New Moon [Paperback]

 

 

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After avoiding Twilight - certain I could not possibly be interested in a teen book about Vampires - and despite many recommendations, I finally picked it up and like many readers, couldn't put it down. Stephanie Meyer created such a beautiful character in Edward - ahh to be 17 again and in love with a vampire! A gorgeous, articulate, every-teenagers-fantasy-vampire! What a relief to end the first book knowing there was a sequel. Unfortunately New Moon simply does not measure up. I felt like the story was all over the place but I guess the biggest disappointment was that Edward was hardly in it!! I was turning every page hoping for his return. The plot was so convoluted and I felt like Meyer dumbed up the character of Bella - I mean did she really think and accept that Edward suddenly didn't love her - puleeeaze! I realise Meyer is developing her story by introducing the Werewolves but Bella's relationship with Jacob is simply not as enchanting. Poor Charlie has been relegated to the role of the pathetic Father - it seemed to me they had quite a mature relationship in Twilight and now he is grounding his 18 year old daughter? I really don't buy it.
I hope the third installment brings back some of the wonder and beauty that Meyer captured in Twilight.

It is official -- Stephanie Meyer is the oldest emo teenage girl on the face of this planet.

How else could she have written a book like "New Moon," the second sparkle-vampire romance in her bestselling Twilight series? Unfortunately this is no deep and intense romance -- it's basically a big oozing lump of teenage melodrama and horrendously purple prose. And the resolutely obnoxious heroine Bella Swan doesn't help with her endless moaning.

Bella's whether-you-like-it-or-not birthday party is wrecked when she cuts herself and prompts Jasper into a feeding frenzy, and the Cullens realize that she's just too tasty to be safe. So they leave town permanently. Cue emo music, for Bella's life is empty and worthless without Edward.

No, seriously -- it's empty. We have blank pages with month names on them, presumably to show that life is utterly empty and pointless when Eddie boy is absent -- "that I wasn't the heroine anymore, that my story was over."

But when she deliberately tries to put herself in danger, she hears Edward commanding her to stop. So she buys a motorcycle and starts immersing herself in extreme sports, hoping to hear him over and over again -- and she also gets to know local hunk Jacob Black, who has a supernatural secret of his own. But her near-suicidal antics have disastrous results for Edward, who believes her to be dead... and takes drastic action.

For the record, being seventeen-plus and/or breaking up with your True Luv are a fate worse than death. Teen Romance = True Luv. Catatonia and suicide are valid responses to being dumped. And life is an endless vile morass of nihilistic doom without a Sparkling Undead Coverboy to validate your existance and keep life from being ordinary.

At least, that is what "New Moon" would have you believe, since Stephanie Meyer smothers it in enough teenage melodrama and endless whiny angst to choke a blue whale. Thankfully her purple prose has been toned down -- presumably due to the absence of the "godlike" Edward -- but unfortunately page upon page of whining and suicidal despair is not a good substitute.

The entire story is pretty much devoted to the ever-passive Bella moping and whining as the sound of the world's smallest violin plays. Meyer attaches hilariously melodramatic significance to such scenes as Bella trying to get raped and murdered by a random bunch of guys, or having a recurring emo nightmare about being -- oh gasp of horror -- alone. You'd think being single was a death sentence.

Belatedly, Meyer realizes that post-breakup angst is not enough to carry even this thin plot. So she quickly spins up a bunch of Bad Evil Restrictive Vampires (with a not-so-subtle anti-Catholic bent), and Edward attempting suicide by the most hilarious method possible -- public sparkling. Such scenes almost mock themselves.

And Bella's endless woe-is-me-for-I-am-a-plain-mortal angst doesn't make her more vulnerable and likable -- it just eats up pages. And while Meyer tries desperately to show Bella's obsession as being True and Eternal Love, it never seems like more than a teenage girl's overwrought crush. And in a feeble attempt at a love triangle, Meyer makes Bella flirt callously with Jacob Black -- a sweet, nice, friendly guy who deserves way better.

"New Moon" is a prolonged, near-plotless slog of teenage melodrama, and it's nothing short of amazing that a grown woman could write such a book. Only for those who enjoy a fine whine.

The second book in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer has a star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliette flavor to it. Not enought to say I soo saw that comming, but just enough romance, tragedy, a new possible love interest to keep the tears flowing, and the pages turning.

If you have not read the first book in the series (Twilight). I suggest you do so before attempting to read New Moon. You will fall in love with the characters while reading Twilight. In New Moon first you get your heart broken and then fall in love all over again

Bella Swain finds herself at a loss when a small accident forces vampire boyfirend's (Edward Cullen) family to leave Forks. She befriends the son of a family friend and becomes reckless with her life in the attempt to keep the memory of her boyfirned alive. Her new best friend's secrets will protect Bella and her family, but will eventually make her choose between him and her true love. New and old character (both good and bad) appear throughout the book. Leaving you with fear, a throbing heart, and a thirsrt for the next in the series. (not comming out till next year...hopefully)

I fell in love with these charactes and kept the pages turning till the wee hours of the morning hoping for just one more Edward Fix.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good product
It is a very good book: I have no doubt about it. And it's much better than the movie itself.

Published 13 months ago by Karine

5.0 out of 5 stars Corny, mediocre writing that manages to make you feel like a teenager again.
The series:
Let's face it, it's not particularly well written, the plot is questionable and the characters overly dramatic. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Diana B.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book in the Twilight Saga
Great book, like most readers, I missed Edward! However, it gives more insight to Bella and Jacobs complicated relationship and how much Bella and Edward are in love...

Published 18 months ago by jensmum05

2.0 out of 5 stars Bella goes from obsessive to just plain stupid
In "Twilight," I was willing to give Bella the benefit of the doubt with regards to her obsession about Edward. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Nathalie Wigmore

4.0 out of 5 stars this series is VERY addictive!
excellent! The author has a natural talent...she could draw the reader in no matter WHAT she was writing about. Read more

Published on May 6 2010 by lafleurpetite

4.0 out of 5 stars It was all I expected and more.....true to the movie
THe condition of the book was excellent, and the content matched. Have already seen the movie, and am so pleased with the coorealtion between the two. An excellent read... Read more

Published on April 12 2010 by stillalbertaone

3.0 out of 5 stars Movie was better
The movie got the passion down much better than the book. I felt there was a lot of un-necessary rambling.

Published on April 3 2010 by Cheryl Davenport

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
New Moon was awesome! It delved more into Jacob and the fantasy world of creatures like werewolves. Forget everything you thought you knew and take a ride as you read this mouth... Read more

Published on April 2 2010 by Tom Turvey

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so
Of all the books, this is the one that I liked the least. It was all Bella and Jacob. I had a hard time staying interested. Read more

Published on Aug 23 2009 by Six

5.0 out of 5 stars meh
So at first I didn't understand the hype over these books. Then i watched the movie and thought it was decent. But i did not like how Kristen Stewart portrayed Bella. Read more

Published on July 22 2009 by Britney Spears

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