TWILIGHT SAGA BOOK CLUB: MIND OVER MATTER, CHAPTER 14

TA Staff member Emily is back with chapter 14 of Twilight:

With their love for each other confirmed, Chapter Fourteen, “Mind Over Matter”, continues with Edward and Bella’s first date as she begins to learn more about Edward and his life. He answers her questions about his life and past as well as revealing his realization of his feelings for her. As the night comes to an end, the couple realizes that neither of them wants to ever be separated from each other.

Edward drives Bella back to Charlie’s house. At Bella’s request, Edward recounts the story of when he was born and how Carlisle changed him. He continues with how Esme joined the family shortly after as well as the stories of Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Alice. Edward also explains to Bella a little about Alice’s visions and how different his family is from other vampires.

They soon arrive back at Charlie’s house and Bella’s human nature makes itself noticed, her stomach growling loudly. Hesitantly, Bella asks Edward to stay with her and invites him into her home. To her surprise, Edward is quite familiar with her house and reveals that he has been visiting her nightly to watch her sleep. Before Bella could properly process this information, Charlie comes home, forcing Edward into hiding.

Bella quickly finishes her dinner and tries to convince Charlie that she is going to go to bed early. When she rushes upstairs, she finds Edward happily waiting for her on her bed. After a rushed shower and clean up, Bella returns to an ecstatic, charming Edward and they talk more.

Edward and Bella discuss how much control he has over his urges in order to be this close to Bella…how now that he has spent so much time with her, he feels that he is strong enough to continue to get even closer. He is thrilled by Bella’s confession of how well he is driving her crazy, surprised that he is “good” at being close to anyone other than his family. Despite their vastly different life experiences, both admit to being inexperienced in matters of love and share with each other how incredible and forceful the experience has been for them. With Edward by her side softly humming, Bella falls asleep.

Characters Involved:
Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Charlie Swan
Characters Mentioned:
Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, Emmet Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Alice Cullen, Jasper Hale, Mike Newton
Places Visited:
the Meadow, Bella’s truck, Charlie’s house

Significant events
Edward’s past as well as the history of the Cullens is revealed
Bella finds out about Edward’s nightly visits to Charlie’s house to watch her sleep
Edward and Bella spend more time together in Bella’s room

Memorable Quotes

Bella Swan: “Are you ever going to tell me how old you are?” pg 287

Edward Cullen: “Music in the fifties was good. Much better than the sixties, or the seventies, ugh! The eighties were bearable.” pg 286

Bella Swan: “There’s nothing like an unsolved mystery to keep you up at night.” pg 287

Edward Cullen: “I was born in Chicago in 1901.” Pg 287

Edward Cullen: “There’s a reason why we chose the Olympic Peninsula, one of the most sunless places in the world. It’s nice to be able to go outside in the day. You wouldn’t believe how tired you can get of nighttime in eighty-odd years.” pg 291

Edward Cullen: “I’ve never spent much time around anyone who eats food. I forget.” pg 292

Edward Cullen: “You’re interesting when you sleep. You talk.” pg 293

Edward Cullen: “You miss your mother. You worry about her. And when it rains, the sound makes you restless. You used to talk about home a lot, but it’s less often now. Once you said, ‘It’s too green.’ “Pg 294

Edward Cullen: “Don’t be self-conscious. If I could dream at all, it would be about you. And I’m not ashamed of it.” pg 294

Charlie Swan: “You look kinda keyed up.” Pg 296

Bella Swan: “Just give me a minute to restart my heart.” pg 297

Bella Swan: It was very difficult, while he was touching me, to frame a coherent question. Pg 299

Bella Swan: “It seems to be… much easier for you, now, to be close to me.” Pg 299

Edward Cullen: “Mind over matter.” pg 300

Edward Cullen: “I’m just pleasantly surprised. In the last hundred years or so, I never imagined anything like this. I didn’t believe I would ever find someone I wanted to be with…in another way than my brothers and sisters. And then to find, even though it’s all new to me, that I’m good at it…at being with you…” pg 300

Edward Cullen: “That suits me. Bring on the shackles – I’m your prisoner.”
pg 302

Edward Cullen: “Isn’t it supposed to be like this? The glory of first love, and all that.” pg 302

Edward Cullen: “And then, as you were sleeping, you said my name. You spoke so clearly, at first I thought you’d woken. But you rolled over restlessly and mumbled my name once more, and sighed. The feeling that coursed through me was unnerving, staggering. And I knew I couldn’t ignore you any longer.” pg 303

Edward Cullen: “I’m new at this; you’re resurrecting the human in me, and everything feels stronger because it’s fresh.” pg 304

Edward Cullen: “For almost ninety years I’ve walked among my kind, and yours…all the time thinking I was complete in myself, not realizing what I was seeking. And not find anything, because you weren’t alive yet.” Pg 304

Bella Swan: “It hardly seems fair. I haven’t had to wait at all. Why should I get off so easily?” pgs 304-305

Edward Cullen: “You’re right. I should make this harder for you, definitely. You only have to risk your life every second you spend with me, that’s surely not much. You only have to turn your back on nature, on humanity…what’s that worth?” pg 305

Edward Cullen: “Just because I’m resisting the wine doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the bouquet. You have a very floral smell, like lavender…or freesia. It’s mouthwatering.” pg 306

Bella Swan: “Yeah, it’s an off day when I don’t get somebody telling me how edible I smell.” pg 306

Edward Cullen: “But you see, just because we’ve been…dealt a certain hand…it doesn’t mean that we can’t choose to rise above – to conquer the boundaries of a destiny that none of us wanted. To try to retain whatever essential humanity we can.” pg 307

Bella Swan: “Let me get this straight — I’m the baby seal, right?” pg 308

Edward Cullen: “I may not be a human, but I am a man.” pg 311

Bella Swan: He laughed, and then began to hum that same, unfamiliar lullaby; the voice of an archangel, soft in my ear. Pg 311

Questions for consideration:

Is there something you noticed in this chapter that you’d like to discuss with the book club?

Did something or someone in this chapter catch you by surprise?

What do you think of Edward’s musical tastes?

What do you think about the rest of the Cullen family? Whose story do you want to know more about? Would you like to join the Cullen Family by becoming a vampire?

Do you think you would you feel embarrassed and flattered as Bella did when she found out about Edward’s nightly visits – or would you be disturbed by learning that he was there without your knowledge?

Do you agree with Edward and Bella about the differences in reading about emotions and actually experiencing them first hand?

What do you think of Edward’s theory of vampire evolution? Do you agree?

Bella asks Edward if marriage is the same for vampires as it is for humans. Were you surprised by Edward’s response?

Do you believe that this is the first experience of love for both Bella and Edward? Is this really love or simply a crush? Is there a difference?

What is your favorite quote from this chapter?

Did you see any particular symbolism or little detail you have never
noticed before while re-reading this Chapter?

Reply here or discuss it with us on the forum here.

Each Friday we will post a new chapter. Please read along with us and jump into the discussion. Add your thoughts, questions, insights, etc….We look forward to hearing from you.