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Lucy 's Reviews > New Moon
New Moon (The Twilight Saga, #2)
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Bella Swan's relationship with her hot vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen is heating up when her characteristic clumsiness messes everything up again at her vampire-thrown birthday party. In typical Bella style, she gives herself a paper cut and Edward has to literally throw himself in front of her to keep her from being dinner for six hungry vampires. That's the last straw for Edward, and he and his entire family pick up and leave to prevent any more harm from coming to Bella on their tab. Bella is, of course, inconsolable, and walks through life like a lovesick zombie - until she renews her friendship with local boy Jacob Black. Jacob is a good friend - and more importantly, he helps Bella fix up two motorcycles and teaches her to ride them. Bella's friendship with Jacob - and the adrenaline rush that the motorcycles bring - sustains her, until she discovers a dangerous truth about the identity of Jacob and his friends - they are a pack of young werewolves. And even worse, they have been working to protect her from a vicious vampire who has it in for Bella.
After the horrible drudge that was Twilight, New Moon was a pleasant surprise. At least, part of it was, if you can get past Bella's melodramatic, lovesick, woe-is-me-I-am-the-center-of-the-universe depression. I was actually starting to enjoy Bella's somewhat odd relationship with Jacob, and the book in general, which kind of surprised me - until Edward showed up again. Then, the writing dissolved once again to "I love you more, shmoopy." "No, I love you more." and I lost patience once again. That's the problem with this book. The shmoopy, syrupy, unexplainededly irritating Romeo-and-Juliet True Love that Edward and Bella share. I like Bella with Alice. I like Bella with Carlisle and Esme. I like Bella with Jacob. I can't stand Bella with Edward. And let me rephrase that. There is nothing likeable about Bella as a character - she is a complete and total MarySue. Jacob is goodhearted and clever and interesting, and I have no trouble understanding why Bella is drawn to him. But why is Jacob drawn to Bella? There seems to be no reason I can understand. And most laughable of all is Bella's desperate urge to become a vampire herself. Especially at the end, when Edward asks her to marry him first, and she balks. She's afraid of commitment, but not of being turned into a vampire so she can stay with him always? Give me a break.
After the horrible drudge that was Twilight, New Moon was a pleasant surprise. At least, part of it was, if you can get past Bella's melodramatic, lovesick, woe-is-me-I-am-the-center-of-the-universe depression. I was actually starting to enjoy Bella's somewhat odd relationship with Jacob, and the book in general, which kind of surprised me - until Edward showed up again. Then, the writing dissolved once again to "I love you more, shmoopy." "No, I love you more." and I lost patience once again. That's the problem with this book. The shmoopy, syrupy, unexplainededly irritating Romeo-and-Juliet True Love that Edward and Bella share. I like Bella with Alice. I like Bella with Carlisle and Esme. I like Bella with Jacob. I can't stand Bella with Edward. And let me rephrase that. There is nothing likeable about Bella as a character - she is a complete and total MarySue. Jacob is goodhearted and clever and interesting, and I have no trouble understanding why Bella is drawn to him. But why is Jacob drawn to Bella? There seems to be no reason I can understand. And most laughable of all is Bella's desperate urge to become a vampire herself. Especially at the end, when Edward asks her to marry him first, and she balks. She's afraid of commitment, but not of being turned into a vampire so she can stay with him always? Give me a break.
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Shay
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rated it 1 star
Jun 15, 2008 07:19PM
Jacob is the most real character in the book and my favorite. I was hoping Bella would wake up an realize how great Jacob is. Edward holds NO appeal IMO. Bella is just a very selfish person. After Edward came back I almost stopped reading I was disappointed. I was enjoying Bella and Jacob together.
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!!! These books are going to make me lose my mind, Navah!Continuing the marriage thought: how is she freaked out at the thought of explaining an engagement to her mother, but doesn't bat an eyelash over how she's going to explain the fact that she's eternally youthful to her parents? How would it be okay for her to move in with the Cullens unwed? Because she does plan to do that. Or is she just going to run away and never speak to them again? And if so, how is that not something to be a little anxious about?
HOW, NAVAH!? HOW!?!?
These books, my god! I borrowed Breaking Dawn from a friend today and started it on the train home, and OMG. I just--ow. The brain, it hurts. Have you read it yet? I got to a certain part, and said, "Oh, come on" out loud before I could stop myself.I kind of hate Bella with the hate of a thousand suns at this point for making me slog through all of this shmoopy, saccharine nonsense.
I just--no. No, okay?
No, I haven't read Eclipse... yet.I use the word yet very, very tentatively.
Nicole, why am I a masochist? Why am I reading Breaking Dawn? Can you answer this question for me, because I sure can't.
For me it's curiosity. It's like, even though I KNOW the whole damn thing is going to be this bad, I'm holding out, waiting to UNDERSTAND what the hell is going on. Like, what is wrong with people's brains that this is so popular? Or maybe this is the Nicholas Sparks phenomenon. I mean, the man can't write and yet... Also, there is a part of me that wanted to like the series because, you know, it's fun when you can be excited about the final book in a series and all that. But... this is more like relief. It's over. Soon the pain will subside. Or something.I'm only 50% through. If I were at the 75% mark I'd have to do it too. YOU'VE COME TOO FAR TO STOP NOW, NAVAH!
I KNOW I'M STILL READING SEND HELP.Seriously, it's just awful. There is actually a pretty hilariously decent recap over here:
I'm through the first "book", so I can tell you that it gives you all the important highlights.
THESE BOOKS ARE LIKE BAD MORMON VAMPIRE FANFIC. I AM NOT KIDDING.
Onward, brave soldier.
I went on to read New Moon because a friend told me Edward was gone, and Jacob had a fighting chance. The Jacob parts were almost worth it but then, you know, Edward comes back.And besides, how do you make a character less interesting by turning them into a werewolf? Seriously. Characters are supposed to become more interesting when they become shapeshifters!
By the end of New Moon I think Alice was the only character I really liked. I don't think I can stick with this through the last two books ...
It's not worth sticking through the last two books. Seriously. I am two pages from being done slogging through the waste of space that is Breaking Dawn, and I can tell you with utter certainty that there is nothing worthwhile to be gained.You know a book is bad when you learn about some mortal peril that is threatening the lives of all the main characters you're supposed to care about, and instead of getting that "dun dun DUN!" feeling, all you can think is "woohoo!"
Yeah, once you start rooting for the good guys to die, you're in trouble ...I read cleolinda's plot summaries. I figure that will do. :-)
Only--is book four as totally whacked out as those summaries make them sound?
It is completely as whacked out. It is even crazier. It is seriously, unbelievably, incredibly, terribly bad.It's almost worth reading, because you don't believe how bad it is until you read it. I read N a line from BD that the EW review quoted:
"He had the most beautiful soul,more beautiful than his brilliant mind or his incomparable face or his glorious body." (Bella, on Edward)
N was flabbergasted that that was actually a quote from an actual published book. And that is just barely the tip of the terribly bad iceberg.
GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH!Not that I typically do, but if I ever find myself wanting to get completely and utterly shit-faced, I'm using these books for a drinking came.
Amen, sista. When do you drink? Every time Bella or Edward professes love? Every time Bella admires Edward? Every time Edward says how special and beautiful Bella is? Every time Bella contemplates how perfectly average she is?
You drink every time Bella puts herself in mortal danger.Twice if it's her own fault.
It doesn't works as well in this book, though--once she gets vamped, Bella doesn't really have the mortality needed to be put in mortal danger.In the first three books, you can drink every time she's adorably clumsy, though.
Well, since I just read that comment I guess I don't need to read book four. Thanks for giving it away, Navah. And I really do mean thanks. Really.
If you want to not have to read it even more, read Cleolinda's recaps--cleolinda.livejournal.com.She mocks the mockworthy! And tells you everything that happens so you don't have to read them.
ugh, what has happened to being female, young, smart, independent and INTERESTING. Yuck. If this is all there was to read when I was a teenager, I have no idea who or what I would be today. The whole series is the saddest statement on the art of being a teenager these days. Thanks to Navah and any other reviews I read for saving me from reading any more of this triteness.
Just finished reading it, and I still have a strong urge to go slap someone, preferably Bella. You expressed precisely my thoughts on it: I like Bella and Jacob. I like Bella and Alice. I like Bella and her dad... But sitting through Bella and Edward is too painful.
When do you drink? Every time Bella or Edward professes love? Every time Bella admires Edward? Every time Edward says how special and beautiful Bella is? Every time Bella contemplates how perfectly average she is?That's how we played it during the movie! Oh Navah, you should have been there.
Navah-Thank you for your apt review. I just finished NM and am satisfying my utter disgust for Bella by reading all the one-star reviews and so far this is the best.As for a drinking game, I would end up in the hospital if I drank every time Bella admired Bella and made self-hating comments about herself, and then I would have irreparable liver damage and hate her even more. I think it would be better played if you drink every time Edward gives one of his brooding looks.
Shannon wrote: "Jacob is the most real character in the book and my favorite. I was hoping Bella would wake up an realize how great Jacob is. Edward holds NO appeal IMO. Bella is just a very selfish person. After ..."I agree with your comments.
Totally agree with you about Jacob; he was the first intriguing character in the series for me. I thought their relationship was interesting - until the wrewolf thing, which was just ridiculous. The girl who falls in love with vampires also happens to stumble across werewolves. Come on! Also agree about Bella. She's very immature, selfish and completely self absorbed.
I agree. There is no better way to put it. I cannot stand Bella and Edward!
Can I just say, think of how many trees they killed to print this crap!
I hated Edward when he left Bella in this book. I liked Jacob and wanted Bella to choose him. He seemed like a real teenager with flaws unlike Mr perfect Edward. Too bad Jacob's character was ruined in breaking dawn . I hate the movie's Jacob and Hauler Lauyner is a horrible actor. In short, the twilight movies are even worse.
Jacob is a teen boy going through puberty. He likes Bella because she's nearby and will talk to him; this part was realistic
Yesss girl !!! I totally agree with you !! The writing when Edward is with Bella it’s so boring !!! Omg I can’t stand it. I also think that’s why I rather her relationship with Jacob because it’s funnier and he is so sweet and Bella it’s not very stupid around him. Although I hate that she uses him, he doesn’t deserve that.
