Suggestions for Next Read

We hope that everyone is enjoying My Brothers Voice! Don't forget that Diane will be creating a post to discuss it on September 2nd.

It is now time for us to select the next book that we will all begin reading on Monday, September 3rd. So please make a suggestion for a book that you would like to read next. If your book is selected, you will moderate the discussion and create a post on September 17th.

We are excited to hear what everyone suggests! However...you'll need to comment quickly with your selection because we would like to make a choice before the weekend in order to give everyone time to get the book!

Edward vs. Jacob

SPOILER ALERT! (If you haven’t read all 3 books, do not read on ahead!!)

Let me start off by staying that I really do like Jacob. I think that he is a great friend for Bella; I can tell that he really does love her, and he has saved her life more than once. I can also admit that Bella probably is attracted to him. He really does have a lot going for him. However…

I. Love. Edward.

I think that he is the better match for Bella and I’ll tell you why. First and most importantly, who can avoid the fact that Edward has waited 106 years for her?! How romantic is that? He really loves her more than any girl that he has ever met in 106 years! And we all know he could probably choose any girl he ever wanted because he perfect, but he chooses Bella who is perfect in every way to him. Which is funny, because Bella describes herself as plain and klutzy, but Edward sees her as much, much more. Her blood “sings” for him (Twilight ch. 13). He loves her so much that he would rather die than live in a world with out her. Yes, you can argue at this point, that he did leave her and her life was a mess for months, but he really only left her because he didn’t want to be the reason that she were ever hurt. And he’s back now so it doesn’t matter anymore anyway, right? He even wants to marry her and cares enough about her soul that he won’t even do anything with her until they are married (we need more young men like Edward in this day and age, if you ask me!). One of his best qualities that we learn about over and over is that he is so forgiving. He even forgave Bella for making out with Jacob and was willing to just wait around until he could have her if she chose Jacob.

Jacob teaches us about ‘imprinting’ and tells us that he has not imprinted yet. This is another reason that I know that Edward is better for Bella than Jacob. What if she did choose him? Will she end up like Leah and be left behind as soon as he did imprint on someone? I don’t think that Bella could take that after all she went through when Edward left. I really think that Edward and Bella are imprinted on each other and that is why she loves him so much more than Jacob.

So why do I think that Jacob is wrong for Bella? Besides that I think that he will probably imprint someone else down the road, he obviously doesn’t love Bella as much as Edward does. I do give him credit for sticking in there and fighting for her, but let’s compare him to how Edward reacts to Bella’s feelings for Jacob. Edward will wait because she is the one…Jacob will kiss her and call her ‘honey’ and show no respect for her love for Edward. I just think that he ruined things for himself in Eclipse and that he will need to find a way to just be Bella’s friend if he wants any relationship with her at all.

I really could go on and on as to why Edward is the winner in my book, but I think the blog would be way too long. But I would be interested in hearing why you think that Edward is or is not the best choice for Bella.

Jen

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Okay, I'm going to play the devil's advocate, but I will start out like Jen by saying that I do love Edward. I love Edward and Bella together, and I know that they HAVE to be together. They can't survive any other way. I think Edward is very entertaining, such a gentleman and a great boyfriend/fiance. But...I LOVE JACOB! Let me tell you why!

First of all, it really takes a lot for me to feel the love connection between two people. And for some reason, I haven't really been convinced of Edward and Bella. Yes, I do realize that I'm crazy and the only one who feels this way. :) I think that I feel like Bella...what does Edward really love about her? That he can't hear her thoughts? That her blood smells so divine? On Stephanie Meyer's website, she talks about how she has rewritten Twilight from Edward's point of view. Hearing Edward's thoughts may change my mind about the two of them.

On the other hand, I love Jacob and Bella's friendship. I can relate more to their relationship. It seems more realistic and solid. They have fun together, and I love that he is her "sun." I think he brings out a lot of good qualities in her...confidence, cheeriness, etc. Charlie even likes Bella better when she's with Jacob. I feel like we're seeing the REAL Bella when she's with Jacob. They fit better together because they are both real, flawed people. And he loves her so much that he would even take her damaged heart, which mostly belonged to someone else. I know that had Edward not come back, Jacob could have made Bella very happy.

In the last book, I didn't like the new Jacob, but that made the old Jacob even better for me! I couldn't wait for the moments that he and Bella were together again as friends. And I thought their kissing scene near the end was AWESOME!!!!! I was so happy that Bella finally saw how much she loved Jacob, and I loved the future that could have been theirs. Jennifer told me that she was thinking the whole time, "Bella, you idiot!" I was cheering Bella on. :)

The end of the book was heart-wrenching for me! When I think about Sam saying, "Come back when you can," I still feel like sobbing! I can completely feel Jacob's pain and I am so sad for him. I'm still holding out hope for Jacob and Bella. The only problem with that, is what if she chooses Jacob, and then he imprints with someone else? So, in the end, I know that Bella must stay with Edward. That is where she is the happiest. BUT, JACOB IS STILL NUMBER ONE in my book!

So, tell us what you think! What are your hopes for the next book? Will Bella ever become a vampire? Who do you choose for Bella?

Natalie

P.S. I think our poll is working again! Check the bottom of the page!

P.P.S. Or not. Sorry, it's kind of iffy!

My Brother's Voice

For our first book club selection, Diane has suggested "My Brother's Voice" by Stephen Nasser.

Diane said that this book is a short and easy read about a 14 year old Hungarian Jewish boy who survives in a work camp.

Let's give ourselves 2 weeks to get this book read and have it complete by September 2nd. On September 2nd, Diane will have a post up for our discussion of the book.

Welcome to the Book Club!

We each belong to book clubs in our own areas, but we thought it would be fun to be in a book club together with all of our friends from near and far! You might be wondering why we chose "Up in the Night" for our book club name. All of us are busy people with jobs, school, life and for some-kids, which makes it hard to read. But how many of us are usually up in the night trying to fit in a few pages of the books we love? We know we are! So we would love it if you would join our book club and stay "Up in the Night" with us!

We were thinking that each person could be in charge of choosing a book and moderating the discussion for that book. If you are currently in a book club, feel free to give suggestions for what has worked for you.

So help us get started! Leave a comment with a book suggestion and for those of you who are reading the Twilight series, take a minute to vote on our poll to the left.

Happy reading!
Love,
Natalie and Jen