Catherine Hardwicke

The two-year period of Mary and Joseph's life, which culminates in their leaving Nazareth and journeying 100 miles to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Begins with the slaughter of Bethlehem's innocents under orders from a paranoid King Herod. Goes back a year to the prophecy that informs Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a child. Elizabeth's cousin, the adolescent Mary, struggles with her family to make ends meet and is promised to the carpenter Joseph. Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she will carry, while still a virgin, the long-awaited Messiah who will liberate the Jews from Herod and his Roman benefactors. Friendship and trust emerges between Mary and Joseph after he is told in a dream that she speaks truthfully about her miraculous pregnancy. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem. Three Magi spend months crossing the desert trying to rendezvous with some point below the convergence of three heavenly bodies in the night sky.… (mere)

Based on first novel by Stephanie Meyer. There are a total of seven novels and novellas in this most popular series - all highly recommended.

FROM AMAZON: About three things I was certain.
First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him, and I didn't know how dominant that part might be, that thirsted for my blood.

And Third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife, between desire and danger.… (mere)

A close family friend gave me my copies of the Twilight series, and she included this book and a few illustrated movie companion books. I quickly fell in love with this series, as you can most likely tell if you've seen my latest bookstagram posts.

I know the first Twilight movie is typically made fun of and labeled the worst one, but I actually really love it. It's become a comfort movie for me since the first time I watch it, and I genuinely don't think it's possible for me to whole-heartedly hate it. I will admit that some of it is a bit cringy, and I've experienced second-hand embarrassment at times, but I do love it. I think it had potential, and I loved how Catherine Hardwicke handled the adaptation.

This gives you a behind-the-scenes look of the first book, and I actually found it pretty interesting. Hardwicke includes handwritten notes about her planning of the film. She addresses a few details I noticed while watching, as well as pointing out details I hadn't noticed.… (mere)