Do you see Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, etc. when reading the 'Twilight' saga?

July 5, 2:19 AMTwilight ExaminerAmanda Bell

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When reading a book absent the accompaniment of a picture, people naturally create in their mind's eye a piece of imagery associated with the major characters, scenery, and events that are presented in the books.

With Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, this was especially true.

The descriptions offered by the series of each and every character were so thorough and detailed (not to mention, dangerously personal) that the reader could not help but to imagine their favorites in a certain light.

Since 2008's Twilight came out, though, things have probably changed.

For some of us, even those of us with even the strongest imagined and beheld conceptions of the character, the film slowly and permanently takes its place in our minds, bringing new life (and new imagination) to the characters in the book.

Twilight star Robert Pattinson once remarked that it was curious how this could happen. While he admitted that he saw the stars of Harry Potter as the characters in the book (particularly Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as Hermione, and Rupert Grint as Ron), he had a hard time understanding the fact that he was, in the minds of Twilight readers the world over, the new face (not just in the films) of Edward Cullen.

Pattinson isn't the only one whose image transcends the film and comes home to the very texts of the Twilight saga. So, too, do the other actors. Kristen Stewart is Bella. Taylor Lautner is Jacob Black. Peter Facinelli is Dr. Cullen, and so on and so forth.

It seems like a natural result of the story's transition into film, but perhaps there is more to it. Perhaps casting for the Twilight film was so perfect that the reader finds his or her self convinced by the new imagery offered by it. Or, perhaps, the repeated exposure to that image (as a result of multiple viewing upon viewing of the film) becomes deep-seated into our understanding of those characters such that it is impossible to render division of the two.

What do you think? When you re-read Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, do you see Robert Pattinson's face as Edward? Do you hear Kristen Stewart's voice as Bella? Is Taylor Lautner how you see Jacob Black? If so, why do you think that is? Comment below and let us know!

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