Again, this is not really a review, more my thoughts on this installment of the series!
Edward’s back in her life and Bella couldn’t be happier, but she still cares for Jacob Black, the werewolf who has become her best friend. The animosity between Edward and Jacob means that Bella struggles to keep her two worlds apart. Even worse, someone is committing murder after murder in Seattle, and Bella, the Cullens, and the Quileutes have reason to think that they’re after Bella. In the midst of trying to stay safe and protect all those she cares about, Bella realizes that she may have to make a choice with which she isn’t at all comfortable.
I do actually think this installment of the series may be the best so far. (It’s later ruined by Breaking Dawn, but we’ll leave that review for next week.) Edward has developed something of a personality, which makes me pleased that he’s not just a God-like perfect creature, although we still hear about his beauty nearly every page he’s on. He’s still very controlling, though, and that I didn’t appreciate. Bella doesn’t seem to care, but he regularly thwarts her will and convinces her to do what he likes, like when he forbids her to see Jacob and has Alice actually kidnap her to prevent that from happening. I can’t even tell you what I’d do if Keith tried to stop me from seeing someone who wasn’t harmful to me at all. The scene where he forces Bella to visit her mother on a particular weekend and worse, completely overrides her father’s objection springs to mind. What Stephenie Meyer shows us and tells us are two entirely different things.
My favorite is still Jacob. I can’t help it. If I was an obsessed teenager, I’d be wearing a “Team Jacob” t-shirt. He’s so much more interesting than Edward. He seems to actually care for Bella rather than spout endless platitudes about eternal love; we don’t need to hear his feelings so often because he shows them. What a novelty! He’s also more fun, and Bella is more fun around him. She’s better when she’s not passing out from kisses or thinking about how unworthy she is, although she does get annoying by constantly worrying at the hurt she’s causing Jacob. I wanted to kick her. If she felt so bad, she should have cut off the friendship and let him recover.
This is still the best book in the series, though. It felt smoother, and though the characters annoyed me, I felt that they were gaining more dimensions, even if they weren’t dimensions I liked. The vampire past was interesting, too, because I like world-building even if the author likes to break conventions. I’m still not sure I’ll go around recommending this series – not because anyone needs me to anyway – but I am enjoying them in a superficial sort of way, at least when I don’t want to smack Bella.
Buy Eclipse
I think Eclipse is the best too. But I dont like Jacob, thats the main reason why I didn’t like New Moon, too much of Jacob and not enough Edward
Yeah, in my teen years I’d TOTALLY have had a Team Jacob shirt. He is a much more appealing character in every way. Like I said in my comment on your review of book 2, this series definitely has lots of flaws (and MANY or your commenters will be happy to point them out in detail I’m sure) but I still really enjoyed it. It was escapist reading for me, and lots of fun for what it was.
Heather J.’s last blog post..Number the Stars
You very right about Jacob being more interesting/less creepy than Edward. I think Bella is tied with Holden Caulfield for ‘characters I think most deserve a good, swift kick in the ass’. Possibly the two most annoying characters in fiction.
Jen – Devourer of Books’s last blog post..The Nonesuch – Book Review
Eclipse was my favorite of the series too. I was absolutely on Team Jacob just like you until I read Breaking Dawn. Jacob annoyed the CRAP outta me in the final book, and I hated Edward less.
I’m interested to read your thoughts on Breaking Dawn since I didn’t particularly love it but also didn’t hate it. It sounds like you weren’t a fan so I’ll look forwad to seeing what you thought of it.
Heather’s last blog post..Review: Janeology
I’ve avoided this series because I don’t enjoy vampires that much. I will be giving The Host a try soon.
This was my favorite in ther series too. I can’t really say I was especially crazy over either Jacob or Edward. I think Edward was better for Bella in the end though.
Literary Feline’s last blog post..Monday At the Movies: Angels and Demons & Those Darn Tear Jerkers
I don’t really remember which one I like the best but the second one was the one I really disliked. I’ll be interested in what you have to say about the fourth one.
Beth F’s last blog post..Review: Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn
See, I can’t stand Jacob. In my mind he’s a little would-be rapist. Seriously what guy can’t tell when a girl is actively trying to fight him off? Then how could he confuse her response as a passionate indication she was enjoying herself? Throws hands up in the air.
Eclipse is my favorite by far. I can’t wait to watch it in theaters.
Beth, if you skip the middle of book 2 and read just the beginning and end book 2 isn’t soooo bad lol
Keira’s last blog post..7 Organizational Tips to Help Reduce Your To Be Read Pile!
I definitely agree with you that this is the best book in the series. Nice review/thoughts! I can’t wait to see your thoughts on Breaking Dawn!
S. Krishna’s last blog post..Hello Goodbye – Emily Chenoweth
Go Team Jacob!!
Elizabeth’s last blog post..The Nonfiction Files
My daughter read these books about 4 or 5 times and loves them. She really wants me to read the series, but I have yet to do so. I am reluctant to read them because of some of the aspects of the Bella/Edward relationship, some of the very things you mentioned in fact. We will see how long I can hold out. Very thorough review btw!
Zibilee’s last blog post..Spiced: A Pastry Chef’s True Story of Trials by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes On in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen – 288 pgs
I finally am going to watch the movie version of Twilight…
Anyway, I think this would probably be my favourite book in the series, too, if I think back on them all…
Kailana’s last blog post..Thirteen Movies I Have Watched Recently… A Thursday Thirteen
Yeah, I guess this would be the best of the series. At least, it had some action.
However, overall the Twilight saga just didn’t work for me. Too milky for a proper vampire saga.
Buffy still rules!