From a "mature" perspective...

I've talked to a lot of tween girls who've read the book, and they see the story through a completely different set of eyes; it's interesting what they take away from it.

But as moms, we've all been in love before. This saga ruffles up all of those feelings of first love, but adds a completely different, dangerous element... the Cullens.

Edward's passion and vulnerability are just so incredibly super sexy, and, while we love our husbands dearly, the fantasy we feel with him is better than any soap opera. Slipping into the harmless Twilight alternate reality stirs up a level of excitement that we don't get with kids, demanding schedules and doldrums of every day life.

I, too, feel Edward's pain-- my heart aches for him and the complications of his existence. The fact that he finds someone to complete him and make his immortality worth living conjure up such strong emotions... emotions that we, as moms, are able to harness and relate with on an entirely different level than teen girls who simply think Edward is hot.

That being said, Edward Cullen IS hotter than any teen icon of the 80's-- really... Rick Springfield or Edward Cullen? Shoot, even Emmett or swoon.... Jacob... any of those boys rival our teen heartthrobs!

I think it IS our alternate reality, a place to go where we can appreciate Edward's painful existance, Bella's situation (she took care of her mother emotionally) and became attracted to such a tortured soul like Edward.
It also takes me back to my own first love, back in the 80's, where I got so swept up in the passion of the emotion!!! But there was nothing like this back in "my time" when I saw my share of hearthrobs like Harrison Ford, Patrick Swayze, Michael Biehn (Reese,from Terminator),Duran Duran (talk about sex hair!). I still feel I have to stay in the closet because of my age. My sister-n-law giggles at me like I've lost my marbles. My mom's religous and thinks it's demonic, and my soon to be ex-husband simply thinks it's silly. At least my stepdaughter and nieces love me for it.
There is simply something very special about this story, and that's why we more mature ladies connect with it!!!

Yes, I totally agree with you both!

My husband is really being weird about the whole thing, I think there's a spark of jealousy there, though Edward is the epitome of a gentleman,and not to mention, gorgeous, who wouldn't be jealous?

I have found myself sneaking in watching the DVD while he's at work, and reading after he's in bed to spare his feelings, how pathetic is that?

Twilight isn't the only book that I've been enthralled with. But, with the Twilight series...it goes further than the page. ALOT further. All the 'extras' add to my obsession. And it drives my husband nuts! He has serious issues with fictional vampires. But, his "I Hate Edward Cullen" campaign is great blog material. HA!

It's just a GREAT story. Stephenie Meyer is one heck of a storyteller; especially a forbidden love story.

I’m trying to figure out the answer to this question too – what is it that draws me in? I get the teenage angle, that’s a no brainer. But as a 48 year old (happily married) wife and mother of two great teenagers – I feel utterly ridiculous!

Saw the movie after it first came out, and for some reason just a few weeks ago, I bought the first book (still have no idea why?). Within 10 days, I blew through all 2400 plus pages of the 4 books, plus read Midnight Sun adding another 264 pages to my total. I’ve NEVER done anything like this before. This was completely out of character for me.

So… figured I’d just go with it, and rented the DVD last weekend – set it on continuous loop and watched … I don’t know how many times. What is wrong with me?

As a curious researcher, I had to dive into the make & models of cars. Like what is the top speed of a Volvo C30 anyway? (btw 148mph). Had to explore the songs too, got them in a continuous loop on my PC – even found the score music. Somehow, in my head when I hear the song, I can see the associated scene in the movie. Have I lost my mind?

After all, it’s only a book / movie…?
Someone please explain this to me -

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "48 year old wife and mother of two."

When was the last time that the emotions that Stephenie conveys in her books made you feel like a crushing girl? I'm a 37 year old wife and mother of two, and I haven't felt this giddiness since I was 18 years old-- 20 years is a loong time!

I felt ridiculous for a while, too, but having a place to talk to others about this fascination has laid to rest my insecurities. I'm at a good place right now, but when New Moon gets closer, the giddiness will start up again; I'm sure of it! eek!

"I felt ridiculous for a while, too..."
You have no idea how much this means to me - thank you! I had looked at other forums and they were too "teenish" me. I appreciate the mature nature of your group and look forward to future posts.
And, "having a place to talk to others about this fascination" -- well, I can't help wonder if I'm the oldest one out here with an excellent memory of First Loves -- but let's just say Edward brings back a lot of good memories!

YES!! That was my hesitation in starting a forum; some of the childish rants and name calling just seem rampant in the forum environment.

That's why I have some of the post titles that I do (ie. 15 minutes with Rob, which is quite a yummy topic when you think about it). I'm not sex-obsessed by any means, but sometimes we just need to weed out the kiddos, and I haven't seen a forum that does that.. other than one, which I won't mention. But before you post anything in that forum, you need to read though the strict rules and regulations and watch what you say to make sure it won't embarrass anyone around you.

Sorry, but sometimes I just need to tell people that Rob's bedroom eyes and sex hair drive me wild... and I can't tell dh (oh, snap!) or my non-Twi-obsessed friends.

YES!! That was my hesitation in starting a forum; some of the childish rants and name calling just seem rampant in the forum environment.

That's why I have some of the post titles that I do (ie. 15 minutes with Rob, which is quite a yummy topic when you think about it). I'm not sex-obsessed by any means, but sometimes we just need to weed out the kiddos, and I haven't seen a forum that does that.. other than one, which I won't mention. But before you post anything in that forum, you need to read though the strict rules and regulations and watch what you say to make sure it won't embarrass anyone around you.

Sorry, but sometimes I just need to tell people that Rob's bedroom eyes and sex hair drive me wild... and I can't tell dh (oh, snap!) or my non-Twi-obsessed friends.

I am so very glad this forum was started, so thank you for doing so! I love message boards where the groups are a bit more mature, this place is such a relief to visit, it's already one of my favorites!

I am not even sure what the answer is to this. I think all of your posts ring true for me too. There is actually a woman on TwilightMOMS that is a psychologist (I think) and did some research into it and posted her comments. The short version of what I gathered from that is that the books actually do re-create the euphoria of new love. I think I can agree with that completely. I also think for me it was partly timing too. I started reading the series in Dec. of 2007 so I was hooked into all the hype of the movie being made. All the internet info just fed my addiction and made it grow. I just knew the movie was going to be huge--I just found myself buying into all of it. I have alway been a bit of Pulp Culture junkie so it was right in line with that as well.

Also, in the course of my internet frenzy leading up to the movie I became completely enamored with Rob. Woah. I can't seem to get enough of that guy....even though I am old enough to be his baby mama.

Where to start? There are so many reasons for my addiction! It definitely brought on that euphoria and memory of first, young love! What a high! You also get immediately sucked in since it is written from Bella's perspective. You start to feel like Bella, like all that happens to her is kind of happening to you, ya know. I still sometimes feel like I have to hide my addiction, but it's getting easier to come out of the closet! I am a 37 year old married mom of 2 daughters, which helps since my oldest is who got me started on Twilight. I think she gets freaked out sometimes that I am so totally into it though! I love my life, my husband, my kids, but my Twilight alternate reality is a great place to be, I feel like it has given me new eyes for my husband, who has DEFINITELY benefited from my love for Edward! He may think I am crazy, but it's made me feel young again and that is a VERY good thing!

Jenny I definitely agree with you. Twilight has definitely given me new eyes from my husband too! He also has benefited hugely from my addiction. Perhaps that is why is he is so tolerant.

LOL- mine has most definitely felt the perks of my Twilight obsession!

He makes me laugh, though, because he tries to act like a vampire (to seduce me?) sometimes, and I just laugh, because he is SUCH a werewolf!

He watched the interview with Stephenie Meyer from the DVD and I think it gave him a lot of insight... he finally got the picture as to why he's NOT a vampire type at all.

Shawna gave me a mug that says "Quileute boys: 108 degrees of pure hotness". I always put his coffee in that mug and then giggle when he uses it. Is that wrong?

Admin wrote:LOL- mine has most definitely felt the perks of my Twilight obsession!

He makes me laugh, though, because he tries to act like a vampire (to seduce me?) sometimes, and I just laugh, because he is SUCH a werewolf!

He watched the interview with Stephenie Meyer from the DVD and I think it gave him a lot of insight... he finally got the picture as to why he's NOT a vampire type at all.

Shawna gave me a mug that says "Quileute boys: 108 degrees of pure hotness". I always put his coffee in that mug and then giggle when he uses it. Is that wrong?

I NEED a mug like that! But it has to say something about Emmett and bear hugs..or hickey's(teeheehee)

VitaminR70 wrote:I am not even sure what the answer is to this. I think all of your posts ring true for me too. There is actually a woman on TwilightMOMS that is a psychologist (I think) and did some research into it and posted her comments. The short version of what I gathered from that is that the books actually do re-create the euphoria of new love. I think I can agree with that completely. I also think for me it was partly timing too. I started reading the series in Dec. of 2007 so I was hooked into all the hype of the movie being made. All the internet info just fed my addiction and made it grow. I just knew the movie was going to be huge--I just found myself buying into all of it. I have alway been a bit of Pulp Culture junkie so it was right in line with that as well.

Also, in the course of my internet frenzy leading up to the movie I became completely enamored with Rob. Woah. I can't seem to get enough of that guy....even though I am old enough to be his baby mama.

I think I can relate to that! I definitely felt the euphoria the first (and the 2nd and the 3rd ...) time I read Twilight. Everything else I do, from blogging to feverishly looking up new info on "New Moon," only helps feed this addiction.

The only difference is that it's Movie-Jasper who rocks my world.

Me too! I have to admit that I love Jasper as well! There are a couple scenes in Twilight where he gets my blood boiling...the greenhouse field trip, playing baseball, you remember!

I have to agree with a lot of what was already said. I think these books do recreate the excitement and anticipation of first love. It's love at a time when you're more idyllic (before reality sets in, lol) and uncomplicated by mundane things like bills.

jennyw wrote:Me too! I have to admit that I love Jasper as well! There are a couple scenes in Twilight where he gets my blood boiling...the greenhouse field trip, playing baseball, you remember!

Yes, that famous baseball scene... As I was telling someone today, I must've seen that on YouTube five thousand times before I got my paws on the DVD.

Even though I'm only 20, and not married (and don't really plan to be anytime soon), I totally agree with everything that has been said. Reading Twilight totally took me back to my first time in love, and I was hooked on that feeling of remembering how exciting it was. When I was reading the book, I really felt like it was happening to me, and I've never been so wrapped up in a story and it's characters before, even though I'm an avid reader.

I think this story had the perfect mix of ingredients to get that kind of reaction from people, and Stephanie is a genius for getting it out on paper for all of us to read.

Welcome Tracy! You are saying things that pretty much all of us would say here, so we understand you! The books are a continuous loop for me now, I don't fight it any longer, it's not worth the seperation anxiety!

i would like to thank you for making me feel welcome, it means a lot to me. but i have to admit im really excited as i just got back from the shops, they messaged me and said my DVD had arrived so i went over there as quickly as i could and have it on my lap as i speak, i got the 2 disc special edition the one with the extended scenes and the deleted scenes, my hubby is going to work on nights in 2 hours time so in 2 hours and 10 mins i will be in heaven, they also gave me a twilight tshirt so im pretty happy at the moment,,,,,,,,who needs hormone replacement therapy twilight is better than any treatment my doctor can give me................... will catch you all later tonight and thank you all xx

Oooh, Tracy- you ARE home! Loving on your hubby, and then counting down the minutes until he leaves so you can have some Edward time? Sounds like... pretty much all of us. And none of us finds that odd; it's pretty much our sense of normal.

I STILL listen to the soundtrack constantly in the car, tempered with the score when the kids are absolutely fed up with me belting out "Supermassive Black Hole."

So glad to have you here; come into our den often!

Owhh…all so true.

I love my husband dearly, but there is something about Edward…
There is the thing about first love, and the memories it stirs. My husband is my first love, we met when I was 17, so this has a double whammy on me, he is my ‘Edward’ although he is not a vampire (even though I have suggested ‘options’ – he rolls his eyes, lol!).

I have given my obsession a lot of thought, because at first it was something I felt I had to ‘fix’ (given up now, just going with it!), and I think that there might be something about the fact that Edward is actually a mature man, who is only playing the role of a 17 year old. He has the emotion maturity and experience of an older man, and more of an insight into human nature than your average 17 year old. This also makes me feel better about my obsession - I’m not a cradle snatcher, only problem now is that I am in love with a fictional character!

There is something incredibly sexy about the way that Edward feels about Bella, he is physically vey strong, but so gentle with her, he plays her protector, from himself as much as everyone/thing else and his self-control, and the fight with himself not to devour her, in more ways then one, really does it for me…He totally opens up to her, and makes himself vulnerable, and he is not afraid to let others see how important to him she is. (I really like the scenes in the movie where he picks her up for school and they get out the car and everyone is staring and he takes it totally in his stride, and in the garage when they are preparing to run from/chase James and he speaks to her ‘you are my life’ – a really private moment, but he doesn’t care that it is in front of his whole family. There are moments throughout the books that illustrate this, but these 2 movie scenes totally sum it up for me). In summary, I love the way he loves her…

I have read and re-read the books, which I also have as audio books on my iPod so I can stay in my Twilight world whilst I am getting on with the mundane, everyday tasks and still have 2 hands free, as well as being able to listen when I am driving…I must be the only person who really doesn’t mind sitting in traffic jams!

I often have the movie soundtrack on and have scoured the internet to download versions of Rob’s songs both from the movie and a couple of others. Since I got the movie on DVD it seems to have been on continuous loop – but it is Edward, not Rob that does it for me, I think - it can get very mixed up ‘cos Rob does a very good Edward. The pain Rob displays is how I see Edward in the books, he does overdo it sometimes, but if you read Twilight standalone, then I believe that Edward is more pain than in later instalments, even in NM he knows that Bella loves him, so it is a different type of pain…

Well, that is baring my soul! Didn’t mean to come across as a mad woman, but hey, if the cap fits!