A friend of mine (actually a few friends) were trying to convince me that I needed to read the
Twilight series of books by author Stephenie Meyer, and naturally I put it off as long as I could. Do I really need one more thing to obsess about? Apparently I was in dire need! In the last few days all of my free time was devoted to the first book in the series. I only put it down when absolutely necessary. Last night I began reading chapter 11 at about midnight, thinking "I'll just read for about a half hour the get to bed." I had to work the next morning. Well, there never really seemed a good place to stop, and before I knew it, the time was 4am and I had finished it. Devoured it. Savored every last little phrase. It was fantastic. Without giving too much away, the book is told from the perspective of a girl named Bella who moves to a small town in the northwest and falls deeply in love with the mysterious , gorgeous Edward. Knowing full well that he is a vampire. The way the author described their relationship was intoxicating. The unequivocal need they felt for one another despite the inherent dangers posed by the very nature of the relationship was exhilarating. The hunger Edward endured for both her love and her life was incredibly sexy. It made my skin tingle. *Sigh*
(Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson play the leads in the movie version)At any rate, it has been all I can think about all day. From the moment I dragged my sorry, tired butt out of bed this morning I couldn't wait to buy the next book and continue on with the story. It even played into my musical selection this morning. I plugged in my iPod and quickly threw together a playlist of songs that recreated some of the emotions I was feeling while reading. I certainly won't make you suffer trough it's entirety but I would love to share with you the 1st two songs that initially sprang to mind.
Without a second thought, I immediately searched my library for Sarah Mclachlan's wonderfully crafted and incredibly intimate album,
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. While her more recent work leaves me wanting, I take comfort in the fact that this album
never gets old for me. But I digress. At the tail end of the record lies the absolutely beautiful "Fear." Glitchy and haunting, it is easily my favorite track on the record. With it's layered dub and the soaring soprano of her voice gently coaxing you closer, soft and safe, before unleashing the full force of an emotional barrage that leaves the listener devastated. Broken. It's absolutely stunning. And wickedly appropriate for this story with lyrics like:
"from above
they say temptation will destroy our love
The never ending hunger
but I fear
I have nothing to give
I have so much to lose
here in this lonely place
tangled up in our embrace
there's nothing I'd like
better than to fall
but I fear..."
A perfect fit to our star crossed lovers.
The second track is naturally the next on the disc. I pretty much can't listen to the first without seamlessly following to the next. I believe a great deal of thought went into the placement of these songs on the disc, and when the opening line of the title track is "All the fear has left me now, I'm not frightened anymore," how could you ever play one without the other? More one story in two parts than two separate songs, I find "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" a lovely juxtaposition to it's sister song. Softer still, it lays it all out on the table. All of the hesitation from "Fear" is drifting out in the atmosphere and what remains is the calm and collected acceptance of a love that will not be denied. "It's my heart that pounds beneath my flesh, it's my mouth that pushes out this breath" she whispers at a hush so in contrast to the operatics of the previous confession that it could only be truth.
"Peace in the struggle to find peace. Comfort on the way to comfort," she hums
gently in your ear as if simply willing away the darkness before out rightly defying it:
"...and if I shed a tear I won't cage it
I won't fear love
and if I feel a rage I won't deny it
I won't fear love."
Download From
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
(After the Jump)
Fear (
YSI)
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (
YSI)
I love these songs. As I write this I listen to them on a loop, just as I did all afternoon in anticipation for purchasing the 2nd book. Do yourself a favor and listen to these track, with headphones if possible so it feels like it's just the two of you. And I highly suggest you pick up a copy of
Twilight. Sure there's a movie coming out in a month or so, but I guarantee it will not be nearly as good. Enjoy.
Purchase the
Twilight series
HERE.
Purchase
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy HERE.
Check out more on the movie
HERE.
