No, I will not change my 5-star Twilight rating!

And the reason is, despite everything that Twilight has mutated into through its fame and popularity and, sadly, come to symbolize (rabid fans, angsty love triangles, and poor acting), and as much as it pains me to say so (it sooo pains me), I owe a lot to Stephanie Meyer.

I suppose everyone has skeletons in their closet they'd rather not be known. This is mine: I loved the Twilight books. And though I don't use it as a conversation starter, I will readily admit it if the topic arises. If you've only seen the movies, don't judge me. Hell, don't fucking judge me regardless. To each her own. Live and let live, people.

It's difficile to pinpoint exactly when my obsession with this series of books began, but it had to be between 2008 when Breaking Dawn was published and 2010 when the first movie debuted. I can't imagine it now, but at the time, I had distanced myself from reading fiction. I was an avid reader in high school but once I graduated, I was busy with college and eventually, children. To my recollection, Twilight was the first book I picked up in 13 years. The book belonged to my cousin Stephanie and came highly recommended from both my sisters. So, I dove in and I LOVED it. I raced through Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn with a fervor usually reserved for cheese curds, pizza and/or beer on a Friday night and when I finished, I read them again for good measure.

Then the movies came out, fangirls overran theatres and ransacked Hot Topic stores, and all that ridiculous hoopla pretty much ruined everything. (I can't complain about the casting. Robert was the perfect Edward, Taylor the perfect Jacob. Even though she was horrible, Kristen looked the perfect Bella.) But I had to take my Twilight fandom and hide it in the closet with the other skeletons (skull baby).

Seriously. You do you, Blade.

I eventually got over my obsession but I kept reading (I also read The Host by Meyer which was great but also turned into a terrible movie). Not long after, I got my first Kindle and was introduced to the world of self-published books. Not long after that, I decided to start writing myself. So I must thank Mrs. Meyer because if she hadn't written the Twilight series, I never would have become the creatively-frustrated paranoid guilt-ridden xenophobe I am today. Thanks so much.

I do not know why this is so funny. But it is.

I'm sure if I went back and reread the books now I would be appalled and horrified. But back in 2008, I wasn't reading critically, I was reading with my heart. So, yes, fellow citizens of Goodreads and/or the universe. Twilight gets five stars. I won't apologize.

J. L. Dodd

"I actually wasn't much of a book reader at all before the 'Twilight' series. They just draw you in, and people love them. They're terrific books." - Taylor Lautner

Sure Taylor. Whatevs.

"People like to make fun of the fans who camp out but people have renaissance fairs; people do Civil War re-enactments; people do what they like. I'm tired of hearing people rage on the fans. If you don't like 'Twilight,' don't buy a ticket." - Anna Kendrick

"I think any girl would throw me under a bus to be within five feet of Robert Pattinson. I actually think he's an attractive guy. And I watched most of 'Twilight,' and I think he was really intriguing." -  Paul Wesley

"I like the 'Twilight' series. That was fun." - Mitt Romney

Links:

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/twilight