Discussion questions for chapters 11-15 provided by: The Reading Housewives of Indiana

Monday’s Bite is a weekly meme hosted by GReads, Lisa the Nerd, Secret Life of an Avid Reader, and The Reading Housewives. It’s a reread of Twilight. Taking us all back to the time where we fell in love with the story…And definitely clearing up a few misconceptions I had about the fact of the book and the fiction the movie has clouded my mind with!

1. Do you think the name “Twilight” for this book is fitting with the story? Do you think a better name could have been chosen? What about the series and the names as a whole?

My first time around I didn’t notice this quote:

“”It’s twilight,” Edward murmured,…”It’s the safest time of day for us,” he said, answering the unspoken question in my eyes. “The easiest time. But also the saddest, in a way…the end of another day, the return of the night. Darkness is so predictable, don’t you think?” (232-233, Meyer, 2005 ed.)

I think I like that. The idea that the in between part of the day is the safest. The easiest time for the vampires to be a part of the human race. Dark enough to blend in and yet still a tinge of day left. I think that Bella and Edward’s love story is really the pursuit of finding a love that is safe, and easy, and joyous at the same time. Also, I think you could say that Bella spends the series in her own ‘twilight’ safe in the world of the vampires with the Cullens’ and yet on the cusp of having to leave her human life behind. Exciting and sad all at the same time…I guess I think the name is quite apt.


2. On this re-read, what’s your favorite part of the book? Is it the vampires, setting, plot, characters, Edward, or something else?

I’m enjoying seeing the original love between Edward and Bella. I’m constantly being surprised by how happy they really are for most of the book. The movies have cast this whole melancholy nature over their relationship. And as the books go on it does become more bittersweet and complicated. But, for this first book everything is generally lovey-dovey. It makes me a little sad that we lost that with the movie. 


3. Edward shows his stalkerish/controlling tendencies during these chapters for the first time (at least Bella is aware), did this bother you the first time you read Twilight? Does it bother you now that you’re re-reading it? Should Bella be more worried about it?

haha – I think the first time I read it I wasn’t too bothered by the fact that Edward watched her sleep, but this time around I noticed how freakishly easy Bella took the news. I mean, I have no problem with her readily accepting Edward as a vampire…but I’m kinda wishing she had a little more preservation instinct. I think I’m really sympathizing with Edward in this re-read…Even he wishes Bella was more wary of him!

4. Do you find yourself, during or after reading another paranormal/supernatural book, comparing it to Twilight? If you do, why do you think that is? Is it because it’s popular or because it’s just a book that makes an impact?

Sometimes I do. It was my first experience with insta-love and/or the idea of soul mates. So I guess I can’t help but compare my future insta-love reads with this one. Especially because I was so completely on-board with the idea my first time around with the book. I was all for insta-love after Twilight! It’s still my standard for judging how well other authors pull it off. Now, reading it again, that Meyer pulls off this idea convincingly without any type of explanation…no reincarnation, no curse, no prophesy, she manages to convey believable insta-love with nothing more than sexual tension and smoldering stares…And people say she can’t write, lol.

I just realized I didn’t actually address the question! I don’t compare it to other paranormals. I was more impressed with Meyer’s handling of the paranormal in The Host than Twilight. Don’t get me wrong, Twilight is a great paranormal read…I just tend to use it as an insta-love measuring stick rather than a paranormal one.

5. Bella is introduced to the Cullen Family in chapter 15, who is your favorite Cullen and why?

Alice! I love Alice, I’ve always wished she had more dialogue. But I guess that would push the plot along too fast…she’s bound to talk about the future a little too much. Carlisle is a close second though. I love the scene where his history is revealed.