The song for this chapter is Lonely People by America
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/lonelypeople.mp3]
Due to some research by Maureen Johnson, I realized that my busyness is quite common this time of year: nearly every writer I know is undergoing revisions, and is getting behind on everything else in the process. But, I managed to sneak away and tackle the dreaded Chapter 3 in New Moon…
I have never had a chapter that carried so much warning. In fact, my last chapter post had more comments on THIS chapter than on Chapter 2. You people have left me filled with dread of what I’m going to find in here.
First off, Bella’s caught the I’m-better-than-you-because-I’m-a-vampire disease:
It seemed strangely childish. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for normal human behavior today. Those pitiful, weakling creatures, sniveling like worms…
But then, things immediately get serious. I notice that Edward is different in this chapter, so much that I’m beginning to feel early on what could be coming. He seems indifferent and unaffected, as if he’s walking in a daze and really isn’t feeling anything. There is a numbness in his voice that seems to tell me that something is bothering him very deeply. I feel that it is the growing pressure on him that every moment he is near Bella, he is putting her in more danger. Seeing what happened in the chapter before, with Jasper, only seemed to strengthen this in Edward’s mind: not only him, but his entire family, is different, and dangerous to Bella.
Edward is in turmoil. Part of him wants so deeply to stay with Bella, because he loves her. The other part feels that if he really does love her, then he would leave, and let her have a normal life.
This chapter is so sad. It is different. I remember a Bella and Edward in Twilight who loved each other, and who were talking all the time: it just never seemed to end, their dialogue through the whole book. You can tell a lot about two people from the way they talk to each other. It seemed endless, the sweet words they exchanged for no reason, the jokes between them about vampires and humans. Their conversations were really what made them who they were.
But suddenly, Edward seems to have become a brick wall. He is no longer the same person, but brooding and depressed, even around Bella. I feel as if all the love is gone.
And then, it all comes down to Edward’s three words:
“Bella, we’re leaving.”
Through all the time of reading Twilight, I did not realize how attached I had become to the idea of Bella and Edward being together. This book, as you’ve read in my bio, is my first vampire romance novel. So I am not one to become attached to two characters being together.
But for some reason, there is a deep and vast connection between Bella and Edward that left me very down as I sped through the rest of the pages in this chapter. It was like a deep gloom had settled over my room.
I realized that I did not pick up the second book in this series to read about Bella, the main character. I didn’t pick it up to read about Edward either. I picked it up to read about Bella and Edward. To me, they were so close, they were nearly one. I wouldn’t have read this book if there was only one of them, going off on adventures as a vampire or a human. And now that one of them is gone, it is like half of the main character has been split away as well.
I hope you’ll forgive me for not posting anything funny this time. It’s really hard to find something funny in a chapter that leaves me so sullen. I will be honest and say that by the ending of it, I was beginning to feel very down; and also uneasy, as I realized I had become attached to these characters when I had tried so hard to keep a sane mind about me.
Somehow, right after Edward left, I really did start to care even deeper about what happened to Bella, and had a deep urge to want to comfort her; while the rational side of me roared in my ear: It’s only a blasted book! Sometimes, we do not listen to our rational sides; or more commonly, do not want to listen to our rational sides.
I don’t think I have ever read a chapter as long as Chapter 3. After thirty-one pages, it would be very easy to rationalize stopping. However, when I got to the last page of the chapter, and instinctively began turning the pages again, I realized that I was literally paging through the months, skipping ahead in time after Edward disappeared from Bella’s life.
Because I’m rambling already, and I’m still in the middle of Chapter 4, I will be posting about it very very early tomorrow (think 5 minutes past midnight again). And to all the commenters: you were right. I really couldn’t stop at the end of Chapter 3 this time.
—ADDED JULY 22, 1:13PM: I absolutely abhor self-promotion, but I just reached the #17 most subscribed in Partners on Youtube, and if anybody hasn’t sub’d me yet, please check out my channel, as I’d really like to stay up there! And thanks so much to everyone who got me that high.
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400 Responses
As most, I was caught offguard by the impact Edwards leaving had on me, not just emotionally but physically. I wasn’t only a weepy mess but was physically ill.
I’ll confess that, after flipping through the empty months, I just couldn’t bring myself to read on until I cheated by flipping to the end of the book. I suppose it was lame but, even knowing the outcome, I had difficulty plowing through the rest of the book.
After reading both Twilight and Eclipse many times over, I’m still having difficulty bringing myself to venture back through the heartache of New Moon.
Don’t feel too down! In my mind, what happens in this book is important to the series, and to Bella also. But that’s just how I feel.
New Moon really is worth reading! Don’t flip to the back at all! Just take it as it come along!
And I know a lot of people are Jacob haters, but he really is cool, and I think that without him…I don’t know what would’ve happened.
Some people say that Bella was kind of crazy throughout the book, but if you were in her position, you would probably be the same! And just be empathetic about the book all the way though, it’ll help.
Again, I sympathize with you! But keep reading, even if you don’t think that it’s worth it now.
Lari- 😀
i have been reading your comments and i was very surpised at the fact that a guy could get just as attached to these two characters and a lady would. A friend of my had read New Moon before i did, and when chapter 3 came around for me, she was simply there telling me it would be okay. i mean, its not like these people are REAL. but to us, her included, reading Edward walk away from Bella, absolutely crushed my heart and soul. i was never tempted to put the book down, because i needed to know that he would come back and everything would be okay. that was really the only hope i had left. and to know that Bella would somehow work thru everything and not forget him. that was by far thee hardest chapter in all 3 books so far. i really look forward to reading about your future readings. your comedy lightens my day and its just nice to get a guy’s perspective on the books. Good luck, and i’ve always got tissues if you need them 🙂
Amanda
Yes, well, i saw that note you put down at the end about your youtube.
It still makes me sad that you took me off there… i was number 50! way early! cause i’m rad!
But oh well. I’ll just go wallow in my self-pity now. :]
Corinne!
When I first read New Moon I literally didn’t stop reading until I was done with the book, I was that upset. I simply refused to stop until everything was right again. …Which ended up being me reading from 10pm to 8 the next morning. Oh, and it was when daylight savings time started to you can add an extra hour to that lol.
I love this site btw XD
When I read this chapter I remembered how I felt when my ex-fiance and I broke up, and I felt so horribly for Bella. I cried my eyes out, and my boyfriend found me curled in a fetal position watching the Weather Channel later that night. (It doesn’t get much better for awhile. Trust me.) But it is good to know that guys feel just as horrible after reading that as we girls do, and nobody is blaming you for the lack of humor in this post!
forgot to put this in my above comment (somewhere up there, wow there’s a lot)
Whatever you do, DON’T SKIP AHEAD to the end to find out what happens!! It totally ruins the rest of the book! It’s much better if you read it without knowing for sure what’s going to happen. And try not to get too caught up with Edward’s being gone becasue there is a lot that you miss if you do.
Just some advice I guess.
I know that this is hard for you. It was extremely hard for me. I bet you have seen the icon for New Moon that says ‘pages _-_ don’t exist in my world.’ I wish I could say they dont’t exist in mine either, as much as I want to believe that, but it is SO true that they do. I have taken the fact that Edward and Bella being together for granted. when he left, it TORE my heart apart. I felt like I was Bella. I could predict what she was going to say, and I could FEEL her emotions, because they were my emotions also. And then came Jacob. Ew. But don’t do what I did to one of my copies of New Moon and tear out the rest of the book. Becuase you will miss the reunion. It starts the mending process, which is much needed at that point. And go buy yourself a box of Puffs. And maybe some anti-anger or anti-deppressent medicine. And be a TRUE man and let it out. If you flood your house with tears, you will be a male-role model for everyone. Keep reading! =]
I see right now you’re a hardcore E/B shipper, and too often this leads to Jacob-hate. But I really think you have the potential to appreciate him! Far too few Twilighters love Jacob. Don’t let down those of us who do! While you’re reading New Moon, please take the time to enjoy Jacob’s presence (and Edward’s absence).
I read this chapter 5 times now, and I still can’t stop crying. Even if I put it down watch something funny and go back to the book, when Edward says “I don’t want you” I ball. And Kaleb, I love you because you are just as attached to these characters as I and the rest of the girls in the world are, which makes you awesome.
This chapter i believe would be very hard for anybody to read when they care deeply for Edward and Bella’s relationship. I threw the book at my bedroom wall! But no one was really looking for somthing funny in this chapter so your all good.
Thank you Kaleb, for giving this chapter the respect it deserves. I could hardly read it the first time around, as a giant hole was forming in my chest and my eyes were misting. New Moon is my favorite book (so far) of the series because it is so emotionally raw, yet so difficult to turn away from. When I turned those pages and saw the blank months staring back at me, I lost it. It was a subtle but powerful touch, and boy did it work. Keep reading… and stay away from any ledges or knife drawers during this one.
Oh my gosh i couldnt read this chapter with out bursting into tears!
alright, I know I am not the first to say it and will not be the last but I am so glad that you are invested in the characters too.
It is official with that admission that you are a twilighter, twi-hard, whatever you want to call yourself, because when a person begins to empathize with the characters and irrationally think of them as real, so much that they want to confort them, then lets face it you are a fan.
Because it seems no one has commented on a certain bit you said, I feel I must. Its about what you said about it not being like Edward to just leave Bella like that, but if you knew the real reason, which its very likely that you do since what you said about Edward realizing just how dangerous it is for Bella to be around his family…think back to his leaving comments in Twilight, Bella is under the misappreihention that it is because he doesnt want her anymore but who here really beleived that crap he sold her? No one. and you shouldnt either, this is a bit spoilery so if you are actually reading this I would skip a few sentances. So what he did, leaving is completely in his character, he is prone to overreacting and overthinking, and loving Bella so much he would do anything if it meant she could be more happy or healthy or have a “normal” life. so leaving because of that makes perfect sense.
I really hope you read chapter four and five and well the entire middle very slowly because if you dont you will miss out on the heart of new moon, the character that is Jacob Black. (and chances are you’ve heard all the hype, but dont buy it, draw your own conclusions about the character and please dont look for alterior motives in his actions like so many do, just trust your gut with him)
I feel i have gotten wildly off topic but oh well, hope you enjoy new moon and dont miss Edward too much, enjoy the culture of a new brand of characters!
i cried throughout that whole chapter, and chapter 2 because i knew what was coming (spoilers)…but even if i was spoiled, it was still soo soo sad. i cried as if someone in my family had just died. pretty sick i know..hahah
ok. yes! i wasn’t the only person who threw the book at the wall. (my poor friend bella’s book has been through alot because of me) 🙂
Here’s the story. It was three in the morning and I couldn’t put the book down (duh). Well when edward left i threw the book at the wall, it hit it, and then landed in the beanbag. then i started yelling at the book and my dad ran in thinking i had fallen out of bed. when he realized it was “only edward” he told me to go to bed. Then i didn’t read new moon for like, 3 months (it was a dark time for me), and when i picked it back up I fell in love with Jacob…
can’t wait for next post 😛
i realize this is going to sound all agest or something oln you *lol* and considering that i don’t have that many years on you, probably just pretty damn silly. but. being the mid twenties girls i am, i ahve had a chance to fall in love.. as i’m sure MANY many others have, but some, being younger, might not have. i’ve also had the chance to love and loose, and while i can certainly say that i have never loved and lost to this extent, not even CLOSE! (if i Had loved this much, could i have lived through the loss of it? pretty dramatic i know, but i don’t see how i could have. ANYWAYS!!!) but i have known what it’s like to not be able to breathe.. where you watch the clock to make sure you have made it through one more secound… and then one more. but i don’t think one has to have loved and lost to feel (and i mean REally FEEl!) this chapter and especially book. you can almost taste the humidity, feel and see the trees around you, feel the possibility of a storm, and see his eyes, as hard as the stones they always remind her of, as he says “i don’t want you…” i’ll admit, i sobbed. i felt like someone had shoved thier hand through my chest and ripped my heart right out. i felt these things for bella. and her stumbling through the forest, and eventually falling. how she is not quite able to even notice or even process her name being called.. or sam uley standing over her.. or her father’s concern. and then, when you turn the pages, and just read the months? it just hurt so much more.
i know plenty of people who hate this book because it’s “so sad.” and what i say (over and over to anyone who will listen or has no choice!:P)is that, can’t you see? don’t you realize the imagination, the skill, and the straight up masterful storytelling it takes, to give you these two beautiful charectors, flawed but comeplete in each other in a way Thay don’t even understand, make them so close to one you forget they are not, and then pull them away in the most painful way you can possibly imagine (one falling out of the truest of true loves??), and you feel EVERY! SINGLE!ITSY!BITSY!BIT! everything. from the enormously huge, to the infanitely small things that just break your heart over and over. THAT is why why hate it, because they feel every single bit of it! wah ha.. >:D go brilliant storytellers that we would sometimes love to hate!! go!! 🙂
p.s. caleb, i hope someday to run into you at random in a starbucks or even better, an ihop (they have some of the best tumy friendly coffee:), i can pretend you’re not famous, you pretend i’m not a nobody *lol* and we can chat about random books over some great coffee. how peoples minds, especially writers, work is fascinating to me. and no, i’m not trying to be a scary psychopath:)
o and im a big fan of america haha
I understand why you couldn’t write anything funny about this chapter Kaleb: it’s probably one of the most tragic chapters I’ve ever read, and the months that literally fly by afterwards do not help ease your sadness/uneasiness at all. I really hated this chapter xD
But no worries! We are all here to comfort one another. =D
ps, I ran around the house twice muttering obsentities before diving into the book once more when I read chapter three. Like you I was deeply worried about Bella.
I shudder at the very thought of the dreaded Chapter Three. Don’t worry, Kaleb, the worst is over…
Still keep a box of tissues handy, though.
i remember reading this chapter like it was yesterday. i distinctly remember reading it twice because i couldn’t believe that edward had actually left. i thought that maybe i misread it somehow. the emotions i felt for bella were so deep and real, it was like edward leaving me in real life. i could empathize with her so well, the feelings of pain and loss. i don’t think i ever cried as hard as i did for a fictional character.
p.s. i’m sure i’m not alone in saying, thank you for not joking on this chapter.. i think that might have gone over like a pork chop in synagog.
I just feel like giving you a hug!
This is just the lowest part of the book.
The story of New Moon is sort of fashioned in a “W” shape when you put it in “high” and “low” terms.
But this is definitely the worst.
It can only go up from here.
And remember to give Jake a chance!!!
:]
When I read this chapter, my sister immediately noticed a great change in me. During Twilight, I had been very happy, a smile constantly on my face,and very energetic. The minute I finished this chapter, it was actually time for dinner at my house. Dinner took about an hour, and during it I said about 3 sentences, and hardly looked up from my plate.
It’s a hard time to go through, as all of us Twilight fans know, but don’t worry, it’ll get better eventually. You may not be as attached as some of us, but it is obvious that you care to a certain point, so hopefully you’ll be able to live past this chapter.
Good luck to reading the next chapter.
Ohh, Kaleb, I didn’t think you’d take it this hard! See, I love reading your blog because you analyze things so well. You put your thoughts and feelings into words so well. I’m looking forward to your next one!
I think I forgot how I was feeling when I read this chapter. It was years ago, and I think my mind shoved out the painful memory, since I have a tendency to do that.
Don’t worry Kaleb… you are not alone and you are also not the only guy to feel this way when reading that chapter. I got my 30 year old male cousin, who works for ESPN and plays sports video games and wrestles with his children in his spare time, to read these books and he came to me after reading Chapter 3 of New Moon and said he was so upset and that he did not want to continue reading. So, do not feel bad feeling this way because “it is just a book”…. because, it’s not just a book. There is so much more to this series than just being another great book or a popular fad. Do not despair! Continue reading! You will regret it if you don’t.
This chapter was so depressing, I couldn’t even cry. I just choked on the air. It felt like there was hole in me when Edward left. I was absolutely morose after this chapter. The months that followed, were the parts where I cried. How depressing is it that time doesn’t even matter anymore? That your whole life has turned into a nightmare you don’t bother stopping and remembering it. New moon was by far one of the saddest books I will ever read, but one of the best, because really, I understand the meaning of true love now. That no matter how long someone is away, or how badly they break you, you will never ever stop loving them. *tears*
I remember when i first read that. I cried uncontrolably. I actually read faster so i could get through it. Even though I am more Team Jacob than Edward and that section when Edward’s gone is one of my favorites It was SO hard when I was Team Edward. Keep reading! You’ll get through it.
Chapter 3 is definitely the hardest chapter! I STILL cry reading it. 🙁 Hang in there! You know it gets better, otherwise the would be fans like me that renounced my love for the books, lol. 🙂
When I saw the page with October on it I just thought ‘Oh no.’ When I turned the page and saw more and kept turning I thought my heart had shattered.
Kaleb,
Thanks so much for reading New Moon and for being so honest about your reactions. Makes the rest of us (ladies) not feel quite so detached from reality. I am not young or inexperienced in the pain that life and love throws at us, but I was completely shaken at the intensity of the pain coming from Bella in this chapter. Felt like it was happening to me.
I find it interesting that you were able to cut through to what was actually going on in Edward and his motivations for leaving. I couldn’t take it at anything more than face level when I was reading it; at Bella’s pov. I knew that E was going to leave and that he would return before I started the book, but it didn’t lessen the shock of the experience.
Your viewpoint has been intriguing- again, thanks.
this chapter was the saddest chapter of any book i have ever read in my life. i cried sooo much that i was literally gasping for air. and that wasnt even the worst part, it was the next chapters that followed that explained exactly how bella felt, i started crying even more because i understood how she felt. imagine not just losing a boyfriend, but the love of your life?? the one person who you cant live without? its so depressing to know that time doesnt matter, and the only reason your even trying to hold yourself together is becuase of your mom and dad.and that hole that she has inside of her,like if something is grabbing her heart and squeezing it so tight and the pain its causing her. and no matter how long that person is gone, or what theyve done, you will always have that pain inside of you because you never for one second stopped loving them….this is by far the saddest book i have ever read.
Ah. chapter 3. Has to be one of the most depressing chapters in the history of chapters. I honestly don’t know how Stephenie Meyer does it. Unbelivable that a mere book can make you loose your appetite, cry your eyes out, sulk around all depressed, and makes you hate life. Just thinking of it makes me all choked up and moody. And the months too. Pale and meaningless. Okay I’ll stop now I’m getting depressed xD
Wow. Great post for this chapter. I have nothing more to say lol.
Kaleb,
reading your post on chapter 3 was pretty much identical to my own thoughts on this chapter. I too couldn’t control myself and found myself flipping ahead to see if Edward was coming back. I had to read the book several times through to really get the feel of New Moon. I let my sadness of Edwards departure cloud the rest of the book for me and I found upon rereading it I gained a completely new understanding of New Moon. It really is quite amazing. Keep on truckin with the next few chapters! 🙂
Good luck reading this book and continuing on with your life like nothing happened. When I read it I think my family got worried. I walked around like I was dead or somthing.
Aww.. I know how you feel Kaleb. 🙁 I hated that chapter. I cried my eyes out.
Well i am extremely emotional today.
And there is no way that i should have read this post. I should have waited till tomrrow becuz now im crying.
Oh dear Edward. How could you leave!!!!
(i already know what happens but for now im just pretending that i dont. I almost want to go and snatch my new moon book from my gpa. -im making him read it right now-)
Anyways. Still crying. But..i think i’ll be okay.
Darn emotions being all crazy.
I did cry the first time though. And my hormones or w/e were completely fine then.
you’ll get over it fast…
just keep reading. and in about 200 pages or more later, have yourself a party.
Just keep reading! Things get a little better in the next few chapters. I don’t think your going to do what you did with Twilight (reading one chapter every few days)! And once you reach chapter 15 just forget it! lol
After reading when Edward left, I really was depressed for a week. I continued reading New Moon, but I almost never laughed and stayed in my room for most the day. I was always about to start randomly crying. Now that I reflect on that, it is kinda pitiful to think that someone can get so attached to fictional characters. But I love the books, and all the characters.
i completely and utterly agree
I love the first page of chapter 4. Not the pages of months but the one with the single paragraph. It is from Bella’s point of view and even though it doesn’t say much, you know that she is deeply hurt.
When I read chapter 3 I cried my face off. I was so upset, I will never forget the first time I read that chapter. I always skip it when I re-read New Moon now, it’s just too sad.
“Its only a blasted book” that just about ripes your heart out at that chapter, lol. All I had to read was those 3 words that you posted and my heart just sunk. And then the months going bye one after one. Its heartbreaking.
I LOVED how you put though that its as if the main character is only a half now. As in Bella and Edward together ARE the main character. I liked how you put it that way.
I totally understand what you felt like, Kaleb. I read this chapter late at night in the corner of my room (I had a pretty bad day) and then I read the line “I did not resurface.” as if that didn’t freak me out, I flipped through pages of months. I mean, months. I even flipped to the back of the book to see if Edward would come back. I wish you luck for the middle, it gets really boing. In my opinion.
Chapter 3 of New Moon is the worst chapter in the whole saga, but chapter 20 of New Moon is the best chapter in the whole saga, in my opinion. So even though this chapter (and, trust me, pretty much the next 16) are very tough to get through, don’t give up.
A lot of fans will say that they hate New Moon and it’s the worst book in the series, but I think that’s an irrational and immature point of view. After you’ve read them all, you realize that New Moon is the most important book in the series because all of the relationships in the saga and all of the advancements in the characters and the dynamics of the whole, big picture story rely on the story told in New Moon.
Good luck. When I was reading New Moon, my friends and family wondered if someone close to me had died. I was a wreck. But it’s worth it! I promise. 🙂
i am glad that you weren’t too funny because i would most likely find it offensive… i locked myself in my room for three days after i read chapter three and i was soooo depressed until… wait can’t say-anyway… Can’t wait for the next post!!
when i read this chapter i burst into tears and threw my book on the floor and told it i hated it….then i immediately picked it back up and apologized and kept reading.