BD Chapter 18. There Are No Words For This

This chapter may have the most perfect title of the entire series because it's just so true...

Key Plot Points from The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

•  Bella is semiconscious; her body jerks and twitches, there is a wild thrashing in her body, and sharp snaps and cracks
  Edward injects Bella with morphine; Rosalie uses a scalpel to cut Bella's skin; blood gushes out, and Rosalie's eyes glint with thirst; Jacob knocks Rosalie out the door, hitting her in the face and gut; Alice drags Rosalie away; Rosalie does not fight back
• Jacob performs CPR
• Edward uses his teeth to get to the baby; Jacob doesn't look away from Bell's face
  Bella sees the baby, Renesmee, then gasps; Edward snatches the baby away
• Jacob continues CPR as Bella's eyes roll back; her heart falters
  Edward injects a syringe of his venom into Bella's heart; he bites her in more places to force venom into her body
• Jacob sees there is no life in Bella -- she is a broken, bled-out corpse
  Bella's dead body has no draw for Jacob now, so he leaves; Jacob gave everything to save Bella, but she sacrificed herself to be torn apart by a monster
• Jacob hears Rosalie downstairs, cooing to the monster, feeding it blood
  Pain and hatred wash through Jacob -- the thing must be destroyed; Jacob can feel the pull tugging him toward the abomination
• Rosalie turns around and Jacob looks into the baby's eyes
  Everything that made Jacob what he was floats away and the universe swirls around only one point: Renesmee

I am just completely blown away by this chapter and the thought of watching it on the big screen. The pain of everyone involved is so palpable, it's amazing.

All the king's horses and all the king's men...
But there was nothing there, just me, just him.
Working over a corpse.
Because that's all that was left of the girl we both loved. This broken, bled-out, mangled corpse. We couldn't put Bella together again

Then of course the turn that caught me COMPLETELY off guard the first time I read the book...Jacob's first look at Renesmee. Did anyone else see that one coming? Jacob imprints on Renesmee?!?!?!? But of course the story doesn't end there...

From upstairs, there was a new sound. The only sound that could touch me in this endless instant.
A frantic pounding, a racing beat . . .
A changing heart.

BD Chapter 17. What do I Look Like? The Wizard of Oz?

What do I Look Like? The Wizard of Oz? You Need a Brain? You Need a Heart? Go Ahead. Take Mine. Take Everything I Have.

Key Plot Points from The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

• Jacob races away toward Seattle
  Jacob hope he can imprint on someone so he won't hurt over Bella anymore; he compares everyone to Bella; he goes back to be with her
• Edward tells Jacob they want to deliver the baby early -- tomorrow
• Edward asks Jacob, the true Alpha, to grant him permission to save Bella
  In anguish, Jacob consents
• Bella bends and there is a ripping sound followed by a shriek of pain

This chapter is absolutely heartbreaking as we watch Jacob try to force himself to find a relief from his pain by imprinting. Edward's gesture in giving him the car, the escape he needs, is quite gracious. But of course, Edward knows there is something he's going to have to ask Jacob for...permission to change Bella.

Jacob just has to keep giving and giving. He's losing Bella now. At this part in the story I was pretty darn convinced that Jacob was going to end up with Leah. She's become someone different away from the constant pain of Sam's presence.

BD Chapter 16. Too-Much-Information Alert

This chapter is being discussed by the wonderful Krista Richmond. Here you go!

So – things are getting serious. There is an almost ominous tone to this chapter that certainly foreshadows the next two to come. But that is balanced by what I think is one of the sweetest moments in the saga. Without further ado …

Key Plot Points from The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

• Jacob’s Pack is still protecting the Cullen’s land
  Jacob congratulates Leah on being less annoying than Paul; Leah thinks Jacob makes a good Alpha; Jacob teaches Leah how to better enjoy eating as a wolf 
• All the Cullens go hunting except Edward and Rosalie 
• Edward hears the baby’s thoughts: The baby is happy and adores Bella
  Jacob now sees Bella and Edward as a happy little family; he feels alone and in pain 
• Edward hears Jacob’s pain and gives Jacob the car keys and tells him to get away 

The juxtaposition of Jacob’s pain and Edward’s elation makes this – I think – one of the most interesting chapters in this book. There have, of course, been other instances of this stark contrast – the end of Eclipse, for example – but what makes this different is the permanence of the situation. Bella is having a child (very soon) with Edward, and Jacob finally understands that not going to change her mind to be with him. Yes, she’s chosen Edward over Jacob at several points throughout the saga, but now there is another – very tiny – person involved. Jacob sees that their family bond cannot be broken. Amber can attest that I am most definitely Team Edward, but I can’t help but feel for Jacob here. The writing is very obviously on the wall for him, and it always hurts when you’re the one not chosen. And kudos to Edward for recognizing that and offering him an out. They’ve developed such a strange sort of truce during Bella's pregnancy, and it’s nice to see Edward have some compassion for Jacob’s situation.

Bonding itself seems to be an important theme in this chapter. Two important bonds are formed that will shape the rest of the story. First, Jacob and Leah come to an understanding and even compliment each other. It’s also interesting that one of the most graphic descriptions of “hunting” doesn’t involve vampires, but rather wolves. I think Jacob truly accepts his role as a leader when he helps Leah get through her meal.

But perhaps the most significant bonding in this chapter is between daddy and (soon-to-be) daughter. This is one of the scenes I’m looking forward to most in the movie – Edward’s awestruck fascination when he “hears” his child. He now (finally) starts to see their child as a blessing rather than a curse, and his cautious optimism makes me smile.

This chapter does a good job of setting up what’s to come. What do you think?