 when she published her first novel, Twilight. I am 29, and although my novel has nothing to do with vampires, she has given me hope that life does not, in fact, end at 30. My thirties are on the horizon as a beginning of something fascinating and wonderful. No longer working two jobs to make ends meet, I can rediscover my passion for words beyond my classroom walls. Even if I don't make a living from it, my goal is to have a rough draft (at least) completed by the time I hit the big 3-0. It's getting closer and closer, but my first book for young adults will at least be on my own personal book shelf by 2010.
The first step is admitting you have a problem.
My name is Jen, and I am addicted to teenage girl- targeted literature. No, I am not buying Bop (Is that still around?) or Seventeen magazine to swoon over the Jonas Brothers, but I am not just talking Twilight either. Twilight Image by cityofroundrock via Flickris more than a 12-15 year-old phenomenon, thank you very much. And, if I were in that age group, I would have wanted Bella to end up with Edward in the first three books instead of Jacob. Yes, I was totally on Team Jacob as my facebook flair proclaims. Also, I never read Twilight by choice. Really, what kind of choice did I have when girls in my English class who wouldn't even read a three page reading assignment race through a 500+ page novel in less than a week? I was intrigued, and I admit, they were good.
My problem is the books that I never in a million years thought a professional, articulate, almost thirty year old woman could enjoy, and fortunately, they all come in a series, so I can keep reading and reading and reading. . .
- The Princess Diaries- I started reading Mia Thermopolis' diaries (by the lovely Meg Cabot) long before Anne Hathaway starred in the Disney flick. I just finished Forever Princess in one day (approximately 400 pages). Oh, and I have a life, a stepson, a husband, and two dogs to take care of and amuse me. However, I had to know what was going to happen with Mia, Michael, and all the characters that Cabot has written so well over the course of the series. And now "Mia" has written a romance novel, Ransom My Heart! I am putting it on my summer reading list!
- Gossip Girl- Let me be clear. Very few of my 8th graders read this series (although they watch it on the CW.) I started reading these books while I was student teaching five years ago. Gossip Girl novels are like Page Six or the National Enquirer stretched into 200 pages. I could not wait to see which song title Cecily von Ziegesar would choose for the title of her next book. Then Blair, Serena, Nate and Co. graduated. I tried to continue with Jenny's adventures in The It Girl series, but it just wasn't the same without Dan, Vanessa, and Chuck. Now, I am continuing the tradition with the next generations of GG, The Carlyles, the story of the triplets taking the New York social scene by storm. I am enjoying book number three, but I am not sure if the Avery, Baby, and Owen will live up to the original cast.
- The Clique- This is the story of Claire, thrust into a wCover of The Cliqueorld of snobby junior high wannabes. Massie, Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen's stories are nothing out of Austen. They are simple, elementary stories, and at times, I want to slap the bratty girls. But, I keep reading. I have to know if Claire will finally be the alpha that dethrones bratty (yet at times likable) Massie. Lisi Harrison does a great job of keeping me hooked by coming out with book after book of cleverly titled best sellers.
Step two is believing that a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity. As with any addiction, however, I have to be honest. I am not sure I want to recover. Bring on the chick lit for the teen set. Is it really such a bad thing to feel thirteen again?
