A guy reads Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2009-2011)

Reading New Moon: Chapter 23 (The Truth)

The song for this chapter is Tomorrow by Avril Lavigne

[audio:https://twilightguy.com/music/tomorrow.mp3]

In a mere 24 hours, I have been inundated with over 1,700 submissions to pick the song for New Moon. It led me to this simple formula: Twilighters + Music = Excitement. This is a formula whose simplicity I wish was mimicked in my calculus exams. Unfortunately for me, that is not the case, thus in order for me to read the next chapter in New Moon, my math study notebook has been cast into the nearest rot heap.

It is painful to see how much Edward tortures himself inside, believing that he is little more than a demon who is only endangering Bella the longer he stays near her. By now, it is irrefutable that he cannot be apart from her: the results of his attempt to separate their bond nearly resulted in his death, which even then seemed to Edward like a small price to pay for Bella to be safe.

Having been plagued with hallucinations and nightmares after Edward left, Bella does not immediately believe that it is really Edward who is before her in the middle of the night. She tries to deny it and tell herself that in a moment she will awaken again, and Edward’s face will be yet another fading memory that will torture her the rest of the day.

Why is it so serene that night? Why do I get the feeling that finally, though Victoria is still alive, and though Bella is still in much danger, that perhaps things are turning for the better? The reason is this: Edward has again come through Bella’s window, and they are again arguing softly in the night.

No hallucination that Bella has had so far has come close to the realism of having him finally back, sneaking in just as he did before he left her in the forest. It is almost that with this simple return to what it was before, the story of Bella and Edward has made a circle back to the way things once were.

But if this is a circle, that means to continue on the same track will end in Edward leaving again. The only way to keep this circle from following the same course of events is this time, for Edward to tell the truth.

I think that Edward is right — Bella never would have let him go had he not convinced her he didn’t love her anymore. It was this lie that started the chain of events that nearly led to their demise. By telling this lie, Edward believed that he was doing the right thing: saving Bella’s soul from the torture she would get from staying near him. He has always wanted her to have a normal life, free from the bonds that immortality holds over him.

However, he easily forgets the fact that by leaving, he is not saving Bella, but hurting her even more. Thus when Edward finally tells Bella the truth, I felt relieved that finally they can begin to heal from all the pain that has come between them in the past few months. By finally telling her the truth, that he lied when he said he did not love her, Bella can begin to unravel the months of withdrawal she has gone through, and find some way to put things back together in the way they should have been in the first place.

To me it seems that as he is confiding in her how he felt while they were apart, and how much pain he went through without her, in the same words he is voicing the thoughts left unspoken in Bella’s mind — the same way she felt when he left her.

Still, a few things remain unfinished, and the question again is whether it is smart turning Bella into a vampire now, in favor of being with Edward for eternity. The next chapter is the final: and then the Epilogue.

——NOTES——

– Just got word that Moviefone.com has some exclusive images from the movie! Click here to check them out.

– Keep sending in songs! Voting begins next week.

– Be sure to watch the Twilight movie widget for the new trailer this evening!

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40 Responses

  1. Yay, they are back together! The next chapter is one of my favorites.

    Sorry about the Calculus.

  2. I aagree the next chapter is one of my fav to! see kaleb, we told u to stick through this book and u will be thankfull.. are u glad u did? lol tho ur not done yet, but u are very close..lol

  3. “The reason is this: Edward has again come through Bella’s window, and they are again arguing softly in the night.”

    As I read along and came to this statement I immediately felt the mental and emotion connect. This truthful observation is brilliant in its simplicity; things are now how they should be once again.

    And so our character becomes whole again.

    I do so appreciate Stephenie for allowing her characters to learn from their mistakes so we, as the reader, don’t have to dwell on the same circumstance and emotions redundantly. So, hopefully that isn’t a spoiler but just a happy prod. New Moon is quite the emotional roller coaster, but you’ll find a more stable footing in Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, if not only marginally.

    Thank you for this post, Kaleb. It was awesome. Enjoy the end, can’t wait to hear your final thoughts:)

  4. Loved this post. Not in the same way as the others, though. *puts on thoughtful expression*

    Most (if not all) of your previous posts have been full of jokes and little comments on odd moments that have occurred. Of course, no one can dislike Twilight related humor (except maybe non-Twilighters), and I’ve always loved your observations. But this post was very… real. I suppose it could be because the chapter was so serious, so pivotal, important. Anyway, to me at least, it seems as though you put a lot of serious thought into this. I mean, sure everyone knows it, but you’ve managed to explain it just right, even though it’s your first read of the series. πŸ˜‰

    Well done. Keep posting! Do it soon!

  5. I liked this chapter – I think its because it seems like the first time that Bella starts to realise that Edward really does feel the same for her as she does for him (and vice versa).
    Enjoyed the post – you’re nearly there! Good luck with the study!

  6. Kaleb, I am just so excited for you to read the next two books that I can hardly stand it! It’ll be fun to get your take on Eclipse. I have thus far thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts on Twilight and New Moon.

  7. Oh! I also love this chapter because you get to see how truly lost Edward is without Bella and how in sync their heartbreak is as he describes to her what it was like leaving her.

  8. I think that Edward’s leaving was necessary in a way. (Even though I hated it.) It made their relationship stronger and led to Bella and Edward’s epiphanies on just how much they truly love each other and what steps they are willing to take to save the other.
    Beautifully written.
    Yay, you’re almost finished!
    πŸ™‚
    Two books down, two to go.

  9. πŸ˜€
    Kaleb, you rock. Your thoughts are always so insightful.

    I will say right now: I can’t wait until you get to Breaking Dawn. I’m very interested to see which camp you fall into on BD. Though Eclipse is very interesting too, and let’s just say you’re in for a surprise with the Epilogue of NM.

  10. YAY! you’re almost done with New Moon! I can’t wait for you to read Eclipse! (my favorite)

  11. hey, i hate math too, but i am still in ap math, they are back together! i hope u finish eclipse soon, because it is awesome! i am so happy u didn’t get spoilered yet about it. πŸ™‚

  12. Sorry about the calculus. Too bad Edward’s not available to tutor you. Love your reviews, and I’m looking forward to your take on Eclipse.

  13. Kaleb, It seems to me that because of your insightful and intelligent reviews, these books have maintained an interest in the public. I’ve read all four novels multiple times but reading your reviews brings back the thrill and excitement I felt reading them each the first time. Thank you, Kaleb. You have a special talent.

  14. That was a great chapter, one of my favorites in the series. I agree that his leaving was necessary to strengthen their relationship. It kind of annoys me how incredulous Bella is when he’s back, though. I don’t think either of them know how much the other loves them, and while it is irritating, it’s what makes things interesting.

    I can’t wait till you get to Eclipse! I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite one of the series, but it is pretty exciting.

  15. Sigh…this chapter is one of my favorites in New Moon. Basically from when Bella and Alice leave to head off to Italy to chapter 24 are the best parts of New Moon.
    I’m excited for you to get started on Eclipse! I can’t wait to see your commentary on all the…well, I’ll just let you read and find out πŸ˜‰

  16. That was an awesome post kaleb! (but it always is) im like really scared bc im home by my self and i keep hearing wierd noises πŸ™ but anyway i asked u this before kaleb but have u gotten Eclipse yet? omg im going to be kiddnaped lol well if u dont hear from me for a while…………pray for me πŸ™‚

  17. *sighs contentedly* Now this is the kind of post I’ve been waiting to see again for a long time. Lately it’s been summarize the chapter, make a joke, and that’s it. This was great.

    “Why is it so serene that night? Why do I get the feeling that finally, though Victoria is still alive, and though Bella is still in much danger, that perhaps things are turning for the better? The reason is this: Edward has again come through Bella’s window, and they are again arguing softly in the night.”

    I love that bit. And I completely agree. Which is why I suggested a different Avril song than the one you picked. I loiked “Innocence” better, but whatever. I love this chapter…and the next one. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts and for you to start eclipse!

  18. Your post was wonderful, enjoy reviewing your reviews- your take on the situation at hand. just wish that you would consider yourself a fan already, you know, get that outta the way-

  19. EEEKK!! I’m so excited for you, Kaleb! You’ve almost finished! It seems like it’s been a long journey, no? I do believe I’m gonna cry now….*sniffle sniffle* Almost done! So close, yet so far away. And, yeah, HAVE you bought Eclipse yet??? lol. Oh, and btw, that rot heap looks positivly repulsive — are those rotted pickles or what? lol.

  20. Loved the post, and I can sympathise with the anger toward calculus (we’re doing the chain rule currently and I loathe it…Sorry, tangent over)

    Anyway, after you’re done, I reccommend you go on Stephenie’s website; she has some really interesting and insightful outakes from New Moon, and I really think you would like them (they have the phone conversations from Rosalie’s and Edward’s perspective when Alice saw the vision of Bella jumping off the cliff, etc)…just a thought, anyway, keep beng awesome!

  21. I love this chapter… Edward is BACK. *Sighs contentedly*
    The Epilogue is very interesting, if you ask me… not in a happy way, though, oddly enough. Very different atmosphere than the end of Twilight.

  22. πŸ™‚
    you’re almost done with the book!

    can’t wait for you to read Eclipse!
    and I have to ask (again) do you have Eclipse yet?

  23. lets make your formula look more mathematical: T+m=E.

    Now that we’ve got that out of the way, you MUST BUY ECLIPSE NOW!!!!! Eclipse is the best book.

  24. Do you have Eclipse yet??? It is crucial that you have it with you as soon as you finish New Moon. And the first chapter is hilarious. Think about it. Senior year, college applications, a four day trip with no good excuse, and Edward being on Charlie’s bad side. What could happen?
    PS This is only the first chapter.
    Keep in mind Victoria is still out there.

  25. So here’s my question for the Twilight GUY: do Edward’s emotions ring true to you? Being female, I don’t think I have the perspective on adolescent male feelings to make that determination.

    ISTM that Edward, frozen in time at 17, can only love in that helplessly desperate adolescent style that makes you think you will die if the object of your affection doesn’t – fill in the blank: call you, look at you, love you back. But is his behavior, are the insights he (=Stephenie)provides into his feelings while separated from Bella, true to what a non-vampire 17-year-old guy would feel if separated from a girl he was in love with? They ring very true to me as what I felt at that age, and I’d love to believe very young men feel the same – but I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to understand whether a very young man’s “love” is substantially the same as a very young woman’s.

  26. I love this chapter. finally they are back together even though bela thinks its just a dream, i loved it, edward was really vulnerable, he laid his heart out for her. Bella (and us) finally got to hear why he left (even if we already guessed) we got our explanation. You are so right this chapter does feel very serene. They’re back!

  27. It is painful to see how much Edward tortures himself inside, believing that he is little more than a demon who is only endangering Bella the longer he stays near her. By now, it is irrefutable that he cannot be apart from her: the results of his attempt to separate their bond nearly resulted in his death, which even then seemed to Edward like a small price to pay for Bella to be safe.

    You have put my thoughts to words wonderfully… to him, it WOULD be a small price. In a way, it’s kind of like how Bella just went to Italy, knowing that she might die… just to make sure he’s alive. It’s more extreme in this case, but wasn’t he trying to do the same thing? To make sure she’s safe, to make sure that in the long run, she won’t lose her life because of him? It is very painful to watch Edward torture himself as well, but that only shows how much he struggles with accepting what he is.

  28. You are right… ANYTHING would be a small price in return for keeping Bella safe and alive. Edward made a mistake, but can you really fault him for trying to do the right thing? If he could be with her in good conscience AFTER the events with James and Jasper, it would make him a lot less decent than I thought.

  29. This was my favourite chapter in the entire book…it was just soooo..Intense?..and yes BEAUTIFUL..!!

  30. where can i have a free download of new moon audio???
    with the complete chapter

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