New Moon
Published: 21, August 2006
Author: Stephenie Meyer
The Twilight Saga, Book 2
Genres: Contemporary, Dating & Sex, Drama, Dystopian, Family, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, School, Shape Shifter, Teen, Vampire, Werewolf, Young Adult
Check the summary of this book here:
New Moon Summary
The Review:
Stephenie Meyer's New Moon follows up while Bella is recovering from the events of Twilight, but after an incident that shows everybody that, indeed, Bella is mortal and, yes, Edward and his household are vampires, Edward becomes increasingly preoccupied with his fears for her safety. Bella has a nervous breakdown when he believes that the best way to protect her is to completely withdraw himself from her life.
Werewolves, broken hearts, and love triangles abound. This second book in the Twilight series was arguably the most difficult to read since the love that had made you so happy and looked unshakable was no longer there.
Whereas Twilight concentrated on knowing and understanding Edward Cullen, New Moon focuses on Jacob Black. As readers, we were able to see how their personal interactions with Bella differed.
In practically every manner, Jacob differs from Edward. Jacob is larger, less elegant, and less attractive than Edward. Jacob is, in reality, a werewolf who is the vampire's natural foe.
Even though Edward believed he was doing the right thing, you wept along with Bella. Enter Jacob and his confessions to Bella about his heart and a secret he didn't realize he had.
Even if your beloved characters were depressed, this book was as addictive as the first. That depends on whose team you were on.
We also get to meet a new group of individuals to love and despise, such as Volturi. Despite this, you still cheer for Edward and Bella to triumph and find their way back to each other.
With the notable exception of Jacob, the characters remain very superficial. Jacob is kind, charming in an unusual way, intelligent, and amusing. In fact, he appeared to be extremely genuine.
One aspect of his character that I didn't like was his readiness to let Bella utilize him. She's made it obvious on several occasions that Jacob would be her second option since Edward will always and forever be her first, but Jacob simply accepts it. To put it another way, Edward is Bella's Romeo and Jacob is her Paris.
One very excellent aspect of New Moon is that it is faster-paced and involves more physical action than Twilight. Present's an electric intensity in the novel that wasn't there in Twilight, and I feel it's due to the addition of Jacob's presence.
Stephenie Meyer's prose, once again, leaves something to be desired, although it has improved since Twilight. Regrettably, the same cannot be true about the editing.
She, on the other hand, hasn't gotten over clinging to a single word and repeating it endlessly. The term in Twilight was incredulous; in New Moon, it's glower. At any given time, someone or something is scowling, grimacing, or snarling at someone or something else.
Warning: There will be spoilers ahead, so go to Final Thoughts. I strongly advise you to read the first book Twilight in this series before attempting to read this one. But, if you're unfamiliar with Twilight, it is the story of a 17-year-old girl called Bella Swan who went to Forks, Washington, and fell madly in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.
After a series of mishaps that almost took Bella's life, she began seriously considering (I use the term loosely) becoming a vampire herself so Edward wouldn't have to worry about her safety and they could be together indefinitely.
When Edward decides to end their relationship, New Moon begins on a gloomy note. For a few months, Bella is depressed, until she finds that Edward's voice comes back to her while her adrenaline is pounding.
As a result, she begins to walk on the wild side. Riding a motorbike, something she had never done before, was a part of this wild side. Jacob Black agreed to help her patch up the motorcycle and teach her how to ride it.
Bella and Jacob, despite being over two years her junior, create a strong relationship while working on the motorcycles.
One would imagine that the book's conclusion would include a fight between Jacob and Edward over Bella's affection, but it doesn't, at least not publicly.
The climax happens when Bella is forced to go to Italy to save her lover Edward's life, forcing her to say a painful goodbye to Jacob.
She recognizes she's divided between the werewolf and the vampire at that point. She desires the werewolf's companionship, but she yearns for the vampire's affection.
Final Thoughts:
At the end of the day, this was still a fun book to read, and Stephenie Meyer is still a fantastic storyteller. Despite the shortcomings in the text and the irrational justification for many of the feelings, it was easy to get caught up in the illusion.
It's like observing a reality Television program with a clumsy young girl and, instead of a genuinely bewildered vampire this time, an attractive teenage werewolf.
Also, as with Twilight, don't read this with too much seriousness. This is a light read for rainy weather when you simply want to get away from it all.
Stephenie Meyer included an extract from the next book, Eclipse, once again, as a teaser to entice readers to keep reading the series. She has potential as a thriller writer, but her language, subject matter, and characters are in desperate need of refinement and introspection if she wants to appeal towards a more broad audience.
It's easy to get lost in the fantasy for a time, but when a reader becomes weary of the story's improbabilities and wants to read something more believable and/or sympathetic, Stephenie Meyer falls short.
If you enjoyed Book 1, Twilight, you'll undoubtedly enjoy all of the sequels, and you'll most likely find yourself racing to the finish of Book 4, Breaking Dawn. For those seeking a highly imagined getaway, Stephenie Meyer's fluff fiction is addictive, and they need look no farther than the Twilight franchise.
If you want something more mature and wide, start with Interview With The Vampire from Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. I'm using Anne Rice and her Vampire series to invite vampire fans to discover what they've been missing out on, not to compare these books, because there is no comparison between these series, and it's like talking about a boxing match between an infant (Twilight Series) and an adult (The Vampire Chronicles).
Synopsis:
“For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning.
Legions of readers entranced by the New York Times best-seller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers Bella and Edward. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural spin. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.”
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Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.
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The Twilight Saga Complete Collection
Twilight (2010) (PG-13)
New Moon (2009) (PG-13)
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