Outside Reading #5

In the novel, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer there is no end to the struggles Bella and Edward must face to be together even during it's final pages. Near the end, James, a vampire who enjoys the hunt, is chasing Bella, thirsting for her blood. The Cullens do everything in their power to keep the girl safe, even seperating the two lovers and flying to Pheonix. Of course, this seperation is extremely difficult for the couple, but necessary, "He set me down, still holding my face, his glorious eyes burning into mine. His eyes went blank, curiously dead, as he turned away," (Meyer 403). Edward loses a part of himself when he leaves Bella, but he must leave her to kill James to protect Bella. Poor Edward is torn, but he understands why he and Bella must seperate, and so he leaves her. Despite their efforts, James succeeds in black mailing Bella into coming straight to him; If she doesn't come he'll kill her mother. So Bella has no choice, and follows the vampire's instructions exactly so as not to alert the Cullens. In the end, James bites Bella, and she is left to writhe in agony and become a vampire (if she doesn't die first), with no one to help her. But then the Cullens suddenly arrive, Emmett and Edward kill James, and then Edward makes a dangerous decision; he decides to suck out the poison from James's bite, but that involves drinking Bella's blood, and if he losses control, he could accidentally kill the girl he loves, "I watched his eyes as the doubt was suddenly replaced with a blazing determination...Then his head bent over it, and his cold lips pressed against my skin...Then slowly my writhing calmed as my hand grew more and more numb," (Meyer 455-6). Edward loved Bella so much, and wanted to take away her pain so badly, that he sucked out the venom and calmed Bella, without losing control at all.

This book is slightly similar to, "The 400 Blows." Both Antoine and Bella rebel against their families and friends. But, the two are different because when Antoine rebels against his family and friends he tends to get punished; there are negative side-effects. For example, when he steals the typewriter to sell and get some extra money, he's caught and thrown in jail. But when Bella rebels against her friends and family there are usually positive effects. For example, when Bella doesn't tell her father that she's going hiking one afternoon with Edward, the couple finally define their relationship and express their feelings for one another. This leads to the couple falling in love and being happy.

Outside Reading #4

The novel, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer gives us insight into what the positive and negative effects of rebellion are through Bella and Edward's relationship. Edward rebells countless times against his family to be with Bella. For example, when Edward decides to sit with Bella at lunch instead of the rest of his "family," Bella looks over at Rosalie, and she's not happy, "Suddenly Rosalie, his blond and breathtaking sister, turned to look at me. No, not to look-- to glare, with dark, cold eyes," (Meyer 245). Obviously Rosalie and the rest of Edward's family don't support Edward in loving Bella. It's hard for them to understand because Edward is a vampire and Bella is a human, their family is like a group of vegetarian vampires, and Edward is choosing to put temptation in his path. This is a negative effect of rebellion; Edward chose Bella over his family's respect.

However, there are also many positive effects of rebellion. The most obvious being Edward and Bella falling in love. When Bella and Edward finally decide to be together no matter the dangers, they are smitten with each other, " 'I love you,' I whispered. 'You are my life know,' he answered simply," (Meyer 314). The couple love each other so much, and they never would have been together if they hadn't rebelled against their families and friends. Rebellion isn't necessarily bad, it depends on the situation. Rebellion is two sided; it can have positive and negative effects on people.

Outside Reading #3

In my opinion major events and important choices can define the moment from childhood to adulthood, and there are many of these examples in my outside reading book, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. This novel is about a girl (Bella) who falls in love with a vampire (Edward), and how she reacts towards the dangers that come with loving a vampire. Since the decisions Bella makes could determine whether she lives or dies, these decisions are definitly big enough to determine her growth into adulthood. For example, when Edward and Bella visit a meadow together to finally talk and define their relationship, Edward shows Bella what he is capable of doing to her, "He reached up with one hand and...effortlessly ripped a two-foot-thick branch from the trunk of a spruce...'As if you could fight me off,' " (Meyer 264). Edward is trying to make Bella realize how dangerous it would be for them to be together; how dangerous it would be for her. But although Bella is suddenly frightened, she's more awed then scared, "I sat without moving, more frightened of him than I had ever been...He'd never been less human...or more beautiful," (Meyer 264). In my opinion, this isn't an example of naivety but of an awesome trust and understanding that Bella is capable of, which is very mature. Bella has to make many very important decisions about life, and that in itself, shows maturity.

"Twilight" relates to the novel "Black Boy" by Richard Wright, in that both Bella and Richard make decisions for themselves to "achieve" their passions. "Twilight" is all about how Bella defies her parents (in not telling them she's dating a vampire" because she knows that she and Edward are meant for eachothoer, even through all the struggles she must endure for the couple to finally be together. Also, in "Black Boy" Richard defies his parents in leaving his home in Alabama for Memphis because he knows he must start heading north if he ever wants to become a writer. Bella and Richard both break rules and defiy their families in chasing their dreams, which in my opinion shows wisdom.

Outside Reading #2

In the novel, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer, the two main characters, Bella and Edward, have to overcome many different obstacles in order to be together. For one, Jacob Black and his father are determined to keep the two lovers apart. On one occasion, Jacob is bribed by his father to go to the prom, and give Bella a message, "...he wants you to break up with your boyfriend," (Meyer 492). Jacob and his father are mysterious, and Bella can't figure out why they are so determined to keep her from Edward. But Bella loves Edward so much that she doesn't pay any attention to the Blacks' words.

Another obstacle is that of Rosalie. Rosalie is one of Edward's adoptive "sisters," and she is extremely jealous of Bella. She struggles with being a vampire and wishes she were human. To hide her feelings, she acts mean and resentful towards Bella, "What is she to me? Except a menace..." (Meyer 401). Even with Rosalie's uncomfortable manner and spite towards the couple, Edward and Bella never waver in their deep love for one another.

Finally, Bella has to deal with her many admirers, especially Mike. His attraction for Bella is obvious, and he is extremely jealous of Edward. He even tells Bella he doesn't approve;
"You and Cullen, huh?" he asked, his tone rebellious...
That's none of your business, Mike," I warned...
"I don't like it," he muttered anyway.
"You don't have to," I snapped. (Meyer 221)
Even with Mike's constant nagging and disaproval, Bella and Edward don't let it affect them, and continue loving eachother no matter what anyone thinks. Bella and Edward have to overcome many obstacles to be together, but they wouldn't have it any other way. Having to overcome these obstacles strengthens their love for one another.

Why do people write memoirs?

I think people write memoirs for historical porposses and for phsycological well-being. Historically, memoirs are a way of preserving the past. Future generations can use them as pretty much a primary source explaining different events. Memoirs are also much more useful than history text-books, because they provide information not found anywhere else. They explain people's feelings and they paint a pictures of events. Furthermore, since the author is telling his own story there is passion. The memoir will be bursting with powerful images and words from the author, that can help people understand what it was like to be the author in a certain event.
A memoir can also provide for a person's phsycological well-being. It can be cleansing and healing to write about events in one's life, especially it they were hard times. Writing about those tough times can help a person come to terms with their feelings in the healing process. Also, writing a memoir can relieve frustration or anger. Writing could help a person think clearer about a situation than when they were extremely mad.
There is so much power in telling our own stories, power that can provide historical references, and power to provide for a phsycologically-well person.