Chapter 2 - Open Book
Chapter 2 continues developing this latently supernatural world by describing ordinary things that happen in day-to-day life juxtaposed with the abnormality of Edward’s absence for an entire week. Bella’s personal conflict, established in Chapter 1, becomes more of a firm resolve–both a curiosity and a self-assertion, that she’d (the galls to) confront him and ask why he hates her. She somehow believes that he’s gone because of her. It’s almost arrogant of her to think that, but she does–and hints of perhaps there’s something more between them are laid down in this chapter, the fact that he finds her curious, the electric shock that occurs when their hands first touch in Biology class, the way she reacts to him–not just his beauty, but also his awareness of her (the way she’d backed her car out of the parking lot at the end of the chapter).
We also find out how Bella’s mother is dependent on her in just a few email exchanges between mother and daughter. Renee’s emails sound almost childish, as if a sibling, asking Bella if she knew where she put her blouse–and threatening to call her father if she didn’t reply. When Bella tells her her blouse is at the dry cleaner’s, it becomes evident that Bella grew up having to take care of her mother. Perhaps this extra degree of obligation helps contribute to her admitted isolation from others her age. The parent-daughter role is apparently reversed in her case. (And, perhaps, this parent-daughter reversion is one of the contributing factors to why both moms and daughters and other women love this series. Of course, it’s the walk down memory lane developed through the book that captures the essence of it–more on that later.)
Bella’s life becomes normal (and boring?) right at the time when Edward re-appears. She’d finally gotten used to his absence, and the trip to the beach with her new friends at Fork might be the most exciting (yet Bella loathes excitement). It’s a happy feeling to have Bella be smart enough to be on Edward’s level for the cell lab in Biology; it’s a light duel of minds, and over something as normal as a cell lab (brings back memories about how many other things went on in your head back when you were trying to do lab in high school). It’s also amusing to get such a succinct flashback of your typical low-intelligence high school teacher, when her teacher reacts condescendingly to how Bella already knew the lab, “‘I guess it’s good you two are lab partners.’ He mumbled something else as he walked away.” Lovely that Bella is so immersed in avoiding Edward, that she wasn’t hurt by her teacher’s statement–she doodles.
Charlie’s view of the Cullens as a perfect role-model family seems convenient for a police chief to have, and after Bella’s repeated “paranoia” of Edward overhearing their conversation (and her surprise at how he got her name right the first time), you seriously begin to wonder if Meyer vampires possess special powers, as in other mythos. More on that, as the story unfolds!
Today’s discussion transcript is here!
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