My Life in (paranormal) Books
I’ve always had, what I refer to as, a “healthy fascination” with all things paranormal. Even when I was in the 4th grade I gravitated towards the unknown and unexplainable. The first real sized book I remember reading for enjoyment was called The Ghost at Dawn’s House. It was part of a huge series of books that most women my age might recall: The Babysitter’s Club. I might be dating myself when I reveal that The Ghost at Dawn’s House was only #9 in the series, but it’s the first one of the series I read. Of course, I had to go back and start at the beginning and every time I wanted a new book I had to scrape together what paltry allowance I got so I could buy one of them. That’s when new paperbacks only cost around $3!
Fast forward to when I was in Jr. High and High School, I fell in love with vampires. I’m not sure how, because as a Freshman I was obsessed with Les Miserables, the musical. Somewhere in there Interview with the Vampire came out, and I remember my cousin making me wear make-up so I’d look old enough to get into this R-rated movie. I think I was a Sophomore and I was in love with Lestat and Louis for months. One day at the bookstore – I spent a lot of time there because it was cheap hobby and since I couldn’t afford the newest fashions, I bought books – and I came across a series called The Dark Visions Series by L.J. Smith. I picked up the first book (all I had the money for), which I think was around $6 by then. I devoured it, and the few weeks I had to wait between books was awful, but my true literary fate didn’t come until I turned to the advertisement of the back of the last book in the series:
The Vampire Diaries.
*Que dreamy sigh here*
Again, I’m dating myself here, but I was on the original Team Salvatore! By the end of the books I was totally Team Damon, even though I was happy with what happened between Stefan and Elena. Before I was introduced to the Twilight Saga, and every book/series I’ve picked up since, I hadn’t ever read through a series of books faster or as many times as I did The Vampire Diaries. I was a Junior in High School at the time, and I so related to Elena. You know, minus that whole uber popular, waifish perfect blonde thing she had going on. Oh, and I wasn’t a total bitch either, but I digress. The point is, while I was reading the books, I wanted to live Elena’s life. I was constantly on the watch for a kind of short, kind of tall exotic looking boy with pale skin and timeless eyes and the oh so romantic lapis lazuli ring that enabled him to go out in the sunlight. When Damon showed up at the end of book one I was shell-shocked! What was going to happen now? He was after Elena too! Doesn’t he know that Elena and Stefan were totally meant to be together?
I had lunchtime conversations with my friends in which we regularly referenced our dog-eared copies. I asked for a blue stone-d ring for Christmas. I was obsessed. Long before Twilight rolled around, I was obsessed with Stefan and Damon. *sigh* Those were the good old days. I even read The Secret Circle because it was advertised at the back of Dark Reunion. It was good, and I’m hearing talk that the CW is developing a drama based on those books.
I’m not entirely sure what happened to my love of reading in the years between then and now, though I’ve always been fascinated with those Time/Life books about ghosts and hauntings. I love the tv shows that come on Discovery and TLC about people telling their real life haunting stories. I get a kick out of spooking myself, especially this time of year. But for some reason I stopped reading, until the fateful day I opened up the book called Twilight. And of course, the rest is history. I’ve pretty much read anything and everything vampires, fae, witches & everything else I can get my hands on, especially if it centers around a tortured main character with a heart of gold.
But sometimes, I just enjoy thinking back to the good old days when my biggest predicament was weather or not to write “I <3 Damon” or “I <3 Stefan” on the inside of my notebook…
Until next time…
Have a blessed day!
OH my, yes, the Babysitters Club. My paranormal fixation started with Christopher Pike. I read all the CP books starting with Remember Me. I love this look back and the title of your post, very fascinating and had me smiling at the memories.
I love that you wrote about the paranormal ghost haunting shows on the Discovery show, because I am the same way. I will watch them and then when it is time to go to bed, I have a hard time sleeping – I always freak myself out.. but it is fun. If you love the shows on TLC, then you would probably love a great book titled, “Mojo” by Kris Sedersten. It is edgy and frightening; has ghostly images and surprising paranormal twists. Pretty suspenseful, but exciting book!