Fanfiction Addiction: Wide Awake

I have literally started this post about a thousand times. How do I explain the fucking genius that is Wide Awake?

Wide Awake is one of those very few fanfics that could realistically be its own book – it’s that level of good. And yet, it is the best type of fanfic because it is AMAZINGLY in character. How it straddles the two, especially being an all human fic, is beyond me, but I fricken loved every minute of the journey.

Just how could an all human fic be in character? Well, let’s start with Edward.

Oh. My. God. Dark Edward is amazing. Imagine what parts of Twilight Edward are actually his personality versus what was instilled in him from the time period he was born in and the way he grew up. What if the Edward we know and love was born in modern times and was a real 17 year old boy at the time Bella met him. Further, what if he was a 17 year old boy who had known abandonment, abuse and death?  He’s still Edward. He’s still an arrogant little know-it-all. He’s still good at his very core. He’s still loyal to those who deserve his loyalty. He’s still capable of the most profound love.

And good lord the boy has a mouth that would make me blush, and believe me when I say that sailors have nothing on me.

Hot.

And not only Edward but Bella, Alice, Esme, Carlisle – everyone is completely who they really are. Stephenie Meyer’s creations are still very much present in all of the characters, but AngstGoddess003 has also made them her own. It is the very essence of art inspiring art, and it’s fucking beautiful.

The Twilight elements throughout the story make an excellent homage. For instance, you still have that element of Edward thinking he’s a monster, albeit a very different type of monster, to the point where you even get the “this is the skin of a killer” moment. Instead of – practical, I suppose, Edward and Bella’s issues are all realistically psychological. They are both very broken, but very beautiful people.

In addition to the theme of Twilight elements (again, realistically crafted into the storyline without being even remotely cheesy), Wide Awake has the added charm of being utterly HYSTERICAL, achingly sweet and heartwrenchingly angsty. Just like with Twilight, my reactions to this story were audible. Squealing, sighing and literally falling off the bed with every chapter – I found this story impossible to “put down”. I had to read all 28 chapters (at that time) before I could even think about sleeping. And then, the next day, I did it again.

And then are AngstGoddess003′s recurring themes. The cookies. Tit for tat. Just read it – and you’ll understand.

And let us not forget the additional story arcs. Besides Edward and Bella’s story, you also find yourself caught up in their whole world. You get caught up in the additional relationships. Edward and Carlisle’s relationship is particularly gut wrenching. Throughout the fic you get to watch all the relationships grow and evolve, fall apart and mend. Carlisle and Esme. Alice and Jasper. Bella, Bella and practically every character. None of these characters, even poor, suffering Newton and bitchy Jessica Stanley, is left in 2-dimensions. All of them are very real, and very 2009.

As an added bonus, Wide Awake is one of the few amazing fanfics out there that is actually finished, although AngstGoddess003 has promised an epilogue.

Really, there’s too much wonderful to put into a single post about this fic. How AG can create a Bella who is both fragile and one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read (not unlike real Twilight Bella). How her Edward is beautiful, tender and eloquent in the same paragraph where the phrase “teenage hormonal motherfucker” is uttered. How she made me fall in love with all of the characters all over again in different ways. It’s a journey, and believe me, it’s well worth the ride.

Helpful WA links:

Favorite Wide Awake Quotes – My favorite quotes from Wide Awake

AngstGoddess003′s LJ Page – Home of Wide Awake

Wide Awake on FB – Trust me, you’re going to want to talk to someone about it.

AngstGoddess003 on Twitter

Wide Awake Outtakes – Do NOT miss the Edward Flashback

The Light and The Dark – Elizabeth Masen’s, Edward’s Mother’s, Story. I ALMOST forgive her.

And on a final note, any fanfic good enough to deserve a following dedicated enough that they make fanvids HAS to be worth reading, don’t you think?