As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella Swan once again finds herself surrounded by danger.
Hardcover, 629 pages
Published
May 31st 2008
by Little, Brown and Company
(first published January 1st 2007)
"You gave it three stars?" she asked me, biting her lip and holding her breath.
"Yes," I finally answered with my marble lips, cold yet strangely comforting, even warm. "Stephenie, don't forget to breathe."
"Oh, of course." A storm seemed to rage in her for just a moment.
"I gave it a three. It's good." I would never lie to her, could never lie to her. Yet, somehow, she felt it was a lie and brooded in stillness f...more"You gave it three stars?" she asked me, biting her lip and holding her breath.
"Yes," I finally answered with my marble lips, cold yet strangely comforting, even warm. "Stephenie, don't forget to breathe."
"Oh, of course." A storm seemed to rage in her for just a moment.
"I gave it a three. It's good." I would never lie to her, could never lie to her. Yet, somehow, she felt it was a lie and brooded in stillness for a moment that seemed to last an eternity.
Finally, I broke the aching silence. "I gave it a three because the vampire lore was that good -- the extended plotline and the setup for a decent fourth novel were all enjoyable." There, I said it. Would it be enough for her? No, it would never be enough.
"But you absolutely hated the tent scene with the [spoiler removed:], and you wanted to send Bella straight to vampire hell for her self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-obsessed self-ness by the end."
We paused and I noticed sobs erupting from deep inside her.
"Stephenie, breathe, and stop biting your lip, it's getting really annoying. Quit with the crying already. Yes, all of those things are true, and if I could release myself from your books, I would. But-"
"But?" she asked longlingly, her fingers caressing my face while my fingers caressed her face and somebody else's fingers were somehow caressing both our faces because you can never have too much face-caressing going on -- whose fingers are those, anyway?
"But despite how much I hate Bella by now, I really want to find out more about the Volturi and the process of becoming a vampire and whether Bella is somehow part of an ancient bloodline that stirs up all the vampires and werewolves whenever she's around. That's why I gave it three stars, and that's why-" I gasped, she gasped, we both forgot to breathe and bit our lips, "-why I will be reading the fourth book as soon as it is out."
Finally, I remembered to breathe and stopped caressing her face, looked into her eyes and with my godlike, cool, marble lips, asked, "Satisfied?"
Smiling, she answered, "Yes, very."
____________
Notes from James: If you like this one, you will probably also get a kick out of my original review of Book 1. Enjoy!
Christina Buetibest review ever. This made me laugh whole heartedly outloud! But?" she asked longlingly, her fingers caressing my face while my fingers caressed...morebest review ever. This made me laugh whole heartedly outloud! But?" she asked longlingly, her fingers caressing my face while my fingers caressed her face and somebody else's fingers were somehow caressing both our faces because you can never have too much face-caressing going on -- whose fingers are those, anyway?(less)
Dec 13, 2011 05:46pm
MioSome rewievs are just better than the book itself..! ;-D
Jan 07, 2012 11:03am
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 ...moreI'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)
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 Bella's shoes as she ...moreEclipse 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 Bella's shoes as she solved Edward while attending school to provide a normal break. We sometimes read Bella studying for tests but that is only to pass the time until something supernatural happens, we never see the test nor does she feel ANY concern for her dismal grades. Heck, Bella doesn't even care about a paid stay at Dartmouth even if it's just a cover.
The writing dropped dead, like the book itself, and lost its magic- it was by no means great prose but it was descriptive and nice to read. Now we read: "It was amazing the amount of detail involved in the little figurine- the miniature wolf was utterly realistic". Well gee, thanks for that- couldn't Meyer have at least told us the wolf's pose?
Bella lost the traits that made her relatable and enjoyable- that made us feel that she was Edward's equal. She cares nothing for her parents or human friends, only visiting Angela- the first time we've seen one on one interaction between them- to avoid Edward and to appease Charlie, just so she meets her end of their deal and can be with her boyfriend. Though Bella was the only one to figure out that the intruder and the Seattle newborns were related which is meant to be a sign of her observance, it was so freaking obvious that I knew who was responsible for the newborns the day of the Eclipse Prom when I read the excerpt and knew who made the newborns, but Bella- by accident- only figures this out two days before the newborn attack. Bella whines about everything, referring to Edward leaving the house because of Jacob visiting as being childish and immature despite that we at least know how much they dislike each other and would gladly fight given the chance. She never thinks about how much she is hurting Jacob by keeping him around unless he tells that to her face. For some reason, every good character loves her, even Paul who tried to attack Bella before welcomes her (only joking about the bloodsucker stench). Then she becomes the housewife to Charlie, cooking his meals, cleaning the house as a pastime since Charlie didn't learn these skills in his 18 years of living alone nor when he had to care for his ailing parents after high school. "And you've given me you. That's already more than I deserve, and anything else you gives me just throws us more out of balance". The most distressing change is that Bella continues to mope about how unworthy she is of Edward, despite that she had an epiphany at the end of New Moon which finally made her understand that Edward loved her. Then there's marriage- though I understand the argument, I don't understand it coming from Bella. Hey stupid, your true love wants to MARRY YOU and yet all you can think of is the town gossip even though you will leave Forks and possibly only keep contact with your father while abandoning everyone else- so why does their gossip matter!? Bella only agrees to marriage so she can have human sex with Edward before he makes her a vampire; Bella wants sex with Edward while a human (offering to accept his proposal, let him pay for college AND a car, the floozy) but Edward only promises to try if Bella marries him, she agrees... but for the sake of sex because she is till disgusted by marriage. She is still Grumpy about parties, only complaining despite all the effort the Cullens have done for her.
Edward lost his suave, flirtatious, and mysterious charm that enchanted so many in Twilight. He's so devoted like a lovesick puppy, that it's not charming. Edward either manipulates Bella to do what he wants (for her sake) or he lets her get her way- only when it concerns Jacob (after they fight of course), but Edward seemingly overcomes his very character and being to give Bella what she wants (which is a selfish and harmful want on Bella's part). I.e. He kept pressuring Bella to go to Florida (to avoid a werewolf/vampire fight for no good reason) and then tricked Bella into wanting to go by setting up an argument with her dad- that made me so mad. But despite how pathetic he was, the fact that he loves Bella so much that he won't even be mad with her despite the second kiss still won my pity- revoking all will and opinions for the sake of Bella just made me sick.
What used to be a cute, loyal friend with a crush is now an obnoxious, arrogant, sick boy. Jake forces himself on Bella and she breaks her hand when trying to punch the @$$ yet he still has the gall to put his arm around her and only say that Bella enjoyed it. When Bella gives him the cold shoulder later he merely acts exasperated. Then he does a hurt puppy act- actually pouting- when Bella is too distracted to pay mind to him when all he wants to do is give her a present. He later pretends that he plans to sacrifice himself to allow Edward to be with Bella- I actually bought this, thinking Jake's new tough attitude led to this moment- but as it turns out, it was all a plot to get Bella to kiss him. Between the two, I may actually want Jake for life since he has flaws and hobbies that a couple could work to overcome in their lifetime, but not now; he brought this on himself. Jake never acted like he truly loved Bella but rather that Bella was a trophy to prove Jake bested perfect Edward.
Their lovable traits have gone missing, leaving very dislikable characters behind whose flaws are either ignored or always forgiven.
On the few good sides we finally learn Jasper and Rosalie's past. Rosalie's was much more interesting to me since she was much more involved in the plot both in her bitterness and actions in New Moon; also because she told Bella her story in a selfless effort to not only amend for her past behavior but try to convince Bella to stay human. I actually felt sorry for her- how she will never sit on a porch with Emmet watching their grandchildren play- it made my throat ache. Yet all Bella takes from the story is how Tanya was interested in Edward.
Jasper's wasn't very interesting- maybe it's because I wish I knew what he looked like beyond "tall, lanky, and blonde" or because as I read his flat story I kept wondering why Bella never noted a Texan accent- that certainly would have made him more interesting. Jasper's story just lacked any good descriptions or life, it was like reading Interview with the Vampire but without the wonderful imagery or morale lessons- just imagine how dull that would be. But I am happy we learned about him as well as how he and Alice met the Cullens- it sounds so dang interesting; I wish Meyer will write a spin off about Alice meeting Jasper.
We also learn the werewolves past... it certainly wasn't as epic as I suspected. So much for natural enemies, werewolves and vampires only became enemies by accident.
Speaking of the werewolves- imprinting? Yeah, poor guys, being subjected to such a lame plot device. Meyer, in case you didn't know, imprinting is when a baby animal (most commonly BIRDS) label the first thing they see as their mentor and follow the thing (be it alive or not) as an example of how to survive. Even without being scientifically incorrect it is a bad idea and I felt no romance in there. I feel ill when I recall Bella seeing her relationship with Edward just like werewolf imprinting... that completely degraded their relationship and stripped it of love.
Seriously now, why can't the beloved, wonderful, and selfless Bella feel any sympathy towards Victoria who lost her beloved James because of Edward and Bella? Isn't Victoria's situation just like Bella's? Victoria isn't even treated as a villain, we never even see the newborns besides one who isn't at all the threat we wish we saw nor is she even acknowledged until about two days before the attack- she only speaks once and yells once, not even being remotely threatening.
Then there's the women, all besides Alice are pathetically devoted to their man. Let's count them: Bella, Renee, Esme with her first husband (she was abused but Meyer didn't have to do that), Leah, Victoria, Jessica, and even Lauren; which leaves Alice and Rosalie the only women to not be crazy without their men and leaves Alice to be the only strong female in the entire series (Rosalie wasn't as strong but better than the others). Look at Leah, her love couldn't resist being with Emily and now Leah is part of the pack and has to share thoughts with Sam, rather than make a strong woman who overcomes her pain and moves on we get a bitter harpy who can't even be nice to Jake for saving her life when she was being cocky, she instead seeks him out to complain how Jake's lovesick dreams of Bella annoy her and then reminds him of how Edward will most likely kill Bella- while smirking.
Every one of the books had a mystery- Twilight had Edward, New Moon had Jake, so Meyer tried to spin a mystery with who was making newborns and who is the intruder in Bella's room. With the intruder, Meyer did a good job confusing the characters with the Volturi option, making a decent argument to their possible involvement. The newborns receive the same treatment but nowhere as convincing. She constantly weaves through the two, trying to confuse us while making the characters so dim, none consider Victoria as an option until two days before the attack, and even then it was accident by rephrasing. The mystery was very bad and unlike the other two, it was so distant and uninvolved I never felt intrigued, especially since I knew the answer.
Recommends it for: Teen girls with far-fetched illusions of romance
I had expectations for this book, but I found it to be a terrible disappointment. Where to begin with?
First of all, I have lost most of the respect I had for Bella as a character. Her obsession for Edward has really gone overboard, to the point of becoming downright annoying, even unhealthy. She worships the ground he walks on, and is all too ready to dump her parents and friends just so she can spend more time with him without growing old. She doesn't seem to have any serious probl...moreI had expectations for this book, but I found it to be a terrible disappointment. Where to begin with?
First of all, I have lost most of the respect I had for Bella as a character. Her obsession for Edward has really gone overboard, to the point of becoming downright annoying, even unhealthy. She worships the ground he walks on, and is all too ready to dump her parents and friends just so she can spend more time with him without growing old. She doesn't seem to have any serious problem with the idea of making her parents worry, or the thought of never see them again... she's willing to stomp over anything that isn't Edward, even things that can enrich her life. She's like a satellite, her boring life revolving solely around him. She has no self-worth, and spends a good deal of the book whining, complaining and sighing, I really wanted to shake her hard at times and tell her to GET A LIFE.
I also find it deeply disturbing that Bella is not more repulsed by the idea of blood lust. How could she accept the thought that she will want to kill people (even her family) so easily, just because of him?
Second, Edward has gone from charming to BORING. There is such a thing as being too perfect (read: dull), and Edward fits the mold perfectly. His character is so flat, and how many times can we hear Bella and Edward exchange their love for one another before becoming bored? I mean honestly, how perfect can he be before it simply becomes ridiculous? Most of the book is spent on the two of them fawning over each other and Bella saying over and over and over again how sexy and good-looking he is. Writing tip for the author: You don't need to tell us countless times that your character is wonderful. Actions speak for themselves. Jane Austen didn't need to remind us several times that Mr. Darcy was perfect... he simply was.
Third... Jacob. He's the reason I gave this book 2 stars. He was the most compelling character in the book. He wasn't perfect, but he was fun, honest, and very human, making big mistakes, but always trying to do his best... he was impossible not to love. He was real, not a perfect pretty doll with no flaws. Sadly, he was mostly wasted.
I also the think the magic Twilight had dissapeared. I liked the books because the author made the whole vampire/werewolf thing so credible, but now, with armies of vampires raging through Washington, credibility has gone out the window. Also the whole book was focused on on a love triangle that everybody knew how it would end, and it made everything very predictable. And how come nobody saw that Victoria was behind the killings, when it was so darn obvious even to the casual reader? Were they stupid? Overall, a great disappointment, I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series. Why bother? (less)
I succumbed and read Eclipse. I swear this is the last time I will ever write about Stephenie Meyer. I really am sick and tired of her books. Fortunately, the next won’t be released for a year, so I can put the series behind me for at least that long.
After offending several people with my dislike for the series, I am starting to feel vindicated. Something about the third installment has pushed some Meyer loyalists over the edge. I have heard students at work complaining about how rep...moreI succumbed and read Eclipse. I swear this is the last time I will ever write about Stephenie Meyer. I really am sick and tired of her books. Fortunately, the next won’t be released for a year, so I can put the series behind me for at least that long.
After offending several people with my dislike for the series, I am starting to feel vindicated. Something about the third installment has pushed some Meyer loyalists over the edge. I have heard students at work complaining about how repetitive the books can be, how little occurs in 600+ pages, how weak Bella is, and how repulsive some of the love scenes are. It feels good to be right.
This post isn’t intended to be a ripfest on Meyer, though. I really am feeling over her and her books. But here are a few reasons why:
* Throughout Eclipse, Bella compares herself and her relationship with Edward to Cathy and Heathcliff. That is a very brazen—and unwarranted—comparison to make. How big must Meyer’s ego be—how warped her sense of importance—to compare her book to Emily Brontë’s classic? I mean, seriously?
* Meyer beats the reader over the head with how much Bella and Edward love each other. Their love is unearthly (like Catherine and Heathcliff’s?); it surmounts all restraints and barriers. There never was such a love as theirs. Yet, for the life of me, after reading the three books I just don’t feel that love. I don’t even understand why the characters are attracted to each other. I’ve been told ad nauseum that Edward is attractive. But is physical attraction a solid basis for love? And what in the world can Edward (or Jacob, for that matter) find attractive about Bella? She whines and complains and trips and faints. Despite reading over 1500 pages about their love, I still don’t buy it. I feel no attachment to or investment in the characters or their relationship.
* The physicality in this book really has gone too far. One scene, in particular, is straight out of any romance novel. I’m not criticizing romance novels. They are what they are and don’t pretend to be anything else. This book, though, is masquerading as a young adult classic: “His hand curved around my elbow, moving slowly down my arm, across my ribs and over my waist, tracing along my hip and down my leg, around my knee. He paused there, his hand curling around my calf. He pulled my leg up suddenly, hitching it around his hip” (186). I blush even typing the words. Oh my.
Okay, I guess this is a Stephenie Meyer ripfest. I’m not sure why I feel so venomous (wink wink) about these novels. Maybe I’m just jealous that Meyer can write absolute filth and be a bestselling novelist. If nothing else, this should inspire me to write more and write better.(less)
Recommended to Summer by:
practically every woman I know
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.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 P...moreSparked 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 (as Cedric Diggory) and I eagerly await his debut in a role that will likely earn him unending fame amongst giddy teenage girls for years to come.
But enough about young hot guys whose posters would have hung on my wall as a teenager.
Besides having a knack for catching spelling and punctuation errors I think a lot about how a certain book might influence it’s audience, and what I think the author should have done differently in writing it based on that.
Can you see why I haven’t written a novel yet? I’m too busy thinking about subtle messages I want to convey instead of the actual story. But I digress.
The main audience in the case of the Twilight series, are a bunch of giggly teenage girls with egregious romantic notions that play out in their daydreams over and over, or which they speak to each other in hushed tones during sleepovers. Oh, and grown women who are often silly school girls at heart. Ahem….
***Warning - Spoilers Ahead!***
I devoured all three of Stephanie’s books, each within a day of borrowing them. I didn’t think much about them initially. I was caught up in the intense romance, the stunningly accurate view through a teenage girls mind. I identified immensely with Bella and her feelings of being so very ordinary. I also understood her intense attraction to Edward. I always crushed on the mysterious guys. The dangerous guys.
But the more I’ve mulled over this vehement love story, the more concerned I’ve become in what I anticipate will be its ending. Especially when thinking about the thousands of teenage girls who worship this series. So I say….
Bella really needs to break things off with Edward.
Let me offer up my reasons for this before any of you kick me:
1. Holy Co-Dependent Relationship Batman!
Co-Dependant relationships are never healthy and Bella and Edward have got a doozie of one going on. It may not have started that way but it’s turned into that. Grieving for those we’ve loved and lost is certainly natural but Bella took it well beyond that point, ceasing to be anything but a drone doing only what she had to in order to survive after Edward left. Then of course Edward has sworn to kill himself shortly after the time Bella has died.
Sweet? Romantic? Not on your life.
Other problems with their relationship that hinge on co-dependency:
* Lack of interaction with other friends and acquaintances
* Bella’s mental attention focusing solely on relieving Edward’s pain i.e. If she’s a vampire, he won’t struggle with wanting to kill her anymore. If she’s a vampire, she’ll finally be worthy of him.
* Feeling her life is meaningless without him.
2. Bella is being smothered
Edward and his family are controlling Bella. They may not be doing it on purpose but that doesn’t make it any better. Bella seems to attract danger and Edward feels the need to protect her. He watches her all night, she gets driven by them everywhere. She rarely does anything of her own accord or by herself and when she does she know she’ll face Edwards disapproval afterwards. Their relationship has become more and more like a naughty little child disobeying their master. *shudder*
3. They don’t really love each other
They lust each other. The only basis for Bella’s devotion and supposed love that I can find are descriptions of Edwards danger and his beauty. And do you think for one moment that Edward would have taken a second glance at Bella (other than to eat her) if he had been able to read her thoughts? He was bound to be obsessed with the first girl who had the power to block him out. They are enchanted by the mystery of each other. Is this love? No. Could it turn into love? Certainly. But book three definitely had their relationship getting more and more icky.
4. My belief in number 3 was only reaffirmed by the part Jacob has played.
I won’t tell you that I think Bella should end up with Jacob instead. But it would be healthier than being with Edward. Being around his cheerful and friendly self brought some vigor back into her life. It was good that she didn’t perceive him as a possible love interest or she may have latched on to him in rebound as she had to Edward in the first place, becoming more needy and dependent on his feeding her constant reassurances than she had been with Edward. Slowly and without force, Jacob’s friendship brought her back to life, and though she still grieved for Edward she was finally living again.
I also agree with Jacob that eventually she would have been happy without Edward. She would have maybe even realized that her love for Jacob was real and something deeper than the one she had with Edward. Alas that Edward has to go off and try to kill himself!
As an adult I’ve looked back on some relationships I had as a teen in which I was sure I really loved the person. I did care deeply about them. It was love of a sort. But not the kind that would have withstood the fizzling of passion and the inevitable changing of beliefs and shifts in personality we make until we die.
So Stephenie Meyer, if you’re reading this, do you really want to send a message that co-dependent relationships are romantic? That ceasing to live for yourself is romantic? That being willing to kill yourself over the one you love is romantic? That love is based on mystery, danger and good looks alone?
I don’t care who she ends up with ultimately (though I do hope that if it’s Edward their relationship improves) but please do us all a favor and have Bella learn to think and live for herself and grow out of this sickening neediness and willingness to be controlled.
Bella: I'm so done with you. You're a self-absorbed little snot. You're not a strong modern woman because you don't want to be a teen bride, and you're not cute because you fall down a lot.
Alice: You're so not cute either.
Jacob: What you did is called "date rape," buckaroo. And to think I liked you best until the middle of this book!
Edward: Checking the brood-o-meter... yep, you're still no David Borean...moreMy notes to characters in Eclipse:
Bella: I'm so done with you. You're a self-absorbed little snot. You're not a strong modern woman because you don't want to be a teen bride, and you're not cute because you fall down a lot.
Alice: You're so not cute either.
Jacob: What you did is called "date rape," buckaroo. And to think I liked you best until the middle of this book!
Edward: Checking the brood-o-meter... yep, you're still no David Boreanaz.
Leah (the one lady-wolf): I don't understand why you're getting the short end of the stick just because you had your heart broken... everyone seemed to cut Bella enough slack in the last book for a lot less. Sucks to be a supporting female character in these books, huh?
Note to Stephenie Meyer: Even you must think the Wuthering Heights references are a little over the top, right? Oh, and all your acknowledgements? Well, you're not cute too.(less)
JuliaI love you. <3 You took the words right out of my mouth, Melissa.
Apr 21, 2011 08:34am
Scarletit amazes me how much time people spend on writing reviews when they claim they hate the book/author/characters. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE BOOK, THEN WHY S...moreit amazes me how much time people spend on writing reviews when they claim they hate the book/author/characters. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE BOOK, THEN WHY SEARCH THROUGH ALL THE BOOKS ON HERE AND WRITE ON THE ONE YOU HATE? ridiculous.(less)
Aug 19, 2011 02:58pm
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? We...moreStephenie 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? Well, primarily, I’m invested in the phenomenon. Meyers was recently reviewed in The New York Times. I’ve seen no less than six people reading Twilight on the subway lately, and half of these folks were adults (including one businessman, briefcase and all). My Netflix envelopes all have ads for the upcoming flick. Barnes and Noble, The Strand, Amazon, and probably every bookstore owner who knows how to turn a buck are pumping who knows how much ad capital into publicizing the imminent release of the last installment. This is a thing now, a real thing, and it’s interesting to know what the kids are reading these days.
But honestly, the real reason I keep reading? Because I want to know if--after three epically long novels, an abyss of teenage drama and male dependency, a vampire war, and an impending marriage, Bella finally gets to have sex.
Yeah, I know. I sound like a dirty old man. But what do you want to bet that half the Meyers acolytes out there really want to see their heroine lose it, too. Meyers can congratulate herself—half the reading world under the age of 30 is suffering from a major case of vampire-lover-blue-balls right now. Just let Bella get some already.
Bella’s persistent, unabashed, and fanatical insistence on having sex is perhaps the most redeeming thing about this series. So much of Bella’s character is lamentable—she’s selfish and dependent and obsessive and melodramatic and can’t seem to grasp the basic consequences of any of her actions. But when it comes to hormones, Bella is remarkably uninhibited. She verbalizes what she wants—sex—and acts on it (at least tries to) without the least bit of embarrassment or abashedness. She is frank about her desires and ever-so-thankfully, has not once been punished for having them. (She’s also, it bears noting, pretty stringently opposed to the idea of marriage. As she tells Edward when he’s proposing to her, yet again, she never wanted to be That Girl. The girl who runs off and marries her boyfriend after graduating from high school in a small town.)
Bella’s rampant horniness and anti-marriage sentiments seem out of place within the sphere that Meyers has created. After all, Edward doesn’t want to have sex with Bella until they are married and claims that in his 90+ years he hasn’t had sex yet (he was waiting for the right lady, it seems). And eventually, Bella does cave. She agrees to get married, and randomly decides that she wants to wait until after the ceremony to have sex with Edward—even after he finally gives in to whatever hormonal impulses vampires have and tries to seduce her. But kudos to Meyers for allowing her characters to openly discuss sex—and even have Bella’s father urge her to ‘be safe’ when she has sex—without punishing them for doing so.
Bella’s sexuality is the only really interesting thing about her character. Other than that attribute, it appears that she exists solely as a plot device. The ultimate catalyst, she gives—inexplicably—all other characters in the book a purpose. She’s got two magical beings actively ‘fighting for her.’ Whole vampire armies are created solely to destroy her. Why does anyone care so much about this girl? I couldn’t tell you. But I suppose we should be glad that they all do though, because they are all so much more interesting. Even stalkeresque, one-track mind Edward. Eclipse is far more interesting than the previous two installments precisely because so much of the plot has little to do with Bella. We hear about the origins of the Quileute werewolves. Find out about Rosalie and Jasper’s lives before they became vampires. Subplots with minor characters abound.
The way I figure, Meyers has two options when it comes to completing her series—either go for gold and spend half of the book on super-sexy softcorn teen porn, or find someway to deflect the narrative away from Bella. But chances are, with Bella’s impending vampire transition, we’ll be isolated with her for another 500 pages.
Ok. I've decided to come here and write down a few thoughts.
Hello, I am 31withkids and I still love these stories like I'm 15.
I rarely feel this way about a book and the characters. Most of the time I read something and take it back to the library and that's it. There's just something about these people that get inside your head and they won't leave. I find myself pining for the next book in the series - not due out for another year! - in a way that I haven't since I ...moreOk. I've decided to come here and write down a few thoughts.
Hello, I am 31withkids and I still love these stories like I'm 15.
I rarely feel this way about a book and the characters. Most of the time I read something and take it back to the library and that's it. There's just something about these people that get inside your head and they won't leave. I find myself pining for the next book in the series - not due out for another year! - in a way that I haven't since I threw Wizard and Glass across the room and vowed not to read another Dark Tower book until Stephen King had finally written them all and I could sit and read them in one go. In that way I'm lucky I guess, since I only found Twilight a couple of weeks ago and didn't have to wait so long to get Eclipse. Now I'm with the rest of the readers, wringing my hands and waiting for the next installment.
Some thoughts though...
A lot of the people reviewing the book complain about Bella and how she's whiney and all. To me, Bella reads very true. Maybe because I was a Bella at that age - little to no self esteem, complete and total klutz (still haven't outgrown that one), ignored by boys (in Phoenix)... she doesn't seem all that whiney to me. More real, you know? If I'd come along upon a vampire at that age, I'm pretty sure I'd have been reacting along those same lines.
Edward - some say he's controlling. Maybe, a bit. But I see him looking at things through the lens of years. The things that aren't so important to Bella now, (and are a bit repulsive to her, like marriage) will be things that she will cherish in the future as time passes her by. And he's Edward. Come on.
So anyway. I do enjoy the books. Immensely. It brings me back to those times of heady emotion when you first meet THAT PERSON and you just know... It's a good thing to remember.(less)
MackenzieTotally agree with you about Bella.
Jan 22, 2012 03:57pm
CassandraIm 33 with two little girls & I totally agree with you....Im guilty of not reading the twilight saga books until after New Moon hit theaters. The boo...moreIm 33 with two little girls & I totally agree with you....Im guilty of not reading the twilight saga books until after New Moon hit theaters. The books characters are amazing (I wasn't to fond of Bella at 1st, no self esteem & gloomy attitude). But her journey thru the saga is uplifting! Im a hopeless romance....so this saga is like "a breath of fresh air." A true classic of NO MATTER WHAT THE ODDS, LOVE ALWAYS WINS! I continue to reread the saga over & over, each time enjoying it...hoping maybe Meyers will write individual character books about the Cullens, the Volturi & the La Push gang. We can only cross our fingers.....until than it was nice to see a fellow reader that loved the saga....happy reading!!!(less)
15 hours, 1 min ago
Okay, I gave two stars to this book because I kind of hate everything it stands for, but the facts remains the I've read ALL THREE books in this series cover to cover, and always feel a prick of glee when I get my hands on the newest one. I'm not sure what their diabolical pull on me is, and figuring it out would require the kind of self-analysis that would turn up things I'm sure I'd rather not know about. Here's the lowdown: Stephenie Meyer's books are hardcore teen romances with fangs-and-f...moreOkay, I gave two stars to this book because I kind of hate everything it stands for, but the facts remains the I've read ALL THREE books in this series cover to cover, and always feel a prick of glee when I get my hands on the newest one. I'm not sure what their diabolical pull on me is, and figuring it out would require the kind of self-analysis that would turn up things I'm sure I'd rather not know about. Here's the lowdown: Stephenie Meyer's books are hardcore teen romances with fangs-and-fur window dressing. Not being the hugest fan of romance as a genre, I was hoping the vampires and werewolves would complicate the obsessive peregrenations of the heart that the series chronicles. Unfortunately, they don't. Does anyone read these books and actually not realize that getting bitten by a vampire is just a huge, chicken-poop metaphor for the giving of a young woman's virginity? I wish Stephenie had made her books thoughtful explorations of what it means to develop and experiment with your sexuality as a young person/feel torn between your vampire and your werewolf suitors/escape near death at the hands of bloodthirsty monsters, but she hasn't. For Bella Swan, everytime things get hot and heavy, her boyfriend calmly asks her to wait until he's bitten and transformed her so that he doesn't accidentally eat her during sex. Girls, what do we learn about sleeping with our young men from this story? Yuck. Also, although Bella is presented as a passably intelligent young person, she spends about 99.9% of her time thinking about how much she loves her sanguine paramour. I don't know about you, but while I was certainly very interested in sex and all its permutations when I was in high school, I was also interested in radical politics, bad hardcore bands, soft drugs and getting enough sleep before my stupid Zero Period PE class. Bella has no hobbies; she spends all of her time taking care of, being taken care of by, and thinking about the men in her life. This is not the kind of message I'd like to be sending to young women today; I know fantasy is fantasy, and sometimes it's nice to indulge your stupider ones, but three books-worth? Please. So I guess what I'm saying is that I read all these books so I can warn folks away from them in an informed manner....yeah, that's it. Here's my recommendation, since it won't fit in the intended field: I recommend this book to those who are capable of wading through pages and pages of bullcrap in pursuit of gem-like moments of unintentional hilarity. (less)
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 w...moreI'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 ticked me off so badly in this one that while I felt sympathy for his situation, and understanding of his position, he lost a lot of respect from me by the way he treated Bella. From practically assaulting her with unwanted kisses, to barely even seeming to CARE that she BROKE HER HAND on his thick skull (jaw) trying to fend him off, to his constant immature belittlement of Edward/the Cullens even though he knew how much it bothered Bella... ARRRGH. Edward is SO MUCH MORE MATURE. Edward was willing to put forth the tiny bit of effort it took to start calling Jacob by his name, and TRY to treat him with greater courtesy for Bella's sake, whereas it took Jake forever to do so. I DO understand where Jake is coming from - what he is trying to make Bella see, so that she realizes she has another option for a loving, happy, mortal life - but I just think he is going about it in a very wrong way. (Even though he DID get through to her in the end.)
The scene in the tent. LOVVVVED this scene. It was kind of amusing that Bella had to be drifting off through it, or we wouldn't have gotten the scene at all (i.e. if Bella isn't awake for it, we can't know about it since the book is from her POV). This scene was GENIUS. I was so happy to see Edward and Jacob finally open up to each other and give some real answers, really communicate; also it was fascinating hearing Edward wax poetic on the exquisite torture he felt watching Jacob keep Bella warm, something he physically isn't capable of doing - or in fact, the torture he felt anytime Bella was with Jacob, even though he refused to show it in order to spare Bella pain. I loved that by the end, they really did understand each other a little better. Edward realizes that Jacob really isn't that bad of a guy, and Jacob does realize that Edward truly loves Bella. What really cemented my love for Edward over the "pushy, obnoxious dog" was the close to this scene (I'm paraphrasing here):
Edward: "You know, if we weren't natural enemies, and you weren't trying to steal the core of my existence, I might actually like you."
Jacob: "Yeah... if you weren't a disgusting vampire, and weren't trying to suck the life out of the girl I love... nahh, not even then."
AUUUUGH. It's so much nobler that Edward is willing to give Jake SOME credit, really try and look for some redeeming qualities, for Bella's sake. Immature, arrogant obnoxious dog. :p I love the line somewhere in there about "May the best MAN win." "That's exactly right, pup." Hahaha.
All in all I do think it's really important that Jacob does finally make his point - Bella IS in love with him. And she SHOULD have all the information so she can make an informed decision about her mortality. I'm just darn glad she knows IMMEDIATELY that although she is in love with Jacob, she is still deeper in love with Edward. *whew*
The whole scene after that, with Bella laying on the sleeping bag in the tent waiting for the avalanche to relieve her guilt over her feelings for Jacob, and then Edward's complete forgiveness (he even describes it as a consequence he has to accept for having left Bella earlier)... that whole section broke my heart and then sewed it back together again. I was so worried about how Bella's revelation about Jacob would be received by Edward that I actually cried in relief a little when he said "I'm not mad at you, love." *swoooooooooooon* That is one noble, completely mature and smitten vampire. *lol*
...I think these are probably some of the most angst-filled books I've ever read, and I don't even care!
Anyway, this book definitely tears things up emotionally but the resolution is sooooo worth it. Rosalie's and Jasper's stories are intriguing and sad, and I loved seeing them (especially Rosalie) make the effort to open up to Bella. She is most definitely part of the family already, vampire or not.
Other tidbits... I think Bella's request is perfectly legit, but I'm all proud of Edward for protecting his virtue. Hahahaha. What a great twist on the whole thing. Book four should certainly be interesting. *smirk* And... and... Edward giving Bella his mother's ring and finding out that it fits her perfectly... and his glorious, glowing joy... so great!
Oh, one more bit of asshattery, mostly redeemed: Charlie was being a jerkface for a lot of this book. I know he is incredibly furious at Edward for nearly destroying Bella by leaving - but then again, Edward did it because he actually thought it would be better for her, and tried to give her the option of not being with him. It's an option she just absolutely doesn't want. I couldn't believe how downright rude Charlie was being, though. Still, he mostly redeemed himself to me by being perceptive enough to realize that Bella is probably going to "leave," and by not standing in her way because he knows it is her choice. I'm glad he's being nicer to Edward now.
Aaaaaand... the whole imprinting thing is interesting. I really, REALLY hope Jacob imprints on someone, because I hate to think of him not having ANYONE since Bella has chosen Edward. The whole thing about Quil imprinting on a two-year-old was kind of hilarious. Oh, and Leah? Kinda snotty. But a good twist, to have a female werewolf.
Finally, jeez - in the end Bella saved her own life by insisting that Edward stay with her. Whee! The fight scenes were great, especially Edward just SIGHing at Bella in exasperation when he sees she's about to off herself to try and save him and Seth, and Jasper trying to "make sure Alice didn't have anything to do." Heh. Noble vampire boys.
I am soooooo looking forward to book 4. Please don't let me down, Stephenie Meyer! I am trusting you to get Bella properly wedded, bedded and bitten in this next book. XD
(...I think this HAS to be the longest GoodReads review I've ever written. Congrats to anyone who made it this far.)(less)
KathleenYour review has gotten me soooo excited about starting on this book. I'm gonna start it now!
Nov 01, 2009 03:10am
Athena Jane Cavanaugh the Pretty Little LiarI soooo totally agree with, u! Team Edward 4ever! I also saw that u like Percy Jackson. Its like, my fav book sereis (u know, next 2 Twilight). haha
...moreI soooo totally agree with, u! Team Edward 4ever! I also saw that u like Percy Jackson. Its like, my fav book sereis (u know, next 2 Twilight). haha
Team Edward 4ever and a Half-God Soulmate,
Athena Jane(less)
Feb 05, 2010 06:40am
Sarayya! me too i've always loved edward!!!!
Jun 19, 2010 05:49pm
Recommends it for: dumbasses that could care less about character developement
Recommended to Denys L.H. by:
a dumbass
This book just made me hate the Twilight series even more. It made me hate Bella and Edward more. Hell, it even made me hate Stephanie Meyer for not double-checking her stupidity all in 629 pages. But I do love Jacob ever so much now. He rules. They suck. End of story. I read the third novel because of my curiosity, and we all know, curiosity killed my brain. This is my review of the novel and my opinion. Anyone who is unhealthily obsessed with Edward or the novel should not be reading this unle...moreThis book just made me hate the Twilight series even more. It made me hate Bella and Edward more. Hell, it even made me hate Stephanie Meyer for not double-checking her stupidity all in 629 pages. But I do love Jacob ever so much now. He rules. They suck. End of story. I read the third novel because of my curiosity, and we all know, curiosity killed my brain. This is my review of the novel and my opinion. Anyone who is unhealthily obsessed with Edward or the novel should not be reading this unless you want a good kick in the face!
We are introduced with Jacob (my hero) writing a letter to Bitchface (Bella) and just like himself, has many flaws, but usually ends sweetly. Charlie is not so crazy about Edward like his dumbass daughter Bella is because he put her in such an emo mood. Still, he lets her have her freedom but to only use that freedom to talk to others and not waste time with Edward or Alice because she barely has any friends. What surprises me about Bella is that she is planning to go to college! However, since Edward is practically running her life now, it was he who made the choice for her.
He insults werewolves because they're his natural enemies and blah blah blah, she should not hang out with him, but she reassures him they're still her friends. That's Bella for ya! Making situations a whole lot complicated then they already are. Then, Alice has a vision about Victoria hurting Bella (hoorah!), but this usually means melodrama all around and will not end well.
Some other things happen that aren't important, but Bella making the moves on Edward. She wants to DO IT, while her vampire sweetheart doesn't, only to the condition if she marries him. Why? Because he's a gentleman like that... duh! She agrees either way, as long as they get to DO IT.
Throughout the story, Edward and Jacob have a temporary truce to protect Bella from Victoria and her slave of vampire zombies. What we come to realize is that Bella finally accepts the truth that she is also in love with Jacob. I hear threesome coming our way! Edward doesn't like the fact Jacob is all around his meal--- er, fiance. He and Bella are shallow in this novel which makes me want to hammer them both in frustration. Then, the war begins and of course, Victoria is defeated and will not have a chance to kill Bella. I told you this will not end well.
The ending sucks. It tells about how Bella and Edward are planning to marry, then do the naughty thing, then he'll turn her into a vampire. I SMELL EROTICA COMING UP. To rub it onto Jacob's adorable, non-perfect face, they invite him to their wedding which just sounds really unpleasant. I felt really sorry for him. I just wanted to hug him, give him a doggy treat, and tell him he deserved more than a prick, AM I RIGHT? I only wish this series would end up the way it should be (Bella and Edward dead). :D(less)
I imagine Stephenie Meyer at the high school party of the year; someone's parents are out of town for the weekend, and everyone is going. There she is, leaning against a wall somewhere, holding a cup of what has to be sprite, holding it in front of her like a defense; See, I have something to do. I'm chill. I don't mind that I'm standing here alone. She watches other people talking. There's Robert Louis Stevenson chatting up Mary Shelley, who is watching the door, hoping he will come in. Samuel Taylor Coleridge...moreI imagine Stephenie Meyer at the high school party of the year; someone's parents are out of town for the weekend, and everyone is going. There she is, leaning against a wall somewhere, holding a cup of what has to be sprite, holding it in front of her like a defense; See, I have something to do. I'm chill. I don't mind that I'm standing here alone. She watches other people talking. There's Robert Louis Stevenson chatting up Mary Shelley, who is watching the door, hoping he will come in. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was laughing earlier but now he's passed out on a sofa, sprawling around a couple that don't seem to care. There's music, too loud for delicate sensibilities, and one lone girl dancing in the middle of a cleared space. Her eyes are closed, she doesn't hear or see anything except the beat and she's moving, entirely on her own, like she's outside, not tied to this room with all these people she can't stand. She's mesmerizing to Stephenie. Stephenie wants that freedom. She wants to have the confidence to be in the middle of the room, everyone looking at her, if they're looking at anyone, and to be the talk of the school on Monday. Did you see Emily Brontë ? Man, she's out of her mind, they might say, but secretly they all know she's cooler than they are. Cooler than anyone.
Stephenie isn't cool. She goes home early and tells her mother everything that happened. I think there might have been drinking and everyone gets grounded and Stephenie doesn't get told about any more parties (or asked to the Prom, apparently something very important in her later life). She goes to college and tries to forget all about them. But there she reads Emily's book. Totally unexpected. They're the same age! How can she have something out already? Darn it to heck. I'll show her. I'll show all of them
So Stephenie takes Wuthering Heights, this crazy mess that manages to transcends its problems, that conveys such basic, true thoughts of love and passion and obsession and desire and hatred, that it can only be cool. Stephenie takes it, breaks it down (decomposes it as the techies like to say), and builds her own story around it.
And she gets it all wrong. That's the thing. It's all there. Heathcliff, Catherine, and Edgar Linton are in the love triangle for the ages once again. But somehow, Edward Cullen is more like Edgar Linton than Heathcliff. Jacob Black, the unruly werewolf, is the aggressive, bitter, passionate, manipulative bastard. Edward is polite and calm and rich and knows that he's the more mature, safer choice for Bella. Jacob is the one who is poor, undereducated, and has nothing but himself to offer. So why is Edward quoting Heathcliff? He understands Heathcliff's disappearance and then return. He resents the hell out of the man who moved in while he was away. He struggles not to act out because he knows it will upset Catherine Bella. The relationship of the three of them has made its way into Eclipse, so much of it in fact that it screams at you from the pages, but Meyers manages to divide the passion, the fire, of Heathcliff between Jacob and Edward (not evenly) and in doing so, dilutes it. She says over and over again how strongly everyone feels. I love you so much that I'll wait, should you choose him, until you leave him. It doesn't seem like either one really means it. They say it. They look pretty. They have smoldering eyes. But it isn't like Emily's dancing on the moors and howling at the moon.
Bella is the same: a weaker, sappier Catherine. Bella spends all of her time moaning about how selfish she is and crying over how much she is hurting the men she loves. Bella doesn't know what selfish is. Catherine owns it already and she isn't sharing. She is and will always be the center of attention. She thinks of no one but herself (Heathcliff being a part of herself). Bella has a moment of asking for something she wants and she's cutting herself moments later for having asked for anything for herself at all. She even compared herself to Catherine, because she was being selfish. Right. Sure. She is like the girl at the party who has one drink and runs around talking about how drunk she is while the older girls have shut her out of the back room where the serious activities are taking place.
I don't know why Eclipse makes me think of stupid high school activities. Oh wait, I do. It's like Ten Things I Hate About You, which I do think is kind of cute, but no matter how clever it is, it's never going to have the beautiful or strength of The Taming of the Shrew. And Eclipse isn't as clever as Ten Things. It's fine. It's better than the book that comes before it or the nightmare that follows it because, well, stuff happens; it isn't six hundred pages just of moaning and resisting temptation and marble chests. But if you are going to take on something like Wuthering Heights you'd better be ready to carry it all the way through. It better impress the hell out of me. Instead of beautiful chaos that you barely know how to absorb it's so hot; we got a confused mess that doesn't even warm the finger tips. (less)
Agh. What is the point of any of this? Edward is so dull and controlling and creepy. I think even a seventeen-year-old would need more than unearthly beauty and a nice car to inspire this epic, world-ending love.
Jacob is the only real character, and even he keeps forcing himself on Bella in unsettling ways.
The whole story is endless repetitions of
Character: I'm going to do X.
Other Character: I will not allow it.
Character: (does it anyway)
Other ...moreAgh. What is the point of any of this? Edward is so dull and controlling and creepy. I think even a seventeen-year-old would need more than unearthly beauty and a nice car to inspire this epic, world-ending love.
Jacob is the only real character, and even he keeps forcing himself on Bella in unsettling ways.
The whole story is endless repetitions of
Character: I'm going to do X.
Other Character: I will not allow it.
Character: (does it anyway)
Other Character: (is hurt) I TOLD you not to do that, but thank you.
Character: See? I would NEVER do anything to hurt you.
with pretty much everyone in the book taking one role or the other at some point.
I'm still going to read the next one, but if she doesn't end up with Jacob I'm going to be VERY UPSET.
saint francesjacob is way too cool for that dumb ho, IMO
Oct 16, 2009 11:58am
StephI think reading fat books is boring but I can't wait for the movie so I'm gonna read the really fat book of almost 700 pages I love twilight! Jacob is...moreI think reading fat books is boring but I can't wait for the movie so I'm gonna read the really fat book of almost 700 pages I love twilight! Jacob is so hot(less)
updated
Jan 16, 2010 09:18am
I was very disappointed in this book. I liked Twilight and enjoyed New Moon, but this installment felt like a dime romance novel to me. She didn't introduce any new characters and spent the whole book on the love triangle between Edward, Bella, and Jacob. I felt like the love scenes were cheesy and tiresome. I also felt that Bella was whiney and initiating. Doesn't she understand that she can't have 2 boyfriends? This seems to be a foreign concept to her. In addition, Meyer has taken Bella...moreI was very disappointed in this book. I liked Twilight and enjoyed New Moon, but this installment felt like a dime romance novel to me. She didn't introduce any new characters and spent the whole book on the love triangle between Edward, Bella, and Jacob. I felt like the love scenes were cheesy and tiresome. I also felt that Bella was whiney and initiating. Doesn't she understand that she can't have 2 boyfriends? This seems to be a foreign concept to her. In addition, Meyer has taken Bella from a bold heroine and turned her into an annoying little girl whose eternal existence depends completely upon the men in her life. She even says to Jacob that she has no choices. For most of New Moon and almost all of Eclipse Bella acts like the fainting women in silent movies that must carried everywhere and protected by their male companions. Do we really want to be spreading a message to young girls that without a strong man in their life they have no purpose to live? Please! This was such a disappointment for me.(less)
**spoilers for Wuthering Heights, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn**
"From the Pride and Prejudice-like coming together through a series of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of feelings keeping the pair apart in Twilight, to the Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers story and close-to-tragic moment in New Moon, to the love triangle in Eclipse and its parallels to Wuthering Heights, the Twilight saga is an homage to these great love stories and works of literat...more**spoilers for Wuthering Heights, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn**
"From the Pride and Prejudice-like coming together through a series of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of feelings keeping the pair apart in Twilight, to the Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers story and close-to-tragic moment in New Moon, to the love triangle in Eclipse and its parallels to Wuthering Heights, the Twilight saga is an homage to these great love stories and works of literature."
http://www.squidoo.com/bellaswan
Wuthering Heights is nothing like Eclipse. It's not a love triangle and it's certainly not romantic. It's not a love triangle if you know the girl only wants one of the two boys who want her, it’s a love triangle if she’s torn between the two of them. And what’s romantic about a pair of lovers who betray and torture each other with their selfishness?
But here’s the interesting thing – Meyer casts the boys the wrong way around. Either that or she’s never read Wuthering Heights. In her version, Bella (Cathy) didn't know Edward (Heathcliff) in her childhood, she knew Jacob (Edgar). She doesn't marry Jacob (Edgar), she marries Edward (Heathcliff). But in Wuthering Heights, Cathy (Bella) marries handsome Edgar (Jacob) over soulmate Heathcliff (Edward). Therefore, Edward is really Edgar, and Jacob is really Heathcliff.
However, in Eclipse, Edwards says he identifies with Heathcliff. A physically abusive, emotionally abusive, mentally abusive madman. An uneducated loaf who, because the 'love of his life' marries someone else, deigns to destroy the current generation by running off with Cathy's sister in law and inflicts misery on the next generation by keeping Cathy’s nephew Hareton uneducated and as a servant, keeping his own son Linton miserable and ill without a doctor in attendance, and kidnapping Cathy’s daughter Catherine, physically abusing her, and forcing her to marry Linton so he can control all of her wealth as well as the wealth he stole off her uncle, Hindley (Hareton's father). Not only that, but this brute of a ‘gentleman’ tortures animals, as well. I’ll let Nelly provide the proof:
My surprise and perplexity were great on discovering, by touch more than vision, Miss Isabella’s springer, Fanny, suspended by a handkerchief, and nearly at its last gasp. I quickly released the animal… I repeatedly caught the beat of horses’ feet galloping at some distance… though it was a strange sound, in that place, at two o’clock in the morning.
This is the man Edward identifies with. A man who would hang an innocent and helpless dog and then run off with its empty-headed mistress at two o’clock in the morning. That’s where his creeper tendencies came from. No doubt he crept into Isabella’s bedroom and watched her sleep, as well!
Yeah, makes perfect sense. Heathcliff is NOT a desirable character, yet Edward identifies with him.
Does that leave Bella to identify with Cathy? A spoiled little bitch who forgoes the real love of her life to marry some guy "because he is handsome"? Does that mean that Bella doesn't really love Edward, she just can't see past his sparkly emo facade to the real simpering weakling underneath? The kind of person who only appeals to Cathy/Bella because he is rich and handsome?
Then I put her through the following catechism: for a girl of twenty-two it was not injudicious.
‘Why do you love him, Miss Cathy?’
‘Nonsense, I do—that’s sufficient.’
‘By no means; you must say why?’
‘Well, because he is handsome, and pleasant to be with.’
‘Bad!’ was my commentary.
‘And because he is young and cheerful.’
‘Bad, still.’
‘And because he loves me.’
‘Indifferent, coming there.’
‘And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband.’
Good reasons to marry a man? I should think not. But what's worse, here are Cathy's reasons as to why she loves Edgar Linton:
‘… And now, say how you love him?’
‘As everybody loves—You’re silly, Nelly.’
‘Not at all—Answer.’
‘I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, and everything he touches, and every word he says. I love all his looks, and all his actions, and him entirely and altogether. There now!’
‘And why?’
‘Nay; you are making a jest of it: it is exceedingly ill-natured! It’s no jest to me!’ said the young lady, scowling, and turning her face to the fire.
‘I’m very far from jesting, Miss Catherine,’ I replied. ‘You love Mr. Edgar because he is handsome, and young, and cheerful, and rich, and loves you. The last, however, goes for nothing: you would love him without that, probably; and with it you wouldn’t, unless he possessed the four former attractions.’
‘No, to be sure not: I should only pity him—hate him, perhaps, if he were ugly, and a clown.’
Yep, sounds like Bella to me. If Edward was The Hunchback of Notre Dame she wouldn’t look twice at him, and if he was the deformed Phantom of the Opera (not the Gerard Butler version, but the real version where he’s a 50 year old man and she’s a woman of twenty) (now that’s a real love triangle) there is not a snowflake’s chance in Hell that she’s consider anyone other than the handsome, rich young man that sweeps her off her feet, even if he is busy grooming her for an abusive relationship.
Here’s a small snippet that reminds me of Bella’s relationship with Edward and his sister Alice.
She seemed almost over-fond of Mr. Linton; and even to his sister she showed plenty of affection.
Here’s another segment I found that reminds me off Bella’s depression in New Moon:
Catherine had seasons of gloom and silence now and then: they were respected with sympathising silence by her husband (see: Bella’s father, Charlie), who ascribed them to an alteration in her constitution, produced by her perilous illness (see: perilous break-up); as she was never subject to depression of spirits before.
And here’s a section I found amusing:
‘If I were only sure it would kill him,’ she interrupted, ‘I’d kill myself directly!
Well, we’re all aware that Bella was only one step away from suicide in New Moon just to get Edward’s attention.
And here’s the funniest part of the whole book, which reflects exactly why Bella’s a Mary-Sue: because she’s based on the most horrendous stuck-up snobby spoiled bitch-masquerading-as-a-heroine in all of classic literature:
“I thought, though everybody hated and despised each other, they could not avoid loving me.’
BAHAHA! No one can avoid loving Bella. Despite being not particularly good-looking or interesting, she instantly gains the attention of all the boys at her new school and also the one boy who is disinterested in every other girl even when they throw themselves at him (like Bella’s kind of bitchy friend and that vampire chick from the Denali clan).
But here's the rub. With Edward playing the role of Edgar, Jacob - the boy who comes off second best in the Eclipse love triangle, plays the role of Heathcliff, the man who comes off second best in the Wuthering Heights love triangle. Heathcliff is an angry force of nature that inflicts misery on two generations of the Earnshaw-Linton family. Jacob has anger issues, worse even than Edward does. Jacob is definitely Heathcliff. This is where the comparison between the two gets iffy, and anyone who’s read Wuthering Heights would know it’s not a good comparison to Eclipse. Cathy has Edgar’s baby, and Bella has Edward’s. Heathcliff runs away when the baby is born, and so does Jacob. Yet over and over again, the story shows how Cathy loves Heathcliff more than Edgar Linton, and Heathcliff loves Cathy more than anything else in the world. The two torture each other with their love. Cathy’s love for Edgar pales in comparison. She clearly only wants Heathcliff, yet she's a selfish stuck up spoiled little cow and she marries Edgar for a whole bunch of shallow reasons. And here's what Cathy has to say about her love for Heathcliff:
"My love for [Edgar] Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He’s always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
And who does Bella end up with?
Now we know for a fact that Edward hasn’t read the book, and I cast aspersions on whether Meyer did as well, or if she didn’t understand it. It’s not a complex story. It’s blindingly obvious. How could Meyer have got it so wrong?
So: who’s read Wuthering Heights? What do you think of the comparison to Eclipse?
DianaHi. You don't know me, but I think you and this review are awesome! Exactly what I've never been able to say about this silly comparison.
Jan 12, 2012 08:34pm
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. Ecl...moreIt'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. The writing improved dramatically. I think Stephenie Meyer suddenly remembered some of her college-learned writing techniques and realized what was missing in her previous work. I'd like to say she found a better editor, but I don't think so. Although, while the editing is still lacking, it 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.
(less)
DeniseI feel like Holly's review is right on. I thought Twilight was excellent, but I could barely get through New Moon, and now, against my better judgemen...moreI feel like Holly's review is right on. I thought Twilight was excellent, but I could barely get through New Moon, and now, against my better judgement, I'm reading Eclipse.
Yes, in real life, I don't believe he would be interested in Bella at all. I also don't believe he would choose to be in a teenage body and going to high school. However, if the author did not make him that way, then how could she market the book to young readers?
I hope I'll like Eclipse. I'm not very far into it.(less)
updated
Feb 25, 2009 02:53am
AbbyI've read all your reviews and I think you should definitely read Twilight: The Official Illustrated Guide. It goes into depth of the characters more,...moreI've read all your reviews and I think you should definitely read Twilight: The Official Illustrated Guide. It goes into depth of the characters more, has an FAQ, and interviews with Stephanie Meyer. I noticed that in your reviews you talked a lot about how you didn't like the writing style and the editing- though I agree that it is mostly the editor's fault, Stephanie says in her interview that now, as a more experienced writer, when she goes back and reads the book Twilight, she notices so many mistakes, and even mentions how things she writes can be too sappy and unbelievable. Just a thought. Another thing I want to point out (though I'm trying reallly hard not too, just to avoid sounding like a know-it-all fangirl) is that in Breaking Dawn and in the Twilight Illustrated Guide, they mention that when you become a vampire, your brain stops developing beyond the age that you were changed in. So even though Edward has lived 100- give or take- years, he still has the mind of a 17 year old. Just a more educated 17 year old. So he's still going to act like a 17 year old boy.(less)
Sep 11, 2011 08:41pm
I tried to like "Eclipse." I really did. However, I just couldn't get into it. First, it's way too long. Major events don't really happen until the last fourth of the book. The rest is basically a love triangle drama. Additionally, it's patently obvious to the reader that Victoria is behind the killings in Seattle from the beginning. I mean, are the characters in this book really that shortsighted?
This book also solidified my complete dislike of Bella. One of the incredibly...moreI tried to like "Eclipse." I really did. However, I just couldn't get into it. First, it's way too long. Major events don't really happen until the last fourth of the book. The rest is basically a love triangle drama. Additionally, it's patently obvious to the reader that Victoria is behind the killings in Seattle from the beginning. I mean, are the characters in this book really that shortsighted?
This book also solidified my complete dislike of Bella. One of the incredibly annoying things about her is her views about turning into a vampire. She seems incredibly callous, with little real thought of the consequences of her actions. Does she really get that she's giving up her family and friends forever? Has she really thought about the fact that she'll probably be a bloodsucking monster bent on killing humans for the first few years? She doesn't seem to have any moral qualms about these issues. It's like they don't really matter in the face of her all consuming (and really unhealthy) love for Edward. Ugh. Another annoying aspect is that she seems obsessed with the age difference between her and Edward. She refuses to wait to turn, but it seems largely because she doesn't want to be "older" than Edward (who was turned when he was 17 or so). Yeah, the whole Volturi thing is hanging over them, but Bella seems more concerned about being as young and beautiful as Edward. Seems shallow to me.
Another annoying thing. Why does everyone in the Cullen family have a tragic past? This books reveals Jasper and Rosalie's pasts and they are, of course, tragic. Seems overwrought to me.
I also have to be honest. I find Edward one-dimensional. I get it, he's hot and sensitive. Yippee.
The one character I do still enjoy in this book is Jacob Black, even if he is all depressed and lovelorn throughout most of the novel. I found one line of his particularly nice. (It basically explains why the title is "Eclipse"). The epilogue in his voice was initially confusing though. It took me a moment to realize we were switching to his perspective.
Overall, you should read this if you want to keep up on popular YA novels, but don't expect much unless you're already a fan of the series. If you do want some good vampire stories (including some that don't include sexy, romantic, doe-eyed vamps), check out "Baltimore, or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire," "Silver Kiss," the 30 Days of Night graphic novels, early Anita Blake novels (before they became sex fests) or watch the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV series. (less)
I would like to have children at some point. And if they are female children and if Twilight is still popular when they become teenagers (one never knows) I’m going to pull a mean mom act and forbid them from reading anything from this series UNTIL they’ve read “I Capture the Castle” first, which I think is one of those books that every girl who is or any woman who ever was a teenage girl must read. Fantastic, fantastic book. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so.
So anyway...moreI would like to have children at some point. And if they are female children and if Twilight is still popular when they become teenagers (one never knows) I’m going to pull a mean mom act and forbid them from reading anything from this series UNTIL they’ve read “I Capture the Castle” first, which I think is one of those books that every girl who is or any woman who ever was a teenage girl must read. Fantastic, fantastic book. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so.
So anyway, I’m a bit of a Twilight naysayer (yeah, I know, go ahead and do your boo-hiss act on me, I’ve steeled myself for it). I’m too analytical to enjoy these books at face value (my own fault, I admit). Personally, I’d rather chew my own arm off than be romantically involved with someone who is as controlling as Edward. I think Jacob is the only character who’s actually been developed using the “show, don’t tell” method. And I think Bella is the most god-awful twit I’ve ever encountered in literature. Oh. And she’s a Mary-Sue.
Reading Twilight gives me flashbacks to the 18-month period of my life that was spent reading Harry Potter fan fiction, most of which is horrifically bad with only one or two exceptions.
***spoilers past this point***
The problem I’ve had from the beginning of this series has mostly been with the uncomfortably high level of angst that never cools. But also with the fact that Bella and Edward never had any real courtship. She saw him and immediately ceased to be herself. If he wasn’t around, she turned into an empty shell of a human being and became completely worthless as an individual.
For his part, he smelled her blood and was instantly hooked. There was never a tentative spark followed by a period of falling in love and growing together. Their love was too instantaneous. The way I see it, that ain’t love. Obsession? Yes. Addiction? Yes. Unhealthy teenage infatuation? Oh hell yes. And I’m sorry, but those things don’t make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Worried and concerned but most definitely not warm and fuzzy.
I suppose one could potentially argue their case by saying it was proof of that fantastic fairy tale dream we call “true love” or “love at first sight.” And so it was with that dubious explanation that I’ve continued to read this series even though I am fairly critical of it. And also, let’s face it, for the entertainment factor alone, Stephenie Meyer’s definitely got it going on. Oh. And yes, I do plan on borrowing the fourth installment from my local library!
So anyway, take the fact that I never really “got” Bella and Edward in love and imagine my surprise when twerpy Bella marches onto the pages of this third installment of the series and proceeds to feign shock and utter amazement when she learns that “imprinting” is essentially the werewolf version of love at first sight.
Jacob’s eyes strayed to the ocean. “Sam did love Leah. But when he saw Emily, that didn’t matter anymore. Sometimes…we don’t exactly know why…we find our mates that way.” His eyes flashed back to me, his face reddening. “I mean…our soul mates.”
“What way? Love at first sight?” I snickered.
Jacob wasn’t smiling. His dark eyes were critical of my reaction. “It’s a little bit more powerful than that. More absolute.”
“Sorry,” I muttered. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Love at first sight? But more powerful?” My voice still sounded dubious, and he could hear that.
So okay, will someone please explain to me why Bella is so confounded by someone else’s ability to experience love at first sight? A concept that has clearly already occurred in this particular world that Meyer has created??? Because the way I see it, that’s exactly how it happened for her and Edward, right? RIGHT?!? I don’t understand why this is such a shocking concept for her to grasp. To me, this is just one incident in many that shows how Bella is immature, selfish and completely clueless about the world around her (like most teenagers).
Okay, so please permit me to attempt to identify here...
During my senior year of high school, it felt like every single person I spoke to was quizzing me about my future. My family wanted to know what my plans were. Teachers were relentless. People from church wanted to know what I saw myself doing. So what do you say? You say, “Well, of course I’m going to college. And once I get there, I’ll choose a major after I’ve had a chance to take some classes and explore my options. I’m not sure what yet because I’m interested in so many things, such as bla bla bla and bla bla bla.” Which wasn’t entirely true except it kept people off my back and that was the point.
The same thing happened my senior year of college with graduation just around the corner. What are you going to do with your life? What comes next? So I gave the bullshit answers. Told people what they expected to hear. But when I talked to my friends or when I talked to my mom (who is an amazing woman, by the way) I could be honest and felt myself admitting that I had no idea what I wanted, that I had no idea what to do with my life and that I found it concerning that me, a shy young person, was given the responsibility of making decisions that would dramatically impact the life of some grown-up who didn’t even exist yet but who I desperately wanted to see succeed in her life and be happy when her time came (See? Even as a kid I was always been overly-analytical, especially with myself).
And therein lies the crux of the problem I have with this book and with Bella. She terrifies me as a person. She hasn’t become her own person and is putting herself in a situation that could potentially mean that she never does. She’s way too young to make any types of decisions that make sense. She’s selfish. She’s immature. She is a generic teenage girl. She could be anybody. And I can’t identify with her anymore because the entire time I’m thinking, “NOOOOO!!!! GIRLFRIEND, NOOOOO!!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WTF YOU'RE DOING!”
All that said, I’m sure things will work out for her and based on the reviews/spoilers I’ve read from the fourth book in this series, it seems like it does, which is nice. Life has a funny way of ironing out the kinks over time and people are wonderfully resilient. When I think about some of the problems I dug myself into as a young adult I’m amazed that I managed to recover from them. And looking back on decisions I made 10+ years ago, there are actually very few things I’d change. The mistakes and bad choices I made shaped me as a person and learning how to mold my life to fit those decisions has made me into a person I’m okay being. So I know the same thing probably will happen for Bella and I just need to back the eff off and leave her alone, even though every fiber of my being is screaming at her to BE RATIONAL, which she just isn’t mature enough to be at this point in time.
Okay. Clearly I am thinking too hard. Again. Buuuut…I’ve been doing that a lot lately…. I’m turning 30 soon and apparently this is how I deal with it. I blame poor, defenseless characters in books for my own thoughts and questions and hopes and wishes for both the past and the future. But it does make me think about it so maybe that’s an okay thing.(less)
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 quest...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.
Kau mencintaiku lebih dari yang pantas kuterima (h. 559)
Love is Forever..(Muse, Neutron Star Collision)
***
Hanya mereka yang mau membaca dengan fair dan tanpa pretensi menghakimi lebih dulu akan bilang bahwa ini novel bagus. Yup, sekali lagi, novel ini cukup bagus. Silakan saja buat mereka yang sudah baca Twilight Saga dan kecewa berat dengan cerita sosok vampir di buku inih. Mereka yang berharap menemu...moreEclipse,
Adakah takaran yang pantas dalam cinta?
Kau mencintaiku lebih dari yang pantas kuterima (h. 559)
Love is Forever..(Muse, Neutron Star Collision)
***
Hanya mereka yang mau membaca dengan fair dan tanpa pretensi menghakimi lebih dulu akan bilang bahwa ini novel bagus. Yup, sekali lagi, novel ini cukup bagus. Silakan saja buat mereka yang sudah baca Twilight Saga dan kecewa berat dengan cerita sosok vampir di buku inih. Mereka yang berharap menemukan sosok atau kisah vampir seperti yang mereka kenal dan inginkan selama ini boleh banget kecewa. Dan sayah mengucapkan : “Selamat berkecewa ria”.
Tapi maaf saja. Menurut anggapan sayah, Stephanie Meyer (SM) yang berumur 37 tahun ini memang menciptakan sosok vampir versinya sendiri yang tidak harus terpaku baku dengan kisah2 sosok vampir yang sudah jadi konsumsi umum selama ini. Selain bertubuh dingin sekeras marmer dan punya kekuatan luar biasa, vampir keluarga Cullen ciptaan SM ini juga bisa dibilang tergolong “vegetarian-moralis-humanis” karena mereka tidak mengisap darah manusia, meski mereka tetap bisa melakukannya. Tubuh mereka juga bisa berpendar cahaya bak pualam jika ditimpa cahaya matahari. Artinya mereka bisa berkeliaran bebas di siang bolong, tidak anti cahaya matahari. Dan mereka juga tidak mempan disalib, atau bawang putih, maupun peluru perak. Lagi pula vampir (dan werewolf) ciptaan SM juga punya legenda dan aturan hidup sendiri. Apa salahnya dengan itu? Tidakkah itu juga bisa dinilai sebagai bentuk keunikan dan fiksi tersendiri, sekaligus kreativitas pengarang? Toh bagaimana pun semua kisah vampir adalah fiksi.
Sama halnya dengan mereka yang bilang bahwa JK Rowling enak bener bikin kisah penyihir dan dunia sihir di Harry Potter. Dia bisa sebebas2nya bikin karakter, mantra2 dan kejadian2/peristiwa macam apa pun di novelnya. Alasannya mudah sekali: namanya juga dunia sihir, semua hal bisa terjadi, bisa dibikin2. Dan tentu alasan pamungkas ala apologetik dari si penulis pun bisa diseret ke tengah sidang pembaca fiksi: namanya juga cerita fiksi, terserah saya donk mau bikin kaya apa. Dan dengan itu pula alasan yang sama berlaku: penilaian pembaca pun boleh sebebas2nya donk. Suka-gak suka, muak-gak muak, terserah ajah.
Jadi maksud sayah, kalo JK Rowling bisa membuat keunikan dan kehebatan dengan cerita dunia sihirnya maka SM pun bisa membuat cerita yang juga unik dan menggelora dengan menghadirkan kisah cinta vampir-manusia-werewolf. Sayah bukan bermaxut hendak membandingkan JKR dan SM, karena menurut sayah karya keduanya masing-masing punya kelebihan dan kekurangan. Yang ingin sayah katakan dan tekankan adalah bahwa justru letak kelebihan dan keunikan karya SM ini adalah di kisah cinta vampir-manusia-werewolf-nya yang membuat dia bisa menggali dan mengembangkan cerita yang unik, menarik diikuti dan dinikmati, bukan sekadar kisah cinta antar manusia seperti biasa.
Jadi memang sedari awal sejak di buku Twilight yang pertama, saga ini memang bukanlah kisah tentang vampir, kawan, melainkan kisah cinta adanya. Dan kalau sudah bicara cinta maka lagi2 kita ingat rumus pertama dan utama: sejak kapan cinta masuk akal? Sejak kapan cinta tidak lebay? Karena cinta mengatasi segalanya, katanya. Konon begitulah katanya. Silakan bagi para pakar cinta yang ingin urun rembug menyanggah atau memberikan pendapat.
Kemasan Yup, kemasan memang. Sekali lagi memang kemasan kuncinya, alias bagaimana cara menuliskannya. SM mengemas ceritanya dengan cara yang, terusterang saja cukup bagus. SM bahkan bisa dibilang seorang pencerita ulung. Dia benar-benar mempersiapkan plot ceritanya dengan cukup baik dan matang—setidaknya sampai buku ke-3 inih. Gaya berceritanya pun mengalir, gaya bahasanya simpel, enak dibaca, mudah diresapi dan dicerna, juga membikin pembaca penasaran.
Cara SM menghadirkan karakter2 seperti Bella, Edward dan Jacob, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie dan yang lainnya bisa dibilang lumayan cukup bagus, bisa merasuk sampai ke alam pikiran pembaca. Cara dia mengemas dan memainkan plot ceritanya, menggambarkan suasana alam, suasana hati Bella hingga ke alam pikirannya, detil gerak-gerik dan emosi tokoh2nya, dialog2nya, rangkaian kalimatnya, cukup enak dibaca, mengalir, mudah dicerna, cukup cerdas dan bisa menyentuh. Stephenie Meyer samasekali bukan penulis picisan. Dia tau betul teknik menulis cerita yang menarik. Bahkan ada pembaca luar yang menulis seperti ini: She's the great untapped potential of our time. She was born with such an innate gift for storytelling.It's uncanny. I mean, as a storyteller, she's one of those six-out-of-five-stars kind of talents. Bahkan Meyer was ranked #49 on Time magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential People in 2008" (Wikipedia)
Apakah orang yang memang jarang membaca novel-novel kisah cinta semacam ini (seperti sayah) akan serta merta seolah langsung tersihir dengan mengatakan bahwa novel ini cukup bagus atau sangat bagus? Mungkin, boleh jadi. Tapi mungkin akan terasa lebih fair dan bisa dinilai jika suatu karya dibandingkan dengan karya lain yang sejenis. Silakan para pakar pembaca kisah cinta boleh punya bagian dalam hal ini. Tapi sejauh pengamatan sayah yang memang jam terbangnya masih pendek di jenis bacaan seperti ini (ciklit dan sekitarnyah), menurut sayah dari sedikit novel kisah cinta yang pernah saya baca dan sebagian besar memang langsung saya tinggalkan karena tidak bisa menikmatinya, maka novel SM ini terbilang cukup bagus. Terjemahannya pun cukup bagus, luwes, tidak kaku. Terbukti sayah betah sangat menikmati membacanya dan sudah menamatkan hingga buku ke-3 ini dalam waktu baca efektif kurang dari 2 bulan untuk ukuran buku 520 hlm buku 1, 600 hlm buku 2, dan 668 hlm buku 3 (termasuk cepat buat sayah..hehe..) Dan menurut sayah dan banyak orang lain juga mengatakan bahwa buku ke-3 ini dari segi penceritaannya lebih bagus dari kedua buku sebelumnya. Bahkan ada yang membaca buku 3 ini hanya dalam sehari semalam tamat sampai pagi katanya.
Okelah, mari dibahas soal bagus-gak bagus. Buat sayah sih bagus itu yang pertama adalah soal keterbacaan. Artinya, selama buku itu cukup enak dibaca, rangkaian kalimatnya mengalir luwes, mudah dicerna, tidak berat, njelimet dan membosankan dan pilihan katanya juga bagus dan cerdas dan saya bisa menikmatinya maka buat saya buku itu udah cukup bagus. Jadi sekali lagi, yang sayah tekankan adalah soal keterbacaan. Kalo soal cerita, plot, karakter dan yang lainnya itu adalah soal berikutnya. Ketika alur cerita, gaya bahasa, permainan plot dan penggambaran karakter, penggambaran setting ruang-waktunya hingga ke dialog2nya menurut saya cerdas, menyentuh dan tidak picisan, maka buku itu buat saya sudah sangat layak dibilang buku bagus. Dan Eclipse ini buat saya adalah buku seperti itu. Novel ini hadir dengan keseluruhan paket itu. Yang jelas buat sayah buku ini dari segi keterbacaan tadi cukup layak dibaca dan bisa dinikmati. Typo? Maaf tidak ada secuil pun cacat typo di buku inih, tak sehuruf pun.
Buat mereka yang tidak suka dengan cerita dan karakter tokoh2nya ya silakan sajah. Buat sayah banyaknya orang yang suka dan tidak suka dengan karakter yang ada di buku ini justru malah menunjukkan bahwa SM berhasil menggambarkan karakter tokoh ciptaannya dengan cukup kuat, merasuk, berkesan ke pembaca, baik itu kesan suka atau tidak suka.
Dan kalau mereka gak suka, kenapa juga rela bersedia membuang waktu membaca hingga tamat buku yang tebal totalnya (buku 1, 2, 3, 4) lebih dari 2000 (duaribu) halaman?! Kalo sayah sudah gak suka dengan 1 buku, misalnya di beberapa halaman awal dan ketika coba di-skimming juga tidak suka maka sayah tidak akan rela membuang waktu buat membacanya, sayah akan langsung meninggalkannya di detik pertama. Apakah lantas orang yang gak suka tapi membaca sampe tamat itu seperti kata Nielam, termasuk jenis makhluk atau “orang2an sawah” yang sekarang sering disebut ”alay = anak layangan”? Suka tapi bilangnya gak suka? Malu2 kucing gituh? Malu2 tapi mau? Entahlah. Bukan hak dan wewenang sayah untuk menilai.
Sayah sadar betul selera orang memang berbeda. Dan sayah tidak bermaxut memaksa orang untuk suka dengan buku inih. Tapi menurut pertimbangan akal sehat tentu kita bisa menilai secara fair dan objektif novel yang baik itu seperti apa. Cara bercerita yang baik itu seperti apa. Menurut ukuran2 teknik bercerita, misalnya dari aspek ide cerita, penggambaran karakter, plot cerita, gaya bahasa, setting, konflik2nya seperti apa. Kalo kita mau menilai dari ukuran2 teknis yang objektif seperti itu maka di ujung sana nanti sayah tetap berkesimpulan: novel ini cukup bagus, sangat layak dibaca, dan bisa dinikmati. Yang belum baca maka silakan baca untuk bisa menilai dengan fair dan objektif. Open your eyes, guys, open your mind, and open your heart. Don't be narrow minded..
Buat kalian yang keberatan dengan sosok yang nyaris sempurna tanpa cacat seperti Edward “pualam” Cullen mungkin kalian lupa bahwa bahwa manusia terlahir dengan 2 kutub potensi: malaikat atau iblis. Yang kalian lihat pada Edward tidak lain memang sosok vampir berhati emas laksana malaikat. Well, bagaimana pun Edward juga dulunya adalah manusia. Dan hei, lagi pula ini cerita fiksi bukan? Pembelaan apologetik? Kemasan memang penting, kawan, lagi2 cara menuliskannya.
Dan buat mereka yang masih memandang picisan kisah cinta young adult ala sinetron, opera sabun ato romantis2an, sayah cuma pingin bilang, gak perlu repot2 rasis sama cinta..hahaha..
***
Well, baiklah sayah tidak mau sekadar cuap2, berpanjang2 dengan taburan omong kosong tak berarti. Berikut inih sayah beri bukti tentang sederet hal2 yang saya sebut bagus di atas. Meski tidak sepenuhnya bisa mewakili keseluruhan isi 668 hlm buku ini, kutipan2 berikut ini mudah2an bisa menjadi gambaran bagusnya buku ini.
Di hlm 127-129. Ini salah satu dialog yang sayah suka, yaitu ketika Bella lagi berduaan dengan Jacob dan Jacob mengibaratkan hubungan antara Bella dan Edward seperti ini:
“Lihat itu,” potong Jacob, menuding seekor elang yang menukik tajam menuju laut dari ketinggian luar biasa. Elang itu naik lagi pada menit terakhir, hanya cakarnya yang memecah permukaan ombak, hanya sedetik. Lalu elang itu membubung tinggi lagi ke udara, sayapnya mengepak-ngepak, berjuang naik dengan ikan besar dalam cengkeraman cakarnya.
“Kau melihatnya di mana-mana,” kata Jacob, suaranya tiba-tiba terdengar jauh. “Alam berjalan apa adanya—pemburu dan mangsa, putaran hidup dan mati yang tak pernah berakhir.”
Aku tidak mengerti maksud Jacob menguliahiku tentang alam; kupikir ia hanya ingin mengganti topik. Tapi kemudian ia menunduk dan menatapku dengan sorot geli di matanya.
“Meskipun begitu, kau tidak pernah melihat si ikan berusaha mencium si elang. Itu tidak pernah terjadi.” Jacob nyengir mengejek.
Aku balas nyengir dengan kaku, meskipun kesinisan itu masih melekat di mulutku. “Mungkin ikannya sudah berusaha,” kataku. “Sulit menerka apa yang dipikirkan si ikan. Elang itu burung yang tampan sekali, kau tahu.”
“Jadi itukah intinya?”Suara Jacob mendadak terdengar lebih tajam. “Ketampanan?”
“Jangan tolol, Jacob.”
“Masalah uang, kalau begitu?” desaknya.
“Bagus sekali,” gerutuku, berdiri. ”Aku tersanjung karena serendah itu anggapanmu tentangku.” Aku berbalik dan berjalan menjauh.
“Aduh, jangan marah.” Jacob berada tepat di belakangku; disambarnya pergelangan tanganku dan dibalikannya tubuhku. “Aku serius! Aku sedang berusaha memahami motivasimu, tapi tidak bisa.”
Alisnya bertaut marah, dan matanya hitam dalam naungan bayangan.
“Aku mencintainya. Bukan karena dia tampan atau kaya!” Kusemburkan kata itu pada Jacob. “Aku lebih suka kalau dia tidak tampan dan tidak kaya. Itu akan sedikit menghilangkan jurang perbedaan di antara kami—karena dia tetaplah orang yang paling penuh cinta, paling tidak egois, paling brilian, dan paling baik yang pernah kukenal. Tentu saja aku cinta padanya. Apa sulitnya memahami itu?”
“Itu mustahil dipahami.”
“Tolong kauberitahu aku, kalau begitu, Jacob.” Aku sengaja membuat suaraku terdengar sinis. “Apa alasan terpenting bagi seseorang untuk mencintai orang lain? Karena sepertinya aku salah melakukannya.”
“Menurutku, yang paling tepat adalah mulai mencarinya di antara spesiesmu sendiri. Biasanya itu berhasil.”
Well, gawat kalau begitu!” bentakku. “Kalau begitu berarti aku harus puas dengan Mike Newton.”
Jacob tersentak dan menggigit bibir. Kentara sekali kata-kataku tadi melukai hatinya, tapi aku terlalu marah untuk merasa tidak enak. Ia melepaskan pergelangan tanganku dan bersedekap, membalikkan badan dan memandang garang ke arah laut.
“Aku manusia,” gumamnya, suaranya nyaris tak terdengar.
“Kau bukan manusia seratus persen seperti Mike,” sambungku sengit. “Kau masih menganggap itu pertimbangan terpenting?”
“Ini lain.” Jacob tetap memandangi ombak yang kelabu.
“Aku tidak memilih menjadi seperti ini.”
Aku tertawa dengan sikap tak percaya. “Jadi kaukira Edward memilih menjadi seperti sekarang? Dia tidak tahu apa yang terjadi pada dirinya, sama seperti kau. Dia tidak pernah minta menjadi seperti ini.”
“Kau tahu, Jacob, kau selalu menganggap dirimu benar—padahal kau sendiri werewolf.
“Itu lain”, ulang Jacob, memelototiku.
“Aku tidak melihat perbedaannya. Kau bisa sedikit lebih pengertian terhadap keluarga Cullen. Kau tidak tahu saja betapa baiknya mereka—sebenarnya, Jacob.”
hlm. 652: “Dia itu seperti candu bagimu, Bella.” Suara Jacob masih lembut, sama sekali tanpa nada mengkritik. “Bisa kaulihat kau tidak bisa hidup tanpa dia sekarang. Padahal aku lebih sehat bagimu. Bukan candu; tapi aku seharusnya bisa menjadi udara, matahari.”
Sudut mulutku terangkat, membentuk senyum separuh.”Dulu aku memang menganggapmu seperti itu, tahu. Seperti matahari. Matahari pribadiku. Kau menyeimbangkan awan-awan dalam hidupku.”
Jacob mendesah. “Kalau awan-awan, aku masih sanggup menghadapinya. Tapi aku tak bisa melawan gerhana.”
***
Nah buat sayah contoh dialog, setting dan penggambaran emosi 2 karakter tokoh di atas cukup bagus aja tuh. Selain itu penceritaan asal-usul sosok anggota keluarga Cullen yaitu Rosalie di hlm 176-190, Jasper di hlm 317-332 dan juga kisah legenda werewolf di hlm 269-287 juga menurut sayah cukup bagus dan menarik. SM cukup berhasil membuat pembaca hanyut larut dalam kisah yang penuh imajinasi itu.
Bersambung ke halaman komen..karena :
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.I'm a bit at a loss for word. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think even more than Twilight. And it's left me quiet, reflective, and well, peaceful. I'd almost be okay if that was the end of the series. Not because it's a perfect ending, far from it. But it addressed such huge themes in such a loving way that it's now held in such high regard.
At the beginning of this book I had my doubts. Bella(trix) was annoying me, and Bella NEVER annoys me. That had me worried. But every...moreI'm a bit at a loss for word. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think even more than Twilight. And it's left me quiet, reflective, and well, peaceful. I'd almost be okay if that was the end of the series. Not because it's a perfect ending, far from it. But it addressed such huge themes in such a loving way that it's now held in such high regard.
At the beginning of this book I had my doubts. Bella(trix) was annoying me, and Bella NEVER annoys me. That had me worried. But everything was worked out in it's own way. All misunderstandings were smoothed over. Edward allowed Bella to see Jacob. Bella accepted Edwards terms, while Edward accepted Bella's. Ties were forged with the enemy, and a mortal foe was vanquished. Bella came to grips with her life altering (ending...) decision. She thought it through and accepted it, excitedly, and a bit timidly. But none of this was as important as Jacob and Bella.
Oh Jacob. A fool really. A fool I love dearly. A 16 year old, headstrong, emotional kid that occasionaly turns into a werewolf, and is in love with a vampires fiancee. It's okay, we all have our problems. But I loved him. Was I angry with him? Of course! Did I think he was an idiot? Most of the time, especially when he was kissing Bella. But was it right? Of course. They were/are soul mates. It's plain to see, even for Edward. But Bella knows she can live without Jacob, while she can't live without Edward. And so the choice is made. I think the reason I like this book so much was because it handled love in such a beautiful way...in such a classic way. One of the great love stories. Romeo and Juliet. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Link and Tracy. Heathcliff and Cathy. Edward and Bella. And Jacob. Sigh. So tragically beautiful. But I'm not sad. Is that wierd? Yes, I think so. Maybe I should wallow a bit...
But what else did I love about this book? The humor, the little details, the jokes. I loved the description of Alice and Edward playing chess. I loved when Alice was avoiding Edward so he wouldn't read her mind, and she began translating 'The Battle Hymn for the Republic' in Arabic, and thinking of Korean Sign Language. I loved getting a glimpse into Rose's head. I loved when Bella walked into the garage with a broken hand and Emmett assumed she tripped. Her response? "No Emmett, I punched a werewolf in the face." I can't tell you how hard I laughed. I loved Edward and Jacob's conversation as they sat in the tent. I love Alice. Oh man, are there words for how much I love Alice? Besides the whole vampire thing, I want TO BE Alice. She's the most thoughtful (ha ha) person I've ever encountered.
(less)
Despite what I'm about to say - let me first start off by saying that all three of the Stephanie Meyers books are probably worth of a quick read. The first two Twilight and Eclipse are easy to obsess over. Plus because you get hooked on the first two - you'll probably just need to finish the series....
In the first two books the crush you develop on Edward so intense and pungent that it blinds you to the mediocrity of Meyer's proficiency as a writer. It's even enough to allow you to o...moreDespite what I'm about to say - let me first start off by saying that all three of the Stephanie Meyers books are probably worth of a quick read. The first two Twilight and Eclipse are easy to obsess over. Plus because you get hooked on the first two - you'll probably just need to finish the series....
In the first two books the crush you develop on Edward so intense and pungent that it blinds you to the mediocrity of Meyer's proficiency as a writer. It's even enough to allow you to overcome overcome the stupidity and dullness of Bella - the main character. But by book three not even Edward's "rock hard chest" or the "coolness of his kisses" can overcome the books flaws. And I just grew tired of it all. I was hoping, at least, that Bella would impress me by saying something smart, doing something brave or good but she doesn't. She's unfortunately insipid and ridiculous. And Edward and Jacob's interest in her is completely unbelievable by this book. Plus I grew tired of Meyer's inability to come up with new phrases or sentence structures. I'm not sure if I'll be reading any of the others. (less)
AnnaI know that I am one of so few who really hated Twilight. And I do so at the risk of severe reprimand by everyone else. I read Twilight for a book clu...moreI know that I am one of so few who really hated Twilight. And I do so at the risk of severe reprimand by everyone else. I read Twilight for a book club. I loved your description of Bella. I found her so uterly clumsy, boring, and without any redeeming qualities. I had zero attraction to Edward and his psycho stalking of the dull Bella. I heard that her writing gets better but even so, I hardly think it would be good enough for me to endure another of her books.(less)
Jan 23, 2008 10:44am
Rachel Couldn't agree more with what has previously been said here.
Jan 31, 2008 07:17pm
WendyAnna--Her writing does not get any better, in my opinion. And Bella becomes even more annoying. You're smart not to waste time reading the other two...moreAnna--Her writing does not get any better, in my opinion. And Bella becomes even more annoying. You're smart not to waste time reading the other two books. (less)
updated
Feb 11, 2008 05:23am
Why disconcertingly? Let's start with the engrossing and work back from there.
I'll give it to Meyers for getting into the plot much more quickly than she has in the past. I mean the plot that actually has something to do with the climax. This time I felt like there was quality build-up to the big ending; whereas in the last two books it felt as though she got two-thirds of the way thru and said, "Oh crap, I need something to actually ...moreDisconcertingly engrossing.
Why disconcertingly? Let's start with the engrossing and work back from there.
I'll give it to Meyers for getting into the plot much more quickly than she has in the past. I mean the plot that actually has something to do with the climax. This time I felt like there was quality build-up to the big ending; whereas in the last two books it felt as though she got two-thirds of the way thru and said, "Oh crap, I need something to actually happen in this story". That is, something besides the love story.
Whatever it is that Meyers' has that draws me in, I want to know where I can get some. I sped through the book in a short day and many times stopped to wonder why on earth I was still reading. I can skim over the list of reasons why I enjoy other authors, other stories and Meyers isn't adhering. So whatever it is, I'm still unable to precisely define it. Having reached that non-conclusion, I've come to the end of my praise. . .
I may draw much ire from what I'm about to say next, but it must be said. I like Jacob. I like him alot more than I like Edward. And this whole, self-sacrificing what-makes-Bella-happy stuff, isn't going over with me. I haven't read the fourth book yet, but I'm not so deluded as to think that Bella would actually pick Jacob over Edward.
So, the whole love triangle thing, isn't really much of a story. After all, what good is a love triangle if there's no real conflict?
Jacob is a compelling character and would have been a great third to shake things up in Bella's world, to make her take more seriously the decision that she's ultimately faced with-the end of certain aspects of her life's possibilites. Alas, Jacob doesn't have the chance and the feigned overture towards some love connection between them falls apart as quickly as it was coerced bleeding and half-formed from Bella. But I suppose you'd have to know that was inevitable, if not by the set-up, then by the simple fact that the author named the character Jacob after her brother.
And if that doesn't make sense to you, I suggest you try writing a love story and placing your sibling in as the object of sexual desire-see how that works out. Even if you simply afix your sibling's name to the aforementioned character. . .
If you don't find that disturbing, then you probably won't be bothered by the fact that Bella feels more hesitant about marriage than she does about becoming a vampire. Sure, I don't mind altering the nature of my existence, losing my friends and family, possibly becoming a murdering blood-sucker, because I love you so much and can't possibly be without you. But marry you? UGH.
Right.
Meyers is not a great writer, she's at best, decent. Her dialogue can be painfully clunky and unnatural. There's hardly a scrap of original or inspired description or metaphor. Her characters can be so altruistic it makes one awkwardly aware of how UNreal they truly are.
And yet, for all that, I liked the book. I was, for the most part, entertained. Distracted, more to the point. What's wrong with that? We all need to engrossed in trite, trival things from time to time. Kudos to Meyers for succeeding in that much, if little else. (less)
tyniaFinished reading the Twilight series over Thanksgiving (i came late to the party) and read your review.
This part especially caught my eye:...moreFinished reading the Twilight series over Thanksgiving (i came late to the party) and read your review.
This part especially caught my eye: "Whatever it is that Meyers' has that draws me in, I want to know where I can get some. I sped through the book in a short day and many times stopped to wonder why on earth I was still reading. I can skim over the list of reasons why I enjoy other authors, other stories and Meyers isn't adhering"
I had a hard time explaining why I was reading this series. I still do. Morbid curiosity maybe. Just wanted to say I enjoyed your review.(less)
Dec 18, 2009 02:59pm
gunneosWow, this is a very good review. I didn't read the book, but it summed up how I felt about the love triangle beautifully. If Jacob had stood a chance,...moreWow, this is a very good review. I didn't read the book, but it summed up how I felt about the love triangle beautifully. If Jacob had stood a chance, the book might have been something else. (And this is not coming from a Jacob shipper, or a Twilhard, at all.) Liked (the review, not the book).(less)
updated
Jul 20, 2010 02:44am
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...moreLike 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)
I drive past a church on my way to work and they always have a poster up with something breezily Biblical, and today's poster said this :
THE SON'S SHINE ECLIPSES TWILIGHT
Genius!
I was speechless all morning.
***
Lost Photo Opportunities No. 87 : yesterday me and Georgia were walking to town to watch The Karate Kid (which was pretty good, but I digress). We come up to the church where this damned poster is STILL sh...moreI drive past a church on my way to work and they always have a poster up with something breezily Biblical, and today's poster said this :
THE SON'S SHINE ECLIPSES TWILIGHT
Genius!
I was speechless all morning.
***
Lost Photo Opportunities No. 87 : yesterday me and Georgia were walking to town to watch The Karate Kid (which was pretty good, but I digress). We come up to the church where this damned poster is STILL shrieking its teeth-clenching unfunniness all around, and lo! God sent a bus up the hill with an old advert for Eclipse the Movie on its side... and the bus parked just in front of the poster... if I had any of that dad-blamed modern technology I could have taken a really neat photo and posted it here:
SPACE WHICH WOULD HAVE CONTAINED AMUSING PHOTO CLEVERLY JUXTAPOSING BUS ADVERTISING ECLIPSE AND RELIGIOUS POSTER ATTEMPTING TO UNDERCUT ECLIPSE AND ALL THE OTHER VAMPIRE SOFT PORN WITH GROTESQUE NON-HUMOUR...
i watched the film version of this the other night, and i have to say that i was impressed. i kept the sound off because the dialogue didn't seem too great, but i could still see that this was a very positive and open-minded film. i love how much time Bella spends with her best friend, the pec-tastic gym boy who turns into a friendly gay wolf. and it's awesome that a film for teens can include a group of constantly shirtless gay kids running around in jean shorts, flexing and showing off their c...morei watched the film version of this the other night, and i have to say that i was impressed. i kept the sound off because the dialogue didn't seem too great, but i could still see that this was a very positive and open-minded film. i love how much time Bella spends with her best friend, the pec-tastic gym boy who turns into a friendly gay wolf. and it's awesome that a film for teens can include a group of constantly shirtless gay kids running around in jean shorts, flexing and showing off their cut muscles, hanging out and being catty with the cutest girl in town, even protecting her! inbetween sessions of giving each other oily rub-downs and having animalistic orgies in the woods, i suppose. it reminded me of how much i love San Francisco in the summer!(less)
Alright, I admit it. I'm hooked. Yeah, I'm surprised too, because I said that I was going to keep my "Reserving Judgement" hat on. But, oddly enough, in the 6 days that I was forced to wait for Eclipse, I couldn't stop thinking about the story. Try as I might, it lodged itself in my head and just stood there, daring me to try to read something else, even something as exciting as I usually find Grisham. (Sorry, Grisham.)
Those 6 days also convinced me that as many issues as I...moreAlright, I admit it. I'm hooked. Yeah, I'm surprised too, because I said that I was going to keep my "Reserving Judgement" hat on. But, oddly enough, in the 6 days that I was forced to wait for Eclipse, I couldn't stop thinking about the story. Try as I might, it lodged itself in my head and just stood there, daring me to try to read something else, even something as exciting as I usually find Grisham. (Sorry, Grisham.)
Those 6 days also convinced me that as many issues as I had with the first two books, I invested more than I thought in it, and rated it a bit low. Anything that sticks in my mind like this, even if it is "trash" as some see it, deserves at least 4 stars. So, I'll be upping the ratings on the first two books.
And now, let's move on, shall we? Again, I'm not going to go into plot here. I will say that the emotional experience that Bella went through in New Moon was hard to witness, but her confusion in Eclipse was worse in a way. My poor guts were in knots waiting to see what would happen, and I don't mean whether Bella or Edward or Jacob or the others are going to live or die. I mean I wanted to know who was going to be happy together when the end came, if come it did.
I have discovered that I am (again, to my own surprise) FIRMLY Team Edward. Go figure. All I've done was rag on him about how controlling he is, and yet here I am, wanting Bella to make the "right" choice between him and Jacob and stay with Edward. But, in my defense, (and Edward's too) Edward has radically changed his relationship outlook. He's now all for Bella having exactly who and what she wants if it makes her happy, even if it is not him. That's cool with me, even if it is cliche.
But, even if I was not convinced that Edward loves Bella with every fiber of his being, I doubt I could be Team Jacob after reading Eclipse. I was so disappointed in him. For being as young as he is, he is one manipulative S.O.B., and I was shocked at his behavior. I don't know if it was caused by his newfound werewolf attitude, but the Jacob that I rather liked in New Moon was nowhere to be found here. I did pity him in a way, but pity is not enough to cut it with me, even if it is with Bella.
Anyway... I really did enjoy this book, and the series so far. I'm almost scared to see where the last book takes us, but I'll be brave and read it anyway. (less)
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 tom...morepolyamory (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)
I just finished all three of the books in this series and I loved them. They connected with me on a very personal level, considering they are about vampires and werewolves. :) There were so many little details that I appreciated and could relate to about being a teenager, it kind of brought me back there. It was fun to look at that from an adult perspective. The intial infatuations and giddiness that come from first love and the intense feelings and confusions that it causes in a teenage mind a...moreI just finished all three of the books in this series and I loved them. They connected with me on a very personal level, considering they are about vampires and werewolves. :) There were so many little details that I appreciated and could relate to about being a teenager, it kind of brought me back there. It was fun to look at that from an adult perspective. The intial infatuations and giddiness that come from first love and the intense feelings and confusions that it causes in a teenage mind are portrayed so well.
I loved the story line, I purchased the first book on Saturday night and finshed all three by Thursday. I couldn't put them down. I would have loved more details at the end about how things really ended up, but it satisfied my "thirst" enough.
I really loved Jacob, he is my favorite character. I think I wanted to Bella to end up with him, but I knew it would never happen. I also loved the way Jacob expressed that Edward is a "drug" to Bella where he (Jacob) would be the air and the sun to her and thus be much healthier. I think that that is a perfect analogy for the way intense romances go some are like a drug and others bring out the light and joy. That's why part of me thinks that this might end tragic if there is another book.
The way the Edward and Jacob react to each, especially in the "tent" scene are awesome. Edward is mysterious and charming with a turn of the century appeal, you've gotta love him too. I think that Bella is a typical teenager, but she grows up more by this book and if there is another book I am excited to see how complex she might become. Also, after reading some of the other reviews, people seem to be baffled by Edward's interest in Bella, because she is so mundane, immature and whines. I think that of course he mentions her oh so wonderful smell, but I think it is more the fact that he can't read her mind. So she is the most mysterious person alive to him and that's the fascination.
I also thought it was great to tell a captivating love story but the keep it clean enough that kids could read it. I think there are some behaviors in the book that we hope our teenagers won't mimic, but ultimately they make moral choices, so I'm satisfied with that. I wish there was a little more of that out there. I thought it was an excellent, fun series, hope to find more from this author.(less)
I was born in Connecticut in 1973, during a brief blip in my family's otherwise western U.S. existence. We were settled in Phoenix by the time I was four, and I think of myself as a native. The unusual spelling of my name was a gift from my father, Stephen (+ ie = me). Though I have had my name spelled wrong on pretty much everything my entire life long, I must admit that it makes it easier to goo...moreI was born in Connecticut in 1973, during a brief blip in my family's otherwise western U.S. existence. We were settled in Phoenix by the time I was four, and I think of myself as a native. The unusual spelling of my name was a gift from my father, Stephen (+ ie = me). Though I have had my name spelled wrong on pretty much everything my entire life long, I must admit that it makes it easier to google myself now.
I filled the "Jan Brady" spot in my family-the second of three girls. Unlike the Brady's, none of my three brothers are steps, and all of them are younger than all the girls. I went to high school in Scottsdale, Arizona, the kind of place where every fall a few girls would come back to school with new noses and there were Porsches in the student lot (for the record, I have my original nose, and never had a car until after I was in my twenties). I was awarded a National Merit Scholarship, and I used it to pay my way to Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah. I majored in English, but concentrated on literature rather than creative writing, mostly because I didn't consider reading books "work" (as long as I was going to be doing something anyway, I might as well get course credit for it, right?).
I met my husband, Pancho (his real name is Christiaan), when I was four, but we were never anywhere close to being childhood sweethearts. In fact, though we saw each other at least weekly through church activities, I can't recall a single instance when we so much as greeted each other with a friendly wave, let alone exchanged actual words. This may have been for the best, because when we did eventually get around to exchanging words, sixteen years after our first meeting, it only took nine months from the first "hello" to the wedding. Of course, we were able to skip over a lot of the getting to know you parts (many of our conversations would go something like this: "This one time, when I was ten, I broke my hand at a party when-" "Yeah, I know what happened. I was there, remember?") We've been married for ten and a half years now, and have three beautiful, brilliant, wonderful boys who often remind me chimpanzees on crack. I can't write without music, and my biggest muse is, ironically enough, the band Muse. My other favorite sources of inspiration are Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Coldplay, The All American Rejects, Travis, The Strokes, Brand New, U2, Kasabian, Jimmy Eat World, and Weezer, to mention a few.(less)
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review of another edition
Dec 13, 2011 05:46pm
Jan 07, 2012 11:03am