Reading Breaking Dawn: Chapter 7 (Unexpected)

147 Responses

1. Pingback: Twilight Lexicon » Kaleb Nation Reads Chapter 7

2. YES first comment!

3. Yeah, it's a pretty intense chapter.. But I am so proud that she got pregnant. Her little nudger!

4. The Baby is evil, he has every right. I mean you don't KNOW what it is. It could be some snake sent straight from below!

5. wooot congrats Keira!!!! thats exciting!!!!!

6. YOU + MJ + TRAPEZE LESSONS = EPIC WIN!
   [But you must have youtube evidence.]

   Corinne!

7. I think Edward is so frightened of losing Bella he distances himself from the child, calling the baby a thing! All he cares about is Bella, keeping her safe and alive and happy and there is this realization that he may be responsible for her death.

   I go agree however that it was uncharacterically Edward – it seemed out of touch for him….I was hoping for more between Edward and Bella during this chapter…I often wonder why Stephenie Meyer did this…

8. & I think that Edward is justified in being cold. It becomes more obvious why he is later in the book.

9. i felt so bad for edward there. because when you think about it the person for his existence as he puts it is pregnant with a child that is half a vampire. that cant get anymore intense. he doesnt know what is going to happen to bella and doesnt want to risk her life for a scary half vampire child. even though it is his.

10. Yes, Edward was a bit harsh but compared to how he usually reacts when Bella's in danger (espesially when it's somewhat his fault) I'm surprised he didn't go running to the Voltrui. Of course on the other hand I have seen Edward let's say undazzling as of very first part of Twilight. P.S. Thank you SO much for “changing the subject.”

11. yea edward made me mad here. but so does bella. and rosalie. gah!

12. the first time i read this chapter i had the exact same reaction as you did: shock over how edward was acting once bella told him she was pregnant. i totally thought he was cold towards her, (only us) knowing how bella felt about her little nudger. but the second time i read it i understood he was acting out of shock along with honest-to-goodness fear of what could happen to bella after his little talk with the cleaning lady. oh btw from here on out it only gets more shocking. js.

13. I think Edward had the right to be freaked out, to say the least. He doesn't want to lose bella (again) and I think he has his reasons to completely overlook the thought that there is a 'child' in there. I don't think it's cold, he's just being his protective self.

14. well, yeah.. this chapter was a shock for me when i read it, just because i didn't see it coming.. (haha.. excellent chapter title btw) and yeah.. it was weird see Edward act like that, but when you read later on, you kinda see his point…

15. Think of it this way. Everything in the Twilight books Edward ahs encountered at one time or another, maybe not specifically experienced, but heard of. Now his new wife, who he has fought through hell and high water for, is pregnant. Something he has never heard of. By which I mean a girl getting pregnant by a vampire. He has no experience to fall back on, for the first time in years he has to fly by the seat of his pants.

16. I know it's confusing right now, but Edward is acting all weird because he thinks the baby will kill Bella. You'll understand why later. It's half vampire also, so it could be like a blood thirsty killer and he is afraid it could be a monster, therefore being an “it.” Don't hate Edward! He has a right to be that way! He's just really scared that Bella will die and it will be all his fault. After all, it is his fault she is pregnant. You catch my drift? Haha I really don't want to say anything beyond that. Awkward! 🙂 But I can totally understand why Edward reacted like that. It's all explained, Kaleb 🙂

17. Wow!! I'm one of the first to comment for a change…

    I remember reading this chapter that first night around three in the morning. I got to the end and wanted to make sure morte meant death, (seeing as muerte is death in spanish, it was my assumption) so I decided to dash to my room and google it. Well, I decided to take the fastest route possible which meant jumping over a coffee table, jumping over a couch, making a sharp right in a short hallway, and straight to my laptop on my bed. Lets keep in mind, I'm 17 and the same size as Alice, I'm not a vampire, and it's 3:00AM. I cleared the coffee table, no problem, but I overestimated the distance between the coffee table and the couch. I didn't have enough room to get in a good jump. I tried, but my feet caught the top of the couch cushions. Next thing I know, I've bounced off the hallway wall and face planted on the floor of my room. I did some crazy somersault thing, hit my bed and somehow managed to grab my laptop before it slid off and hit me on the head. The two things I learned from this: morte is indeed the portugese translation of death, and my mom is a very heavy sleeper.

    In answer to your question, Edward's reaction made sense to me. He's seeing this as a demonic monster that is going to slowly kill the woman he loves. He isn't stopping to consider her feelings because he just wants her to be safe. It's similar to his reaction about Jacob in the beginning of Eclipse.

18. I think Edward was just being his over protective self…
    But I think he's worried about what the baby could be, if it would be a monster, stuff like that.

    So yeah.

19. Oh and I'm sure that if it was a normal baby, Edward would never consider abortion and he would love his baby 🙂

    You know, they always say “A woman becomes a mother when she gets pregnant. A man becomes a father when he sees his baby.” Yes, I stole that from Juno. But it's true! Guys have to know and see someone to love them. It's weird. I mean, of course guys are excited when their wives are pregnant, but they aren't emotionally attatched to the baby yet. And Bella and Edward are no exception to that comment. It's true! Bella says she loves her baby the moment she realizes she's pregnant! Hehe okay I'm done :))

20. I can see both sides of this story. Edward knows that this baby could mean the end of Bella's life, that is most likely means the end of Bella's life. And right now all he is conserded about is keeping her safe.
    But as a mom I totaly get what Bella is feeling. What Edward is feeling for Bella, is about the same as what Bella is feeling for that baby. She will do anything and everything to protect it, even if it means loosing her own life. I know as a mom I would give my life up for my children in a split second, and I am sure most mothers feel the same way. (and most fathers too, they just take a little longer to “bond” with baby)

21. Yeah the first time I read that I became really mad at Edward. Especially when he said “Don't worry, we'll get that THING out of you.” Ohh I was furious. Just keep reading. Breaking Dawn is the most 'out-there' book. And I realize what I've said is really vague, sorry….haha. It can't be helped!

22. I know you're taking biology now, Kaleb, so you should probably be able to figure out that Bella should not be able to feel the baby move after only 17 days, and she should definitely not be “showing”. The rapid progress of her pregnancy is what's scaring Edward. As for the honeymoon part, Edward freaked out so much after the first time, that Bella finally had to resort to the French lingerie. This was the chapter that caused all the controversy, because everyone thought SM had lied because she said vampires can't have children. She was specific that female vampires could not become pregnant, because their bodies can't change. Congrats on having your book cover featured in Publisher's Weekly. Loved the first chapters, can't wait to read the rest of the book.

23. i think edward was just afraid of the unfamiliar (and of course worried for bella), because there was no way that the baby was going to be anything normal!
    so it was just his most obvious reaction to react to it like it was an abnormal growth or something.. he's just being his over protective self.. he's just afraid of what it may do to bella, and it's something that he cannot really prevent from harming her since it is inside her, and the only solution he sees is to destroy it as soon as possible.

24. I completely feel that Edward is justified in his reactions. I mean, all of these past 3 books he's done virtually everything in his power to protect Bella from EVERYTHING, and now there's suddenly this thing growing in her that will very likely kill her, and it's pretty much his fault (or at least, that's how he sees it). I was totally unsurprised at his reaction. Actually, what really bothered me was Bella's reaction. I know how little regard she has for her own safety, but COME ON! Some half-vampire child growing inside you can't be a good thing. Let's review the facts: vampires are immensely strong, can slice through human skin like butter, and what was that last one? Oh yes- THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THIRST ON HUMAN BLOOD! If I was Edward, I would be freaking out completely as well and would definitely want to get the child out of her as soon as possible. The unknown has always freaked him out when it comes to Bella's safety, and this is pretty much as unknown as it gets.

25. In reference to the chicken going bad…. I thought that was foreshadowing Bella being pregnant, from the random food craving and then getting sick. Or at least that is when I figured out that Bella was pregnant (maybe just me). Anyways, though Edward is acting cold I understand why.

26. Kaleb i love how you react to awkward situations. and the chicken is brilliant. and im sorry about your problem with chick-fil-a because chick-fil-a is the best fast food restaurant EVER. by the way, i liked ur gnome pics hehe

27. Good chapter, as always. 🙂 That video was SUCH a cute way to tell someone she was pregnant.
    When I first read this chapter I thought the food like wasn't really chicken, but now I think it was just morning sickness.

28. Being an avid fan of romance novels which have the males very possessive, I can sort of see Edwards P.O.V.
    Bella is his. While he would never hurt her, he feels like he must protect her from anything that could take her away from him.
    Yes, it is very non-feminist, but B and E are soul mates and while a baby is their precious little creation, they still are going to be madly in love.
    Edward doesn't feel like that his baby is actually a baby(confusing, i know). He sees it as a threat and something that would inevitably harm Bella.
    With Edward, if he had to choose between a baby that in all cases would hurt Bella and be a monster OR keeping his wife safe, he picks the latter. There is no alternative.
    Also…. Edward never thought he could have children. Oh sure, he probably wanted them in 1918, but now hes a frozen vampire and is very content with Bella.

29. I really don't have much to add, since it's all been said. What I must, though, is to give high honor to this wonderfully constructed quote:
    “…the question isn’t so much of HOW this happened, because we all know HOW this happened, because it’s ALL that’s happened the past 17 days of blissful, secluded island newlywed life. Edward is the LAST person on Earth who should act surprised, since it is at least partially HIS doing.”

    Let me just say that I have not heard it any better. I really appreciate the research you did with the Twilight Mom's; getting insight to the mind of a future mother.

    I must leave you with this: Read o my friend, read on. Lot's of TMI moments on the way!

30. Great chapter review! Can I guess that you were spoilered about Bella's pregnancy? It seems kind of difficult to avoid finding out unless you're an internet recluse.
    Also, what IS that font you use? (the one you use to write “Let's Change the Subjet”). It's the same as your book's title, right? I love it!
    Also, Nicole Jet, your story made me laugh buckets (as Kaleb might say).

    Anyway, as for Breaking Dawn… I have this terrible habit when I read books that I don't digest anything, I just keep flipping pages. I didn't reflect on Edward's reaction, or really even Bella's pregnancy. And I think this is Edward's problem, too. He doesn't reflect on what he's learned. He doesn't digest the news and make a level-headed decision, he just bolts ahead with his first instinct, to protect Bella (and why wouldn't that be his first instinct? Clumsy Bella).

31. Have you ever seen the Aliens movies? Where the alien thingy grows inside the person and then bursts out through their body, killing the host in the process? That is the danger this pregnancy presents and is why Edward is so disgusted by the baby. Edward didn't think he and Bella could even have children and now that there is one it's a “monster,” so he can't really be blamed. This couldn't possibly be a typical pregnancy where the husband starts jumping up and down with joy.

32. To be totally honest, I can see where Edward's coming from here. Chalk it up to an overdose of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but in my mind, humans and supernatural creatures interbreeding generally spells bad news. And I concur on the “Alien” comment (but we'll get more into that in the later chapters).

    How far have you gotten in “Looking for Alaska”? There's a scene in that book that has given me some perspective on how awkward “Breaking Dawn” must be for you.

33. wow i was laughing so hard! this post was super funny and insightful 🙂 you are indeed an amazing writer kaleb! <333 to answer your question, Edward was being “cold” (no pun intended) towards bella. he should have talked to her! not freak out and plan his childs death! i know this is all fictional but still, in a real situation where there is something you need to discuss as a couple, you don't act on anything without consulting the other :/ especially something like this. poor bella was just left there wondering what's he doing, what's going on? should i be worried? what is he thinking? it was incredibly frustrating for me to see him do that to her. Anyway Thank you for an amazing post kaleb! i enjoyed it sooooooooooo much 🙂

34. Wow, I so F@#king love you right now for not saying that vampires can't possibly “create” offspring, now if only other people would understand that. Yeah, my reaction was exactly like yours, “WTF happened to the Edward I loved” but I understand that he finally had Bella and this “thing” could kill her.

35. Edward's reaction seemed totally out of character at first, at its core though it was typically Edward: he reacted with aggression to something that he saw as a threat to Bella's life. He was, as usual, instinctively protective of Bella without a thought for anything else.

    He probably should have stopped to think (or possibly ask) how Bella was dealing with this and what her thoughts were. But it didn't occur to him to do that, not because he was being insensitive, but because he couldn't conceive that she would have a different opinion then his own – he assumed that Bella would see this as a threat to her life as well.

    In his defence though, Bella didn't react very well to his bad reaction. Instead of talking to him about it she chose to hide how she felt from him. You can't blame a guy for not understanding how you feel when you deliberately conceal your feelings from him. He was an jerk, but so was she. Personally though, I liked that they didn't take it well – people rarely take life threatening/changing news very well at first. It was refreshing.

36. I can see where Edward is coming from. First off he was teriffed to even go that far with Bella in the first place, until she was less breakable. Now something that he thought was impossible has happened Bella is having a baby. He doesn't what it is, or what it could do to Bella. Edward act the way he always does when it comes to Bella safety. Hard head and stubbron. He acts the way he does because so many other people have said, he finally has Bella, they are about to start their life, and now there is a chance he can loose her again and this time It could cause her life.

37. Dang it. I always check at the wrong moments and then end up missing a post by minutes. Sigh.

    Honestly… I think the way Edward reacted was totally in character. I mean, being a frequenter on fanfiction, I hear a lot of criticisms about people being out of character (heck, I say it a lot myself), but the thing is… sometimes people act out of character. In real life, no one's going to say, “There's no way you just did that! That is so OOC!” I think Edward's reaction makes sense. It was out of character for his character, therefore in character, since everyone acts out of character to an extent. I'm going in circles here.

38. Unusually long comment from me – sorry!!

    I can see where Edward is coming from. Even in a normal human to human relationship, if a baby comes along that is unexpected – whether you be married or not – there is that element of shock and in my personal experience, and those of my friends, the male reaction can be less than desirable from the female perspective. After all, even if it is a shock, us girls do think about the possibility a lot more as its our bodies that carry the little blighters. And then when we finally tell the man, its after we've had a bit of time to suspect, think and absorb the news – so we're already used to it by the time we tell the man.

    Also, women have the extra connection – feeling the baby move and feeling the changes in your body even before that (even if that change is constant nausea). Men don't get that and therefore don't usually connect as well until after the baby is born, or at least when they can feel it kicking – then they can put the “baby I created” tag on it rather than “thing that makes my partner distracted, moody and sometimes sick”.

    Add to this scenario Edward's tendency to react illogically to things concerning Bella's safety and wellbeing – and you have a super-shocked vampire who immediately detests the thing that may destroy his true love.

    So whilst I may not condone or agree with Edward's reaction (all men should know exactly what women are thinking and how to react in these situations), I can see why he would react that way.

39. It's definitly the thought of losing Bella. He knows the damage a vampire can do, especially a child one. He cares about Bella's look on it, of course, but he probably didn't know she wanted to keep it. I'm guessing he thought she was terrified of being killed.

40. Like you, I was pretty angry and upset at Edward's reaction. I mean, his wife needs his support here, and he's being all cold and inconsiderate about it. I suppose I get the reasoning. He's upset because he didn't think it was possible for her to get pregnant, and he sees the baby as a threat, but still, he's so out of it that he doesn't even consider what Bella feels about the whole thing.

41. When you see yourself as a monster, you think so would be your offsprings. He doesn't believe that any good could be created from him. PLUS, as you mentioned, every threat for Bella is to be fought against. I think his reaction is in coherence with his character, Edward is not perfect at all and that makes him more interesting. I personnally understood his reaction and I'm glad he didn't want to play the happy father straight away. We're talking about a guy who lived forever (which may make him feel complete with him self, especially now he has Bella. I don't think he ever dreamed of having a child) and at the same time, he is trapped in a 17 year old body, he never had to deal with that before he's just freaking out, which I think it's a healthy reaction: having a child is something very serious, especially when it's made of venom 🙂

42. Edward has ALWAYS throughout the entire series been very overprotective of Bella, given her fragility. He is always so careful not to hurt her, and then…..Well, first she gets badly bruised during you know what. Edward feels bad enough about that, it's evident. And then….Pregnancy. As you stated, he sees it as HIS fault.

    I just don't think that Edward really grasps the concept of a baby in general. I mean, he was only 17 when he became a Vampire….It's not like he had time to really fall in love. Not to mention, in over 100 years, he hasn't had any real contact with babies or small children, just perhaps the usual passing by of a parent and child. But nothing really personal. He's been going to high school over and over, not babysitting at a daycare. And he never had any siblings while he was human. He's never experienced babies in the least!

    Also, Edward is a man. And, like many men, they don't feel the same way women do. As I heard it said, “A woman becomes a mother when she gets pregnant. A man becomes a father when he sees his baby.” Which could be true, at least in some cases. I'm thinking this is one of them. See, women have this thing, called “Maternal instincts”, which kick in probably a couple months into pregnancy. (But I don't have hands on experience in this matter.) As illustrated in the movie Juno, women worry about details such as baby room wall colors while men just try to get over the (slight) shock of “I'm going to be a daddy/father!”

    Edward, as always, just wants what's best for Bella. He doesn't really see Bella's child as his child. More like some plague or disease that he gave to her, and now must cure. But Bella sees it as a good thing (er, kind of….). It's HER baby. She knows that it's a living, breathing, …..er, thing. Because I don't know if anyone's really sure until it's finally born. While Bella may not have wanted kids, it's kind of like….Comparing an unintended pregnancy to an abortion. While Edward feels it would be better to get rid of the baby, Bella's motherly instincts have kicked in (literally), and, while she may not have wanted a child, she DEFINITELY doesn't want to kill whatever is inside of her. Even if it was a normal baby, and not Edward's, I'm sure Bella wouldn't choose any other fate than for it to remain her child. That's just the kind of person Bella is. Intended or not, she's got the kid now, and there's no way anybody'll be able to take it away!

43. Well being that most people didn't think vampires could reproduce at all. And that most human and vampire relationships don't really exist. I think at first his reaction makes sense. So he doesn't know what kind of uh “creature” he created. as bad as that sounds. He's not sure what sort of child a vampire and a human would create. So to he sees “demon child” I guess. I was going to put something but I was afraid it'd be a spoiler so I stopped. But the irriation you have with Edward will disappear as you read…I think.

44. Looking For Alaska is a beautiful book. I've just re-read it and I enjoyed is just as much as I did when I read it the first time.

45. Oh, he's justified in his reaction, trust me. I can't say more without spoiling things. The first time I read that scene I thought “WTF?” I was in shock that Edward could behave so abominably and considered putting the book down after that. Glad I didn't!
    So, you mentioned Once Dead Twice Shy. Did you happen to read the short story that introduces us to Madison? It's really good and has me counting down the days until May 26. Kim Harrison's adult books (the Rachel Morgan series) is awesome too- vampires, witches, werewolves oh my!
    Good luck on those finals. Nice that you get a week off to study for them. We used to, but we don't anymore.
    Cheers!
    Sabrina

46. An interesting post today Kabel. I'm probably not going to make much sense again – since I'm a little tired and it's hard to explain sometimes.

    I can see where he is coming from. To him, it's his duty to protect Bella from anything that could possibly hurt her. You made me realise a few things (like always) when I was reading your post. I thought about how Edward's mind works so much faster than Bella's. While he was in shock he was probably thinking about some many things. He was way ahead of us. While I was reading the books, I knew that his minds worked way faster but I didnt think about it deeply. It's hard to explain since I dont want to spoil you in the next few chapters. We see things from a human's point of view, so as I read I found that when I reached one of Edward's thought – he was way pass us and he had already thought about that first. You were correct on some things, but I wont exactly tell you since that would be considered spoiling you.

    I found it extremely funny when you wrote 'let's change the subject'.

    Also I can see how you get really awkward when reading about moments that are describing guys. I would be too if I were in your position.

47. Agreeing with many of the people above, I think his fear is justified. He has thought for so many years that it was impossible for vampires to have offspring. So now he either has to believe that “thing” is his, or fire all of the male workers on the island.

    On your chicken subject however, I have some words of wisdom. The reason the mint works is because the peppermint in it helps regulate digestion, not necessarily the taste of the mint (although that may help you).

48. I don't blame Meyer for creating this. I mean, I alredy hate how Edward's all perfect even though I love him! Everyone has errors. I think he' s just afraid. Without the suspense, there would never be a good book. But, you'll see what happens. This is a very gorgeous/beautiful book. I'm in the beggining of “The Host” now. It's a bit confusing..the fonts change. What dose that mean?

49. Honestly? Edward is um… distent thoughout most all of the book…

    Part of me thinks he's worried about bella and is being that becouse of it. Another part of me thinks he's being lame.

    Mich(elle) C, If I remember right the fonts change when there is a flashback…

50. He clearly doesn't get it. Pregnancy just isn't as real for guys until much later. But yeah, Stephanie wrote Bella just right. After giving birth to my first child I was very sad that I would never feel her move inside me again. It is just a wonderful experience that changes everything.