I was at a school rally back in October of 2008 when a friend suddenly blurted out, "I'm reading this book called Twilight. I can't put it down and I can't stop thinking about it. It's 8 bucks at Target."

My frugality kicked in-- 8 bucks at Target for a book that transformed this woman from cheer mom to giddy school girl in 1.2 seconds flat seemed like a fair deal. I raced to the store and picked up both Twilight and New Moon, just in case this series was REALLY that good.

The next week of my life rendered me comatose to my family as I put each and every obligation on hold to plow through all four books. I picked up Eclipse and Breaking Dawn in the middle of reading New Moon, because I couldn't be caught without the next beautiful black book in my hot little hands.

I raved about the series and delighted in each new friend who became as enamored as I was with Edward. The joke that "my kids ate cereal for a week while I read the Twilight series,".....um. yeah. No joke. That really happened in my household.

Twilight became my life, and as this blog suggests... still is. I rarely swear, but just thinking about Edward Cullen makes me say "Damm." Everytime. Damm Edward Cullen.

My most vivid memory occurred while reading New Moon. I was sitting buck-nekked in a flimsy paper wrap in the stirrups at my OB/Gyn office when the words October. November. December. January. slowly slipped through my fingers with each passing page. It set me into a tizzy and I began bawling, just as my OB knocked and entered the room.

Twi-Hards, Closet Twilighters, your secret is safe with us. How did YOU lose your Twilight Virginity? Spill it, sister....

I saw the movie at the theater the day it opened. I knew nothing of Twilight! All I knew was that it was a vampire movie. I really enjoyed the movie, but I had unanswered questions that I just knew the book would answer. So, I bought the book and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I blew through the entire series, reading every chance I got (with a toddler that isn't easy). Then, I went through withdrawal after finishing Breaking Dawn. I could not stop thinking about the Cullens! So, for the first time in my life, I re-read a book! I ended up reading the entire series a second time and am on my 3rd round. And that is how I lost my Twi-Virginity.

I got the books for my daughter thinking she would like them, and OF COURSE she did! She kept trying to get me to read them, but I thought I wouldn't care because it was obviously a teen thing! WRONG! I took her to see the movie opening weekend and told her to give me the books NOW! I was hooked from then on...so I can even tell you the date I lost my Twi-Virginity, Saturday November 22, 2008!

I lost my Twi-Virginity only two weeks ago, recently 'bitten' I suppose.

I have two young daughters, neither is really the target age for Twilight, so we had skipped the movie release, and I honestly hadn't picked up a book in years. Some friends on a hobby forum I am on had been going on about Twilight, so when the chance to pay-per-view it came up I bought it, now realizing I should have just went for the DVD first!

After watching the movie on PPV, I needed more, so I went and grabbed the DVD (3 disk special edition) and the first two books, that was friday the 3rd. By Sunday, I needed to get the next two books as I was fresh out of Edward, and had them finished by Monday morning, the 6th.

This afternoon I ordered the soundtrack, and am on pins and needles waiting for its arrival, I am hopelessly addicted, and have already started to read back through the books again, I can't believe how things got so far so fast, but I like it.

I lost mine recently in February, A friend of mine told me about it, and my Aunt, who is only a year older than I. I picked Twilight up at Walmart, thinking "What's the big deal about Edward and the Cullens?" Well I read it, and was captivated and enraptured in an instant, it seemed. I might as well have been bitten! I couldn't get enough! I got swept right up in the story, and went right through the whole saga. Ahhh, wowwww, and then when I saw the movie after standing 5th in a long line at Walmart to get the DVD, I watched it, and have since seen it several times!!!Now I know why it's soooo addictive, but I'll save that for another topic. My young cousins, my stepdaughter, my aunt, wow. It's also my happy place since going through a divorce. My life will never be the same!! And that's how I lost my Twi-Virginity!

I had a VERY persistent best friend. She never gave up. I purposely avoided the “apple book” forever. My excuses: It was in the wrong section. I’m a classics lover, so it takes a REALLY good story to pull me away from my favorite novels. No way the “apple book” can do that! Plus, her and the other crazies were reason enough to stay away.

So, when the movie came out, she begged and begged for me to go with her! I figured, “Fine, we’re besties. It’s what we do…support each others convoluted obsessions. Plus 90 minutes shouldn’t be too bad.”

The theatre wasn’t too packed. And there weren’t any die-hard tweens there?! Seriously?!…I thought this thing had a cult-like following? Ok, the movie starts and it’s tolerable. I wasn’t expecting much.

The scene that hooked me: biology class. I wanted to know what was wrong with him? Then the questions kept coming. I was intrigued. Why can’t he stay away from her? My bestie was getting very annoyed with the constant questions. I was curious, especially after she said there was alot more to the story….ALOT. Really??

So…I went home, broke down and finally bought the “apple book.” Ended up reading all 4 books in 3 days. And the rest is history. I added the books to my collection of favorites that I re-read over and over. And they’re slowly starting to match my other worn out novels.

My daughter was talked into reading TW by a friend. "It's this story about a girl who falls in the love with a vampire, but he wants to kill her." My daughter's comment to her friend, "You have fun with that." She had zero interest. She finally opened the book when she heard it was going to be a movie and her friend just would not stop talking about it. I think after the first chapter she was hooked and had us running to the bookstore at all hours for the next books in the series ... and insisted on going to the movie on opening day. My 11-year old has read the entire series a few times, too (including MS).

It wasn't until I was sitting in the theatre on opening day that I gave TW even a passing thought. I expected it to be a teen movie, but I was suckered in immediately. I left the theatre and picked up TW when I got home. Read the entire series in 3 days ... and was totally hooked. My 14-yo thinks I am totally nuts still being so into it all. I've read MS and the out-takes. I've read the series at least three times. There is some great fan-fiction out there, but not as good as the real thing.

For reasons unkown, I just can't get enough of all-things Twilight. *sigh*

I bought 'Twilight' at Costco in Dec. of 2007. My husband had read about it in 'Entertainment Weekly' (to which we have a subscription--thank you very much) and mentioned that is sounded like something I would be into...so I got it. I read it and was most definitely hooked. I ran back out to Costco and bought 'New Moon' and 'Eclipse' and devoured them. My book club was picking our books for the year and I suggested we read 'Twilight' as we usually pick a YA book every year. No one liked the idea! I was crushed. I was so alone in my obsession--looking back it is kind of sad.

While waiting for 'Breaking Dawn' to come out I discovered the world of 'Twilight' on the internet and that they were making the movie, etc., etc. I became obsessed. I will never forget the day they changed the release from Dec. to Nov. 21st--I screamed out loud at my computer--Nov. 21st is my birthday! I remember telliny my hubby how huge this was going to be and he didn't believe me...ha!

'Breaking Dawn' came out and 'The Host' and I devoured those while in waiting for the movie. I was slowly becoming completely obsessed and I started re-vamping. My best friend, who is in my book club, decided to change our October book to 'Twilight' in my honor--ha! Everyone read and most loved it and I had a big "I told you so" moment.

I organized 10 of my friends to go see 'Twilight' on opening night. I was soooo excited. I set my expectations low and was pretty disappointed at many parts (like the severe lack of a true meadow scene--sheesh--how could they f@*! that up?) I went and saw it again that Sunday (my 15 year old nephew asked me take him--how cute is that?) and liked it better the second time around. I have liked it more each time I have seen it.

THEN, I caved and bought a Pocket Edward. Not only did I buy one to play with I bought one to keep in the package--what is wrong with me? I could go on and on and on......

OK, long winded me again. I thought things would die down but they have not and I find myself so invested and obsessed. I am so happy to finally find like-minded women on this site. I forget what I was even supposed to be writing about. Thank you for letting me blab.

WOW- this has been a LONG time obsession for you; that must've been a hard year waiting for it to come out!

I saw an interview with Kristen and Rob before they knew Twilight was going to be such a big deal. You can hear screaming in the background and they say "don't worry; that's not for us." Not too long after was Comi-con where they got the first taste of rabid fans... that was all way before I even knew what it was; I'm so behind the curve!

Admin wrote:WOW- this has been a LONG time obsession for you; that must've been a hard year waiting for it to come out!

I saw an interview with Kristen and Rob before they knew Twilight was going to be such a big deal. You can hear screaming in the background and they say "don't worry; that's not for us." Not too long after was Comi-con where they got the first taste of rabid fans... that was all way before I even knew what it was; I'm so behind the curve!

I remember that interview--how young and naive they were! You are the one with the blog PB--you are way ahead of the curve. I don't know how you have the time to do all this but I thank you. I feel like quoting Edward from the movie, "You don't know how long I have waited for you."--Ha! OK, I am cracking myself up now.

hahahahahah- I DON'T have time to do this- see the introduction where Shawna, by TwiBFF fronts me out.

I'm a freelance writer, so I'm on the internet researching stuff all the time. I just end up slipping into Twilight mode 90% of the time, and save the other 10% to research real stuff at 2am. Needless to say, I'm a sleepy girl... a lot.

I first learned about Twilight from my Intensive Reading students. I teach high school, so I was bound to come across the books sooner or later. I first noticed it last spring. I kept seeing these girls who hated reading lugging about this big black book with red binding. When I asked what it was, this was the response I got: "You probably wouldn't like it -- it's about vampires."

Well, little did she know I loved vampires. I am an Anne Rice freak, so of course I had to read this book. I finally got around to it sometime in April of last year and the rest, as they say, is history. I devoured the first book in 24 hours and read New Moon and Eclipse that same week (Breaking Dawn hadn't been released yet at the time).

Now I go around converting other students and unwitting strangers to the awesomeness that is Twilight.

I bet you are the coolest teacher EVER! Where were you when I was in school; my English teachers were always 70 year old bittys!

So as a teacher, what do you think of Stephenie Meyer's writing? (or is this a dumb question?)... do you think Stephen King makes any good points in his critique of her?

Thanks for confessing!

Maybe we should refer to it as 'Twiginity'--Ha!

Admin wrote:I bet you are the coolest teacher EVER! Where were you when I was in school; my English teachers were always 70 year old bittys!

So as a teacher, what do you think of Stephenie Meyer's writing? (or is this a dumb question?)... do you think Stephen King makes any good points in his critique of her?

Thanks for confessing!

Aw, thanks, PB! To answer your question (which is not at all dumb!), I do have problems with Ms. Meyer's writing at times. To be honest, when I first picked up the book, I kept wondering what the big deal was. I didn't think her writing was that great. But that was before Edward came into the picture, lol. So I had to reassess my opinion.

Do I think Stephenie Meyer is a good writer? No. Do I think she is a good storyteller? Yes. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. I've taught some great writers who can't write anything creative, and some very creative thinkers who can't write very well.

I think Stephen King was unnecessarily snippy with her. He's probably peeved as hell that her books are selling ten times more than his are at the moment, despite his being the better writer. But even he should recognize Meyer's gift as a storyteller.

Long response is long! Well, if you really want to know what I think of her individual books, I've reviewed them all here.

:-),
Ana Cristina