The purpose of this post is to demonstrate how Twilight was perceived by fans from the beginning, and how their perspectives continued to change as each book, and then each movie, came out.
I'll be doing one of these for every TwiYear through to the present, and Stephenie Meyer's interviews will be speckled in where they fit.
I'll be finding Twilight Fan comments all over the place, including fanfiction.Twilight Fanfiction AND Reviews changed DRASTICALLY after Breaking Dawn was published.
Btw, all hell breaks loose once you get to the Amazon reviews, below - see if you can hang in there for that long, TwiLadies. They really expose our over-obsessions.
October 7th, 2005 - Debut Writer Shines with 'Twilight'
Stephenie Meyer Interview w/ The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Stephenie Meyer Interview w/ The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Summary of Quotes:
"The dream's meaning mystifies her to this day, but there's no denying its life-changing consequences."
Do any of you really believe that this dream was inspired in order to CREATE all the emotional turmoil it has over the years - from Twifans falling into depressions while waiting for the next book to come out; to all the hysteria and RAGE that flew around because of it BEFORE things got so far as the movies?
"It was very obsessive," said Meyer, who whipped out the book in three months. (There is NO OTHER WAY she could have written Twilight that fast. Writing IS tedious and it takes time.) "I didn't have outlines. I didn't have a synopsis. I just let the story go where it wanted to go."
"Twilight" opens as 17-year-old Bella moves from Phoenix to gloomy, rainy Forks, on the Olympic Peninsula, to live with her divorced father.
Just as Bella seems resigned to the dull predictability of small-town life, she meets the seductively intense Edward Cullen, who draws her (and READERS) like a magnet, even as he warns her he's no good for her because ... Let's just say the handsome and conflicted Edward has appetites that aren't on the USDA food pyramid.
Why a vampire dream?
"That's the weirdest thing," Meyer says. "I don't know where it came from. I'm not a vampirey person." (WOW!)
But she thinks readers like vampires because "they're beautiful, they're cultured, they can live forever. Vampires have that alluring edge to their horror (yes, this was the part about them that Stephenie WAS familiar with)."
"Ohhh," she murmured, "other writers are going to hate me."
Yeah, I'm going to find every little detail surrounding this issue.
The FIRST Twilight Fanfiction Poem on Fanfiction.net - it's GORGEOUS! It's funny, because this person wrote this poem before Twilight for another Vamp story - but she thought it suited Edward better, so she changed it to a Twilight poem. It doesn't quite fit Edward, but it's the thought that counts, right? Here's the end lines:
If you want my darkness,
Pay Up.
Here's some reviews for it:
Watch out you goth people! Ha ha! I loved this!
Wow... I'm actually speechless... That's hard to do to me I'm telling ya:-) this is amazing! It captures all of Edwards selfhatred and hate for what he is. Forgive the comparison but It sounded in a way to me like an old man lecturing some younger kids in his head about how they understand nothing of the world and what they are showing themselves as. I love the crimson river thing, I think it showed that no matter where down the course of his life(the river) he is, he cannot escape the bloodlust(the water/river) no matter what he does. I love love love it! Wow...
I don't get this. Meyerpires have no fear for sunlight, it does not harm them in any way, instead, it makes them more attractive to their prey. They should love it instead of being scared of it. Although this poem is perfect for a traditional vampire, I'm afraid it doesn't suit sparkling disco balls.
Woah this is the FIRST twilight fanfic ever written. How did you write it though when Twilight wasn't even out until 2005? Did you read it on the internet or something? Maybe you can read minds? (NO, she is someone who obviously KNEW ABOUT VAMPIRES previous to Twilight.)
Wow. That was pretty powerful. You really do have a way with words. Keep up the good work.
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2) This Fanfiction has the honor of being the very FIRST Twilight 'ficlet' written - and, it's BEAUTIFUL. Short and sweet, this story captures what we were all HOPING for in Twilight - some fans got it, some didn't.
This is how one blog introduced her fanfiction - I got this from the reviews:
...Without ruining the plot, it's a very simple and short story of what Bella felt when she woke up the first time as a vampire. It's a very short one-shot - about 500 words written. Some may even consider it a drabble. One thing's for sure: this should be considered a classic.
Here are more comments from the reviews:
I had to find the first Twilight Fanfic ever and you did it justice. I loved it! So beautiful! Maybe even better then some of Stephanie Meyers stuff.
WOW. i've read SO many fanfics in the last 2 months and NONE of them are that good even I can't write NEARLY that Awesome. so many similes and such i'm speechless. i've NEVER experianced that before. they need to invent a new word JUST to describe the awesomness of this story!
OH MY GOD. woah. for a "ficlet" it is incredible. for something so short, it has the most incredible amount of detail, and just wow. amazing. i love it. it is INCREDIBLE. wow.
I love it! I think it's true to Edward's character when he says, "...To feel as if you have no soul." Someting morbid that Edward would say. Great work.
its actually pretty sweet and aww poor edward and we all know how it tortures him so, but its the best choice that the lovers must b together for eternity...ah sweet love...keep writing.
This was really beautifully written, and I truly enjoyed your idea- it's obvious you thought things through and made the situation very close to the book. I think that it makes a perfect ficlet!
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These are other reviews of other fanfictions throughout 2006:
1/30/06 - Safety
i love it! so sweet! even though it is kinda creepy that he watches her sleep but its also adorable!
Amazing :) Love Bedward!
WOW this was amazing! I have just finished the first book, and am having withdrawal symptoms waiting for the sequel to arrive in the post! But this quenched my 'thirst' for another dose of Bella/Edward heart fluttering scenes :D
This was adorable, i love how protective he is of her, and just reading about the way he touches her, god i can't believe i am actually in love with a fictional character HAHA
It was a good FanFic. I miss all the all older one's... before Breaking Dawn. Not that I don't like breaking dawn or anything.
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1/30/06 - Fall at Your Feet
UnfortunatelyAddicted: E-hem!
or Excuse me! FANGS, FANGS! No chance they dont have fangs thats partly
the point of these vamps! Btw - gd story! i think sometimes u guys can b
very cleva wen it coms to gessin bt things
Edward doesn't have fangs, you know. :)
I loved the Twilight book and your oneshot was amazing. I am totally in love with Edward. To bad he's a fictional character...
Vampires don't have fangs. Stephenie Meyer has said this herself.
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Author's Observation: This is a
typical Twihard comment, "you're good at guessing, how did you know,
such wonderful creativity without reading all the books, yet". Every
time you read that, it's probably been written by someone with PREVIOUS
Vamp knowledge.
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Twilight Book One Reviews by Readers up on Amazon
The thing that is REALLY IRRITATING about some of these 'glowing' reviews - especially regarding your obsessions - is that you all KNOW how obsessed YOU are/were about this series - and NOW that these CURRENT young (and older!) girls who are so obsessed with this series are going through these MEAN, painful PR Assaults; you have NOTHING to say to STOP THEM?!!
The thing that is REALLY IRRITATING about some of these 'glowing' reviews - especially regarding your obsessions - is that you all KNOW how obsessed YOU are/were about this series - and NOW that these CURRENT young (and older!) girls who are so obsessed with this series are going through these MEAN, painful PR Assaults; you have NOTHING to say to STOP THEM?!!
2005
Normally vampires and fictional characters are not my style, but after
reading the exerpt from this book online, referred to by a friend, I was
so incredibly drawn to it that I ordered my own copy as soon as I
finished the exerpt. I got the book three days later, and I spent the
next 3 nights completely buried in it. The first night I read almost
half the book and stayed up until 2:30, I just couldn't put it down.
During the day, I looked forward to going home so I could read more! The
characters are so easy to relate to, just perfect for the story. And
Edward....I completely fell in love with Edward. His character was
portrayed absolutely perfectly. He fit his role to a tee. Over all,
there is really not one fault to this book in my opinion. Even to the
very last sentence, everything seemed to tie in and come together
perfectly. Five huge stars from me.
...the characters are so believable, even if some of them are vampires. You
get wrapped up in the story and you won't want to put the book down!!! I
recommend this books to everyone!!
Meyer managed to weave an intricate tale that actually makes sence and
doesn't bore the reader! My heart is still loyal to my all time favorite
author, JK Rowling, However Stephenie Meyer has bumped my second all
time favorite author (Meg Cabot) down to third! I read this book in one
evening- which is quite a feat, for 2 pages shy of 500! Yes, I had
homework, but this book was too AMAZING to put down! Also, it was a
relief to read a book that I am actually excited to share with my
mother! The worst thing that happens is some passionate kissing, and it
was written quite tastefully! I applaud Mrs. Meyers, and wait with bated
breath for the next installation!
...the prose is alluring and the book is hard to put down.
I'm not normally into reading about vampires or the supernatural, but once again, this book is the exception! You'll love it. There's no excuse not to read such a wonderful book!!
This is a question that shoots off from the reviews of Twilight up on Amazon:
I'm not normally into reading about vampires or the supernatural, but once again, this book is the exception! You'll love it. There's no excuse not to read such a wonderful book!!
This is a question that shoots off from the reviews of Twilight up on Amazon:
Initial post:
Jan 26, 2009 9:27:35 AM PST
Michelle says:
I picked up Twilight Friday and did not put it down until I finished
it at 4:00 Saturday morning. Then I went out and bought New Moon and
finished it at 1:00 Sunday morning. I re-read Twilight again Sunday
afternoon.
I'm 39, happily married, 3 kids, busy. I don't usually have time to read. I can't even remember the last book I read, although I do enjoy reading.
But I've NEVER been obsessed with a book like this. I'm pretty sure I have memorized their relationship up to the end of New Moon. I'm sure I will buy and read the next two books within days. From the posts I've seen, other people have been this obsessed.
My question is, how do you get over it?! I can barely focus on my family. All I want to do is read the book - again! And if I'm not reading it, I'm thinking about it. My poor husband can't figure out what's wrong with me?!
I'm 39, happily married, 3 kids, busy. I don't usually have time to read. I can't even remember the last book I read, although I do enjoy reading.
But I've NEVER been obsessed with a book like this. I'm pretty sure I have memorized their relationship up to the end of New Moon. I'm sure I will buy and read the next two books within days. From the posts I've seen, other people have been this obsessed.
My question is, how do you get over it?! I can barely focus on my family. All I want to do is read the book - again! And if I'm not reading it, I'm thinking about it. My poor husband can't figure out what's wrong with me?!
Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe if I "chat" with someone about them, I'll be able to move on...
There are 5987 REPLIES to this question. Here are a few of them:
There is no getting over it. I was sucked in just like you are. Finish
reading the last two books then find something else to read. But I will
tell you that I have found nothing that even comes close to the Twilight
series and I finished the fourth book in one day back in November! So I
am still looking and even wrote a letter to Stephenie Meyer herself
asking her to please write another series! I couldn't even focus on my
job!
...I finished the book in one day! I obsessed over it and knew I had to
wake up the next morning and run to target so I could read new moon.
Before i knew it i was finished the entire series in a weeks amount of
time. I was so obsessed, and i didn't go out with friends at all that
week, or even talk to my boyfriend much for that matter. In the meantime
I've read breaking dawn twice to keep me occupied but I'm still
searching for a new series to read too..
This winter, after reading all four books three times in as many weeks,
my boyfriend threatened to break up with me if I read them one more
time. So I read them in secret once more. And then I felt it was time to
give up Edward and Bella, at least for just a little bit. So I totally
understand. I'm a book nut and read constantly, but I'd never
experienced the craving for more like I have with this series.
This next reply is an AMAZING example of what happened with TwiMOVIE Fans,
and how they - especially - became EXTRA-obsessed with Kristen (Bella)
and Robert (Edward). Reading these shallow characters and storylines
(which makes things too intimate and personal for each reader) AFTER
seeing the movies and AFTER having their own romantic and fascinating
ideals of the actor & actress embedded in their heads as Bella Swan
and Edward Cullen...
Yeah, THIS is basically WHAT HAPPENED with Twilight MOVIE and/or 'Robsten' Fan obsessions. ALSO, this response reveals the typical way Twilight was introduced to many older fans - through their daughters who were ALREADY irresponsibly and negligently obsessed:
Hello Michelle, just wanted to say I am relieved I am not the only mother out there obsessed with this series! I hadn't heard of twilight till the movie came out, at that time my 13 year old was reading the series. I took her to see the movie, and decided on a whim to start reading the first book, and ended up reading the entire series in about a week. This was back in November, and I have been unable to read anything else since. I feel pathetic, but I just keep reading these over and over again. I am obsessed, it seems to have taken over my life, everytime I think about putting the books up for good and reading something new, I nearly have an anxiety attack! This is killing me, because I am a big reader, I am a medieval history buff, but I can't seem to go back to my normal genre (and I have a whole bookshelf waiting to be read!). I have tried to read some other vampire novels, but I only seem to like Meyer's version of vampires so I haven't been able to get into them either... Perhaps you are right, talking to other addicts may help..
Yeah, THIS is basically WHAT HAPPENED with Twilight MOVIE and/or 'Robsten' Fan obsessions. ALSO, this response reveals the typical way Twilight was introduced to many older fans - through their daughters who were ALREADY irresponsibly and negligently obsessed:
Hello Michelle, just wanted to say I am relieved I am not the only mother out there obsessed with this series! I hadn't heard of twilight till the movie came out, at that time my 13 year old was reading the series. I took her to see the movie, and decided on a whim to start reading the first book, and ended up reading the entire series in about a week. This was back in November, and I have been unable to read anything else since. I feel pathetic, but I just keep reading these over and over again. I am obsessed, it seems to have taken over my life, everytime I think about putting the books up for good and reading something new, I nearly have an anxiety attack! This is killing me, because I am a big reader, I am a medieval history buff, but I can't seem to go back to my normal genre (and I have a whole bookshelf waiting to be read!). I have tried to read some other vampire novels, but I only seem to like Meyer's version of vampires so I haven't been able to get into them either... Perhaps you are right, talking to other addicts may help..
So, is there any way to get over the obsession? Read all 4 books in
just about as many days. Like other posts, I'm a Mom with a family, but
I don't read often. Saw the movie in November and got hooked. Got the
books around Christmas and have read them all three times, and Midnight
Sun twice. Midnight Sun may have been a huge mistake for me to read,
just makes me want to read more. Thanks for posting this. My
husband thinks I'm a complete nut lately, so it's good to know I'm not
the only one. He can commit me to a rubber room if he wants, as long as
he doesn't take away my books.
I am seriously sad thinking about what I'm going to be this excited
about when I complete the series. From what I hear though, most people
feel the same way. The receptionist at the Doctors office noticed I was
reading it and said she couldn't get past page 40. I think I looked at
her like she had a third eye.
I feel just crazy. My poor family!! I can't even count how many times
I've read the first two. And yes, what little of Midnight Sun is
available, I've read twice. At first, I thought reading it from
Edward's perspective would finally settle my obsession - because I
realized the second (or was it third?!) time I read Twilight that I was
re-reading just trying to figure out what Edward was thinking. But then
of course, Midnight Sun isn't finished - so I'm still left wondering.
And then of course I'm hoping she'll do the same thing for the other
titles. I'm reading New Moon today - and keep wondering what's going on
in Edward's mind. I will probably buy the other two books tomorrow. I have been putting it off - not sure why.
My niece admitted to me that she is reading the series again...for the
fifth time. I get baffled at the posts of people that thought the book
was "Predictible." This was the best book I've read in years. I felt the
writing was descriptive and intriguing. Not too detailed, but enough to
make you feel as if you were really there.
Author's Note: The Twilight Saga IS 'predictable' because it's the same damn 'fairytale' you always get out of HUMAN-based fairytales - couple falls in love, gets married, has baby and lives happily ever after.
Twilight WAS unpredictable UNTIL were all realized she was actually writing a VAMPIRE fairytale as any amateur would a typical Human fairytale - especially when you realize that the two middle books, New Moon & Eclipse, were not originally part of the storyline.
Continuing responses from the question above:
Oh it's nice to know I'm not alone! I'm 24 and totally obsessed with the Twilight Series... At the time I thought "VAMPIRE books being compared to the Harry Potter craze...really?!?! Ha!" Well, now I totally understand. I started Twilight the day before Thanksgiving and by Thanksgiving night I was online borrowing the e-book version of New Moon from our public library. (I was sooooo frustrated that it was Thanksgiving and wasn't thankful at all that every store in the country was closed with New Moon locked inside! All I can say is thank goodness the library had an e-book version or I may have had a meltdown!) I read New Moon in one sitting and then ran out (on Black Friday!! Ugh!) to get the other two books. I finished all 4.5 books in nine days (and that's only because I fought with myself for three days about whether or not to read Midnight Sun!)... My husband is so burnt out on Twilight.
Oh it's nice to know I'm not alone! I'm 24 and totally obsessed with the Twilight Series... At the time I thought "VAMPIRE books being compared to the Harry Potter craze...really?!?! Ha!" Well, now I totally understand. I started Twilight the day before Thanksgiving and by Thanksgiving night I was online borrowing the e-book version of New Moon from our public library. (I was sooooo frustrated that it was Thanksgiving and wasn't thankful at all that every store in the country was closed with New Moon locked inside! All I can say is thank goodness the library had an e-book version or I may have had a meltdown!) I read New Moon in one sitting and then ran out (on Black Friday!! Ugh!) to get the other two books. I finished all 4.5 books in nine days (and that's only because I fought with myself for three days about whether or not to read Midnight Sun!)... My husband is so burnt out on Twilight.
I'm just starting this SINCE I'm having such a hard time reading through the Twilight books, themselves. I figured it was good timing with all this extra 'Robsten' Hollywood hooplah that has been going on, lately.
I'm AWFULLY interested in the details surrounding the development of Twilight Obsessions.
You could say I'm HIGHLY motivated at the moment to continue writing this dern book.
You can count on this being added to, DAILY - large chunks at a time.
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