These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things…err…Chapters

Like most Twi-Hards, I have reread the entire Twilight series so many times I have parts memorized. Some chapters stick out. Well, all of them stick out for one reason or another.

You have no idea how difficult it was for me to narrow it down to which chapters were my favorites. And I’m really sorry that none of the Breaking Dawn chapters made it in, because I adore Breaking Dawn, but …well, let’s talk.

Honorable Mention – Visions – Midnight Sun

This had to get a mention. It would definitely be vying for the top spot if Midnight Sun was published. This is the scene where Edward comes home to face the music after saving Bella from Tyler’s van and thus potentially endangering the rest of his family. One of my favorite things about Midnight Sun is that it shows how they all work as a family. The love and respect they have for each other, even as they protect their own interests, is apparent. Seeing Jasper’s reasoning behind wanting Bella dead is just a huge point for me given his acceptance later in the book. The look on his face when he realizes Edward will act to stop him if he acts against Bella. “I will. Not. Allow. It.”  GAH. And…of course, Edward having to be told that he’s falling in love with Bella…. Amazing.

Fifth Place – Invitations – Twilight

In the movie Edward has "mood swings" in the book it's a "personality disorder".

I know right? Weird chapter to pick. Here’s the thing. I’m a Bella fan. I love Bella and she doesn’t get enough credit for being amazing. This is the chapter where I fell in love with her. She’s obviously head over heels, much to her own dismay, for this Cullen kid. But she’s also pissed. He’s keeping secrets. He doesn’t trust her. Now he’s popping up everywhere acting all giddy and weird? So she calls him on it. “Do you have a multiple personality disorder?” On the other hand you have Edward who obviously (to us) can’t ignore her any longer now that he hears Mike Newton (and Eric Yorkie and Tyler Crowley) asking Bella out. He’s a little jealous, a little spastic and finally talking to her – albeit cryptically. I love it.

Fourth Place -  Mind Over Matter – Twilight

I know that everyone picks Confessions (the meadow scene), but I love the chapter right after it. Edward is conflicted in the meadow, but here he has accepted (for the time being) that Bella is his. He’s holding her hand as he drives and being honest. We get to hear about how the other Cullens joined the family. We get to see flustered Bella trying to hide the fact that there is a boy in the house, somewhere. And don’t get me started about Edward in her bed with all the nuzzling and caressing. It’s so sensual. I cannot take it.

Third Place – The Truth – New Moon

"I'm here and I love you. I have always loved you and I will always love you."

I think I’ve read New Moon from The Funeral to the end of the book more times than I’ve read Eclipse. It’s just so gorgeous. After Edward figures out that they’re both alive they don’t have time for a proper reunion, instead communicating their emotions by not letting each other go and through tiny caresses. However, this chapter, when Bella finally wakes up with Edward wrapped around her – safe in her bed – owns me. Bella is cautious (and hilarious). Edward is exasperated and just so contrite. He knows he’s messed up bad. For how in love they are and how beautiful their love is – Edward and Bella don’t really go all flowery with each other very often, so Edward’s monolog about ‘Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night,’ packs a heavy punch. On top of it, this chapter contains what has to be my favorite kiss. Edward whispering her name between kisses? Yes. Hungrily grasping at each others faces? Yes, God. Edward and Bella are back and stronger than ever.

Second Place – Compromise – Eclipse

In Twilight, we get to see the beginnings of what Edward and Bella can be. They spend New Moon apart, but in Eclipse they become a truly amazing couple. That’s never more apparent than in Compromise. Here we have two incredibly strong willed people duking it out over their mutual, but dangerous, passion for each other. In any relationship, compromise is a necessity. Edward has strong opinions about how far he can go with Bella and marriage before sex. Bella has strong opinions on her absolute trust for him, her want to be a vampire, and the one thing she wants before she’s turned. It’s a great give and take I think we could all learn from wrapped up with a bit of humor (Edward and Bella are so funny together, I adore them) and a lot of hotness.

First place – Fire and Ice – Eclipse

This scene should not be cut...if it's cut, heads will roll.

Hands. Down. No contest. This is the best chapter in the entire series. Jacob hasn’t been mentioned so far in this list. It’s not that I dislike Jacob. I enjoy the character very much. It’s just that his dynamic with Bella is not the same as Bella and Edward are together. However, in this scene (aka – the tent scene) you have the best of both worlds. It’s Jacob’s love for Bella. It’s Edward’s love for Bella. On top of it is just an outrageously funny situation – and why does Edward not get enough credit for this? I mean, people make him out to be a jealous asshole, but he’s sitting there, in cramped confines with Jacob – who, by the way, is FANTASIZING about kissing Bella (or worse) – while the dog has his arms around his girl – who, for those not keeping up, he desperately wants to steal away. This scene is hilarious because you have Edward gritting his teeth. “Please! Do you mind?!” Then you have this underlying current about how much he actually appreciates Jacob. Edward truly cannot hate anyone that loves and helps Bella. Sigh. It’s…perfect.

So – what are your top five?