Twilight Junkies Anonymous

Friday, June 10, 2011

EP Read Along Week 15 Chapters 42-44

Hi all. So how are we keeping up? I know my EP time is seriously lacking but it is my priority to follow these characters where ever they are headed... and I know where that is, but my lips are sealed ;) Okay let's get into the nitty gritty.

Chapter 42 Bella's POV
Carlisle starts this chapter off by scaring the bejesus out of Bella. He plans on taking here somewhere without revealing too much. Bella is jumpy and nervous, which aggravates Carlisle. Bella finds the courage to actually ask a question out loud about where they are headed and lo and behold it's the hospital for her birth control.
Bella finds out for certain Carlisle knows about her and Edward's relationship. He explains that Edward is snooping and it's not good for him. He tries to explain to Bella that Edward following in his footsteps is not a good thing, but he can't exactly openly talk about that to Edward, it goes against La Cosa Nostra's code.
Don't you just feel so bad for him? Carlisle signs his life over to those people they want their pound of flesh and then some by taking his son too.

Chapter 43 Edward's POV
Edward is at lunch worrying about why his dad wants to see him after school. His brothers and the girls try to soothe his fears.. well not so much Rosalie. We learn Emmett is a skilled hacker when Edward admits to their dad putting a GPS in Bella. They all have Edward and Bella's back when it comes to them possibly running in the future, Emmett even said "Well, if you decide to run, you come to me first. I got your back, you know that. I got my trust fund, if you need any money it’s yours. If you need someone to cover for you, you know I will. And I’ll see what I can do about killing the signal on the chip, because that shit’s not right." and Jaspers words of advice when Edward asks what he should do if Carlisle doesn't take news of their relationship well "Then you run like a motherfucker."
Edward goes straight to the hospital after school, where he can tell something is up with Bella. But ignores it so they can focus on her driving lesson. What did you think of it? Edward is a complete fool when it comes to teaching Bella how to drive, if that was my first driving experience I'd probably never want to get behind the wheel again.

Chapter 44 Bella's POV
After a disastrous driving experience; Bella and Edward do pizza and a movie with his brothers before they go upstairs to get 'wasted'. They play a little Nintendo, ahhh takes me back Super Mario, Duck Hunt I love those games. Edward pulls out a box with a picture of his mom and shows it to Bella. She is overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu. Falling asleep that night she has a dream of her past, being back in Phoenix and running into Elizabeth. Then remembering what Carlisle told her about his wife and him meeting Bella in the past cemented the dream as reality for her. What do you think, if she met Carlisle and Elizabeth could she have possibly met Edward too?

Important announcement for next week. Please read chapters 45, 46, 47, 48. Chapter 47 is Edward's point of view on spending Valentines day with Bella and why wait a week to see it from her in chapter 48?

Friday, June 3, 2011

EP Read Along Week 14 Chapters 39-41

We are progressing quite nicely aren't we? Without much blabbing from me, other than gloating that I got my copy of Fifty Shades of Grey today, let's get into these chapters.

Chapter 39 Edward's POV
The kids are done playing in the snow and have a nice family dinner. Edward is still flipping out over the secrets his father and Esme are keeping. But we are lucky and know a bit about what's going on from Carlisle's POV last chapter. [Side Note: Which made me bawl like a baby.] Esme basically admitted to Edward that he isn't being slick and that Carlisle knows, but they'll just keep ignoring the big pink elephant in the room.

After Carlisle leaves for work and the boys leave to drop off their girlfriends, Edward starts throwing a fit because Bella won't tell him what Rosalie got her as a gift. When he finally see's the gift, it leads to some major flirting and some nookie for the two.

The thing that stands out the most for me this chapter is when Bella says they don't need to think of themselves as Romeo and Juliet, Shrek and Fiona, or Jack and Rose but as Edward and Isabella to which Edward replies “I like that. And I’m sure there’s a happily ever after at the end of the story. I mean, fuck, we sure as shit deserve it, huh?” They sure as shit deserve it in my opinion and that's not even including all of the things they still haven't been through yet.

Chapter 40 Bella's POV
Alice and Rosalie come over to help Bella get ready for a New Years Eve party and from the girls we learn some of the not so nice things Edward has done to girls in the past, but they balanced out the negatives with something positive by giving tips on as Rosalie put it "...how to make that asshole feel good."

At the party Edward and Bella have a run in with Lauren. Bella is a bit tipsy from drinking and a bit high too, she goes off on Lauren calling her a whore and bitch in Italian, just some of the wonderful words Edward (and even Carlisle unknowingly) taught her. Then the two of them round third base for a second time.. what!?! If Edward can use baseball metaphors so can I lol. He says some sweet things to Bella while they are watching New Years Eve fireworks like "You are my life now." I swear sometimes that boy is so sweet it makes my teeth ache.

Chapter 41 Edward's POV
Edward and Bella have a discussion about his bad boy behavior in the past. Edward finally realizes that what he did to those girls was probably not fair to them, even though they were willingly participating he understands that it isn't okay. Edward also finds out about the GPS chip and the DNA samples Carlisle took from Bella. He confronts Carlisle over the phone about the GPS and the DNA testing, he is bound and determined to find out why Carlisle did these things. If you haven't made it all the way through yet, what are your theories?

See ya in the comments. (UAB Marie and HB Marie, I will be seeing you girls in just a few hours YAY!)

For next week read chapters 42-44.

Friday, May 27, 2011

EP Read Along Week 13 Chapters 36-38

EP Read Along Week 13, Chapters 36, 37, 38

Hi mia bella ragazza!

Welcome back and thank you to all those who are sticking with us as

we continue to dig into this long, yet wonderful story.

Chapter 36: Edward POV chapters are always my favorites. In this one Edward digs back and tells us some of his history. It’s Christmas and Edward tells us that after his mother died he just became this closed off person, creating walls to protect himself from any further hurt. And so until Bella came into his life, he never enjoyed Christmas or really allowed himself to enjoy anything that might remind him of how happy life was when his mother was alive.

We learn that his aunt Esme came to live with the Cullen boys after Elizabeth’s death. Carlisle couldn’t deal with his pain and feelings. He’s feeling guilty that he should have somehow been able to protect Elizabeth, and so, he too shuts down and leaves his children to deal with their hurt themselves. After some time passes, Esme is the one that pulls him out of his dark place, enough so he takes over parenting his boys. But Edward never really recovers from watching his mother get shot and killed, and not even his loving aunt can help heal his pain.

It’s Bella that starts Edward on the road to healing.

This is Bella’s first Christmas where she is able to be part of a family and Edward wants to help make it special for her. He takes her Christmas shopping, something he hates to do, but he wants Bella to experience the thrill of it. Because Edward is with her, Bella manages to get past the fear of being around crowds and ends up having a great time buying thoughtful presents for everyone.

Which ones did you like best? I’ve got my favorites, let’s hear yours...

There’s a part in this chapter that I think is where the title of the story is referenced. They are talking about the Civil War being of interest to Jasper. Bella surprises Edward at her knowledge of the Emancipation Proclamation. She tells him that all slaves know that Lincoln was supposed to have given freedom to all, and here they are still enslaved despite a war having been fought over it. It’s an Edward and Bella moment, when he sadly and profoundly tells her that he can’t save them all, but that he promises to save HER if it’s the last thing he does. Pretty sad, right?

Chapter 37: This chapter starts out explaining Bella’s POV and how she freaked out seeing Esme. She remembers Esme as being Jane’s sister in- law, and of course it puts her right back in the slave/master frame of mind. Until Esme tells her a story of when she was a child. The story is about how Carlisle throws a rock at “crazy Janie” to protect Esme. Alec is silently watching this (he was creepy even as a kid) and when Carlisle’s mother goes to punish him for throwing the rock, Alec speaks up and defends him saying that “...because he was only trying to protect his family...a person should never face punishment for protecting their own.” Well this proves to be something that Carlisle, Edward, and even Alec continue to live by. Esme also tells her something that Bella may need to hear at this point, seeing as she’s getting involved with a potential mafiaprince. The women of these made-men, understand they grew up in this life. They know they have flaws, they are violent and yet they love and accept them for who they are. And she let’s Bella know that she sees that Bella cares for Edward and that she too accepts him for who he is. Yeah, seems like their little secret isn’t so secret after all.

Esme’s nurturing and kindness helps Bella feel better, they go on to have a really nice Christmas. Opening up gifts. Did you pick Rosalie’s gift to be your favorite? Yeah, well I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of that gift yet!

Chapter 38: This chapter is a rare Carlisle POV. This is the chapter that convinced me that Carlisle wasn’t such a bad man. Esme and Carlisle watch out the window as “the kids” play in the snow, which by the way, is the first snow fall Bella has ever experienced.

Carlisle explains that he blames himself for Elizabeth’s death, not doing more to protect her. He also blames himself for not being able to help Edward deal with his emotional pain. They talk about knowing that Edward and Bella have fallen in love and how Carlisle thinks they are “idiots” to think that it will work out for them. Esme tries to explain how good it is for both of them, they are healing each other. Carlisle also admits he was wrong for being so cruel to Bella on the anniversary of Elizabeth’s death. He’s ashamed of himself and knows that his wife would be too. The theme of atonement and revenge are also discussed by Carlisle, he wants to make up for not being able to save Elizabeth and for all the bad he feels he’s caused others.

We get the history of how Elizabeth and Carlisle met Bella, and the attachment that was formed with this sweet meeting.

Elizabeth wanted to save everyone it seems, adopting Emmett after his mother abandoned him and then determined to save “bella bambina” after she meets the dirty little Bella. What is it about Bella that causes everyone she meets to fall in love with her? They all want to save her it seems. Even Carlisle wants to help her, granted at first it’s to atone for his wife, to try to do it for her. Have you changed your opinion of Carlisle? Or do you still hate him?

The part of this chapter I found most interesting is when Esme says Carlisle should tell Edward and Bella about who she is...and he says, “..how do you tell your child that his mother was murdered in front of him and he was nearly killed himself because of his girlfriend? How do you explain that he was broken, and was being pieced back together by the very same person who inadvertently caused him to shatter in the first place? How could I make my son see that it wasn’t Isabella’s fault, when part of myself still blamed her , and I was doing all I could to try to finish what she’d started...” See, Carlisle is trying to do right, but he’s still got that anger and wants revenge...he’s trying at least to get over it. He’s not sure that Edward will be able to look at Bella with the same eyes once he knows the truth.

What do you think? Will he? Is he just like his father? Or is he better than his father?

Esme has faith in Carlisle, that he’ll redeem himself, save Bella for Elizabeth’s and Edward’s sake. How about you? Think it will happen?

I hope you’ll tell me your thoughts, comments, or drop by and tell us what chapter you’re on.

Next week’s chapters will be 39, 40, 41...

Sempre,

Fran

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

SURPRISE!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Kassie!

Wow Kassie!

Can you believe that we have been bloggy buddies for a year now!

Do you remember your first "guest" post?

It was an awesome letter to Rob after our Oprah Eclipse experience!

After experiencing Rob alongside you and reading that letter,

I knew you HAD to become my bloggy bff!

Here we are, one year later

and it's your birthday!

In celebration of your birthday,

I got a few peeps together,

because your birth is definitely something to celebrate.

Let's start with some lovely messages for you
from some wonderful ladies.....

from Dangrdafne

Dangrdafne is away on vacation, but she wanted me to wish you a
Happy Birthday
and to let you know how happy she was
to meet you in NYC!