I did it. I read all 4 books in the Twilight saga. I was so engrossed in Eclipse and in finding out what happened after that part of the story was over that I didn't realize that I never blogged about Eclipse until I was about half-way done with Breaking Dawn. So, I just decided that I'd blog about both books at once when I was finished with the entire series. Here goes...
By far, Eclipse was my favorite of the 4 books. I am a girl (shock!) and all of the romance of Eclipse just made me happy with every turn of the page. I will admit that I fell in love with Jacob after watching "New Moon" (he wasn't my favorite in the book but I adored him in the movie) and Eclipse made me love him even more. My heart went out to Bella as she tried to reconcile her intense love for two very different men but, truthfully, I wanted her to choose Jacob in this book. I wanted her to stay human and to grow old with Jacob. I wanted them to have cute little wolf babies. Now, as I have said from the beginning, there is a certain draw to staying 18 forever (especially with the wisdom that comes from living for centuries), but the bottom line is that I just didn't want Bella to become a vampire. I also didn't really like the ultimatums Bella and Edward gave each other in Eclipse. Sex before marriage, marriage before changing...their relationship seemed to suddenly be more about power than love (...although those of us who have been married for awhile might see some truth to that statement, I just realized...) and it bothered me. With Jacob, it was just about love. Unending, never failing, unconditional love. Sigh...oh, to be loved that much.
As a result, it was with a full and happy heart that I began reading Breaking Dawn. I quickly realized what everyone was talking about with Breaking Dawn. From lots of folks I heard that this book was not their favorite and that it was very sci-fi. I agree with both ideas completely. In addition, it was a lot of book to process at once and I really wish that it had been two separate books. It was enough to handle the growth and birth of the human-vampire child (and the blood drinking and all of the rest), but then to read about the Volturi and the potential death to all good vampires was just too much for me at times. I am glad that the movie of this book was broken into two parts, at least.
Now, to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room...Jacob and Nessie. Oh my, where do I begin? I love Jacob. That's no big secret. I actually really like Nessie, too. I think she's an amazing child, even if she did almost kill her mother before she was born. She's smart and funny and apparently all kinds of creatures are drawn to her. Now, with that being said, I just think it's flat out weird and all too convenient that Jacob imprinted on her. It is strange for me to think of a 16/17 year old boy falling in love (imprinting, whatever...) with a 6 month old baby (or a 3 day old baby that happens to be the size of a 6 month old baby). It's just odd. And, as I said, all too convenient because Bella can't disapprove of the union, neither can Edward as you can't help imprinting, and now Jacob will be part of their family forever. Am I going to have to read a new series of books about Jacob and Nessie since we don't really kow what happened to them and how their relationship turned out? UGH. I'm not sure I could read that one. It would be like my high-school boyfriend marrying Abigail. That's just plain weird. So, for those of you who were interested in knowing what I thought of Breaking Dawn, I think it was everything you warned me it would be: too sci-fi, too bizarre, and just too much at times. But, it is a book about vampires and werewolves and their interactions with humans. That in itself is sci-fi, bizarre, and too much to think about at times.
Bottom line...am I glad that I read these books, or did I just waste a month of my life? Yes, I am glad that I read them and no, I did not waste a month of my life. I am glad that I met Bella, Jacob, and Edward. Their family is fascinating and their love story was truly unique and powerful. Meghan, you were right. This series is SO much more than a story about vampires and werewolves. It is one of the most moving love stories (love between men and women and love between family members) I have ever read. Thanks for the recommendation.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
#60 New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
I have to begin by saying that I can not believe that I have read 60 books this year and that the year isn't over. More amazingly than that, my life doesn't seem to have fallen apart because I spend so much time reading. My children are still fed and clothed and doing well in school, my job at school gets done, I still find time to spend with friends, and Rob and I still enjoy being married and doing things together. I guess the only part of my life that suffers due to this obsession with books is that I sleep less. But since I am getting older (sigh...) and require less sleep, I guess everything comes out in the wash.
OK...on to New Moon...
While I did not LOVE this book as much a Twilight, I did like it. In fact, the last 30 pages saved the book for me. My worst fears were realized as I was reading last night...I was, in fact, reading a book about vampires. The love story was gone, the vampires were out in full force, and I was not the least bit interested. Luckily, through the power of FB, three friends encouraged me to keep reading by admitting that New Moon was their least favorite of the four books and one friend shared with me that New Moon's ending was fantastic. So, I kept reading with the goal of finishing and being able to watch the movie, which has been DVRd for the last week. It remains to be seen if it will be my least favorite of the saga, and the ending was a good one. The best new of all...Edward came back. I think I still love Edward, vampire and all.
As I was reading New Moon, and reading about Bella being pulled in two very different directions throughout the course of this book, I kept thinking about my own high school experience, and high school drama in general. Bella is the girl stuck in the middle. And, I think we've all either known a "Bella" or have been a "Bella." In the book, Bella is caught between the world of vampires and the world of werewolves. Both are monsters, both are bad for her in so many ways, but there she is, loving one of each, and feeling the strain of this predicament every day. She likens herself and her story to Romeo and Juliet and finds evidence from Shakespeare to support her choices, or to caution herself against some, throughout the text. While I loved this connection, having loved both Shakespeare and R&J so much myself (I can still remember watching the video in Ms. Gardner's 9th grade AL/L class), I think that Bella provides an interesting story for current teenagers, too, who aren't so much stuck in between feuding families, athough I guess that's possible, but who could, perhaps, be stuck between two social classes in the high school cafeteria, or stuck between two friends who don't like each other. Beyond being caught in the middle of vampires and werewolves, Bella is the girl who has to choose between a boyfriend and a male friend. That is a tough choice to make. I was given that ultimatum once about 20 years ago and know how my story turned out. I wonder how Bella is going to reconcile hers. Bella's choice, Edward, has been made clear in New Moon. What has not been made clear is how she plans to reconcile choosing a boyfriend, a lover, over a friend. This is why I can't wait to start reading Eclipse. I am now compelled to find out how this saga ends.
I have been asked since beginning this Twilight journey if I will let Abigail read these books. After reading Twilight I felt certain that I would hand Abigail a copy of Twilight when she landed her first read boyfriend. If ever there was a book promoting abstinence and the dangers of a physical relationship, Twilight was it! After reading New Moon, I am sure I will let her read these books, Emily, too, when she is old enough. While they are books about vampires and werewolves, the underlying stories and struggles are the ones that are most relevant to young girls whether 20 years ago or today (hence why these books are actually yound adult books even though most people I know 30 and older are the ones flocking to the bookstore and the movie theatre over them): how will Bella decide between a friend and a boyfriend/husband? how will she deal with parents who don't approve of her choice in a mate? will she get married at age 18?
Meghan was SO right about the Twilight saga. She told me that they were, in fact, books about werewolves and vampires, but that they were so much more than that. She was right, and I am hooked. Oh, and so far...I am a member of TEAM EDWARD! (I just love him...a man with 100 years of life experience in the body of a 17 year old...um...sounds good to me!)
OK...on to New Moon...
While I did not LOVE this book as much a Twilight, I did like it. In fact, the last 30 pages saved the book for me. My worst fears were realized as I was reading last night...I was, in fact, reading a book about vampires. The love story was gone, the vampires were out in full force, and I was not the least bit interested. Luckily, through the power of FB, three friends encouraged me to keep reading by admitting that New Moon was their least favorite of the four books and one friend shared with me that New Moon's ending was fantastic. So, I kept reading with the goal of finishing and being able to watch the movie, which has been DVRd for the last week. It remains to be seen if it will be my least favorite of the saga, and the ending was a good one. The best new of all...Edward came back. I think I still love Edward, vampire and all.
As I was reading New Moon, and reading about Bella being pulled in two very different directions throughout the course of this book, I kept thinking about my own high school experience, and high school drama in general. Bella is the girl stuck in the middle. And, I think we've all either known a "Bella" or have been a "Bella." In the book, Bella is caught between the world of vampires and the world of werewolves. Both are monsters, both are bad for her in so many ways, but there she is, loving one of each, and feeling the strain of this predicament every day. She likens herself and her story to Romeo and Juliet and finds evidence from Shakespeare to support her choices, or to caution herself against some, throughout the text. While I loved this connection, having loved both Shakespeare and R&J so much myself (I can still remember watching the video in Ms. Gardner's 9th grade AL/L class), I think that Bella provides an interesting story for current teenagers, too, who aren't so much stuck in between feuding families, athough I guess that's possible, but who could, perhaps, be stuck between two social classes in the high school cafeteria, or stuck between two friends who don't like each other. Beyond being caught in the middle of vampires and werewolves, Bella is the girl who has to choose between a boyfriend and a male friend. That is a tough choice to make. I was given that ultimatum once about 20 years ago and know how my story turned out. I wonder how Bella is going to reconcile hers. Bella's choice, Edward, has been made clear in New Moon. What has not been made clear is how she plans to reconcile choosing a boyfriend, a lover, over a friend. This is why I can't wait to start reading Eclipse. I am now compelled to find out how this saga ends.
I have been asked since beginning this Twilight journey if I will let Abigail read these books. After reading Twilight I felt certain that I would hand Abigail a copy of Twilight when she landed her first read boyfriend. If ever there was a book promoting abstinence and the dangers of a physical relationship, Twilight was it! After reading New Moon, I am sure I will let her read these books, Emily, too, when she is old enough. While they are books about vampires and werewolves, the underlying stories and struggles are the ones that are most relevant to young girls whether 20 years ago or today (hence why these books are actually yound adult books even though most people I know 30 and older are the ones flocking to the bookstore and the movie theatre over them): how will Bella decide between a friend and a boyfriend/husband? how will she deal with parents who don't approve of her choice in a mate? will she get married at age 18?
Meghan was SO right about the Twilight saga. She told me that they were, in fact, books about werewolves and vampires, but that they were so much more than that. She was right, and I am hooked. Oh, and so far...I am a member of TEAM EDWARD! (I just love him...a man with 100 years of life experience in the body of a 17 year old...um...sounds good to me!)
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