REVIEW: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
B- ReviewsAmazon / shapeshifters / Young-Adult628 Comments
Dear Ms. Meyer:
This was a greatly anticipated book. Twilight, the prequel, was my 2005 book of the year. New Moon, however delightful it was, seemed to throw all of the faults of Bella in sharp relief. You portrayed her, either intentionally or not, as a selfish user who seemed to only be able to exist with the help of a man in her life. It seemed ironic that her ability to cope with life so closely paralleled her mother’s which Bella, and you, appear to decry.
The story opens with Bella celebrating her birthday with the Cullens, a family of vampires. Edward Cullen, a perpetual 17 years of age, is Bella’s soul mate. He is a vampire, though, and while Bella longs to be one, Edward refuses to change her as he believes it would rob her of her soul. During the party, Bella cuts a finger on wrapping paper. The smell of her fresh blood is too much and Edward is forced to shield her from family members. This event causes Edward to believe that his presence does Bella more harm than good. In true romance fashion, Edward paternalistically decides that removal of his presence from Bella’s is the only answer to keeping Bella alive.
Bella is destroyed. She sinks into a deep depression and is only able to rise from it with the help of of Jacob Black, whom Bella terms a good friend. She understands that she is using Jacob but cannot seem to help herself. She revels in the warmth and goodness Jacob exudes. She convinces herself that this is what Jacob wants even knowing that Jacob’s feelings toward her run so much deeper. Jacob Black is young member of a local Native American tribe. I am not giving anything away (at least it was included in the Booklist review) when I say that Jacob Black’s tribe has ties with werewolves. Unlike the fully developed vampire mythos, the world building for the werewolves is sophmoric at best. There is no explanation as to why there are no old werewolves around, how they change (I think it is blood related), whether they have special needs, and so on.
Bella’s climb from the pit is also marked by a desperate recklessness. She engages in increasingly reckless acts because she hears Edward’s voice when she does so. The origin of the voice is unclear. I wasn’t sure whether this part of the book was to depict teenage suicidal ideation, the use of drugs, or was simply an unsure narrator trying to be emotive. It didn’t appear organic to Bella’s previous characterizations. You had portrayed her as steady, a bit emotional, but steady. I couldn’t help but wonder if this part of the plot was an attempt to shoehorn Edward into a story when you knew so many of your fans loved him?
You refer the Romeo and Juliet theme with the idea that Edward and Bella are star crossed lovers and that perhaps in the retelling Romeo should return to Rosalind and Juliet should get on with her life with Paris. Maybe if that was the route you were truly going to take, I wouldn’t feel so disappointed. But the book takes a sharp turn when Edward reappears toward the latter quarter of the book. The ending suspense plot seemed rushed and tacked on, as if someone reminded you that the success of the first book rode on the back of the romance of Edward and Bella. It was really as if there were two books, or two stories, included in New Moon and neither of them were finished.
For all my disappointment, New Moon zips by and leaves me wanting more. It is engaging and unique but flawed. It’s not one that I will be re-reading anytime soon. B- for New Moon.
Best regards,
Jane
Lucy,
ur welcome!!! im glad i made her happy…
tiff,
idk if i even got it! lol i had the volume turned off so… lol i’ll have to check.
bye!!!
kelsey
Tiff,
uhm i didnt even get anything lol it must not have come thru…. so it doesnt even mater lol
Lucy,
no problem! im glad i made her happy…
kelsey
Guys
u no the film there making of Twilight?
i watched a clip of it on the computer it looks fab, Bella is dead pretty but Jacob and Edward aren’t to bad!
is it out over there yet?
Dear Tiffanie and Kelsey
do u guys Know each other?
well see ya
lucy
what what what??!!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!!!!!???????????? WHAT???!!! WHERE DID U FIND THAT CLIP??!!!!!!!!??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and yess we know eachother thru this site lol…. give me the url!!! i needdd to see it!!!!!11
kelsey loller
guys,
u know at the end of Eclipse do Bella sand Edward get back together. Cas i was on this other website and someone was saying that Bella moved away from Edward. Is that the truth because i cant get it out of my head and i just wonder…lol.. nah never goin happen.
Kelsey, i tried to get on the website with the clips and videos but i fogot it.
i keep trying to get on. SORRY.Please fogive me
lucy
lucy
hey! and thats ok about the website… i thought this site had closed down or something i couldnt get on yesterday…….. hmmmm lol
well tty!!!
dear Kelsey
… i couldn’t get on yesterday hmmm….lol
well see ya
lucy
Kelsey, i replied your message n the Eclipse website
write when you have read it!(please)
lucy
lucy
yea i saw it and i emailed u too!!! lol so yea i guess i’ll ttyl
kelsey
dear Kelsey,
its out!Eclipse is out over here and i bought it!!!!!!!
im so glad!i was just looking and there it was.
well see ya got a book to read
lucy
Lucy,
YAY!!! IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooo lol well have fun reading it!!!!!!
kelsey
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am reading it non stop (except from now) well ive had a really bad(dull)day
see ya
lucy
lol that sucksabout ur day… enjoy reading!!!
ttyl!!!
kelsey
thanks!! i just finished reading it!!
It was one great book!
lucy
lucy,
now you have to tell us all of your opinions!!! wut did you think??? be specific!!!
ttyl
xoxo
luv yas
~Tiffanie~
:)
Dear tiffanie
yeah it was really good. my fav bit was when rosalie was telling Bella about when she was human.but like Breanna was saying on the Eclipse website something excited should have happed towards the end.
Dear Kelsey,
i got you email, so i sent u one back have u got it?
well see ya
lucy
Lucy
totally agree with you and breanna! lol i sent u an email.
<3 always
kelsey
Kelsey i sent u one back. Please email me back!! i can’t wait for u to tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(did u get my email?)
well see ya
lucy
lol yes lucy,
i did get your email. lol and i answered u back so hurry up and replyyyy!!
kay <3 always xoxo
kelsey
yeah i got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lucy
Sorry, i dont feel right telling you. I am very polite and i thing its not very polite in my religon.
thats ok Missy, and whats not polite, if u dont mind asking? putting ur email online?
hmmm yeah Missy whys it not polite
hey kelsey did u get my emails?
lucy
hey kels
my mums reading twilight!!!!
how weird!!
lucy
OOOOOOH THAT MAKES ME HAPPY it cant just be kids reading them ya know? its gotta be adults too, bc they know more ppl (in some cercumstances) and that means that they can pass the word on right? right.
kelsey
lol
lol
All Meyer related threads will be closed tonight at midnight. CST.
ahh why??