Mondays Bite (13)…Ch 22 – End

The Twilight ReRead Continues 

Welcome back to my humble abode for chapters 22 to the End of Eclipse. Look to Bookgoonie for more Eclipse answers. Check back here later for the first set of Breaking Dawn Questions. If you don’t have a blog you can comment through Twitter with #mondaybites.

Without further ado…The Questions…

1.  Edward owes Jacob, because of his ability to warm up the freezing Bella. Are you space heater like Jacob or are you the constant cold like Edward?

Oh my gosh, constantly cold!!! Total Edward. Especially when I get tired. I know, it’s kind of odd but the more exhausted I get the colder I start to feel.

Luckily my hubby is a Jacob. I admit to using him as a space heater! Bless the man, he doesn’t complain about my freezing feet cozying up to his as much as he could! lol

2. Bella kisses Jacob in a way that makes him believe she is his. Kind of cheating on Edward. Would you lie and/or cheat to protect someone you loved? Do you think Jacob really bought it?

Let me answer this question backwards. I think Jacob bought it because they do have a connection. If Bella didn’t know what it was like to be with/kiss Edward I think she’d be head over heels for Jacob. You better believe that Bella and Jacob had some heat in that kiss…it’s just not to the level of Edward. And Jacob hasn’t imprinted yet so I think he thinks what he has with Bella is as intense as it gets.

I 100 percent would lie or cheat to protect someone I loved. Wouldn’t we all? Don’t we tell little white lies on a regular basis just to protect the feelings of those we love? It would be a whole lot easier to lie for someone I loved than pick up a broad sword (sorry just can’t help but compare this Q to our Waterfall discussions…too many questions on Wednesday focus on what we would or would not do to protect!).

3. Bella connected with the 3rd wife in the Old Stories. And she unnecessarily stabs herself to distract Victoria and help Edward and Seth. Could you/Would you sacrifice yourself for your husband? 

Haha, I love that you added ‘unnecessarily’ to the question. I think that in the moment Bella thought it was necessary. And I suppose it did provide a distraction of sorts. I think we as women are hardwired to jump in front of the bus for the ones we love. It’s always easier to be the one who sacrifices rather than the one who has to watch the pain.

4. Bella says that she sees all the damage that she has done to both Jacob and Edward. She feels like she strung Jacob along. Do you feel she did and/or do you think Jacob felt that way? 

I don’t blame Jacob as much in this situation. I’ve always, from book 1 blamed Bella for leading Jacob on. She takes it too far with him. Maybe it’s an immaturity, her using sexuality to keep Jacob around rather than a solid friendship. I agree that Bella needs a Jacob in her life. A true friend to give her an outside perspective. But she shouldn’t have used Jacobs attraction to her to keep him around. I think she used it because she was scared that if Jacob knew he didn’t have a chance he’d leave her as a friend.

I guess at the end of Eclipse and the beginning of Breaking Dawn we do find that he leaves Bella because of her choices. I wonder if he would have left had they just been friends the whole time? But then where would that love triangle tension be the strung the reader along? I suppose we wouldn’t enjoy fiction as much if characters always made the right choices. Who wants to read about that life?! lol

5. In Bella’s hindsight, she says she was trying to reconcile the 2 parts of her Jacob’s Bella and Edward’s Bella. Can you identify those different parts of her? And do you have 2 separate halves? 

I think that Jacob pushed Bella while Edward protected her. In a lot of ways she grew more with Jacob than with Edward. Though, the relationship with Edward is far more mature…one that seems as though it could last through infinity.

We all have multiple personalities. And we all have friends and loves in our lives that bring out those different sides. People we turn to for a laugh and a good time, People whose shoulders we cry on, People who inspire, and unfortunately People who bring us down.

It’s just occurring to me that maybe this is Bella’s biggest mistake…believing that she can be everything to one person. That’s impossible. That’s why she’s always needed Jacob in her life, Alice too for that matter. If she could accept that she needs more than just Edward in her life she’d probably be a lot happier…And more ready to have a friendship with Jacob.

Breaking Dawn Questions to Come!

They are currently under construction, lol

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Mondays Bite (12)…Discussion Questions Ch. 15-21

The Twilight ReRead Continues 

Welcome back to my humble abode for chapters 15-21 of Eclipse. Look to Bookgoonie to link up your Eclipse answers as well as get the next Eclipse questions. If you don’t have a blog you can comment through Twitter with #mondaybites.

Without further ado…The Questions…

1. Guy Friends. Bella wants Jacob to just be friends. Jacob will settle for friends while he launches Operation Win Bella’s Heart. Can girls have true boy friends? That aren’t gay and aren’t secretly open to “friends with benefits.”

Hahahahahahaha, Hmm…this is actually a good one. I would say that Meyer makes Jacob just a friend in the next book, but she doesn’t actually accomplish that without the help of a magical imprinting plot point. I think that there is a lower level of this out there than one you are suggesting. The problem with it all is that men and women are hardwired to flirt…or to size each other up as potential mates. Even if we already have a mate for life. I just think that between two heterosexual men and women there is always going to be an undercurrent of something. BUT I would also say that with most of my guy friends it’s so slight as to go unnoticed.

2. Friends. Jessica gets all bubbly gooey about staying friends with Bella when they go off to college. Have you stayed close to your high school friends after graduation?

Yes! My friends from high school are among my closest friends to this day. RachelKiwi, my book club of two companion is from high school, and my BFF Alex was my maid of honor and I’m hers also a high school friendship, I’m running a half marathon with a life-long friend in January, and I just had a marathon phone conversation with another high school bestie this weekend. I couldn’t function without these women…even though we’re now scattered all across the country.

But enough about me, time to size up Bella’s friendships. Let’s be honest. Jessica is not sticking around for the long haul. Edward has read her mind far too many times to think that the sentimental graduation time period is going to have any lasting effect on that personality. Bella has chosen the vampires instead…and I’m going to wager that they’re going to be high school buddies again, and again, and again, and again, lol.

3. Fathers. Charlie. He laughs about lessons he should have taught Bella, like how to throw a punch. What are some of the lessons your dad taught you? If not, any self-defense lessons? Or lessons you think Charlie should have taught Bella?

I have no self-defense training. None, so please no one find me in a dark alley some night…I’m totally a goner.

My dad has left me with the same piece of advice since kindergarten. Even to this day he says it, slightly modified.

“Listen to the Teacher“

I’m pretty sure looking back with my adult 20/20 vision this comment originated in the fact that I was one of those kids who didn’t always pay attention. I was queen of LaLa Land. Teachers had to send notes home saying things like

“Please don’t let Sara wear jewelry to school“

Yep, between focusing on a teacher and a small shiny object the teacher didn’t stand a chance! lol. Obviously, I’ve conquered my attention problem. I’ve successfully made it through grade school, college, and a masters degree…and done so with flying colors. I don’t want to list those GPAs…no need for people to be more jealous of this uber-cool Librarian 😉 haha…

But, back to my Dad…Over the years I’ve pared down the advice to mean “listen”. So much of our time is spent talking, or thinking about what we’re going to say/do/type next…rarely do we focus that energy on really ‘hearing’ other people and absorbing that information. While it is as always a daily battle to stop playing with my jewelry (yes! even during both my Yoga Teacher and Librarian training I always get…”stop fidgeting with your jewelry“…it’s turned into a nervous habit! lol) I also make it a point to listen to those around me…anyone can be a teacher…

4. Dog kisses. Jacob gives Bella a big old dog lick. Do you love dog kisses?

I get dog baths! My little white fluffy dog will lick just about any piece of skin she’s closest to. And apparently if a human isn’t quite close enough she’s been known to lick things like blankets and even our couch! Let’s just say that at this point I’d be A. Ok. with a cute little doggie kiss to two. My dog is just not refined enough for that. Too close to the face and she’ll try to lick your teeth!

5. Mementos. Jacob gives Bella a wolf and Edward a diamond heart. Both equally representative of themselves. What kind of charm would represent your love? Also, Edward gives Bella his mother’s ring. He jokes that if she doesn’t like hand-me-downs he would get her something from Tiffany’s. Which would you prefer?

Let me start with the jewelry question. I have a few heirloom pieces, one ring in particular from my great-grandmother. I love wearing it because it reminds me of her. In the case of an engagement ring, I have to admit, I’m a new ring kinda gal. I love the sentiment behind an heirloom, but I’ve always thought that an engagement ring would me my own. Something to hand down myself. Not, perhaps to serve its original purpose, but as a reminder of me the same way I feel about my great grandmother’s ring.

Hmm, I think I’m skipping a charm all together. First off the hubby really doesn’t wear jewelry. Second, the things that I’d give someone to remind them of me wouldn’t really work well as a charm. I’m going to go with a tattoo. For my husband I’d put “My Love” somewhere on him. I guess it’s the same as the charm bracelet for Bella…a way to mark my territory! lol.

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Mondays Bite (11)…Discussion Questions Ch. 8-14

The Twilight ReRead Continues 

Welcome back to my humble abode for chapters 8-14 of Eclipse. Look to Bookgoonie to link up your Eclipse answers as well as get the next Eclipse questions. If you don’t have a blog you can comment through Twitter with #mondaybites.

Without further ado…The Questions…

1. Imprinting. The idea of love at first sight is beautiful. Then Meyers kind of throws us a curve ball with Quill’s story. What are your thoughts on that, especially when we already know what’s coming? And can you already feel Jacob’s disappointment?

I always thought Imprinting on a young child was odd. I get the idea behind it. The beauty of always having someone giving you just what you need at the time. But I have the following problems with it:

1. I can’t separate the idea of “Imprinting” from a relationship with a sexual nature. I get that Quill is still in the playtime phase with his chosen but it still freaks me out…Quill knows that someday she’ll be in an adult relationship with him, and she’s just too young!
2. It just doesn’t seem fair that these girls who imprint young will never have a life outside of that relationship. Even Bella had some teen years away from Edward, and those few months of considering Jacob. It just all feels so limiting for these children.
3. I know this is skipping ahead to Jacob, Reneseme, Edward, and Bella…But I’m going to say that Quill’s situation is much the same. Imprinting so young means that the parents lose that little girl so early. No dreams of various futures…no being the center of your child’s world. That time is so short as it is! And if you have a wolf-man being your child’s everything…where do the parents fit in?…

2. Charlie is Jacob’s advocate. If he knew about werewolves and vampires, which guy do you think he would pick and why?

I think Charlie would still go with Jacob. Jacob is just a guys guy. We all know that with Jacob Bella would have had a more “normal” life. She would have stayed mortal, had lots of little mortal babies, and (most importantly) married the son of his best friend. It would be hard not to wish for that as a parent…kind of the perfect coupling.

What’s funny is that, besides the whole mortal/immortal differentiation. Both Edward and Jacob are “protectors”. They’re hardwired to want to protect and save those they care about. Charlie too, as a cop, is a human “protector”. I don’t think he’d have too much trouble letting his daughter into either guys hands if he knew about their extra skills.

3. Marriage. Bella lets Edward know why she doesn’t want to get married. What do you associate with getting married young? Do you agree or disagree with Bella?

I associate really small engagement rings with getting married young. There I said it, I’m a seriously shallow person…put it on my grave stone, lol.

In all honesty, I’ve dated my husband since the age of 16. We didn’t get married until almost 10 years later. I had friends meet and marry their husbands years before we even became engaged. My view is probably somewhere between Edward and Bella’s. I knew that my husband was “the one” from a very young age. But I wanted to wait until we were older to take the marriage step.Like Bella I didn’t need a ring to feel committed to my husband, but like Edward I wanted the tradition and the ceremony of declaring our love in front of our friends and family.

Plus, in reality being married gives you a slew of additional benefits from the government and society. I guess I would also say that I would feel uncomfortable about having kids outside of a marriage…even with the love of my life. Though, Edward and Bella don’t think that babies are ever going to be an option for them, I don’t think Meyer was comfortable with sex or babies before marriage.

There…longest answer ever!

4. Bella let’s us know a little about why she wants it to be Edward to do the deed and turn her. Is her turning into a vampire like losing her virginity or is it like the ultimate marriage vow to her? Or something else?

I think it’s the ultimate marriage vow…for sure. Its more serious than wanting your first time to be special. This is an Only-Time situation and I think it’s Bella’s substitution for marriage. Her way of becoming one with Edward.

5. Stories & History. Bella loved listening to the Quileute’s old stories. Do you have any of your old stories or histories you would like to share? Because it is a reread, we know who is behind the army of newborns and their purpose. We also hear Jasper’s story and how his military experience helped to control them. To what purpose would raise an army of newborns for? And what military commander would you use to lead them?

Hmm, my family isn’t really a story-telling bunch. Wait…now that I say that…This isn’t serious legend or anything, but a family tall tale:

My dad tells this story about having a pet duck named Oscar who laid an egg for him a day and my grandmother would cook said egg every morning. Oscar and my dad had many tales including duck field trips in a little red wagon, and those of Oscar defending the yard by biting at everyone’s feet with his beak. From childhood legend to adult hilarity these tales have served the family well.

P.S. Oscar really existed! We have photographic evidence 😉

Well, you aren’t raising an Army of Newborns unless you’re planning to fight. And I’m totally having Alice and Jasper tag-team that leader position. Between her ability to see the future and Jasper’s experience with training…They’d be unstoppable. Lets just hope they stay moral and don’t try to take over the world or anything, lol.

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