Bedazzled: Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight Phenomenon

If you are a fan of the Twilight Saga, this book is a must read. Bedazzled is full of information about the books, movies, Stephenie Meyer, fan websites and even Forks. It is easy to read and has a lot of light hearted fun that true Twihards will appreciate (150 Reasons Why We Love Edward freaking Cullen). The articles written by Tessa Cox are articulate and beautiful. I also loved the chapters on Comic Con...because I couldn't be there! Simply put, if you or someone you know, wants to satisfy their thirst for knowledge about the Twilight Saga, this is the book to start with.

If you loved the Twilight Saga (and there are many of you/us out there), this is a specially entertaining and lighthearted book to read - one that you might just keep right next to your well worn editions of New Moon and Eclipse. If you don't like the Twilight Saga or haven't started reading them - this is not the book for you. The book is divided into a several different essays that delve into the world of Twilight - discussions about Twicon, quick reads about Forks, and best of all, some really interesting essays on Bella and Edward (both penned by Tessa Cox, who cleverly articulates the characters with depth and compassion - keep writing, Tessa! I'm a fan). There's also a really cute contribution from Rachel Heaton on "150 Reasons Why We Love Edward freakin Cullen!". The articles are short, to the point, and easy to read. There are also transcripts from press conferences with the cast and production team, lists of unofficial Twilight books, and discussions about the Cullens as a new breed of vampires. Nothing overly serious and definitely not too religious-based (there are plenty of Twilight-related books which go on and on about parallels between religion and Twilight, and this is not one of them). I suppose you could find some of the material on line and in many of the blogs and fansites, but if you want everything in one place, then this book is a great find. I've read several of the Twilight companion books, including the Philosophy of Twilight and A New Dawn, and I enjoyed reading this the most.

If you know of anyone who loves the Twilight series at all - they will absolutely love this addition to their Twilight collection. George Beahm has done an amazing job of providing information that you would not have otherwise known. I loved his book Twilight Tours - which features all of the places that you can go to in Forks and was looking forward to this addition to the series. I have been to Forks a couple of times and his information hits right on when it comes to what Twilight fans are looking for. Way to go George on creating yet another great addition to the Twilight fans series!!

The Twilight Saga might technically be categorized as young adult literature, but like any good story, it transcends age and situation. As a "thirty-something" Twilighter, I realize that I share my obsession with the likes of teens and a great deal of the merchandise and marketing for the Saga swings in that direction. Bedazzled is a breath of fresh air because even while it's fun and light in some parts, there is also something for those of us who celebrate the series as a literary contribution and want to have intelligent conversations about the characters, the romance and the phenomenon surrounding Stephenie Meyer's world. Admittedly, I am prone to bias as a contributor for Bedazzled, but when George explained what the book would be about, I was overjoyed to be a part of this project. The story of Edward and Bella's romance is special for me and many others, and every time I pick the books up to read them (again!), I find that Bella still breathes on every page. Reading the collection of articles, facts, quotes, and interviews within the pages of Bedazzled will allow you to celebrate the Saga time and time again. It's a MUST for any true Twilighter!

First, DISREGARD the five-star rating. There is no way to review a book and give it a neutral rating, which is the only fair option for an author who is going to tell you about the book. Since there's (currently) no copy whatsoever about the book, let me simply tell you what the book is, so you can make up your own mind. Truth in advertising: I also wrote a guidebook to Forks called TWILIGHT TOURS, written and photographed with the cooperation of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, notably Mike Gurling whose proofread the text and provided many of its wonderful photos, including the cover shot. This is a companion-style book -- of which I've written several, on pop culture writers -- that covers a lot of ground. New and veteran readers will find a wealth of information, including a chronology of Meyer's life, an interview with Meyer conducted by an Arizona journalist (the longest and best interview conducted to date), my favorite quotations spoken or written by Meyer, an alphabetical listing of the people, places and things that are important in Meyer's life (to which she refers in interviews and profiles), original essays about Bella, Edward, and the Cullen family, an overview of The Twilight Saga (supplementing Meyer's own encyclopedia to come), a tip on where to find "extras, outtakes and remixes" that she wrote, in addition to private correspondence made public with her permission on a fan website, coverage of the key press conferences in 2008 and 2009 at the San Diego Comicon at which Stephenie Meyer, the principal cast of TWILIGHT and NEW MOON, and NEW MOON film director Chris Weitz shared their thoughts with the assembled fans, information about Stephenie Meyer Day in Forks, Washington, information about all the Twilight conventions worldwide, helpful hints to young writers wanting to follow in Meyer's footsteps and get their own books published, favorite slogans on t-shirts from Cafe Press and Zazzle, in-depth coverage of the Twilight movies, profiles on Pattinson, Stewart, and Lautner; I also include the most detailed list of resources available to Twilighters: books, audiobooks, tie-in books, critical texts, biographical books, forthcoming books, websites (pro and fan, official and unofficial), and a lengthy section about tourism in Forks and the Pacific Northwest. The book closes with an essay titled "Stephenie Meyer's Brave Girls," in which I write about Meyer's lasting legacy: the inspiration she has provided young girls, whom she termed "brave," at a public talk at the National Book Festival in 2006. My book does not replace Meyer's forthcoming THE TWILIGHT SAGA: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE--my book supplements hers, which is by intent. My book has approximately 50 photos and artwork by veteran Disney artist Tim Kirk, as well. (Of what good is a book without pictures in it?) If you're looking for a book as a gift to a Twilight fan of any age, this book will--like my other companion-style books--offer a wealth of information available nowhe