*I wrote this around Christmas, but I wasn’t satisfied with it and so kept it back and tweaked it until now. Hence the cold weather and festive remarks.

In keeping with the title of my blog, I have tried twice to write a post about the latest Nora Roberts group of books about 4 sisters who run a wedding planning business. They’re great, great books, the first two are currently available, but I just can’t find it in me to write more about them than that. Just know that they are in my reread pile. Hopefully someday I will find the right way to write about them.

However, I did just finish rereading the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, and I have found the passion to write about that experience! I don’t understand my will to write, it’s got a mind of it’s own and I let it run amok; mostly just so that I can write the work “amok”.

I first read the Twilight saga last year, just before Christmas. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned it before.

Ok, we all know what the saga is about. Sparkly vampires and trans-species love. But, did you know that it’s AWESOME? Because it is.

I won’t go into the plot, that’s overdone. Instead, I’m going to explain how I read the books. And you can look at the word “read” as past or present. I’ll probably jump tenses a bit where I feel necessary. Hey j-skool, suck on THAT lemon! This is MY blog!

Starting with Twilight, I crack the book open to the first chapter, (I’d say that’s a duh, but I know some people who just jump to their favourite parts), and the visuals start.  I see the overcast skies of Forks, with it’s wet sidewalks and soggy lawns.  I don’t see the words I’m reading, I see the story I’m experiencing. Reading for me has little to do with words and everything to do with watching the TV version. My casts are never real actors though, actually not even real people. Yeah, my imagination is that damn good.

While it’s rough for me at the start of Twilight, as it is with most books because I just want to get into the story already, it doesn’t take me long to feel like I’m in Forks, that damp air around me and the smell of wet woods. Now the blankets come out, the slippers go on and if I’m in the la-z-boy I’ll probably make some tea. I really get into the story.

When reading in bed, since it’s winter and I don’t turn the heat on in my room, (we have electric, it’s just not worth it), I’ve got a pile of blankets on me and I’m in a cocoon, gripping the book as hard as I can without distracting me from the story, trying to turn the pages without dropping the large tome and disrupting my fantasy. Or rather, Ms. Meyer’s fantasy.

This time, before I knew it, it was 2am and Twilight was over. It took me about a week to read it this time, as I had to force myself to put it down several times to do things like socialize, go to work and prepare for Christmas. As soon as Twilight hit the floor beside my bed, New Moon was in my hands. 2am? Who cares?! I didn’t have to work in the morning. I started New Moon even though I was tired because my brain was too active, too excited about the next part of the saga. In order to quiet my mind, I just had to read some more. I think I lasted another 15 minutes. All that romance can be exhausting.

New Moon went a little faster than Twilight. I started to become a hermit and read, but I ended up taking multiple breaks because I’d promised Mum that we’d watch season 4 and what had aired so far of season 5 of Criminal Minds. That’s about 38 episodes in less than 2 weeks in case you’re wondering. Fabulous show! But back to the topic at hand.

New Moon ended, and on a pleasant note because the first time I read it I was full of anger and sheer frustration at several characters, but this time I knew where it we were going so I was just excited to be reminded of what happened next because do you think I could remember what happened in Eclipse? No. Well, barely. Wow, that one sentence is really long! And suck THAT lemon too j-skool! *starts to sing Queen’s I Want to Break Free*

Eclipse started the night before I took a day trip with my parents that involved me having about 6 hours to read. Eclipse finished the next day, because when I get on a roll like that, I often can’t put the book down. It turns out I remembered a lot of Eclipse, I just hadn’t realized it happened in Eclipse. Nice to know that while I’m kind of crazy, I’m not actually losing my mind.

Then I picked up Breaking Dawn. Again, it was late at night and right after I had finished Eclipse. But I stopped for a brief moment because this was it; the last book in the saga. A lot of adventure to look forward to, but also the end. I get sad sometimes when I come to the end of an exciting book series, because I feel like I have to say good bye to my friends! And then I kicked myself in gear and started reading. And man, was I sucked in again.

Reading Breaking Dawn is different than reading the previous books. I don’t know exactly if it’s because it’s the last book so I know that things are coming to an end, the subject matter or just the sheer delight of re-experiencing one of my favourite books again. I just get completely lost in the book. I read it every chance I had. During commercials, (dangerous because I often forgot I was even watching TV), while waiting for dinner (which was a hard battle when dinner was ready. To end hunger or continue the story?), late at night, as soon as I woke up. Last time I read these books I was completely sucked in to them and did little else but read, however, this time I wanted to take it a little more slowly, to prolong the glowing feeling of story telling greatness.

And last night it was all over. Around 1am. But I wasn’t sad this time, I just reveled in the story, felt happy and mentally satisfied with the whole thing.

That’s what reading the Twilight series is like if you’re me. This also applies to Harry Potter and a few others. But I have to say, having Twilight on the brain so much in the last 2 weeks and Criminal Minds, I had one hell of a nightmare last night!