Another burst of inspiration that came about as I grew weary of everyone's defense of both Edward and Jacob in New Moon yet forgetting our true heroine. My beautiful Bella doesn't get enough defending some days, poor honey! This was published in TA's Talk Back section in May 2009.
New Moon: How About Team Bella?
Mention New Moon to any fan of the Twilight series and more often than not, you will get two scenarios - they will either tell you it is very painful because Edward left or they will tell you how much they love that Jacob finally got more time in the book. This is when readers start to choose camps; Team Edward, Team Jacob or Team Switzerland.
Readers will either skip the bulk of the book during each re-read because it was so hard not having Edward and the Cullens there or enjoy that same period so much because Jacob and the Quileutes were emphasized. Then you get the Team Switzerland camp, who will tell you that they cannot choose sides because both Edward and Jacob are important and for that reason they will read the whole book.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Edward and have complete faith in him. In that sense, you can say that I am Team Edward. Anyone who knows me will not hesitate to say that I am always keen to come to his defense. That is not to say that I hate Jacob though, since I believe he is essential to the flow of the series. I also love Bella and Edward’s love story and was ecstatic when I approached their reunion.
Having said that and despite knowing what happened later in New Moon and the series, on my second read, it still took me three days to get through the pages after Bella’s party because I knew Edward was about to leave. I felt the actual need to brace myself for the emotional turmoil that ensued. I personally feel that New Moon is a very sad and emotional book but even on my second read, I did not skip any pages. I forced myself to persevere and experience the book fully. If anyone skips so much of the middle, how can they truly empathize with Bella’s distress and how can they fully enjoy the progression of the story?
I have to wonder though if anyone else felt Bella’s agony. Did no one feel her immense fear when she thought Victoria and Laurent would hunt her down? Unlike in Twilight, she didn’t have the Cullens to come to her rescue anymore.
There was nothing I could do. There were no precautions I could take. There was no place I could hide.
There was no one who could help me. I realized, with a nauseous roll of my stomach, that the situation was worse than even that. Because all those facts applied to Charlie, too. My father, sleeping one room away from me, was just a hairsbreadth off the heart of the target that was centered on me. My scent would lead them here, whether I was here or not.
The tremors rocked me until my teeth chattered.
- Chapter 10, The Meadow
Did no one feel like crying with Bella when she quarreled with Jacob outside his house, the first time she saw him after he joined the pack? She was finally waking from her stupor (as best she could anyway) and then she loses her only lifeline.
I’d thought Jake had been healing the hole in me - or at least plugging it up, keeping it from hurting me so much. I’d been wrong. He’d just been carving out his own hole, so that I was now riddled through like Swiss cheese. I wondered why I didn’t crumble into pieces.
- Chapter 11, Cult
These lines really get to me each time! They are just so sad and full of anguish that I can’t even begin to imagine the pain if I ever have to be in her shoes.
So did anyone else feel for Bella at all?
So did anyone else feel for Bella at all?
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