I feel that there are certain sides to ones personality that often never surface simply because of the environment their exposed to or, more importantly, their associations with certain types of people. It's interesting to look back on the last month and a half of my life, in which I have been exposed to social influences that had never previously taken a lead role in really shaping who I was. I admit that my family has helped me develop a more distict personality and really get out there and look for my niche, but it was a whole other group of people who I decided years ago were "my type." I refer to the nerdy type who normally spend every free minute of their lives in front of a tv with a plastic paddle in their hand. Those guys and girls were my main influences during the last three years or so before I headed off to Mexico. My point is that all of us have extremely diverse personalities whose tastes may be a complete mystery to us throughout our entire lives. The people who I used to hang out with influenced me to often have very narrow tastes, something that really dwarfed my vision of myself, my future and everyone who surrounded me. Although I was and am truly passionate about what I like and dislike in my life, I often automatically categorized something into my "dislikes" category without giving much of a second thought. But if a friend of mine who I admired said something was really cool, I subconsciously would expect that thing to please me as well. I had, after all, classified myself amongst those types of people with their very tight lines of sight. Therefore, the things that enriched my life were nothing more than self-fulfilling profecy after self-fulfilling profecy. However, I'm getting a little sidetracked here. My point is to simply state that being away from my "lackys" has removed any pressure to like something just because it belongs amidst the culture of the nerdy, indie-rock-listening type. Take, for example, the music video I've posted on my blog. I freaking love that song, although I highly doubt that two years ago I would've paid much attention to that group. Not because the music wouldn't have pleased me, but because, well, the singer kind of looks like a pansy. He's the pretty-boy in college who everyone would've thought was gay had he not had a girlfriend.
But now I'll finally get to my point. My point is that "Twilight" is a romance. The only reason it can be classified as fantasy is because it involves various mythical creatures. But in my opinion, taking into account other books that are rightfully labeled "fantasy novels," Twilight is plain and simply a love story. A love story that will leave you captivated right from the get-go. A love story that will inspire you to ponder over the romantic threads woven in your life in a desire to strengthen them. The romantic part of this book is somehow fortified and made more pure with the involvement of certain non-human elements. Edward and Bella desire to be closer to one another and express their love a little more...vigorously. Well, who doesn't? However, they must stay 100% chaste if Bella is to stay alive. I see in this an awesome metaphor of how strong our hormones can get when we fall into deep, unrequited love for the first time. Like a vampire's constant thirst for human blood, the nag is always present, tempting us to act upon our more baser instincts. And, as would happen if Edward's self-restaint failed him for just a moment in the presence of Bella, the results of our own failed self-restraint are similar-- death.
So, despite not being able to admit it two years ago, romance novels are awesome, I daresay even without vampires.
