The song for this chapter is Where’d You Go by Fort Minor
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/wheredyougo.mp3]
Somehow, I have gotten hooked by New Moon within the first few chapters. When I should be working to cure my editingosis I am actually reading this book and wondering: have Edward and Bella really parted ways for good?
Time passes: the first two words of this chapter seem brutal and sharp in contrast to the flowing paragraphs Stephenie has written before. The thoroughness of Edward’s disappearance has left Bella’s life in that state. There isn’t a trace that he was ever there, as if all that happened in Twilight and in the first three chapters of New Moon were just something that Bella imagined. After paging through the months, I am reminded of the way Bella was at one time, in the beginning of Twilight. It is like taking a time machine. I remember this Bella: sullen, quiet, just as she was before Edward.
With the months that have passed, however, it feels like the pain of Edward leaving has turned into a numbness. It’s like a constant ache to Bella that is so strong eventually she might forget about it being there.
I shuddered when Bella pulls out that calculus book. What a misery. I’m taking calculus this next semester, and being one who absolutely abhors all things involving the mathematics (besides adding royalties and paychecks), I nearly fainted flat when I discovered I have two courses of it. Oh joy (oh rottenness). Bella sums up my thoughts exactly:
Reading math was even worse than listening to it.
For some reason, when Bella asked Jessica who she had recently been out with, my eyes swept across the page, and I thought that Jessica had said she was out with a Yankie, instead of Eric Yorkie. Weird. Then, lo and behold, they head on off to get some food, passing by One-Eyed Pete’s:
The struggle that Bella goes through to get over Edward seems torturous. While she knows she will never get over him completely, the only way she can move on with her life is to move past what is gone, and leave the memories of Edward behind.
But at the same time, I see that Bella is holding onto Edward still. Her memories of them together were so strong that I find myself remembering parts of it as well. It is rather concerning when you think about the condition Bella has been left in. She is withdrawn and antisocial, and now she is seeing things that are not there and hearing voices in her head.
Because the books are so popular, I’ve been slightly spoilered already, and I know that somewhere along the lines, Jacob Black becomes important (apologies if I’ve been spoiled wrong and I’m incorrect). So I would really like to hear from those Jacob-lovers if Bella’s intense withdrawal from Edward is one of the reasons you think Jacob is better for her? Do you think she is too obsessively attached to Edward for the relationship to ever be good for her?
It seems to me that by the end of this chapter, Bella is already doing much better than she was before- though I can still feel that glimmer of hope that Edward will return, and that things will go back to how they were before. But simply getting out and doing something appears to have brightened Bella future somewhat. I guess there is something fulfilling in zombie films after all… 😀
——NOTES——
– Again, I cannot reply to emails suggesting songs for New Moon. Please only submit them through the page linked in the right sidebar.
– Last week, I hit 1,500 subscribers on my Youtube! THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE! I am currently #17 most subscribed this week in Partners, which was my first Youtube award, so if you haven’t already, please subscribe so I can stay up there!
– Someone asked to see a photo of my writing notebooks- it’s on my other blog.
292 Responses
Ah New Moon, Kaleb you definately have all of our sympathies while reading this book. Stephenie’s writing is so amazing and we become so attached to her characters that we actually feel their pain. The first time I read New Moon I was so attached to the idea of Bella and Edward that I don’t think I paid too much attention to Jacob. After Reading Eclipse though I decided recently to go back and read New Moon again. I found myself loving Jacob just as much as I love Edward (though in a different way). I could appreciate his warmth and humor and realized just how different he is from Edward. So tell me, how’s a girl to choose? Edward is well…Edward and completely amazing in all his ways (although a little stupid for leaving). But Jacob is, warm and full of laughter and life (although jailbait for me haha). Bella later refers to him as “her own personal sun”. I can understand that. I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot of arguments in the coming weeks/months about who is better Edward or Jacob, I have no advice for this haha because Stephenie has created two incredible characters and now, I am in love with both. And to comment on Jacob’s rudeness etc., try to be gentle and remember that despite his height/ physical stature….he is a 16 year old boy and is bound to do some things wrong, Even our dear Edward is flawed after all. Enjoy the book Kaleb! 🙂
Yes, Bells in in the zombie state and for moths now actually.
While I was reading this chapter, I was able to empathise with her though I have never experienced this before. I hope I never will.
Keep on readin Kaleb, and you’ll see of how she finally ‘woke up’.
i like jacob better because he allows Bella to just be a little more fun and outgoing with edward she is always so reserved …. with jake she can just be a kid
I read once that Stephenie Meyer suggests that all people read New Moon at least twice, because the first time we’re all speed-reading to see if Edward comes back. I was guilty of this. The second time around I absorbed so much more from the novel. Just make sure you don’t speed read.
I, personally, love Jacob Black. Please keep an open mind to him.
And I do, in fact, believe that is why Jacob is better for her. Of course there are other reasons, but, being afraid that I might accidentally spoil something, I’ll just wait and say it once you’ve read Eclipse.
🙂
I am a complete Team Edward and since you have spoiled correctly I will say that New Moon was horrible to get through (until the end) LOL but you should probable keep an open mind about Jacob and since you’re not a girl who was swearing throughout New Moon you should enjoy it ! 🙂
omg i am so happy with this thread. i’ve never seen so many Jacob fans! yes, finally!
Jacob is amazing. he brings Bella back to life, makes her laugh, makes her feel normal and safe. All he did was fall in love with her. He’s brave for all he does. His opponant is Edward for goodnes sake! He just wants Bella’s love and to have her remain flesh and blood. Is that so wrong? How many of us have the courage to fight for love as fearlessly has Jacob does?
Wow good luck getting through the WHOLE book wthout flipping ahead. When i read new moon i instinctivly flipped to the end. I had too. New Moon is unberable! It’s awful and don’t listen to the jacob lovers he’s evil and edward is the only one ment for bella. KALEB NATION PLEASE DONT BECOME A TEAM JACOB!! Because Team Edward is the way. :]
good luck again with finishing new moon, its terrible and sad, and such a drag to read.
I think after EVERYONE (and that includes YOU, kaleb) read chapter three/four, they viciously skipped to the back, and screamed: “NO! EDWARD! YOU CAN’T LEAVE!”
well, I did that. See, (i think) the reason why everyone hates Jacob soo much is because in New Moon, they think Jake is geting into trying to replace Edward, and most people don’t want that.In Eclipse, he tries SO hard to get Bella’s attention, that he even turned into a moron … in a few parts.
I USED to be Team Edward, but (I can’t believe I’m bringing up The Host!) after I’d read The Host, I understood Jake better. The two main men are Jared & Ian, and Jared was more of Edward, and Ian was more Jake. Jared was always stiff-backed — he never changed his opinions, he never changed his mind, while Ian on the other hand, was soft, and tender, and kind.
Jake IS Bella’s true HUMAN soulmate. If Edward was never alive, Bella would’ve been with Jake. Edward’s just soo serious about everything, (and yes, you have to be serious when you’re marrying and turning your love into a vampire) but he bores me. Yeah, Edward has the looks, the charm, the smile, but Jacob is just so human, so understanding, and he loves Bella SO MUCH that he let Bella be with Edward. Bella’s broken his heart, and HE’S FINE with that! Do you see Edward being fine with that? Jake is SOOO much BETTER! (and i hate Spunk Ransom. Just a side note. 🙂 )
So many people hate Jacob because he is not Edward, all I have to say is RELAX! Jacob is fantastic and one of my favorite characters, yes I am still team Edward but Jake really made the books much more interesting, I mean imagine how dull they would be without a little healthy competition.
Oh, and I would totally be in the same state if Edward left me, so Bella, you’re doing fine
“Jake’s character is frustrating and it’s hard not to take it out on him for the trouble he causes. I don’t hate him, but I do hate that others hate Edward because of him. If that makes any sense…”
I agree completely. One doesn’t have to necessarily dislike a character to think that Bella is better off without him.
Throughout New Moon, Jacob is a thoroughly enjoyable character and he provides necessary involvement in the story. I prefer Edward, because without him, the first book is totally negated. How can an author ask me to fall in love with a story – to think of two characters as two parts of a whole – and then negate it with a sequel? If Twilight is taken to be true, then to me nothing can change that. That was the entire setup of the series in the first place.
All three of the characters have their good and bad points, times when they act noble or selfish.
Please, please, please stop with the whole “Jacob is Evil” bit. I can understand if you don’t like the character, but Jacob is one of the good guys. He’s saved Bella’s ass so many times that it’s not even funny. If not for him, New Moon would’ve been the last book, just keep that in mind. The Volturri, James, Victoria, etc are evil. Jake is just a lovelorn boy stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Jacob Black is Stephenie Meyer’s favorite character. Do you honestly think if he was as evil as you all SAY he is she would think of him like that?
Enough said.
I am Team Jacob!!! I think Edward is all wrong for Bella. She deserves to be with someone that makes her happy, not someone that hurts her all the time! How could anyone be happy with someone they think is better than them? She feels normal with Jake,and he loves her for just being her,not because of the way she smells or that he is addicted or obsessed.Jake is Bella’s true love. Edward is just a obession nothing more! And I too think that all the team Edward are a few marbles short lol. where is your logic?New Moon is my favorite book,if you read the books ove rand over like i have you start to see it, Bella is always glum even with Edward, she isnt truely happy until new moon when she starts to see jake.
yeah, I loove Jake, but Bella is NOT the right person for him ;( he deserves so much better! she just makes him suffer. Bella and Edward are just perfect together, but I really want Jacob to find someone else.
I am a Jacob and Bella fan. Allot of it comes down to the fact that Bella and Edwards relationship is unhealthy. It is so uneven. She always feels inadequate. Not to mention we are seeing Edward through her eyes, not who he really is. Love Blinds us all. Edward does nothing to build her up. Edward describes her as his brand of heroin. Later in the series SMeyer says that Edward is like a drug for her and she can’t stay away. Addictive relationships are BAD. Not to mention Heroin kills people. When it comes to the life or love argument: I vote for life every time. Jacob is good for her. Their relationship is real and healthy. He builds her up.
like you said earlier.
edward was her other half.
i believe jacob will never be that. i see him being a good friend, but not anything more.
thus, i am an edward fan.
and i am so happy that you made it through to this chapter. it was so hard for me [and mostly everyother twilight fan] but yay! i love to see your true feelings into this.
keep up the good work! :]
Her reaction to Edward is exactly why I think he’s perfect for her. Look what his leaving did!
Good luck getting through the book. I still can’t bear to reread it.
This post is for Kaiti, post number 39. I would like to respond to your comment
“Everything he does is done with the best intentions, but he’s sort of stalkerish and pretty damn controlling. He tells her who to hang out with, what to do, treats her like he always knows better than her, he even tells her when to eat.”
I completely disagree. Edward and Bella are deeply in love. They live and breath everything about each other. They consume themselves with each other without question. Edward takes care of Bella. He does not tell her who she can hang out with, not once has he ever said that she could not hang out with her school friends or even Jacob… well actually he did say that she shouldn’t hang out with Jacob because he was a new werewolf in Eclipse, but it was for her own safety, new werewolves can lose their temper and people can get hurt, look at Sam’s wife. It’s not because of Jacob liking Bella. When Bella sneaks off to see Jacob, Edward decides it will be safer to just take her to go see him. He’s not trying to have control over her, he’s trying to protect her. If these were average human 17 year olds living in a small town where nothing happens, then his actions might seem a little weird, but Edward has saved Bella’s life how many times and she is always being hunted, wouldn’t you protect the person you were in love with if they were being threatened? Wouldn’t you want to make sure they were always safe?
Edward reminds Bella to eat because she is so wrapped up in being with him that she doesn’t take care of herself. I think you totally misunderstood. It’s crazy to see how the same words can be taken in so many ways (different perspectives of the people who read them). I hope this all makes sense. I’m not mad, it just drives me crazy that Edward is misunderstood. Maybe it’s because I’m 28, like Edward, age does make you know better. Hahaha.. I’m going to start a huge fight. Not intentionally though! I really do mean well. 🙂
“Not to mention we are seeing Edward through her eyes, not who he really is. Love Blinds us all.”
you cant say that yet.
seeing as how there will be “midnight sun”
then we will find out how he really feels.
for now, team edward. 🙂
A lot of people see Jacob as annoying Least all my Edward friends do.
I love Edward and Bella together. Because I think I watched them meet and they just fit so well.
But, I love Jacob! He’s very sweet, and he loves Bella, despite the fact that she can never really fully love him.
New Moon was definitely my favorite book. Eclipse was until I read New moon for a third time and really READ it. Its got its own beauty to it, well Dark beauty lol!
=) Keep reading Kaleb!
This is a very difficult subject to talk about for everyone, I can tell. There are so many different opinions!
I agree with Rachel. I definitely like Edward much better, but I’m not to the point of hating Jacob. My problem with Jake is that he makes it extremely hard for Bella to choose which path she wants to take. On the other hand, Edward just wants Bella to be happy. He allows her to make the choice and doesn’t try to manipulate her to go one way or the other. And by Eclipse Jacob is kind-of a jerk…
I believe Jacob should have his own happy ending so he can leave Bella to hers.
ANYWAY, keep going Kaleb! I could get used to this 2 posts in 2 days thing. 🙂
Guys!
Stop spoiling! You’re ruining the book for Kaleb!
Yes, Bella’s intense withdrawal from Edward is one of the reasons I think Jacob is better for her. There are so many more that you will be reading in further chapters and the third book, but that definitely is a reason.
People try to reason Bella’s reaction away as “She is a teenager, that’s how teenagers are.” Yet, supposedly, Bella is more mature than other teenagers. And I don’t know anyone (including me) that completely shut down the way she did. I love who I believed was the love of my life. And was it hell to move on? Absolutely, but the point is, I moved on. I didn’t become a zombie like Bella did.
Jake and Bella’s dynamic from the moment it begins is just so fresh and easy, I couldn’t help being sucked in. And neither could Bella. I mean, she’s smiling pretty much the moment she sees him in this chapter. That says something.
I’m sorry so many inconsiderate people are spoiling you!
i almost put the book down when after i read chapters 3 & 4. although, now i love the parts about bella’s desolation. it makes me think of a love that is enduring and beyond what most experience. what is a love like that without it being jeopordized at some point?
i still don’t like jacob…he may come through for bella, but at times he becomes petulant and child-like. he isn’t endearing to me at all, more of a crutch for her. so proud of you for sticking with it…now the hard part starts-no edward/bella for a bit.
Response to 115:
Being deeply in love with someone is not an excuse to sneak into their room at night withou their knowledge while you decide whether or not to eat them. That’s not romantic. Where I come from we call that stalking…with a dash of potential homicide just for shits and giggles.
Perfect song for this chapter!
Jacob will be there. I think he isn’t better because she doesn’t love him like she doeas love Edward. She just wouldn’t be happy. Jacob is nice, but I dislike his behavior in Eclipse.
Like I’ve said before, Im rereading New Moon (well I just finished yesterday so now i’m rereading Eclipse, but that doesnt matter right now) And I’ve noticed soooo many things that i missed the first time I read it. I was so worried that Edward would not come back thats all I cared about, I mean I got the storyline and some of Jacob’s emotions and a lot of Bella’s but that was kinda it, reading it again I see how they really feel and things I didn’t realize at first. I was a Jacob hater I guess, I liked Jacob, a lot, I thought he was a good friend, but thats it, just a friend, so I never hated him, just didnt love or laothe him like other people do. I really noticed Bella’s pain this time and reading your post just reminded me of her pain and sadness. Oh, and good job on not looking in the back of the book like I (and probably so many others) did to see if Edward would come back or not……..soooooooo GOOD JOB 🙂 also I’m glad your reading New Moon at a good pace soooo YAY!! 🙂 hehe
Hope I didn’t spoil much for you, if I did I am really sorry cus I hate it when one of my friends spoils a book for me!
Jacob is a more healthier choice for her. Edward and Bella, aren’t really even friends. They don’t talk about that much unless you want to count their endless love for each other. Bella can’t even focus on anything but Edward when they’re together. Jacob helps her to act like a normal person: self-confidence, fun to be around, and a mind of her own.
hey yeah…thats one thing that i didnt like about new moon. I was depressed the whole time I read it. It made me feel so lost you know? I’m one of those kinds of people that get really attached to characters. Now im not a jacob or edward fan…theres positives and negatives to both. But one of the reasons im for Jacob is because if Edward would have left me I dont know if i would be able to trust him with my heart again. But yeah…you crack me up and this is by fae my fave twilight site. 😀
I didn’t read through all the comments so I hope I’m not repeating something someone else has already said.
So in anticipation of you reading New Moon, I read it on Sunday (in one sitting; I read fast) so that it would be fresh in my mind. I love Edward, but I also like Jacob, the “pre-werewolf” Jacob. He is sweet and considerate of Bella, and helps hold her together when she’s hardly doing it herself. I understand Edwards reasons for leaving (which I won’t spoil for you). But I think that the main distinction of why people love Jacob is the part of Jacob that Bella later calls “my Jacob” versus the other half of Jacob. That’s the Jacob I love.
I hope that’s slightly coherent. I hope I didn’t ramble too much.
Happy Reading!
I agree with several opinions already posted here, I just wanted to reiterate – keep an open mind… 🙂 After reading the first book I was enamored with B/E and couldn’t believe he was gone so quickly into “New Moon”. However, I loved the ease of Bella’s relationship with Jacob. Until you are reading “Eclipse” I would hesitate to say anything else about the B/J relationship. People are spoiling for ya already and it deserves to unravel as intended. All I’ll add is that I like E and J for different reasons. I think Jacob’s youth and inexperience contrast so sharply with Edward that people misjudge him… It will be interesting to hear your take on it! 🙂
ok, wow! I am so used to defending Jacob in posts that it is so crazy that I should be defending Edward now!
In case it is not obvious I love both. I am Switzerland and I will not be swayed.
Kaleb we know you, like the majority of the twilight comunity have an apprieciation for Edward because of “the respect he shows towards women, the selflessness of his actions, the level of polite elegance he maintains, the maturity of his judgment, among many others.” that is about the best, most honest interpretation of the reasons why we all fell 100% in love with him in the first place.
As many on here have been saying Edward shows tendancies in Eclipse that are a bit putting off, but he was born in a different time, we have to understand, and he does learn from his mistakes doesnt he?
I did not hate Edward for leaving because I understood why he did it but I did feel an underlying resentment, and I have a tendancy to hold grudges, so yes when Jake comes and is so open and honest and friendly and welcoming, yes I did fall in love a second time in the series.
Everyone has stated all the amasing reasons to love Jacob: he is open and caring and spontanious and fun and like the sun and flawed like a human being and all of that, healthy and helps Bella through a rough time. I absolutely 100% love Jacob Black. Even though he can be frusterating and at times in Eclipse manipulative remember that Edward is doing this in Eclipse too. (Kaleb this is spoilery, so sorry!)
To adress the issue of obsessive love. Lets face it, in literature love is dramatized. And in the novel world it is possible to have more than one soul mate, or rather in this series a soul-mate and someone who trumps soul-mate.
For Bella, Jacob is her human soul-mate for a human life. But Edward is that,trumps that for her. It doesnt matter that in someways their love is unhealthy and obsessive because when you have what they have(a trumps soul-mate situation) you are not going to care about the unhealthiness of the situation and arent going to kick a guy to the curb for a mistake (even if it was a big one, this proves that Bella indeed does love Edward even with those flaws.)
The whole obsessive deal is all pertaining to Bella really, when she loves, when she does anything like Charlie says later in New Moon she does it wholeheartedly and tends to never let go and that is just part of her character. With both Edward and Jake she clings to them like oxygen (or in Jake’s case the sun) and whether we think that is healthy or not is not the fault of Edward or Jake, though admittedly they are obsessively in love with her too, though I think that is just how anyone would respond to such a character…
I’m rambling but all I mean to say is that both Jacob and Edward have their good points and their flaws and we should love them both more for it instead of argue over who is “healthier” Bella already knows Jake is but is still choosing Edward, because that is where the great obsessive love lies. She loves Jake romantically as well but differently and even though it is just as real it just doesnt measure up.
Terrible because Jake is so wonderful and deserves better but hopefully he will get a happy ending.
Sorry Kaleb, that was full of spoilers but I think that just like we all drew are own conclusions about the characters you should too.
🙂 melissa
I’m actually a big Jacob fan.
not that I think she should be with him.
but I really did enjoy breaking dawn.
I hope you enjoy it.
try not to flip ahead chapters just to see if edward is back.
lol.
I did that a lot the first time through.
I think the whole point of this book is to realize what Edward and Bella mean to each other. Some may say that Bella are Edward are too drawn to each other and its not healthy, but their strong love is the point.
Neither one of them realized just how strong their love was and why they needed each other until they were forced apart. Edward knew she loved him, but thought that over time she’d get over him. Neither one realized that wasn’t the case. They’d be able to move on over time, but never get over each other.
Twilight is them finding their love. New Moon is them realizing the strength of their love. Eclipse is realizing their love can overcome anything. And we’ll see what Breaking Dawn brings.
congratulations on reading past chapter 3!
And yes you were spoiled right. Jacob does make an appearance soon. Personally, this book is probably the hardest to get through a second time because the first time I read so fast just to see if Edward would come back =]
I know how you feel. The beginning of new moon leaves us all feeling sad, depressed, lonely…
we’re here for you.
HATE Jacob Black! He’s such a dirty player! As much help as he can be to Bella, he hurts her more and that’s all I’m gonna say about it XP.
… Stupid Pooch
Here via the LJ community sortofbeautiful, reserved for J/B shippers and Jacob lovers.
I have to disagree with your assessment that Bella is starting to get better. If I’m not mistaken, this is the chapter where she first starts hearing “Edward’s voice.” It becomes a major problem and that’s all I’ll say. She’s not getting better, she’s becoming schizophrenic.
Anyway, to answhere your question: “So I would really like to hear from those Jacob-lovers if Bella’s intense withdrawal from Edward is one of the reasons you think Jacob is better for her? Do you think she is too obsessively attached to Edward for the relationship to ever be good for her?”
Yes. It’s really hard to go into why, though, without spoiling you big time. I’ll just leave it at: I’d rather her live for a guy than die for one. It’s just healthier. Hopefully you’ll understand in the next few chapters.
Wow… answer* What an embarrassing typo.
I think Jacob makes a good bff, but I can’t really trust him because of what he does in Eclipse (no need to worry, I won’t spoil). Now looking back at New Moon because you are just starting it, I won’t really support him, but if this was before I read Eclipse I’d be open to his friendship.
Jake deserves a nice girl, and hopefully he’ll find one in BD. I hope he imprints, but as long as it doesn’t ruin someone else’s already formed relationship. Overall, Jacob is what Bella needs in a friend.
However, I love Bella and Edward. I’ve never really missed Jacob, but I can always miss Edward.
Plus, I read the book twice so I’d get some perspective, but the actions in Eclipse are what taints my Jacob outlook.
Molly, I love you 🙂
Though I can’t believe you posted that spoiler while I’m stuck at work an unable to comment.
Well said.
From a strictly literary point of view – Jacob is necessary for Bella’s character to be developed. In Twilight we learn that she has taken care of her mother her entire life. She needs to be young, to make stupid mistakes, to be a teenager. Edward is over 100 years old. He thinks of her as a child, even though she is an old soul. The separation is necessary for each of them to re-evaluate what they feel and how deeply they feel it. Difficult times lead to growth (for Edward and Bella – well really everyone…). How could Bella ever really choose to be with Edward if there was no other choice? Edward would never accept that she knew what she was doing. And Edward needs to know how difficult life without Bella would be for him. When it comes down to it, this whole series is about making difficult choices (vegetarian vampires, trusting someone enough to share your deepest, darkest secrets, wanting to become immortal – even with the risks involved, remaining chaste…well, you catch my drift).
I am team Edward. Love should make your heart race and give you goosebumps frequently – without passion, life would be boring. (I’ve been married to my husband for 20 years and he can still give me goosebumps!!) And yes, I know that Bella could have passion with Jacob – but not in the same way. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a Jacob hater (in fact, my heart hurts for him), but he isn’t the right guy for Bella.
Come on – she was written to be with Edward…..destiny, possibly.
I love both Edward and Jacob deeply and both are good matches for Bella. It’s just that…they’re each so different, like fire and ice. Both have qualities that could potentially harm and help Bella. So I wouldn’t exactly say that Jacob is better for Bella. By the way, I hate to spoil this for you, but Bella ends up becoming additcted to Jake as well. I guess she just has and addictive, obsessed personality. That sounded a little harsh, sorry it wasn’t intended! Keep on reading, and remember to take your time and get to know and love Jacob Black as we all(well most of us)do!
I love this book, it has stuck with me so much. I absolutely LOVE Jacob, and I can’t understand anyone hating him. I actually get more upset with Bella with the way she treats him sometimes. No matter who Bella is with, I love Edward too, Jacob is so important to her. He IS her best friend. I try to put myself in each of their shoes, and frankly, I can’t judge anything any of the characters do… That is how love can be, it isn’t always rational, or easy, it doesn’t always make sense. When it comes down to it, it is a decision you make to be with that person.
Jacob is a very interesting character.
The first time I read the books, I wasn’t immediately drawn to him, but the more I sat on it I realized he is a GREAT character.
I’ve never completely understood why people have such a strong loathing for Jacob (I can recall on a few instances from New Moon and Eclipse, but I won’t say anything).
Jake is the person who sort of…”rebuilds” Bella (if that makes any sense). All Bella ever knew of relationships was Edward. But Jake plays a different game, and Bella doesn’t realize it immediately. This is what leads to Eclipse…
I’m afraid I’ll give away too much, so I’ll stop.
I’ve always seen New Moon as the book with depth (or more than the other 2, anyway). I can’t wait to see your future updates 😀
personaly, Edward leaving Bella and plunging her into dispair has nothing to do with why I love Jacob Black so much (which is ALOT). I never thought about which one was better for her, because the characters seemed so alive I always thoguht of them as people. Edward is so overprotective it drives me insane and sometimes I want to sock him in the face, not that it would do anything. So i would say i love Jacob becasue of who he is, not because hes better or worse for Bella
Kaleb, I’m really concerned that you’re getting too many spoilers through comments…
It’s difficult for me to say if I’m team Edward or team Jacob, why? Because I see that Edward and Bella are made for each other and I love to read about them together. However, I personally love Jacob. If I was on a deserted island, I’d want Jacob with me, not Edward. (Jacob defintely does some things better than Edward as evidenced in Eclipse). I was bothered by Edward for awhile, but I think Bella and Edward should be together. I’ll take Jacob for myself, hubba hubba. I like heat more than cold marble.
I’m one of those hardcore independent, feminist types so naturally Edward always bothered me. He was too creepy, too stalkerish, too controlling, too manipulative, too disgustingly romantic, too old fashioned, too much. I didn’t care for the fact that Bella went from being a really mature teenager used to caring for her mother, to a completely needy whiner in his presence. To me their love seemed more like a psychiatric case study the negative effects of co-dependence.
I wasn’t planning on continuing to read the series, but a friend offered to loan me New Moon and out of boredom I took her up on it, and I’m glad I did so. Compared to Edward Jacob is a man after my own heart. Funny, light hearted, responsible, emotionally mature without forgetting how to be spontaneous, the list goes on and on. Jacob doesn’t try to protect Bella from the world – he’s lets her make her own mistakes, picks her up when she falls, respects the fact that we all have to experience to learn even if it hurts. He knows Bella on a deeper level than Edward ever will. Edward wonders what Bella is thinking, Jacob just knows. Add that to the fact that Jacob saw Bella at her lowest point in time and still grew to love her, and I was sold. I wish that Bella would grow up and stop acting like a petulant child, and I think that Jacob brings out her better personality traits.