I really ended up liking the book and I was skeptical! I found it slow at first, easy to read but nothing really exciting but when the whole James hunting Bella thing happened it got interesting.

I really enjoyed Bella and Edward's banter between each other as well.

 

I am not sure if I know what you mean by expecting the reactions of the characters? I think early on it was pretty clear that Bella was not afraid of Edward or even of dying it seems, even though she maybe should have been so I wasnt surprised by her reactions. I think the author did a good job of setting up the characters so that the reactions werent really out of the ordinary for them. Maybe the only one that did surprise me was Alice because for some reason, until the hunters I had this feeling she was going to be a thorn in their side as well, but turned out not to be the case

Huh, that thought actually never crossed my mind, that he was technically an older man!

 

I checked out some of the info about the movie and now I wish I hadnt until I was all one because I did not picture them like that, especially Edward I dont think the guy playing him in the movie is near good looking enough .

I just hope the movie isn't a disaster like Queen of the Damned was.  That book was really good and the movie SUCKED.  The actors in Twilight don't mesh at ALL with how I pictured everyone in my head, especially not the guy playing Edward.