Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Book Review: So Far, It's the Best One ...
Summary: 4 Stars
I was really hoping that this book would be better than "New Moon" and it was. Thankfully. My family could hear the sigh of relief when I finally turned the last page. I was pretty worried because if it was anything like "New Moon," I was going to give up on the entire series. "Twilight" was enjoyable and light; "New Moon" had me ranting and raving because of Bella's black despair over losing Edward; "Eclipse" is by far the best book.
It reads well and it has more history in it, which I love. I found the history of the Werewolves much more interesting as well as hearing more about the Cullens' history (especially Jasper's). It has more action scenes in this, though I do agree with some of the reviewers that there were a lot more overworrying and planning involved before the fight scene. It was predictable but still intense. (I really like how they described how the newborn vampires are still in the throes of their human bodies and how they desperately need blood.)
And, this book has my favorite hero, Jacob. He really is lovable and more human than glacial Edwards, who is so well-mannered and yet controlling ... there's something about Jacob that makes me wish that Bella would go for him instead. He has a cocky grin, great body, still human, very loving of Bella even when he was driving her up the wall ... and who wouldn't go for one of the "good" monsters, especially when they're in canine forms (unlike the normal stereotypes of werewolves)?
However, this book is still far from perfect. I am unable to understand the depth of Bella's self-hatred regarding the fact that she has two monsters in love with her and would give up their lives for her. Maybe I need to be a teenager again to understand this. Secondly, what makes her so special? I can see why Alice is special because of her talents; or Esme, who is a warm and loving "mother" to her "children." But what makes Bella so special? Maybe the fourth book in the series will explain that to me. I have to be honest. Bella is never going to be one of my favorite characters. She comes across whiney and spoiled, self-centered and cruel. She is so ungrateful to Edward and whines so much when Alice gives her a graduation party and doesn't want to get married and all that. She is surly (if that is sarcasm, well, it's not working very well) and it's annoying. And what is that about not wanting to get married? It's so weird. One would think that after being separated from Edward for six months or so, she would be over the moon to be hitched with him. (Then again, if she's strongly against marriage, then she shouldn't marry him ...)
However, there is a plus side to Bella this time. She is starting to question what it would be like to be a vampire. She is starting to realize that maybe being human isn't all that bad. Just maybe she'll come to her senses and realize that she can't have everything.
This is by far the best book in the series and it has kept me turning the pages until the last page was turned. I will have to admit though that this is not a book to read before bedtime because I ended up dreaming about Edward, Jacob and Bella the whole night through. I am not one of those persons who can just go to sleep without being affected by the book she is currently reading (unless it's a really light and fluffy book). So whenever I get a chance to read "Breaking Dawn," I can count on sleepless nights till I finish the book. It's pretty rare when a book or even a series get me this interested.
9/13/08
Book Review: The worst of the three.
Summary: 2 Stars
I hate it when one little detail can ruin an entire book for me.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
I still love Twilight and New Moon. And the first half of Eclipse is good.
And I also must say I have nothing against Jacob. He annoys me with some stupid, selfish, twisted things he does, but he's still an interesting character. And in the end, he got what he knew was coming, so I'm good with that.
I'm sorry, but Bella's sudden realization of, "Oh yeah, I love Jacob, too," just doesn't fly with me.
If I read right, it's an interesting concept--I think Meyer was hinting that Bella and Jacob were imprinted, but Edward's existence messed that up, and Bella's tug for him is stronger (maybe they were meant to be imprinted in a past life, but his being a vampire ruined it somehow, I don't know). And in the end, Bella went with the guy she already knew she couldn't live without, despite Jacob saying Edward was her drug, but he would be her sun and air.
But Meyer really messed it up. In the first two books, and most of the third, Jacob is a clear-cut, defined family member to her. No hinting at other feelings whatsoever. Then when Jacob kisses her and interprets her trying to hurt him wrongly, and deepens the kiss, and Bella suddenly gives in and thinks, "Oh! I do love him."
Just... no.
Look. The idea of imprinting (also known as soul mates) is that you're connected to that person whether you like it or not. And outside circumstances do mess that up. In L.J. Smith's Daughters of Darkness, for example, Mary-Lynnette and Ash are soul mates. Throughout the story Ash realizes he loves her, but Mary-Lynnette fights it until the end. The key different here, though, is that Mary-Lynnette learns more about Ash and comes to appreciate some of his qualities. That, and there is nothing stronger pulling her away from him.
Also, in the end, Mary-Lynnette is still a little frightened of Ash and what he's done in the past, and she basically tells him to go away so he can try to redeem himself and she can finish at least high school. Ash tells her he'll come back in a year, and she says, "That may be too soon," and Ash simply says, "I know. I'll come back anyway."
Basically, L.J. Smith acknowledged that as they were, it couldn't work out--both Ash and Mary-Lynnette had to work out their own lives, first.
Stephenie Meyer, in Eclipse, had me all set and thinking Jacob was like Bella's brother, and then out of nowhere it's, "I love him, too." Yes, she slightly redeems it with, "I love Edward more," but it was still unexplained, out of nowhere, and created angst where there shouldn't have been. It was much more interesting when Jacob was stubborn and Bella already knew where her life was going. Screwing it up like that just felt like she wanted to get some of her own fantasies into the book, belatedly, or that she wanted to appease some fans somewhere, or leave it open.
And it wouldn't have been a bad idea... if her backstory for them in Twilight and New Moon hadn't been so solid.
I will say, however, that Edward's growth of character was a pleasure. I did enjoy that.
The only problem is, I'm wary of picking up Meyer's new adult book when it comes out next year. I was all set to, but that major flaw just... I dunno. It left a sour taste in my mouth, especially since I'd been admiring her foreshadowing and plot twists and originality so much.
Book Review: Let me get this off my chest
Summary: 5 Stars
You cannot pretend to read a book. Your eyes will give you away. So will your breathing. A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe. The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wallpaper is in flames.
-Mr. Pip, by Lloyd Jones
i am an Addict.
this was exactly how it was for me, reading the three Twilight books. for the past five days, i've been holed up in my room just reading. even when i bought that discounted, softbound copy of Twilight--because i just couldn't wait any longer, not even five days--i had no idea it would lead to a time-consuming, heart-wrenching obsession. to say that i devoured the books would be an understatement. i told myself then, i should wait for my hardbound, i should. but i didn't. and this is where impatience brought me.
so i read and read. i would read up to the wee hours of the morning, until i would hear the neighborhood stirring, birds chirping, airplanes passing by. when i woke up in the afternoons, i would rub the sleep off my eyes, turn on the bedside lamp, and read again. if i did get out of that room it was because it was time to eat, or take a shower. if i didn't need these physical necessities, i wouldn't even get out of bed. but, simply put, i immersed myself in Bella's world with Edward. i was terribly entranced, and completely hooked. the story was hypnotic--no doubt, it had power over me.
i've always been intrigued by vampire stories, and not just the cultish, horror kind. i've always found them fascinatingly romantic. in Edward and Bella's case, their love story is timeless. the first book, Twilight, served as an introduction, a preamble. it was fast-paced, sometimes confusing, but it pulls you in until you're lost, until you feel like Bella herself, bewitched by Edward's gold eyes, his velvet voice, his white marble skin. the impossibility of their individual situations made the story even more enchanting. i fell in love with Edward instantly, right that first day.
and there's New Moon, the second book--but what can i say about it? there are no words. except that i cried and cried like a baby reading it. i didn't want to cheat, but my eyes would always find a way to scan the next page without my willing to, wanting to know, and understand, everything.
then there's the third book, Eclipse, which i thought was the last--but isn't--of the series. the moment i found out that there were still other books following, i was partly rejoiced and partly horrified. Rejoiced because it meant that Bella and Edward's wonderful story wasn't over; Horrified because I would have some cruel and petulant waiting to do. i hate waiting, i do not have patience for it at all. but back to Eclipse, this book shook me--shook me in a way that after i finished it, i simply sat and stared at nothing for a few hours, a heavy feeling weighing in my chest. i felt extremely sad, something i can't convey in words properly, sad because i still wanted to be there, to share their world, to know their story, day per day. but i have nothing else to do but wait. wait until Stephenie Meyer is done writing the fourth book. it's like Harry Potter all over again--the waiting, the dreadful anticipation.
and so, i am an Addict. i'm owning up to it. right now my first impulse is to go back, to read Twilight all over again. *sigh*
"You're EXACTLY my brand of heroin."
-Edward, to Bella (Twilight)
Book Review: TWILIGHT SERIES 5 Stars
Eclipse, the third book in the twilight saga, gives a whole new look on the traditional romantic love story. Eclipse starts out with the last couple of weeks of Bella's senior year in high school. This includes a lot of things for Bella. Bella is getting ready for all her finals, spending her last minutes with her friends (besides the Cullens), trying to straighten things out with Jacob, and most of all preparing to be part of the Cullen's family. Bella knows that this will be her last time with everyone besides the Cullens. She, as her dad keeps nagging her to, needs to get all of the time she can with them. This includes Jacob, who at the start of the book is very mad at Bella. Jacob feels like Bella shouldn't just let the Cullens back into her world. He wants Bella to not be friends with him. As you know werewolves, like Jacob, don't get along with the vampires. This makes it very hard for Bella to love Edward and still be best friends with Jacob. To start the book of, Edward takes Bella to go see her Mom and Phil. Bella isn't aware of this, but Edward has logical reason for this. Bella later finds out the reason was because Victoria had come back. As soon as she gets back Jacob calls her. He says very few words and then hangs up. One of the things he asked Bella was if she was going to school tomorrow. Bella thought this was because Jacob thought that Edward had turned Bella into a vampire. That wasn't the right reason though. The real reason was because Jacob needed to talk to Edward at school the next day. This was because the werewolves and vampires almost got into a fight the night before while chasing Victoria. When Bella comes back weird things start happened. First, her room is swept of most of her stuff. Second, there is a mass-murder going on in Seattle. Are things to things connected? Is Victoria part of this? What about Bella, will Victoria get to her? These questions along with some very romantic love scenes all go on in the rest of the book. So read on to unlock all of those mysteries.I absolutely loved Eclipse. It's like Stephanie Meyer always can catch the reader and not bore them, while reading her breathtaking novels. Eclipse is a very twisted version of love. Bella finds herself stuck between two choices. Best Friend or "Fiancé". This is such a romantic story. Eclipse is by far the most romantic. Bella has adorable moments with both Edward and Jacob. She later on has to decide whether she really loves Jacob or not. It's also somewhat sad. Bella, as always, takes the blame. She feels like she's crushing Jacob, but when she thinks about him it tears Edward apart. This is a very tough situation for Bella. She is sitting between a rock and a hard spot in most of the book. I love all of the Twilight books. They are amazing and you get so obsessed with them its crazy. When you read any of them you feel like your there. Like your sitting with Bella or Edward or Alice or any of the other characters and in a weird way you can relate to it. I will warn you there girly books. That makes them all the better for girls!
Eclipse is a book of choices. Throughout the book Bella is forced to make tons of choices. Some of which could effect her life forever. It's almost like the ancient Quileute story they talk about in the book. Bella wants to relate herself to the third wife. Other wise there are no stories like Eclipse. The front cover symbolizes the breaking of the chain. The letting go of everyone or Edward.
Book Review: both sides of the arguement
Summary: 4 Stars
Allow me to start out by saying that i've read all three books in the series and have relatively enjoyed them. i can see both the good and the bad.
***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT DOWN***
The good:
one of my favorite things about these books is the amount of character development that occurs throughout the series. meyer add many little quirks and nuances that make the characters much more real and believable. the fact that bella doesn't like the site of blood or that alice loves to shop takes both of them out of the 2-dimension of a novel and brings them to life. after reading three books about these people, they feel like your old friends.
Another thing that i like about these books is that there's sex without the sex. in many other vampire novels, you'll find at least one, if not multiple graphic scenes of hot-blooded sex. In the entire third book, there is maybe five (at most) scenes of kissing, two of which are with jacob. yet even though there isn't anything too terribly graphic, the book is loaded with sexual tension, passion, and desire. While noting the fact that Meyer is mormon (and thus refusing to do a graphic sex scene), she has managed to subtly weave the sexuality throughout the book in a way that an avid reader of vampire romance won't even miss the presence of a major sex-scene. as time magazine so kindly put it, there is more sex in just the third book than all of the snogging in the entire harry potter series.
the bad:
this section is easier write since i'm quicker to critisize than compliment. One of my biggest problems with the series is bella, the main character. she is the (or a very close second) most dramatic character vere in literature. she is always gasping, swooning, fainting, crying, elated, depressed, etc. her emotions are always to the extreme. also, she has absolutely no back-bone. she personifies the damsel in distress. she seems to have alot of bad lack but i personally think that if your that clumsy, you have an undiagnosed medical problem. someone always has to save her, whether it be edward, jacob, alice, or any other supernatural being. i have a hard time seeing her live long enough to be changed into a vampire.
this leads me to my second point, which is th dynamic between edward and bella. Their interaction can be divided into three things:1) "Bella/Edward. I love you so much! you're the air i breath. i can't live without you! i don't even deserve you! you don't know how lucky i am to be with you! i can't survive without you." 2) edward pretty much spends 2/3 of his time trying to keep bella safe. when bella wanted to go see jacob, edward had to drive her there and drop her off. as bella eloquently stated, its like a 7-year-old being transferreed inbetween divirced parents. at times, edward seems to exude a more paternal side than that of a lover's. 3) they pretty much spend the entire time that they are together arguing why edward won't sleep with bella and why he won't change bella in a murdering demonic being without a soul.
in summary, i would recomend this series to someone who is looking to pass the time. the books are insubstantial, light and airy with no thought involved. i liken reading these books to watching reality shows on mtv or reading a gossip magazine: something to be enjoyed but not taken too seriously. they offered a few hours of mind-numbing reprieve, but you definently won't find the answers to life.