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jabberwox, August 25, 2008

[Before I start, I admit I have only read the first three books in this four-book series.]

This series captures readers because most (girls) probably feel somewhat un-exceptional, and yet hope that someone will come along and sweep them up in a way that unveils them to be unique and desirable beyond... rubies! That is the secret to this series. Plain (to herself) yet enigmatic (to the "others") Bella suddenly ignites upheaval among the eternals and becomes the marvel of all who come in contact with her (kind of like Ann of Green Gables except impacting the lives of the coolest beings in the universe rather than normal folk). Because of her, vampires find the reason for their existence and others morph along other paths into super-beings to protect her, so that super-beings are fighting OVER HER!!! Little Bella unwittingly holds the key to others' self-actualization, so these immortals discover they really NEED her. With great power comes great responsibility! And she can cook, too, for her hopeless, clueless Dad! (Why does all current media, from books to cartoons, feel it has to portray fathers in such a way? Because that's the way kids HOPE their dads are, so they don't have to listen to them, that's why!)

As per Harry Potter and Britney and Jessica and the Olsen Twins, young readers should be warned that as the series progresses, there are more "adult" themes in which this author attempts to walk the tightrope between the opposing views of conservative and liberal views of sexuality. For instance, standing stereotype on its head, Bella gets pretty horny in this third volume with Edward, but in spite of being tempted himself, he holds off due to his principles. If you thought the first two volumes were full of heady inhalations, palpitations of heart and snugglings... well, don't expect that to decrease, anyway. This is a ROMANCE after all, and girls are all about that, and talk, talk, talk. (But there is some action for the guys too.)

There is also the inevitable wrenching separation due to the noble lover's ill-advised attempt to protect his love, and a challenger comes in to fill the void, setting up for a love triangle which, although it seemed like a long shot in the beginning, turns viable! Who'd have thought? She becomes a little bit torn between the Christ-like Edward (I mean, let's face it, he's in resurrection, flawless, indestructible, iridescent in beauty, seemingly omnipresent and omnipotent, righteous, terrible in judgment, etc. etc..... etc!) and her more earthy Don Juan, Jacob, who can actually promise her sex that won't rip her apart (which unfortunately seems to be the real reason the "book-Edward" refuses)! All right, all right, the civil marriage contract is perhaps a moot point in such a relationship as Bella and Edward share, seeing the fated level of their commitment, but I am sure parents would appreciate Edward's chivalrous behavior towards Bella. But no girl should expect such a thing from a "human" guy! (I am not saying such people don't exist, I am just saying the way dating works these days, as opposed to courtship, boys go for what they can in what they know will be a short window of opportunity.)

Like most romances, it is strongly analogous to the Biblical story: you know how it is going to end between the unworthy one and the Lover of his or her soul, in spite of the challenger (who is also strangely associated with reddish skin and fiery heat).

But girls can dream, can't they?

The End

P.S. I was just thinking how the Christ-figure and the Satan-figure appear evenly matched like brothers, then I glanced at the end of the fourth volume, how Orson Scott Card is quoted, then the fact Ms. Meyer graduated from BYU... it would seem her theology reflects more strongly in her work than his. (But don't worry, I refuse to believe they might descend upon me as some Volturi for revealing what lies hidden to most human eyes in the spiritual realm!)

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