The song for this chapter is Writing To Reach You by Travis (suggested by Anita)
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/writingtoreachyou.mp3]
I felt absolutely stupid when I first started on Eclipse. I took the book off my shelf and immediately started to search for my bookmark (a slip of paper that coincidentally is also my grocery list). For some reason today, I simply could not find the blasted bookmark, and it wasn’t until I had flipped the book over and fanned all the pages for this piece of paper that I realized I didn’t even have a bookmark in this one yet, because I was just starting it.
It was the first mystery I have faced in reading Eclipse, and it wasn’t even in the book. What a wonderful start.
Because I am going straight from New Moon to Eclipse, I know all of the back story right off the top of my head. Jacob is still upset over Bella choosing Edward over him in the previous book. I decided also that as Jacob is obviously having troubles completing his thoughts, it was my duty to play mad-libs and finish his sentences for him:
Bella,
I don’t know why you’re making Charlie carry notes to Billy like we’re in second grade — if I wanted to talk to you I would answer the carrier pigeons pecking at my window. You made the choice here, okay? You can’t have it both ways when Desperado Dave and his posse enlist you. What part of ‘mortal enemies’ is too complicated for you to understand in that crazy brain of yours? Look, I know I’m being a jerk, but there’s just no way around the fact that you’re now a highway bandit with a $10,000 reward on your head. We can’t be friends when you’re spending all your time with a bunch of cattle thieves, bank robbers and highwaymen.
It just makes it worse when I think about you too much, so don’t write anymore ransom notes to my father, or I’ll tell the sheriff where your hideout is.
Jacob
Surely that was what Stephenie had intended Jacob to be writing.
Still, though, Jacob is obviously in turmoil. After all, Bella is strongly attached to Edward Cullen: a vampire, mortal enemies with Jacob because of his species. Think of it as if your best friend has fallen madly in love with the local axe-weilding crazy, no matter how much you try to convince him or her otherwise. This is basically what is going through Jacob’s mind, so I do have some understanding of why he is so much against Bella being with Edward.
I was taken aback by the primitivity of the Swan’s meals. Have they not heard of the greatest invention since sliced bread: microwave lasagna? It is a meal that no one can ever tire of, requires no stirring/pots/smoke, and is ready in 23.5 minutes. It is such the epitome of effortless cooking (aka most college meals) that thieves were obliged to remove boxes of it from my freezer sans permission (as everyone and their cousin has heard by now due to my endless ranting on the situation).
I loved how casual this sentence was:
Afternoons were the hardest part of my day. Ever since my former best friend (and werewolf), Jacob Black, had informed me about the motorcycle I’d been riding […]
Alternate version:
Afternoons were the hardest part of my day. Ever since my former best friend (and green singing frog), Kermit, had informed me that my fly-repellant was ruining his chances of decent dinners […]
I suppose after a while being around vampires and werewolves will become everyday to anyone. Bella has been through so many things in the past year that go deep into the supernatural, so I’m sure by now she is either wondering what will pop up out of the woods next (if I wrote the next book: gnomes) or if it is all a very large dream.
Having been to Juneau, Alaska, I was told multiples of times by local residents statements that confirm Bella’s claim of being overcast 321 days per year. I, however, visited the place on one of those glorious, rare times when the sun was shining o’er the sea with all its might, and caught views such as this and these. Even on those sunny days, you can see that it is properly enough overcast for a vampire to survive undiscovered. And besides that, humans can’t complain about those glorious views.
Though Bella’s grounding since the incidents in New Moon has finally been lifted, it is obvious that Charlie does not trust Edward as far as he can throw him. And I don’t exactly blame him: for Edward, Bella has thrown herself off cliffs, gone traipsing out of town on more than one occasion, and had hallucinations and nightmares on his accord. If I was Charlie Swan, I would be duly concerned.
But the fact is that in reading the book, we have the ability to get into Edward’s head, and we know that no matter how often it may seem that he is a threat to Bella, we know he wouldn’t ever let himself hurt her. This is insight Charlie does not have. This is also one of the biggest conflicts caused in Bella’s mind: for she truly wants to be friends with Jacob, but cannot keep him and Edward at the same time. Bella knows for sure that Edward will never hurt her, but Jacob does not; Bella also knows that Jacob will never hurt her, but Edward does not. It is like moving two positive ends of magnets closer — yes, they can be forced together, but they will always be pushing each other away.
So I see many troubled times ahead. Edward has decreed he will not let Bella see Jacob, fearing for her safety near a pack of werewolves lacking anger management. Bella has proclaimed she is going no matter what Edward says. The trouble between the true love and best friend has started yet again — and on top of that, there is a newborn vampire on the loose. Welcome to Forks.
Question for the comments: If you were Bella’s parent, would you think Edward was safer for her, or Jacob?
——NOTES——
– I am now taking song suggestions for Eclipse! Send in your songs with the link in the sidebar (–>) or at this page.
– I am putting together features of Twilight-inspired bands. If you are a band who writes music for Twilight, please send me your info on this page.
Using mcse dumps and 642-873 sample test, pass EX0-101 exam on first try guaranteed.
201 Responses
Rain, #88, actually, i think the equation would look something either like:
Bella + anyone= trouble, disaster, etc.
Or…
Bella + boys= trouble, disaster, etc.
Or…
Bella + super-natural-things-that-should-not-exist-type boys= trouble, disaster, etc.
Or, if you can come up with something maybe a bit more accurate or that also fits… let me know.
LOVE TO ALL!
(especially twilight guys named Kaleb Nation with issues on Microwave Lasagna theives, is obsessed with gnomes, has a knack for MadLibs, is partially psychic, AND can sing and dance on his head.)
Verali Hayden James.
ps.
to that certain person mentioned above… one of those requirements is not strictly necassary, but would be fun to watch.
Ummmm I don’t know how to answer this question because this is something that a parent will never have to go through XD vampire and werewolf yeahhh
OH!
one more thing while im on a roll, don’t hurt yourself in the attempt if you can’t. but if you can, AWESOMESWEETKOOLTOTALLYANDCOMPLETELYAMAZING! x 1ooo
ilu!
To answer your question i think that Edward because you can just tell by seeing them together how much he loves Bella and would do anything for her
Also I just want to say that I love your post.
I completely understand Charlie’s side of things. Completely. I mean, Edward ran off and left Bella in a state of mind-numbing depression for months, and then she just welcomes him back? If I were Bella’s parent, I would be furious. The worst part is that Edward feels like he totally deserves whatever Charlie throws at him because whatever the insults Charlie hurls at him, Edward has told HIMSELF what a horrible person he is far more often than Charlie even thinks about him. So…
I think you’ll find the next chapter very amusing, Kaleb.
hahaha! Kaleb you are a true Alice!
i love this post, as for the question i would have to say Edward ‘coz no matter everything they’ve been through i would know that they are truly in love.
P.S. Yeeeeeeeih! you choose my song! XD i’m so happy!
Haha, I love the reference to the magnets. Bella uses that comparison later in the book, too. It made me laugh 🙂
Jacob and Edward are like food.
Jacob is like healthy food. You know you should choose healthy food because it’s good for you but then there’s Edward, the junk food, where you know it’s not good…but you’re tempted. It’s addictive.
Jacob would be such a better choice; a healthier one for Bella. But Edward? You just can’t give that up, that guy got you hooked from the very beginning.
Hahah, okay I don’t know where I’m going with this. I’m food and sleep deprived right now. Hence, the analogy..LOL
If I was a parent & had no idea of anything going on with Jacob & Edward, I’d be thinking Jake is safer, from an emotional standpoint. Bella was doing better with Jacob, though physically, if she was ending up in the hospital all the time, I’d be worried.
…welcome to forks. LOL!
While I do eternally love Edward and know he loves Bella more than anything, if I was Bella’s parent, I wouldn’t let him in the house, let alone near my daughter. From Charlie’s point of view: the boy made my daughter run away to phoenix where there was no parental unit present, she fell down a flight of stairs and broke her leg, he dumped her to travel the world and left her barely a shell of the person she was, she goes off to god knows where for 3 days because ‘Edward’s in trouble’ only for them to come back a happy couple once more, with my daughter threatening to move out if I don’t let her see this ‘perfect guy.’ If I was Bella’s parent, I would have sent her home on the first plane to Jacksonville to save her from the manipulating mysterious boy from school.
Jacob, on the other hand, is an old family friend and slowly helped my daughter learn to laugh and smile again. He hasn’t made my daughter run away to god knows where and seems to be mature enough to handle helping her move forward with her life.
Regardless of how much we love Edward, with the limited knowledge Charlie has, what parent would want their daughter to go out with Edward Cullen after all that mess? I certainly wouldn’t.
lol, I still love Edward though, he and Bella are two halves of the same whole. ^-^
Oh!
I thought of another reason why Jacob isn’t good for Bella and why I’ve never considered them two together. I don’t remember exactly where imprinting is first mentioned, but I do know it is explained further in Eclipse. So, whenever you read the whole imprinting thing, remember that that’s a reason why Jacob is no good for Bella and not a “healthier” choice as many people say. If Bella chooses Jacob, he might leave her someday just like Edward did, and he’ll have no other choice. With Edward, he will never love anyone else ever now that he has found Bella and there’s always that security. These were my thoughts while reading Eclipse and I don’t know why other people don’t see this logic.
I’m pretty sure I spoiled nothing, even if imprinting hasn’t been brought up yet, I may have just peaked your interest extremely, which is a good thing because then you’ll read faster.
And also, if I was Charlie, even if I didn’t quite like Edward, I wouldn’t try to push Jacob onto Bella, no matter how good I thought he was for her. It’s her choice, and as a parent, I would realize that I can’t do much to change it. I might try once, but then I would lay off. Charlie does a lot of pressuring in Eclipse.
Dang Kaleb you moved on to Eclipse quick! not a moment to spare!
I would have to say from Charlie’s eyes that Jacob seems to be much safer for Bella but in reality I think that Edward is.
And have you gotten to the magnet part yet or was that a total coincidence?
anyway your too funny your pics always make me laugh 😀
So yeah lol I’ve done that with my bookmark all the time so i feel the pain. Next if I was Charlie and Renee I’d be a little worried hello soul-less (supposedly) blood drinking demon it is the natural order for them to be worried but kinda glad because ya know its like she’s always being protected by someone who is far stronger than you’ll ever be. But then again I’m A TOTAL Bella . Seriously my motto in life is I’m not clumsy . . . the floor just hates me. But from the parental perspective I think that Edward is the lesser of 2 evils as they say.
Woah, this this only had 60 comments a few hours ago…
anyway,
I agree with Brittney H. from #3.
I TRIED to be unbiased, pushing my love for Edward out of the way for a little while to see things clearly, and if, i only knew what Charlie knew, I’d be rooting for Jacob too.
But knowing what we all know…
Team Edward all the way! xP
Seriously. Did someone tell you about the magnets?
Well, as a parent, I would probably want Bella with Jacob- but that’s only because I don’t know what’s going on, and from the outside, it would seem like Jacob is better for her. But not being a parent, I am 100% Edward.
woops, ignore my magnet comment. i didn’t see your reply….i feel stupid now.
*slaps self*
If I were Bella’ s father, I would whole heartily support her dating Edward before I would Jacob. Though I am a “Team Edward” fan, I can see how he has had a century of practice at resisting his natural inclination to feed on human blood. In addition, given the passionate love felt for Bella, I would know in my heart, as a father, that he truly loved and cared about her well being apart from his own desires blood and otherwise.
“It is like moving two positive ends of magnets closer — yes, they can be forced together, but they will always be pushing each other away.”
When I read this line, I literally laughed out loud. So funny.
I love your crazy bookmark search, Kaleb. This same scenario has played out plenty of time for me. Somehow I always manage to lose my bookmark. They’re usually receipts, too.
I think that if I were Bella’s parent I would think that Jacob was safer for her. Charlie has seen Jacob grow up right in front of his eyes and knows that Jacob loves her. The first reaction Charlie ever had towards Edward was one of alarm, even if he did picture the wrong person. Edward has that whole aura of dangerousness around him and even when he’s asked to keep Bella safe and he sounds completely sincere, one has to wonder how he is so certain that he’ll be able to.
The magnets made me smile, you’ll find out why soon enough and i’m sure you’ll laugh very hard 😉
As for your question; my answer is Eric Yorkie. Lol, seriously though, between Edward and Jacob I’d have to say Edward. Jacob just.. forces himself on her while Edward actually looks out for her well being. Jacob has a problem with doing what HE wants and not caring about others opinions on the matter while Edward actually listens to Bella’s thoughts (lol, the irony..) and does what he can to make her happy and safe at the same time. *My opinion of Jacob is different in Breaking Dawn but since you’re only on Eclipse, those are my original thoughts on the matter 🙂 *
As a parent – I have four daughters, so I speak from experience! – I would be leaning toward Jacob at this point. Edward leaving nearly destroyed Bella, and if any male ever did that to one of my teenage daughters, I wouldn’t let him in the house or anywhere near her if I could help it.
Through a parent’s eyes I’d definitely think of Jacob as the safer one of the two, especially if I had known him since he was little, like Charlie has. As a reader, though, I love them both.
Loved your post and the pic, by the way! 🙂
I would say neither, instead Mike Newton. Or one of those other vial- but safe- humans.
Your magnet simile is rather frighteningly psychic. As a reader, I love Edward and Jacob equally. But as a parent, I definitely see Jacob being healthier for a teenage daughter. Edward though, would make her happier obviously, because Bella chooses him. So I would be conflicted. In the end, as a very concerned and almost unfair parent, I would perfer my daughters’ health than ultimate happiness and hope that it was enough.
First chapter of Eclipse *sigh*
And the magnet thing… Very…insightful. ^_^
As for the answer…
Though I would hate to admit it (yeah, I would) if I was the parent, I would proabably think Jacob is safer. I mean, if you put it that way, when Charlie doesn’t know that Edward will not hurt Bella- and Jacob’s been Bella’s friend and all- I really think I am inclined to go for Jacob. A safe friend who wouldn’t hurt Bella. But still, I would have considered possibilities. I mean, who would think that Edward could leave Bella in Twilight? So maybe I’d think in future Jacob could hurt Bella…So… neither?
Ok, too much typing….
dude magnets? really? you’re gonna laugh later on =P
i think edward is safer just bc he’s more experienced (and bc he’s the awesomest character in any series ever!!!) and besides edward knows what it is like to think he’s lost the core of his unchanging exisitance. that has made him immune to her alluring scent which was the core of the problem in the first place. and as for the accidently being able to crush her, like i said he has experience and he knows what he’s doing he himself could never hurt her. okay yea new moon w/e he will never hurt her again and has never physically hurt her so i’d think theyd be fine. besides he’s uber careful. (Love you edward!!!!!) lolz
1) You can’t teach an old “dog” new tricks but apparently you can teach an old vampire. This is a very good thing.
2) Jacob is a hypocrite. For future reference. A very bad hypocrite who deserves to be called on it but everyone else has too much class and more important things to worry about to point this out to him.
If I were Bella’s parent and I only knew what Charlie knows, I would think that Jake was better for her. If I knew what Edward and Jake were, I’d move away and drag her with me.
It would be really close, but I would probably favor Edward – all Bella engages in is, seen from an outer perspective, minor danger: driving to Phoenix(car)/flying to Rome (plane), falling down stairs (yeeeesss, I know, but we are outer perspective, remember?), whereas Jacob engages her in major danger: motorcycling (and even providing this hellish machinery by fixing it!) and racing her, jumping from cliffs… not to say he has all these other troublesome friends as Paul (anger-management, anyone?)… and then Edward with his family, completely inconspicious, and one sibling is always with her… Though I would watch my daughter really close with any troublemaker, I would feel more at ease with Edward.
I think that I would be happier with Edward, not that I’m biast or anything. I think that edward has shown time and time again that he loves Bella and would give the world for her, and his life. EDWARD
Well, Renee is allergic to dogs (you find this out later, but it’s not a spoiler), and I think she’d like to be around with the both of them and not just one.
At this point in the story, I suppose Jacob because he still is coming off as a “goody two shoes”. At this point Edward seems like the bad guy. I need time to get to know Edward better.
Magnets???!!! *Shannen jumps back in alarm* Are you sure you haven’t read this book before?!
If I was Bella’s parents I would definitely think Jacob was safer. After all, it wasn’t Jacob who made Bella go crazy when he left.
Wow, dude, you totally stole the magnet comparison! That’s amazing. Yeah, you’ll see that exact metaphor later in the book. That EXACT metaphor. Wow, you rock.
haha.
so you’re finally on the only book with a big plot in it!
well, this is my favorite one so i hope you enjoy it. 🙂
(and you might just want to stop at the end of it and pretend the series is a trilogy).
oh, and i say jacob because edward is abusive. not physically, though. you’ll see later on.
oh, and nice fortune telling there. the whole magnets thing is like a direct quote.
Don’t worry kaleb, we all have those moments! We’ll buy you a better bookmark, so that you don’t need to use your grocery list anymore, ha ha. As for your question, If I were Bella’s parent, I would definitly say that Jacob is safer for bella. However, I know personally that the heart often wants what isn’t safe, and who am I to question the heart?
Well, since I am officially in love with Edward Cullen, I would say that Edward was the best option, but just because I’m in love with him. 😛
Okay….If I were Bella’s parent, sadly, I wouldn’t realize how dangerous either one of the amazing candidates were, but apart from the fact that one is a vampire, and one a werewolf, I would probably at first look think Edward. Edward just looks…responsible, and sophisticated. He looks like the kind of guy that you can trust. And his voice is so seducing, that you kind of have to believe him. After New Moon though, after seeing all the pain he put Bella through, I don’t really know what I would think. Jacob is so childish and irresponsible, letting Bella ride a motorcycle without a helmet, when she is obviously so klutzy it’s almost a handicap, but he kept her happy (to a certain extent). And being happy can be a big part of being safe. But, even with Jacob, she still did all those rash things to hear Edward’s voice, which makes Edward even more dangerous…. This is a really hard question…. I think that I would hate both Edward and Jacob if I were Bella’s parent, because they both hurt her so badly, and I would ask her to give up on those freaks and just go out with Mike, or Tyler or something. As a teenage girl though, I would tell her that Jacob was much better for her and safer for her, and then I would go and steal Edward. 🙂
I don’t know if any of that made sense….but anyway…
Wow, magnets…
You are so incredible; are you sure you aren’t Alice? I will leave it at that! 😉
Haha, Samantha, I second that.
Now, as to the Jacob Edward question, I’m really not sure. I’m totally and completely 100% Team Edward [I loved how Stephenie wrote Breaking Dawn] but if I were Charlie, I’d probably say Jake was safer for Bella. He seems strong and protective, and he seems to genually care for her. BUT, if I were Charlie, I also wouldn’t know the whole story. I wouldn’t know that Jacob was a werewolf. I wouldn’t know that Edward was a vampire, or that even though he is one, that he could never hurt her in any shape form or fashion after his realization in New Moon. But even so, I’d like to say that as a parent, I will let my child choose his/her date, so to say. I may not, but I’d like to say that I will trust them enough to be able to choose the right person for them.
I loved how you finished Jake’s sentences. That was hilarius.
And now, your question…
When I answer, you will probably think it is typical, but I will give my reasons.
If I was Charlie, I would choose Edward for Bella.
Yes, Edward left and Bella was depressed, and as a parent, you would be terribly angry at whoever had caused it, but even though it seemed like Jacob was cheering it up, wasn’t it just Edward again? His voice was the reason she kept doing dangerous things, most of them ideas of Jake’s. Jacob helped her ride the motorcycles and she got hurt doing it. Jacob mentioned taking her cliff diving, and Bella almost kills herself.
When Edward showed up again, Bella was immediately more cheerful. She was genuinely happy and not doing dangerous things anymore (That Charlie knew about. He obviously doesn’t know that Jake is a werewolf and Edward is a vampire).
The question isn’t Jacob or Edward, the question is physical pain or emotional pain.
Would you rather have your child hurt, even dead, or just sad?
Charlie thinks Edward will hurt her again, that’s why he doesn’t like him. Jacob gets Bella hurt…why doesn’t he have a problem with that?
If I were Charlie, I would prefer Edward for her. She is happy with him, sad that she can’t be with Jacob, but still happy and safe. If she had to stay away from Edward, I would fear for her life.
Okay, so you’re going on the basic assumption that Jacob actually loves Bella- a fact that can be disputed, since the strongest kind of love (imprinting) that exists in the werewolf world has not occured betweeen Jacob and Bella. In short, HE’LL HAVE TO LEAVE HER EVENTUALLY unless he’s sequestered away from all civilization left to stare at pictures of Bella all day. On the other hand, edward would rather die than let anything happen to her, we already know he will never leave her again (NM chapter whatever)and he’s opposed to turing her into a vampire because IT’L TARNISH HER SOUL. He flipping CARES about her more than Jacob- jacob just cares about himself. He likes Bella, therefore he wants Bella. Edward likes Bella, therefore he wants Bella, therefore he know he;s bad for Bella so he leaves, but he’s so important to her that he’ll stay anyways just to make her happy.
lmao on your magnet comment.
I think if i was Bella’s parent I would think Jacob is safer because Edward is just oddly polite and doesnt seem to find it awkward to be around his girlfriend’s father. He (logically) isn’t a normal teenager which is frieghtning and suspiscious
I would say Jacob. I mean, yes, Edward loves her for EVER, but Jacob has less of a risk factor, at least I think so. Maybe that’s one of the reasons we all love edward; no pain no gain, right? ahaha
i think that edward would be safer fer her cuz jacob doesnt rlly care much fer her safety
just her company rlly
i mean edward is rlly polite and everything even tho charlie absolutely hates him
ok if i was charlie then i think that jacob would be better fer her
i mean he thinks that edward caused all of bellas problems
so he wants edward out of her life before he can mess up anything more in her life
[as if her life wasnt already messed up :)]
i rlly like ur mad libs fill in
🙂
it was hilarious!!!
I love your mad libs. I won’t say much but in your summary you seemed to hit a lot of basic themes in this book that stephanie herself even says.
I would definitely like JACOB more as Charlie! I love them both-but Jacob is an obvious pick.
Oh, and by the way-are you related to Carry Nation by any chance Kaleb?
Hmm….if I was Bella’s parent and knew as little as Charlie does…this is kind of a complicated question. Bella’s got Charlie for a dad…and dad’s typically are too overprotective of their daughters (sometimes, for good reason), and Renee is almost too perceptive, as you’ll soon see. So if I was just a regular parent, well…even though she has run away for Edward twice and gotten a broken leg doing do on one occasion (but Charlie didn’t know the circumstances), he is a gentleman, is respectful, polite, loving, and mature. Jacob I see as more dangerous/reckless without heed for safety, trusting too much in Bella’s ability to care for herself…and he’s immature, self-centered, and selfish. I’d go with Edward. They obviously love each other and don’t do well apart. Charlie, I think, is too biased because of his friendship with the Blacks. He’s your typical protective dad.
It reminds me of when I first started dating. My dad made waves to me about taking the guy downstairs “for a talk” and to show him his gun and knife collection, and reiterate that I was supposed to be home by a certain time. Intimidation tactics because of overprotectiveness. Haha fathers are always suspicious of young guys beccause they’ve been there and done that.
if i were Bella’s parent…i think i would choose Jake ’cause edward is so…..(you complete the sentence ^_^)
Hmm…tough question. If I were an ignorant parent who had no idea that Edward was a vampire and Jacob was a werewolf I would most definetly choose Jacob as the safer one. But knowing what I know, I would say Edward. There is no way that Edward would hurt Bella, there is however a very small but possible chance that Jacob might loose control and hurt her. By the way, remember the comment you made about the magnets, it’s kind of important later on. Happy reading Kaleb, I can’t believe you’re already on to Eclipse!