My life was an unending, unchanging midnight. It must, by necessity, always be midnight for me. So how was it possible that the sun was rising now, in the middle of my midnight?
It’s Twilight, but from Edward’s point of view. So, boy meets girl. Boy is actually a vampire and wants to kill said girl, but before he can he falls in love with her. But soon he realizes his love for her will only put her life in danger and does put her life in danger. After the danger subsides, the boy grapples with his feelings, not wanting to leave the girl, but also knowing if he doesn’t leave she will end up dead, whether that be by his hand or the “darkness” of his world.
Initially, I was late to the Twilight series. My divine book theory brought me the series when I was going through a bout of unemployment about seven years ago. I enjoyed the series, but not for the same reasons most people did. I was not a “Team Edward” or a “Team Jacob”. If anything I was a “Team Carlisle” Is that a thing? I was intrigued by the characters and even as most people hated “New Moon” it was probably my favorite as I was experiencing the same feelings of hopelessness as I read it. All of that being said, I remember when the first version of “Midnight Sun” was rumored and then “stolen” and discarded. I was disappointed, definitely interested in seeing the story from another point of view. So when it did finally make it to the shelves, I jumped at the opportunity.
It surprised me how different Edward’s version of the story felt. While neither side of this love story plays out as sunshine and roses, Edward’s version felt less maudlin. His account of the story is far more rational and practical that Bella’s emotion fueled version. There was certainly emotion, definitely towards the end, but it wasn’t what drove Edward. I believe that has a lot to do with his sense of self, knowing what he is and the century he’d been alive, learning the vulnerability of humans.
Personally, I enjoyed it. I know Twilight gets a bad rap every now and again, but once upon a time, it obviously hit home for a lot of people. It was written in the context of emotional girls and it definitely caters to that audience, but it is still enjoyable. I feel like Edward’s version is the “aged” version of this story, meeting those “twi-hards” who are now approaching 30 at the person they are now, ready for the more rational side of the story.
She had changed me more than I’d known it was possible for me to change and still remain myself.