The song for this chapter is Season of Love by Shiny Toy Guns
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/season-of-love.mp3]
I was sitting in the school cafe earlier today, minding my own business and getting some writing done, when I overheard a conversation at the table next to me that went something like this:
Guy 1: Jonas Brothers fangirls are the creepiest girls ever. What is with them?
Guy 2: No man, the Jonas Brothers fangirls are nothing compared to TWILIGHTERS.
-all guys murmur in unified agreement-
Guy 3: Yeah, they’re all way crazy over Edward Cullen.
-guys go silent-
Guy 2: Who’s Edward Cullen?
Guy 3, stammering: Oh, I, uh, I, uh, I read the first few pages. My sister had it. Uh. Uh.
Niccceeee. You don’t even see Edward’s name until page 20. Yet another closet TwilightGuy I’m guessing 😀
Anyhows, I managed to make it home in one piece in this chilling weather, and lo and behold Eclipse was here waiting for my return. Where I left off, Bella was with Jacob, watching the preparations for the war against the young vampires.
Oh Edward Cullen, what a poet. At the moment, I’m studying poetry as part of my English studies, so when I read lines like this:
“Listen to your heart fly,” he murmured. “It’s fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings. […]”
I’m immediately reminded of poetry. There’s a musical quality to the way that Edward speaks. I’m sure everyone who’s read the books noticed this: he never just says:
“Oh look,” he huffed, “your heart’s beating. Whoop-de-doo.”
He’s got a special way of talking, which is easily reminiscent of the literature from the times when he was born. Again, this is something that sets Edward apart: he’s not trying to be like every other, normal guy. He’s trying to be different, to really show Bella that she means the world to him.
As usual, I chuckled at a very awkward-to-be-chuckling-at line:
“But that will always be what I want most, won’t it?” I challenged. “Blood, blood, and more blood!”
It’s striking to me, just how much the marriage means to Edward; as if anything big will change between them, since he is obviously dedicated to her, and she can’t bear the thought of leaving him. But there’s a depth to it, a commitment that Edward is seeking to make, in a very human way that one would think doesn’t apply to vampires. But I’m curious as to Edward’s reason. He can’t be simply doing this and so adamant about an actual marriage just because he is from the early 1900’s: it’s been so long since then, and qualms about societal norms would have vanished into his memory. After all, back in those days, anything resembling vampires was probably considered demonic anyway.
I get the feeling, though, that Edward has many reasons for wanting this: for even though it is obvious that he loves Bella, and his love will not change after they are married, he wants an actual, human connection between them: something normal, that binds them together by actual vows. He sees being a vampire as being ‘tainted’, and I feel that he sees his eternity with Bella as so important, he does not want their commitment to be built upon this tainted foundation, but rather upon a human marriage: one with a soul. After all, Edward and Bella are talking about forever in far more sense of the word than other humans being wed: theirs is a real and literal forever.
I noticed a sudden slew of emails the past few days, most of them telling me oh-how-much they wanted to hear my opinions on Chapter 20. This, as usual, was followed by a bunch of HA-HA-HA-ha-ha’s, which caused me a considerable amount of uncomfortable suspense for what I was going to find. Rest assured, I reacted in exactly the way my readers expected:
Ahem. Anyhow, we were back at the vampires and werewolves fighting something in some sort of a bloody battle. Yes, that’s the part I was reading.
I greatly enjoyed reading the comments on the last chapter post: people have so many different opinions on Jacob. But I feel I should clear it up somewhat and say that I don’t absolutely detest Jacob to his very core. It’s just sometimes, I find it annoying how he’s trying to get between Edward and Bella. I, for one, am a somewhat selfish guy. It would be very hard for me to deal with my girlfriend having a Jacob, and I might not even be able to deal with it at all. I would see it as Bella not being loyal to me, and hanging on to an alternative resort in case things ‘don’t work out’. But if there is such a large probability of things ‘not working out’ that she’s keeping this guy hanging on, then that would make me think that what we have isn’t as strong as I thought. I respect Edward even more, because he can actually bring himself to at least seem comfortable with Bella around Jacob so often.
I realize that the vast majority of my readers are girls, and I don’t know how to put this in a way that everyone will understand; since human emotions and feelings cross such a vast landscape, it is impossible to pin any one person down and say that they are the model for all guys. But I know that I would never be able to handle being Edward, if my girlfriend kept Jacob — even the bracelet from him would be enough for me to feel hurt. Similarly, I would never, ever be able to be a Jacob: this guy who keeps hanging around, pining away at somebody else’s girl, when she really truly wants to be with Edward. I don’t see myself, or any guy who has a decent sense of respect, being happy like that.
But the reason I don’t hate Jacob, through all this, is because he is, or at least seems to be, genuinely well-intentioned. It’s back to the abusive boyfriend situation I used as an example a few posts back: if Jacob seriously thinks that Bella staying with Edward is dangerous to her, then he has good reason to try and get her away. In fact, it’s best for him to do it. But the fact we all know is that Edward is unlike the rest of his kind, and wouldn’t let anything cause him to hurt Bella: as evidenced even more so by the bedroom episode that unfolded in this chapter 😀
Question for the comments: I’m curious to know, due to the bunch of emails I’ve gotten, who you think should play Aro in the New Moon film.
——NOTES——
– There have been additions to the FAQ page.
– The song is from the new Shiny Toy Guns album
– Followers of my Twitter will recall a conversation about ninjas earlier. The Twilight conversation I wrote about in this post came immediately afterwards from the same group 😀
275 Responses
I always pictured someone like ben kingsley & his portrayal of a younger ghandi as aro. he looked fatherly, & ghandi was someone who commanded respect although he was one, small man. i see aro that way for the vampire world in twilight, altho he earns respect through fear. he still seems fathery-like to other vampires, such as jane & alec,, & he acts as though he tries to understand the other side before he makes a decision (although we as readers know his mind is usually already made up).
A complicated character all in all, & I hope the actor chosen to play him is really good (although no where near to the caliber of ben kingsley. sometimes i think its a silly comparison to make).
Jaccob is a manipulative, controling and abusive person and the comments of “oh you’ve got to remember he’s young” does not wash with me. Thats the same as saying “Oh jaccob just robbed a bank. Its ok he’s young he doesnt know any better”. It only paves the path for Jaccob to go and do worse things as he gets older.
Sure Jaccob picked up the peices of Bella in New Moon but even if he hadnt EDWARD was going to come back anyway. He said so himself.
Jaccob is a completely selfish person and wants Bella to love him yet he wont do anything she wants. He then goes on to manipulate Bella completely. No friend does that.
I’m glad you’re voicing your opinion on Jaccob in such a public place it would be easy to do the team swiss thing. *rolls eyes*
As for who should play Aro? I always thought it would be an old man but I’ve seen Ben Barnes has been mentioned a few times and hes not an old man so I dont know *Shrugs* I shall try not to get my heart set on anyone that way it wont let me down.
For the question, I don’t know. I have a very exact picture of Aro in my head. I’ve never seen an actor who even remotely matched…
Chapter 20 is only my favorite because of the very last pages. I feel really embarrassed for Bella through the rest of it.
But what I’m waiting for is Chapter 22. It’s insane! Really interesting. And I feel so bad for Edward at that one part…
But, yeah.
Nice eyebrow raising.
Speaking of, if you think that’s AWKWARD, wait until Breaking Dawn. *Scary movie background music*
But, yeah. You’ll get there.
ILUA!
GARY OLDMAN SHOULD PLAY ARO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is an amazing actor and can pull off any accent. Also Gary is very good I playing the “bad guy”, Aro is not exactly a “bad guy” but he kinda stratles the line. I also believe that he will do a fabulous job as Aro and he already knows Rob Patt from HP so that is a bonus. And he is also really hot which is another plus!! GARY=ARO!!
haha. I was laughing at your “awkward” thing because the first third of breaking dawn is just full of that kind of awkward stuff. i was actually considering not finishing the book when i read the first third, but then once I got past those chapters it was amazing.
Here’s my strategy with breaking dawn: read the whole book the first time, otherwise you won’t understand anything. Then, re-read the last two thirds of the book, and they will seem WAY better than they did the first time because they won’t be tainted by all of the inane cheesiness of the first third.
I think for Aro Gary Oldman would do nicely.
Like most of the comments I think Chapter 22 is the best one of the book and look forward to your review of it!
P.s This is going to sound so corny…… but to me you are on a par with Edward Cullen 🙂
I guess you get that all the time but still. 🙂
Hey! I think that ben Barnes would be an amazing Aro, and for all you, “He’s too young!” whiners (sp?) he’s 27. Yes. 27. I did not think he was that old, but he is, and I feel that the way he looks young now is him ALREADY showing essence of vampire. 😉
Loved your “awkward” sign, and the brains pic. They were funny as Alice and her Porsche…ahh Alice… 🙂
Like other people above me, I say that you haven’t read any awkwardness until you’ve read Breaking Dawn. Boy, the first half is a fairly, um, interesting read.
As for Aro and the rest of the Volturi…I haven’t the slightest idea of who I want the actors to be. I’m actually more concerned with who they’re going to cast for Demetri, Felix, and Gianna. Why this is, I’m not entirely sure.
One more thing: I also cannot wait to read your reaction to Chapter 22. That will be excellent post, your thoughts on “Fire and Ice.”
i think ben barnes would be a great Aro
I think John Lithgow would be an awesome Aro.
I think Ben Barnes is way too young to play Aro, Caius, or Marcus. I agree Johnny Depp should play one of the three, but I haven’t made up my mind who else should play them. It’ll be interesting to see who the director chooses.
Also, would everyone PLEASE STOP DISSING TEAM SWITZERLAND? Whoever is on Team Switzerland is simply showing that they can easily relate to the depth of all the characters’ personalities and relationships: something that was Stephenie Meyer’s goal. She wouldn’t be a good author (and we wouldn’t be good readers) if we could easily make up our mind on which team we should be on. If there are readers that can relate so deeply to both Edward and Jacob that the readers can’t decide between them, that means Stephenie Meyer has done a good job in writing a deeply thought-provoking story. 🙂
Well, i totally agree about relationships! Sometimes i wnat Jacob to go die in a hole! but other times he is a really good friend. About who should play Aro i’m cluless. The first time i read the books i was reading to fast so i thought aro was the old guy. But no he has slick black hair and is not gorgeaous! what a waist of a Vampire! Anyway, the only person who i have ever seen in a movie that would work would be the guy who plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies!
oh and i would like to comment on post 49. Yes Jacob is only 16, in my opinion that is way to early for him to start saying he is so madly in love that he would kill a guy to have her. if he is so young he can’t mature, he is to young to be taken seriously about love.
I know it is wishful thinking but I would love to see Adrian Brody as Aro.
hahaha
guy 3 is most definitely a closet twilight guy.
This chapter was my favourite for one reason: the proposal 🙂 it honestly (as cheesy and fangirlish as this sounds) when Bella was wearing the ring and she described how elated he looked it melted my heart lol.
as for Aro? BEN BARNES!!!
also: I think people like Bill Nighy and Gary Oldman and Stuart whats-his-face are good, but they’ve already been vampires and big ones at that and I think its a bit overkill and would make Twilight look like just another typical vampire flick.
Ok. i got a pretty big character list. if they they decide to make the volturi leaders younger than i say Ben Barnes should play Aro. on the other hand, if summit decide’s to make them older then
Sir Ian McKellan: Aro
Michael Caine: Marcus
Bill Nighy: Caius.
these are the others i think should play the volturi soldiers
Dakota Fanning: Jane
Tom Felton: Alec
Tom Welling: Felix
i couldn’t decide who i wanted for demetri but i think i put enough names down already. by the way, it perturbed me that u forgot to mention ur opinion over Bella’s “demand”.
I can’t believe i keep posting! anyway, i just read a bunch of the really long post and it made me feel like mine was to short! =) I have always and will for forever and eternity be an Edward fan. When i read one of the previous posts it said that Jacob was not sympathized with enough. And now i am brought to quote a line from twilight. “Oh, you’ll get over it. it’s just a crush!” this may have not been Jacob speaking but someone whould tell it to him. Stephenie Meyer on her website said that she believes there are many different types of love! true, oh so true! we have all had crushes on at least two people in our life. if you haven’t your not human. and i think that Jacob only being sixteen can’t justify his feelings. i personally think that you can’t be in LOVE at such a young age. many teens claim to be, but most of the time they aren’t. and i don’t really think that Jacob’s earned Bella. Edwards been waiting since 1918, and the whole time he wasn’t completely happy. Jacob has been waiting at most, 6 years. right about when the hormones kicked in!
I’m con-foo-sed. Do you like Jacob, then?
By the way, good post!
Um Mylles? Bella was only a year older than Jacob when she fell in love with Edward. Or are they REALLY in love, as you seem to think that age range is too young to be in love? Just sayin’.
I’d like to throw Emile Hirsch out there and also Henry Cavill. Henry was the actor Stephenie originally thought of to play Edward (before he got too old). I’d be happy with either of them in any role!
Danielle F., you are my new hero. Thanks!
Wow. Remind me not to read the comments anymore. All this “Jacob should die” stuff is kind of intense.
Team Edward. Enough said.
As to Aro, I like the idea of Johnny Depp. Don’t kill me!
That is hilarious about the overheard conversation. Why can’t guys just wise-up and admit how good these books are? Oh, my, the “Awkward” thing was so funny, I almost fell out of my chair! Aww, Kaleb, nothing else to be said on the subject? Understandable but disappointing nonetheless…Edward wants Bella to keep her soul in every way, even if it means taking moral precautions. And I think he wants to make sure that she is willing to make the committment, so running off with Jacob would not be so easy. I think he is afraid though there is no reason for him to be. He thinks of himself as a lesser being and not worthy of Bella’s love because he is a vampire. He is afraid of losing her.
Yes, I totally agree with some of you. I feel sorry for Jacob, in love with a girl who doesn’t love him the same way. But still, that is no excuse for his behavior. He is VERY manipulative and selfish. If I were Bella, I would not want to see him anymore after all of the things he did to me. He has no respect for her wishes. Period. Yes, he is worried for her safety but only marginally. He needs to go away…far, far away. He is so annoying and such a jerk in these chapters that I could hardly keep my fingers from ripping out the pages from the rest of the book. Sorry, it’s true. My love for Edward’s character kept me reading when I really wanted to be done hearing about Jacob’s rantings.
YES!! Tom Welling should totally be Felix, perfect!!
No way!! Ian McKellan is great, but these actors are FAR too old to play the Volturi. Not pleasant for means of film. Sorry. “Vampires” means Robert Pattinson, Brad Pitt, Keifer Sutherland, etc. Not the crypt keeper.
As for Aro…easy…
BEN BARNES, BEN BARNES, BEN BARNES!!! (Drool)
If they don’t pick him, they are crazy!! He is not THAT young, he is nearly 30 years old.
They have gotten my hopes up now, they better not dash them. He could work perfectly, great actor, not to mention easy on the eyes.
I keep coming back to check the posts on this one because they’ve all been so good.
I’m agreeing with Sarah W. You really can’t be down on Jacob loving Bella because of his age without also being down on Bella for loving Edward.
I’m the same from comment 41, but I didn’t really discuss Jacob. Just like Stephenie has written before (although not in this context), I can empathize with Jacob, but I can’t sympathize with him. I think back to being 16, and everything in your mind is so over-played. It’s true that after a few years experience, once you leave your sheltered home life, it’s easier to put things into perspective. We all think our first love is our true love for eternity, don’t we? So I can feel for Jacob all the while not liking him because of his actions. He really thinks what he’s doing is right. He’s very much in his own bubble and doesn’t even stop to think of the ramifications. He just wants to save Bella, even if it’s from herself.
There’s also a whole other-worldly piece of this that would never factor into real life. The vampire-werewolf drama heightens this love triangle in ways that would never be real. The easiest to relate would be your son of a cop best friend that knows you’re dating the son of a huge drug dealer? Yeah, that’s stupid… but we’re talking mortal enemies, here. Poor Bella is just stuck in the middle as the prize. They both believe the other is the absolute worst choice she could make, only Edward is man enough to let it be her choice, even if he thinks she’s wrong for other reasons than just being in love with her.
If it were me, I’d much rather Bella be with me because she’s positive that she doesn’t want to be with Jacob, but I think I’d be in the forest smashing a lot of boulders with Jake’s face scrawled on them. The fact that she says over and over again that she really doesn’t want to be with him but can’t stand for him to hurt is extremely frustrating if you look at from Edward’s point. When Jake hurts, for some ungodly reason, Bella hurts. When Bella hurts, Edward hurts. There’s a whole lotta hurt.
And more, Edward is stuck with the thought that if he had not left in the first place, Bella would never have sought comfort with Jacob. To think that you were the person that pushed the love of your life into someone else’s arms…
I feel so sorry for you kaleb because sooner of later you won’t be able to avoid commenting about the awakward part anymore. *snicker*
so, I dont have much to add regarding the Aro actor thing (all of my choices were covered). same deal with chapter discussion.
BUT, I must comment on the song. I am not ashamed to admit that I have barely stopped listening to the new shinys album since it came out. The music is amazing, though i much prefer the old singer’s (Carah) voice to the new (Sisely).
and there you have it.
I vote Ben Barnes for Aro-for no other reason than he is Hot Stuff.
But really, I don’t picture the Volturi as very old. Maybe in their thirties, early forties at the latest. It’s not that they look old, but that they are aged. Like an ancient statue. The statue doesn’t become wrinkled like an old human would, but as centuries slip by, the statue becomes worn out, it loses its sheen, it’s not as flawless as it once was.
So that’s why I’d be perfectly okay with Ben Barnes playing Aro and why I don’t want anyone older than 50 trying to play the Volturi. Ian McKellan is a wonderful actor and made of 100% Awesome, but I’d throw a fit if he was cast as Aro, as suggested by someone on LJ a while back.
I really agree on your comments about Jacob and Edward. Even from a girl’s perspective, I felt so frustrated for Edward! The first time I read through Eclipse, I really liked it the least of all the books. I liked it better the second time around, probably because I understand the connection between Bella and Jacob that is revealed in Breaking Dawn, but I still felt Edward’s jealousy, and got really annoyed by Bella’s pull toward Jacob.
As for Aro – this sounds strange, but I kept picturing the emperor from Star Wars…not how he is after he gets super old and wrinkly, but whatever he looks like earlier. Weird, I know.
I would love to see Jason Issacs as Aro.
Mmmm the “awkward” picture eyebrow freaked me out, I thought I seeing things.
My personal pick for Aro would be Anthony Hopkins. He has the ability to portray nice and normal with an overlay of chilling menace. Think Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs. Of course, I don’t think any “big” name is going to be doing this because he will also have to be available for Breaking Dawn (hopefully to be made as well). I will be ok with anyone as long as they are good.
awkward? pfft, this is nothing xD
*bounces around in anticipation* yay, you’re almost to chapter 22! My favorite chapter of Eclipse 😀
I’d have to go with Ben Barnes as Aro because whenever I think of the role of Aro, I starting hearing one of the Twilighters Anonymous podcasts where they’re going on and on about Ben Barnes living in Rob’s hair, which is actually Narnia. But yeah, he’d be a good Aro. Another guy to droll over when watching the movie (not that you care Kaleb, lol)
omg Johnny Depp as Aro! ahahaha…
the budget isn’t THAT big (unfortunitally)
but seriously, Johnny Depp as a vampire = amazing. no, a pirate vampire. that would be epic.
and Orlando Bloom could be Marcus/Cauis 😉
OMG BEN BARNES NEEDS TO BE ARO!!!THAT WOULD B SOOOOO FREAKING AMAZING!!!!
Hi i’m a guy and i read twilight books too! i’m so into them! yes you can call me a twilighter but i’m not like jonas bros. fans…btw i don’t have an idea for Aro…because in the book it’s not clear if he have the look of an old man or a boy (like edward) or even a man in his 30s(like carlisle) 40s 50s
plz send me an email to share your thoughts!
I would love to see Christopher Lloyd as Aro…so perfect! I always imagined him and the rest of the Volturi as older guys.
IAN MCKELLEN!!
why?
Did you *see* him as Magneto?
one word: Awesome!
Hehe, i was wondering how you would react to this chapter…I guess you managed to avoid it pretty well…
Have fun reading Breaking Dawn… 😉 mwa haha
I totally agree on Edward. I have been firmly Team Edward since somewhere in the middle of Eclipse. I had some doubts in New Moon. I believed that he knew what he was doing to Bella when he left her and went anyway. I saw his actions in New Moon as selfish, although I now see them as merely misinformed.
In Eclipse, however, Edward proves himself to be the most self-sacrificing person ever. He knows Jacob’s intentions, and yet lets Bella stay friends with him because it makes her happy. That firmly set me on the Team Edward side.
In fact, I’m so Team Edward that I would prefer for Edward to be happy than Bella. Of course, I know that he wouldn’t be happy if she weren’t, but I get angry at Bella all the time because she keeps hurting Edward after all he’s done for her. I really sympathize more with Edward than with Bella.
I don’t know many actors, but I see Aro as older than Ben Barnes. He played the role of King Caspian in the Narnia movie, and was too old for that role. I think he’s too young for this role. I see Aro and Marcus as in their thirties or forties, and Caius has grey hair so he’s maybe fifty or sixty.
this may sound a bit weird but,
I think Johnny Depp would be the perfect Aro.
That dude can be anybody.
He can be all creepy and evil like he was in Sweeney Todd, but also happy and kooky like he was in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I know that Willy Wonka doesn’t sound like very much like Aro but it works in my head.
hahaha, I love the awkward picture. I definitely wish my eyebrow could do that! 😛
I think either Cillian Murphy or Ben Barnes would do a good job as Aro. And then whichever out of the two is left over, he can be one of the other vamps. 🙂
Hey there. o.k. to start i agree with edward on him and bella on getting married i dont really know how he feels but i know if i was in that situation i would want bella for myself to belong to me so marriage is kinda deep and everything but i agree on the getting married as a devoted team edward twilighter i purely with all my heart detest jacob black i wish that he will end up in the deepest pit in hell i HATE him he is the wedge driving edward and bella apart he thinks hes got a chance but he doesnt he is so obnoxious and stupid he has no chance what he and bella experienced was nothing just a spark a tiny spark that was berely visible compared to the blazing never ending fire bella feels for edward i hate him in eclipse ahhhh! if i was edward i would have killed him wheni found out that he forced her into kissing him i would have started the war right that moment and his good intentions i dont believe in them i think he just wants to keep her be selfish the stupid mutt Sorry if i say this but in those few chapters i think bella is so STUPID for even thinking of liking him she is so messed up that freakingly jealous dog needs to be taught a lesson by edward he should kick his butt so hard that puppies will be coming out his mouth and whats up with that freaking turd bracelet she should have snapped it right there i mean who wants that i(and im pretty sure 99.99999% of people) would have prefered a diamond heart than a wood carving ahhhh i hate him (jacob black)
and for the person that shoul play aro i dont know why but everytime i read and picture aro i picture Lucious Malfoy i have no idea why my mind is a weird place
i love how bella chooses edward that was so obvious that everyone new it was gonna happen ive been team edward since i started reading twilight of course im one of those people who hated edward for leaving in new moon but i was happy when he came back eclipse was extremely good just that there was too much jacob interference i hate him so i would give anything for him to disappear of course i love the books the way stephenie wrote them i love them but jacob should die at least in my mind
with ben barnes im thinking he would be better as demetri. I would want the trio to be a little older. bill nighy would be cool, but I think thats a little to old for aro. He needs to look wise and be old, but still kind of young looking… haha. Someone said johnny depp somewhere and I thought that was the coolest idea yet.
And I also agree with the comments about chapter 22. Can’t wait to read about your thoughts on it.
I think Jensen Ackles from Supernatural and the new movie My Bloody Valentine, would make a great Aro. Or even a Dmitri–really any of the guys in Volterra. He is so good looking yet dark and mysterious that I think he’d make the perfect “bad” vampire. Plus, he’s really talented. 🙂
My mom thinks that David Tennant would be a good Aro. He does inteligent goofy well. And Chris Noth for Marcus.
I still think Johnny depp for Aro. And Tom Felton or Freddie Highmore for Alec.
I just want to add that i am trying to figer out someone to play seth, because he is awesome any ideas?
I agree that Dakota and Ben Barnes could work for their respective characters but at the same time I freaked out over who they were casting in Twilight and frankly I don’t really care now. I just want to go see the movie and then I will be able to tell.
Wow, I was laughing so hard at the conversation you overheard. Hahahhaa
I get the feeling it was a little awkward for you to be reading this chaper 🙂
No idea who should play Aro, maybe someone similar to Michael Jackson hahahaha