Goodreads | Eclipse (Twilight Series, Book 3)

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Breaking Dawn	3	1 day ago, 05:54PM
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Saya rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

01/27/08

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: Only read for the sake of the very few important things that manage to happen

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Eclipse took what magic was in Twilight and survived the boring but interesting New Moon and killed it off with it's length, lack of imagery, inconsistencies, and lifeless characters.

The high school romance theme is COMPLETELY abandoned- we have the occasional, random scene since we need some build up to Bella's very boring graduation where she doesn't care. I think the high school theme is one of the reasons Twilight was such a success, the reader was really in B...more

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Summer rated it:

02/16/08

Read in December, 2007

recommended to Summer by: practically every woman I know

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Sparked by a recent conversation with my friend Hillary, I have decided I need to post my thoughts about a certain series of novels written by Stephenie Meyer. Particularly the relationship between one, Bella, and the object of her affection. The supposedly uber hot vampire, Edward.

Believe me when I say Edward has been well cast in the movie which is scheduled for release in December of this year. I thought Robert Pattinson was exceedingly good looking when I first saw him in Harry Potter (a...more

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Lucy rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

12/18/07

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: No one

I'm tempted to write a review for each of the Twilight books, but I really don't want to put myself through it. So this should do for all three books.

I understand the love for this trilogy. An unabashedly perfect, stunning, 'dazzling' hero who falls in love with an 'ordinary' girl; what teenage female wouldn't want to be in that situation?

Thing is, Edward is far from perfect, dazzling and certainly doesn't have a patch on Heathcliff - or even Michaelangelo's David, come to that. And Bel...more I'm tempted to write a review for each of the Twilight books, but I really don't want to put myself through it. So this should do for all three books.

I understand the love for this trilogy. An unabashedly perfect, stunning, 'dazzling' hero who falls in love with an 'ordinary' girl; what teenage female wouldn't want to be in that situation?

Thing is, Edward is far from perfect, dazzling and certainly doesn't have a patch on Heathcliff - or even Michaelangelo's David, come to that. And Bella is nothing like an 'ordinary' girl. What ordinary girl, when faced with her boyfriend hacking someone to pieces and burning the remains, would be completely calm - worried about her boyfriend's perfect face, in fact? What ordinary girl would accept that the two points in her love triangle are actually a werewolf and a vampire? Of course, Meyer wants us to suspend disbelief and enjoy the books as a fantasy; but the characters, the writing and the setting don't allow it.

Edward is far too perfect to go unremarked for so long, even in such a small town. As are his 'family', each of whom is utterly gorgeous physically and generally nice in character. How could such a family simply hide and be unremarked so easily? Why haven't any of them been noticed? Why is Edward living in a tiny town in the US when he has an entire world to explore; surely there are many more interesting places.

In the first book, I almost sympathised with Bella. She was in a new town, scared, miserable, but clearly strong enough to take a big step like leaving her mother's home permanently and moving to live with her father. I felt slightly sorry for her, and was glad when Edward finally stopped being nasty and patronising to her. I even smiled when Edward suggested Bella tell Charlie that Edward was her boyfriend.

In the second and third books, Bella was selfish, self-centered, whiny, and yet portrayed as self-sacrificing, brave, and 'stronger than she looks'. It seemed that every three pages Bella was swooning, being sick, crying or standing around and staring in shock. I don't read a book for the details of nausea. How could she be so utterly pathetic after all she had been through? Bella did not change at all throughout the three books; she remained ignorant, rude, and absolutely, foolishly blind to Edward's faults and her terrible situation.

Edward was completely flat; when he wasn't giving long, confusing speeches about what was going on and why he couldn't do this, that or the other, and why Bella should apologise and why he should apologise etc. etc., I found nothing of the character to identify with. He was nothing at all. I couldn't understand why Jacob - the only character in the books that I really liked - was so deeply in love with Bella after the way she treated him.

The romance between Edward and Bella was just that; 'romance'. Nowhere in any of the books did it feel like a true, strong, deep relationship. Even when Bella raced to Italy and saved Edward, I felt nothing. In fact, the only time any of these books made me feel something was at the very end of the third book, with Jacob's reaction.

Throughout the three books, the writing remained absurdly simple and badly constructed. More than once I had to flip back to understand who was speaking and who they were talking about; in particular Meyer's constant use of 'he' throughout the second and third novels was hard to follow.

The teenage girl side of me liked these books; pure shallow escapism is nice once in a while, and I did like the unabashed honesty of a 'perfect' hero. Naturally I wouldn't mind an Edward one day.

The writer side of me, the older side and the philosophical side wondered why I was reading these books at all. Surely there are better books with clearer tales, books with heroines who aren't needy, unhealthily obsessed with her boyfriend and utterly selfish? If anyone is looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend reading Wuthering Heights. ...less

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Julie rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

06/12/08

bookshelves: horror, young-adult

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: Everybody... ok, Twilight fans.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I'm not sure I can write a very cohesive review for this, so I'm just going to mention some of my major thoughts and go from there.

Some of my favorite parts:

The title. It makes such beautiful, perfect sense now, that any worries I had about the final result of the Edward/Jacob question seem so silly! Way to come up with a perfectly suitable title with perfect imagery. :D

Asshattery. Good grief, but there was a lot of jerky behavior in this one, and most of it was coming from Jacob. He...more

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Katharhino rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

03/28/08

bookshelves: fantasy, romance

Read in March, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like New Moon, Eclipse started out annoying me, then managed to hook me and draw me in anyway.

As the story gets started, everyone is being stupid and cliched – Bella dense and somewhat selfish, Edward controlling, and Jacob rude. Only after the action started to pick up and the conversations between the three main characters began to gain a little depth did I find myself really getting absorbed.

Also like New Moon, once hooked I couldn’t put it down, and yet I finished the book feelin...more Like New Moon, Eclipse started out annoying me, then managed to hook me and draw me in anyway.

As the story gets started, everyone is being stupid and cliched – Bella dense and somewhat selfish, Edward controlling, and Jacob rude. Only after the action started to pick up and the conversations between the three main characters began to gain a little depth did I find myself really getting absorbed.

Also like New Moon, once hooked I couldn’t put it down, and yet I finished the book feeling slightly ambiguous. Why is that? The plot is not the problem – it’s well crafted with both external and internal forces coming to a crisis with Bella at the same time, and concluding with a final decision that ought to be extremely satisfying. The werewolf/vampire interactions were really fun to read as well, with lots of delightful details about the way their minds work. Action scenes were well-written and suspenseful.

Characterization is mostly good. I appreciated getting a little more depth to some of the minor characters, especially Jasper, who has the potential to be really fascinating. I think I might have a teeny crush on Jasper – only a teeny one, because my heart belongs to Jacob. Jacob is the best character of all – really well drawn, very realistic and totally charming, flaws and all. This makes it even more difficult to sympathize with Bella; but Bella has always been a bit of a Mary Sue.

It’s hard to believe in someone who has vampires and werewolves falling all over her and still is remarkably clueless. I liked Bella for most of the book, but I did start to have issues towards the end when I couldn’t help agreeing with her that she was being really selfish. She was starting to acquire a rather Potter-ish savior complex, and no, she really wasn’t being fair to Jacob. Also, the conversation with Edward about sex/marriage was kind of “meh” to me. I do appreciate (as I know Alyson will agree) a man who will argue for virtue. In general, that makes me go weak at the knees. But I think Edward is using the wrong reasons in his argument, while Bella’s motivations are all confused – she’s believable and even likeable when it comes to hesitantly trying to seduce Edward, but then I find it hard to sympathize with her attitude toward Edward’s proposal. It seems selfish, again. I think one of the problems with Bella is that Meyer is trying to make her strong and independent and the next moment she’ll be fainting and dissolving in tears. Bella is a teenage girl with insecurities, which is fine and sometimes comes across quite realistically, but then don’t also try to make us believe that she is more mature than her age.

Edward’s characterization is equally spotty. Good Edward moments: his joy when Bella puts on his ring; the whole conversation with Jacob in the tent, even though the setup felt contrived. Ridiculous Edward moments: that he doesn’t feel the slightest resentment toward Bella for insisting he stay behind from the fight (not how things work in real life); the idea that Bella’s really hot (literally) kiss with Jacob wouldn’t bother him in the slightest. That’s really inconsistent and unbelievable, not to mention making Edward a little too perfect – which might be part of my problem with the ending.

However I think most of my uneasiness comes from the setup of Bella’s internal conflict. I realized, pondering it, what the problem is: after all the angst and struggle and indecision, not to mention my own strong belief in the idea that love is a choice, a conscious commitment – despite all this, Bella’s final decision is a non-decision. There’s no real uncertainty about what she’s going to choose. I mentioned this in my review of New Moon: when you set up the Fated Lurve that is Stronger than Death, you kind of paint yourself into a corner, as a writer. It doesn’t help that Bella’s literary comparisons have been Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering Heights. I don’t care for Romeo and Juliet, and Wuthering Heights should never be mistaken for a romance. Not to mention the fact that both those works are tragedies and only work as tragedies. No one ever wonders what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet had been happily married for twenty years and only argued about the way Romeo would never wring out the dishcloth.

This is why the Jacob/Bella relationship is in many ways much more interesting than the Edward/Bella relationship. Sweet as Edward is, there’s no real natural conflict there, and all the artificially inserted conflict (like sex, protecting Bella, the timing on making her a vampire) ends up feeling forced and therefore slightly annoying. Whereas Jacob is everything a hero should be: funny, devoted, conflicted, flawed but not too flawed. I admit to tearing up a little bit during Bella’s goodbye with Jacob: “I could have been your air and your sun.” GAH! *sob* It’s not that I minded Bella choosing Edward over Jacob – it’s sad but well-written. It’s that she doesn’t really have any reasons for choosing; in fact she doesn’t choose at all. She just accepts that “this is the way it is.” If choice is the grand theme of your novel, I think there should be some, y’know, real choice involved. Poor Jacob is just as fated as Bella/Edward.

Despite all this, I did like the book. I liked it, I was interested, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s fortunate that Meyer is actually a decent writer. She’s created a fun mythology, mostly interesting and likeable characters, intense relationships, and readable plots. Did I mention being hooked whether I like it or not? I’m going to have to buy the next book, now....less

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Shannon rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

07/29/08

bookshelves: 2007, favourite, paranormal-romance, vampires, werewolves, ya

Read in September, 2007

I read this in one day, finishing it with a feeling of deep regret and profound relief. Or is that deep relief and profound regret? On the one hand, I once again could hardly put it down, and my stomach was twisted with nerves all day at work, even when I was reading it. I was afraid of finishing it, yet I couldn't not finish it. I was anxious for the characters and how it would end, but also afraid of finishing it because then, well, it would be finished.

This third volume pick...more

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Larissa rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

07/29/08

bookshelves: kinder, vampires

Read in July, 2008

Stephenie Meyer should be sending handwritten thank-you notes to every sorry teenager (and masochistic adult) who continues to slog through her Harlequin romp of a series. Were it not for what I will generously term my ‘anthropological interest’ in this ever-popularizing series, I for one would certainly be leading a caravan out to the old country to demand that she return the four and half hours that I lost reading New Moon. Even skimming, I felt robbed.

So why continue, you ask?...more

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Missy rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

05/10/08

Read in May, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

****I know this was already a long review, but I added more at the end. Thus, you may be getting this as a second email.

I am so glad I read this series again. I have realized so much more than I did the first time around, and it all makes so much more sense. The author's website (www.stepheniemeyer.com) also helped things really set in. If you haven't already, I recommend reading the frequently asked questions, extras, and outtakes. Some are just for fun, but others answer questions tha...more ****I know this was already a long review, but I added more at the end. Thus, you may be getting this as a second email.

I am so glad I read this series again. I have realized so much more than I did the first time around, and it all makes so much more sense. The author's website (www.stepheniemeyer.com) also helped things really set in. If you haven't already, I recommend reading the frequently asked questions, extras, and outtakes. Some are just for fun, but others answer questions that explain the story much better.

For instance, I like how she addresses two things: why Edward left in New Moon, and why Bella fell in love with Jacob. The FAQ page answers why Edward left from his own point of view, but it also made me realize that he had to leave in order for Bella to realize that she couldn't live without him (this realization was not in Edward's plans, but it solidifies Bella's choice). In Eclipse she even wonders if she would choose Jacob over Edward if she didn't have this knowledge, and this would have been impossible to know had Edward not left. It also shows us that Bella is not making the choice to become a vampire over a typical teenage romance, or because someone so beautiful loves her, but rather because Edward is her true love.

I was actually mad at first that Bella had fallen in love with Jacob, and that she let that relationship go so far. I thought she was being stupid and selfish. Now I realize, though, that it makes her choice so much more valid. Had she become a vampire at the end of Twilight, it may have left all of us wondering if she really made the right choice, and if she would just regret the decision later. However, now that she knows exactly what she's giving up (her parents, a normal-length life with someone who helped her heal from the darkest part of her life, and children), it makes her choice seem much more like a sacrifice. She is willing to give all of that up for Edward. Like Stephenie Meyer says on her website, that life with Jacob could be the better life for her, but Bella chooses the Edward option anyway. This shows that her love for Edward outshines all of the normal "human" wants.

I was also mad that Bella cried for Jacob so much the last time she left him. I hated that Edward had to see her in so much pain and agony over another man; especially because Edward is so unselfish and really does just want her to be happy. This too, however, serves a purpose in my mind. Now that Edward has seen the depth of Bella's love for Jacob and her pain, he knows that Bella is acutely aware of all that she is giving up by joining his vampire world. It's been his concern all along that Bella doesn't realize all she will be giving up to be with him, but now there can be no doubt in his mind that she realizes this. It's strange how a second reading has put these things into perspective for me. . . .

Well, this was a long review, but very cathartic. Thank you to all of you who have made it this far! I do hope that in Breaking Dawn Bella marries Edward, becomes a vampire, and that Jacob imprints on someone. We know he won't imprint Bella, because the FAQ page tells us that it happens the first time a werewolf sees the person after they become a werewolf. I really hope the werewolves don't try to hurt Edward; I think I would die if anything ever happened to him!

One thing I love about Edward is that his love for Bella is so pure and so strong. I have no doubt that Jacob loves Bella, but his is much more selfish and self-centered. He just wants Bella. Edward wants Bella to be happy whatever the cost to himself. A few times in Eclipse he talks about the strong relationship between vampire "soulmates," and at one time he said the werewolf imprinting thing is ALMOST as strong as the way he feels about Bella. Now, when I read about imprinting, it sounds like there is no other love in the world stronger, and that nothing can break up a couple where one has imprinted on the other. Edward fully knows how strong the imprinting bond is, as he can read the werewolves' minds. However, he still knows that his love for Bella is even stronger. Isn't that sweet?! Oh, Edward is perfect!! One more thing: Jacob still has a human heart, and I have no doubt he will get over Bella and find someone else. Edward would never get over her.

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Sarah rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

07/26/08

bookshelves: young-adult

recommends it for: people who want to analyse why so many girls/women have serious mental/social health problems

polyamory (and a big dash of feminism) would solve these people's problems like THAT!

seriously though, this book is ridiculous and pretentious (CONSTANT wuthering heights references, anyone?). what is WRONG with bella? is it *really* necessary to make her so stupid just so that we'll "relate" to her? it's insulting. also, for an idiotic book, i actually really liked jacob (notice the deliberate use of the past-tense, here). he was the only *real* character in the entire tome-like n...more polyamory (and a big dash of feminism) would solve these people's problems like THAT!

seriously though, this book is ridiculous and pretentious (CONSTANT wuthering heights references, anyone?). what is WRONG with bella? is it *really* necessary to make her so stupid just so that we'll "relate" to her? it's insulting. also, for an idiotic book, i actually really liked jacob (notice the deliberate use of the past-tense, here). he was the only *real* character in the entire tome-like novel. however there are some seriously disturbing descriptions of him forcing himself on bella. his behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and it's just shrugged off like "oh, boys with be boys. ho ho ho! good for you sonnyboy!" that's the same mindset that perpetuates the rape culture that's currently going on in our society. disgusting.

also i fundamentally don't understand the edward-obsession. or maybe i should say that i do understand it but that it's WRONG. people who actually realistically think that edward & bella's relationship is actually what love should be like are fucked up. yes. go ahead and get upset. it's true. the person you're in love with should not emotionally manipulate you and try to control you. EVER. period. not if they think it's in your best interest. not to "save you pain." no. never. neither should they try to prevent you from spending time with your best friends. i dont give a rat's ass that edward eventually "lets" her go spend time with jacob. that's not the point. it's not his place to be "letting" her do or not do anything. i'm sorry, but your partner is not the same person as you. they do not "complete you." they are not "your soul." you are complete on your own. and if you're not, you need to work on that by yourself. furthermore it implies that bella's love for jacob cancels out her "love" for edward. the whole book is consumed with jealousy but no one ever tries to resolve the jealousy. it's just like "that makes me jealous. don't do that. because it will make me feel jealous." instead of looking to see WHY it makes them jealous and dealing with that problem. no no, because that would be silly to resolve a problem. instead, let's IDEALIZE the jealousy as DESPERATION and then say oh yes, what a good boy edward is for ignoring his jealousy instead of dealing with it. what a HERO for letting bella hang out with her best friend.

also, granted it been a LONG time since i've read wuthering heights, but i feel like bella and stephenie meyer fundamentally miss the point of the book. edward supposedly thinks that cathy and heathcliff are selfish iredeemable idiots. bella thinks that "the only thing that redeems them is their love." absurd. the point of wuthering heights is not to idealize heatcliff & cathy's love. the entire point of wuthering heights is that the "love" between heathcliff and cathy (which is the same kind of "love" that edward & bella have) is destructive, while the love that young cathy and hareton have is more REAL & therefore successful because is based on people changing, growing, and being less desperate and more like actual friends. Gee, that second relationship sound a little bit more like the way jacob acts with bella! until, that is, stephenie meyer turns him into edward2 by making him force himself on bella and start acting controlling. gross. desperation & control is not a basis for a healthy relationship. and in both cases (edward & jacob) bella eventually gives in and LIKES the controlling manipulation. That is a FUCKED UP message to be sending. why yes, girls, "Ideal Love" means letting someone control you/force himself on you and then liking it, while meanwhile you should feel (or at least act) like an incompetent moron. and boys, hear that?: even if a girl says no, she doesn't like you — or if she says, no i don't want to do these things — go right ahead and MAKE HER, she'll like it eventually. because she doesn't know what she wants. because she's just a silly little girl.

JESUS H CHRIST.

if the point of these books is to show that many people who are "deperately In Love" are actually really shallow and vapid and have no idea what love should be like, than BRAVO stepehenie meyer. but somehow i dont think that's the point, and if it is, it certainly didn't require 4 tomes of poorly-written text to get the point across....less

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Holly rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

02/16/08

bookshelves: young-adult

Read in February, 2008

It's finished. At least until the next, highly anticipated book. That book that is the beacon of hope to every disillusioned, silly, teenage girl who believes Edward really exists. Here's a bit of education for you: he doesn't. And even if he did, he wouldn't be interested in a selfish, self-absorbed, teenage girl.

My reviews of Twilight and New Moon still stand. Neither one was stellar, let alone worth the hype. I also think it's as if she wasted two books to get to this one. Eclipse was...more It's finished. At least until the next, highly anticipated book. That book that is the beacon of hope to every disillusioned, silly, teenage girl who believes Edward really exists. Here's a bit of education for you: he doesn't. And even if he did, he wouldn't be interested in a selfish, self-absorbed, teenage girl.

My reviews of Twilight and New Moon still stand. Neither one was stellar, let alone worth the hype. I also think it's as if she wasted two books to get to this one. Eclipse was enjoyable to read. Twilight and New Moon failed to fulfil their potential.

Eclipse wasn't stellar either, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I could actually see myself re-reading this one. Either Stephenie Meyer suddenly learned some great writing techniques and realized what was missing in her previous work, or she found a better editor. The editing is still lacking, but is leaps and bounds above Twilight, which didn't seem to be edited at all. I appreciated the detail she finally provided. It was nice to see real conversations of substance. I appreciated the discussions and explanations. It was nice to see some back history provided for several of the characters. Although, the Cullen family is so involved with each other that it's still frustrating to see that even with the stories of Rosalie and Jasper explained, they remain one-dimensional characters. And any detail or substance to Esme is practically non-existent.

I still think Bella is a selfish, self-absorbed teenager and it's still hard for me to see why Edward loves her. Lusts after her, sure. And, I find the whole "I can't live without you" scenario annoying. I firmly believe that personal happiness is dependent on one person: yourself. Your life is enriched and blessed when you have the love and devotion of another, but they are not responsible for your happiness. I liked the interaction between Jacob and Bella when he tells her that he was right for her and the natural path her life would have taken. Jacob let Bella be Bella, he didn't try and control her. And had Edward not come back in New Moon, Bella would have been happy with Jacob. And just for the record, I'm not pro-Jacob anymore than I'm pro-Edward. They're just characters in a book.

I also find Edward's ultimate control over Bella disturbing. He orders and forbids. He acts like he owns her. And she lets him. This is not healthy. Nor is her ultimate submission to his family and what they want. She isn't her own person, but one who tries to be the girl she thinks each man wants. Is this typical of an 18-year old girl? Possibly. She's probably most like her true self when she's with Jacob. Also, in her relationship with Edward, she is prepared to give up everything: friends, family and children. And for what? An eternity as a vampire with a man whose most compelling attraction is his beauty, dangerous potential and the forbidden.

I do like Edward. I think that Meyer finally fleshed out his character quite a bit in this novel and I just wish she had done so earlier. I find it interested though that even though he's 100 (give or take a few) years old, she has him act more like he's a teenager. He may look like one, but theoretically he wouldn't act like one after all the life experiences he's had, even with the high school student charade they play.

Meyer has crafted a compelling story and characters with great potential. I have to give her that credit. Even though I was harsh in my criticism of the first two books, I continued reading them. I hope that the next book improves the series as this one did and not the reverse. I hope that we find more realistic substance to Edward and Bella's relationship as well.
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Sookie rated it:

(review of isbn 0316160202)

08/19/07

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: ages 10+, romance readers, fantasy readers, Twilight Series readers

Feature Review: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob -- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Be...more

Eclipse (Twilight Series, Book 3)

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