Reading New Moon: Chapter 18 (The Funeral)

The song for this chapter is 9 Crimes by Damien Rice (suggested by Claire)

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For those of you who missed it, Stephenie was on Ellen yesterday for a short segment about her start as a writer and how she created the Twilight Saga. I of course was in the living room waiting at 3 PM, and the television made a dramatic shift from my roommate’s Grand Theft Auto game to me watching Ellen dancing in her studio . But the waiting was worth it because Stephenie did awesome.

When the previous chapter of New Moon ended, Jacob had showed up at the door, and Alice made her quick exit so as to avoid messy business in Bella’s house. Obviously, Jacob is not pleased to smell that a vampire has been in the house. His entire nature changes as he goes down the halls, smelling the place for his mortal enemies. Even though Bella seems to be angry, I think she is more of hurt: seeing her friend so enraged just because one of Bella’s other friends has been there.

Really, I think the entire book so far might be summed up in part of what was said in this chapter:

“Can’t I be friends with you both at the same time?” I asked. [...]

He shook his head slowly. “No, I don’t think you can.”

It’s a choice: whose side is Bella on? Vampires, or werewolves? Which friend does she value more: and does she really want to think about making that choice?

I was shocked when Carlisle called. Has it not been months of no communication between the Cullens and anyone they left behind in Forks? Why would he choose that moment to suddenly call, just to ask about the funeral?

I was soon set right. My reaction through the next 2 pages followed this pattern:

Jacob….um.

Carlisle….wha?

Alice….huh?

Edward….no!

as I slowly realized what was happening as the story took a dramatic shift in a totally different direction than my mind had been expecting it to go.

Bella sums up her character very well:

“I almost get myself killed on a daily basis!”

And as expected, Jacob gets into an argument with Alice the moment Bella leaves the room:

Alice: “The Volturi are the very essence of our kind [...] they are the substance of your nightmares, the dread behind your instincts. I’m not unaware of that.”

“And you take her to them like a bottle of wine for a party!” he shouted.

“Am not!” Alice shouted back. “I’m taking a bottle of something different, thank you very much!”

And then suddenly, with the realization of the danger that Edward is in, Bella and Alice are off to hunt him down. And not surprisingly, visiting a town with these near-legendary vampires called the Volturi, of whom I have heard a great amount of rumors, is perhaps the part of this book I am looking forward to the most.

——NOTES——

- I will be broadcasting on BlogTV again later this week or next week! Right now, I’m not sure if I’ll be sick this weekend or not, so subscribe and it’ll let you know if I get on.