New Moon
Ratings920
Average rating3
This follow up to the hugely successful Twilight finds Bella turning 18 and finding that when your a human whose dating a vampire even the simplest of paper cuts can cause huge problems when your boyfriends families lust for blood means that they may accidentally end up killing you.
Due to this accident we find that for much of this book the Cullens are absent as Edward tries to protect Bella from the world of Vampires by leaving town, in his absence though Bella finds herself drawn into the world of Jacob and his friends who are not what they initially appear to be and are equally as dangerous to her as Edward and his family.
I thorougly enjoyed this sequel to Twilight, I'd read in reviews that people couldn't understand how she could simply forget about Edward and seem to move so transiently to the world of Jacob but in understanding her anguish and need to find something to ease her pain I can fully sympathise with the character. I like the way in which the author has begun to bring together the characters and set them up in preperation for the novels to come but my only criticism of this book is that like Bella I found myself pining for Edward - I missed his charisma and romance in much of this novel as he perhaps only features prominently in around a third.
An absolutely outstanding author who has grabbed lots of attention and deservedly so - books for the generation who have outgrown or read all the Harry Potters and yet still yearn for a darn good read!
Most of what I had to say on this series, I said in answer to Twilight. I love this story; it's an indulgence in comfortable escapism for me. The writing took a lot for me to get over - at least 100 pages of the first book, far more than I would have put up with if a friend hadn't been so fired-up for me to read and love this - but in the end something about the story won out. It's comfortable in the way that cheesy sitcoms and sappy movies are... it's giving up the real world for something that's nice to curl up in for a while.
⭐⭐⭐
This book is good and worth reading. I enjoyed it but it felt a little lacking. I may recommend it to a certain audience. It gave me mixed feelings, possibly with potential it didn't quite live up to. It's a good experience, not amazing, but not bad.
Idem with Twilight...
I've read this book in indonesian version. I just want to read this book in its original version..
★★★☆☆ —1) Twilight
★☆☆☆☆ —2) New Moon
★☆☆☆☆ —3) Eclipse
★★★★☆ —4) Breaking Dawn
Strap in for a review almost as long as this godforsaken book. Considering going to grad school so I can write a Twilight dissertation ten years too late.
Plot Summary
Edward and Bella, together at last! Except no, because Bella got a paper cut that convinced Edward he had to end their relationship forever, gaslighting her on his way out and also for some reason leaving her alone in the woods. He had no other choice. What's the alternative? Respecting Bella's preferences and boundaries by not having the birthday party where she nicked herself on wrapping paper? Obviously impossible.
Well, relationships end. Breakups are painful, but with Edward gone, this is a chance for Bella—the protagonist, after all—to develop as a character absent a male love interest. Oh, what's that? She breaks down and shuts down and alienates all of her friends and wakes up screaming every night? But therapy is obviously out of the question? And she's somehow always about to die in various outdoor locations and she needs carried and/or set in someone's lap while she's sobbing or unconscious? And the only thing that brings her any measure of comfort or hope or joy, sparks anything in her at all, is the memory of her ex-boyfriend yelling at her to stop what she's doing? And she only starts to really bounce back once there's another supernatural brooding possessive boy to keep her safe and happy? And by that I mean unsafe and unhappy? But this time with racism? And named after Stephenie Meyer's brother, which creeps me out? And then when Edward returns she realizes hearing his anger after he left is proof he cares, so she can trust his love for her is true?
Cool, that works too.
The Racism
Let's expand on that racism point, because I didn't pick up on any of that when I read the series for the first time.
Jacob Black belongs to the indigenous Quileute Tribe, and lives on a reservation in La Push, a village close to the city of Forks. The Quileute people exist, and you're not going to believe this, but they are not werewolves. Meyer features a real group living in a real place, but depicts them as mythical creatures. Her depiction of the Quileute people thrust them into the international spotlight. As the books snowballed into movies, merchandise, and tourism, misinformation and invasions of privacy abounded. Journalists trespassed and filmed sacred areas. Their history and culture were co-opted and billions were made, yet the Quileute received no compensation. Meyer took so many liberties that Seattle's Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture has a whole section of their website dedicated to debunking Twilight's misrepresentations.
Currently, the Quileute are fundraising to relocate reservation buildings especially vulnerable to tsunamis, including the tribal school. You can learn more about the Move to Higher Ground (MTHG) project and donate here.
Cultural appropriation aside, how are the Quileute characterized in the series? Especially compared to vampires, since Meyer has cast them as opposed groups? Here's a few examples:
Billy, Jacob's dad, is the cryptic, superstitious elder. Despite understanding more than most, his credibility is shaky. Bella, Charlie, and even Jacob roll their eyes at him, can't figure out what he's on about. Silly old man. Contrast that with Edward's dad, Carlisle. Carlisle is a doctor. He is a capable, measured, calm authority figure that many adore and respect. His wisdom is undeniable.
In the first book, Edward explicitly, repeatedly tells Bella that he is a threat to her survival. He tells her that he's dangerous, his family is dangerous, who he is, itself, is dangerous. Despite his repeated warnings, Bella can't manage to conjure up any real fear. She stubbornly pushes back against assertions that Edward is violent or monstrous. She is more sure of his ability not to hurt her than he is. Not only does she not feel threatened around Edward, she feels safe. She feels safer with him than anyone else. Because she knows, deep down, he is good.
Contrast that with the conclusion Bella leaps to when hikers start disappearing in New Moon. She has a pit in her stomach, because she knows what's really going on. The dark savage beasts are slaughtering innocents. They're primitive animals who can't control their impulses. They might not even be able to help it, that's just their nature. But maybe Jacob can find another way, a way to deny himself. Maybe he can become more civilized, if he really tries. And he has to at least try; look what's at stake! But then it turns out it was a white lady all along. America, I tell you.
The vampires are pale and white. They represent civility, restraint, sophistication and wealth. They wear designer clothes and have a thing for fast cars. The werewolves, when human, have brown skin and black hair. They walk quietly, as natives do, but don't get it twisted; they are a rowdy and rambunctious lot. They bicker and wrestle. They're often without either clothes or decorum. They sprint around on all fours without shoes.
Despite Edward growling and snarling and lunging all over the place, he's convinced that by comparison, Jacob's anger is erratic. Edward is a beacon of self-control, but Jacob might not be able to help hurting Bella. Edward's violence is in defense of a vulnerable young white woman. He is all that stands between her and the nearby savages, and her wellbeing is contingent on distance from them. Jacob represents an alternative way of life for Bella, but ultimately, he doesn't stand a chance. Who he is and what he has to offer simply cannot measure up to Edward. This is inevitable.
The Sexism
The overarching issue is this: codependent and abusive relationship dynamics are justified by Edward being a vampire and Bella being human. It is a pitiful catch-all for copious red flags.
Edward might seem controlling and intense from the outside looking in, but he's just trying to protect her from the risk of other vampires. Their bond despite her mortality makes her a salient target for others of his kind.
He might treat her as someone in constant need of rescuing, as a liability to her own welfare, but well, she kind of is. She's so clumsy and vulnerable, especially compared to his otherworldly agility and grace.
Edward isn't isolating her socially; on the contrary, he encourages her to be social and have human fun. But how is she suppose to forge meaningful relationships with people who don't know he's a vampire? Even if she betrayed him and told the truth, no one would believe her anyway.
He tells her what to do a lot, and ignores her when she objects to what he's decided for both of them. He may seem quick to anger. He may not spend effort and time listening to Bella or explaining his rationale. But he's been around for over a century. He can read minds. Bella is stubborn, but she lacks his perspective. And besides, we all know his top priority is always her. We know his heart.
It might seem odd and alarming that a teenager wants to throw away adulthood and all of her own aspirations or independence just to remain entangled with a man much older than her who belongs nowhere near a high school. It really might. Like, it really might. But she isn't throwing away her future; would you call wanting to become immortal anything of the sort? And wouldn't that justify crumbling from the inside out if that person yanked themselves away? Wouldn't that literally feel like the end of forever?
He stays with her because he loves her so much. He leaves her because he loves her so much. He comes back because he loves her so much. Upon his return, it may seem like he's ripping her apart from the only person who provided her real solace in his absence, but Jacob is a threat to her safety. Vampires understand werewolves better than naïve humans.
Relationships look different from the outside looking in. Edward and Bella's relationship might seem unhealthy, but that's just because people don't know the whole story. People don't see him like she does. There are other sides to him, sides he reveals to no one but her.
It's not just that love can conquer violence, it's that violence sometimes shows how much you care, how hard you love. Your partner is simply so committed and protective they wouldn't hesitate, not even for a second, to do anything for you. You (and you alone) give them reason to live. They would die without you and die or kill for you.
If you think about it, it's a really great message to send young readers who have likely never been in a serious romantic relationship before. There's no way this goes wrong.
The Best Joke
In lighter news, I have zeroed in on another overused verb: murmured. So much murmuring, it's unbelievable. Here's a joke no one will get but rest assured it is HILARIOUS: perhaps Meyer was drew inspiration from Laman and Lemuel. HA. am I right guys
I really liked reading these books - before the movies and ‘seeing' those two actors when I read, therefore spoiling the characters for me with their less than stellar acting skills.
This is my favorite (so far) of the Twilight books. My favorite character in the entire series, due largely in part to this book, is Jacob Black.
When Edward leaves Bella in what is probably the most pathetic weepy display of “I can't live without a boy” weak girliness in recent literary history (seriously, there's a time lapse. It's like she went into a coma, and it's ridiculous), Jacob pulls her out of it, slowly but surely. Bella falls slowly in love with him, and develops a deep friendship along the way. Stephenie Meyer's writing definitely improved between Twilight and New Moon, and it shows in the way she is able to weave a realistic friendship, flesh out Jacob's character, and make him a central character to the series.
The plot of this book is driven at the surface by Bella's desire to get Edward back, but underneath by the friendship she forms with Jacob. It also dives headfirst into werewolf lore – and the natural rivalry of werewolves with vampires – upping the ante on the entirety of Forks. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
This book was kind of hard to get through. I still feel engaged to read the second book but I didn't feel as sad as I thought I was going to reading this. Anyways, it was still a goos story.
3 1/2 stars
This book felt longer than necessary. I despised how Jacob was treated. It seemed so unfair for Bella to string him along while knowing her heart would always belong to Edward.
I enjoyed it, quite a few frustrating decisions but I am thinking of how amazing it would have felt to read this when I didn’t know the entire plot because of the movies. Some of her feelings were difficult to read because I understood them as well. But overall I’m enjoying it. It has flaws so it’s not the best but I’d recommend it. Also team Jacob even though I know that can’t happen I love Jacob.
sometimes the movie is better i'm pissed that the “bella where the hell have you been loca” quote isn't in the book
Okay but like the more you read of Jacob and Bella the more gross and slightly incestuous their relationship feels. It's as though one, it's weird Stephenie named Jacob after her brother and two, that their relationship will never be more than a friendship or familial bond(mother and son in laws)
we all know this book is FULL of red flags, and they we're very fun to tab and roll my eyes at. but the best part of the book was Stephanie calling herself out on how much the plot of this entire book doesn't work as a compelling story. she explains for a full page how no one would care the read about Juliet being sad about romeo leaving and settling for paris... THATS THE WHOLE PLOT OF THIS BOOK! except for the last few chapters which are the only parts of the this book that were fun to read... still not good but fun.
i hate both jacob and bella (and edward but besides leaving he doesn't do much in this book). but jacob and bella have page after page of no fucking boundaries and constant misconceptions and miscommunication. jacob thinks bella will love him despite her repeated telling him she won't and bella keeps leading him on knowing that he thinks she'll change her mind about him.
i just hate it and i needed way more scenes of bella and alice because i think a sapphic version of twilight is actually what i need to be reading to cure me, any ao3 recommendations are greatly appreciated
✧New Moon Book Review✧
Official Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Everyone in this book is an idiot.
Edward for assuming Bella would be okay without him.
Bella for being self-destructive over Edward.
Jacob for thinking that Bella could forget about Edward.
They all irritated me to no end.
But I'm mostly mad that New Moon made me love Jacob!! Because I know SM will ruin him. She is only using his ‘exotic' allure to make the story (and Bella) more interesting. But he was so good for Bella and it's just irritating that it's the last book he'll be normal. Shaking my fist at Meyer right now, this book could have been good but instead, it is merely mediocre.
Wanting your boyfriend to turn you into a vampire is a no-brainer decision, but agreeing to marry him is somehow MORE serious?
For some reason I think that this is my favorite book in the Twilight series so far, I enjoyed the story progression, though there were several points in the book where I visibly cringed.
Contains spoilers
💬: "One thing I truly knew—knew it in the pit of my stomach, in the center of my bones, knew it from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, knew it deep in my empty chest—was how love gave someone the power to break you."
Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon (The Twilight Saga Book 2) (p. 219). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
📖Genres: fantasy, romance, urban fantasy, paranormal, vampires, werewolves
📚Page Count: 566
🎧Audiobook Length: 14h 51min
👩🏾🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5
----
New Moon is the second installment in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. This book has some of the same issues that the first book, Twilight, has. Bella and Edward seem to still have a toxic relationship, both Bella AND Edward still has some serious dependency issues, and once again, there's a big chunk of this book where nothing really happens. In New Moon, Bella and Edward spend almost the duration of the book separated. This leaves a lot of space for the third part of the love triangle to come in, and that's Jacob Black.
Unfortunately, their relationship is still toxic, or rather Edward still has abusive tendencies. Here's an example,
“No! No! NO!” Edward roared, charging back into the room. He was in my face before I had time to blink, bending over me, his expression twisted in rage. “Are you insane?” he shouted. “Have you utterly lost your mind?” I cringed away, my hands over my ears.
Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon (The Twilight Saga Book 2) (p. 535). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
This was towards the end of the book, when Edward got upset about a decision Bella made. Edward also does this.
“Carlisle?” I turned to look at him. Edward grabbed my face in his hand, forcing me to look at him. His other hand was out, palm toward Carlisle.
Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon (The Twilight Saga Book 2) (pp. 535-536). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
This is right after Edward starts yelling at Bella and throwing his tantrum. I understand being upset, but I don't think that's really acceptable behavior. He's scaring her and purposefully being intimating.
[SPOILERS BELOW]
In this book, Bella and Edward spend a significant time away from each other and they both act like they're dying because of it. I won't spoil why they spend time apart or how the situation comes to be, but I will say that Bella basically goes catatonic for a while. She has constant nightmares that she awakes from screaming. She goes into a deep depression. Then she starts hearing Edward's voice in her head whenever she would do something deemed "dangerous" or "life threatening". Instead of seeing a doctor or specialist, she decides to keep doing dangerous things so she can continue to hear his voice in her head. Yeah, okay. I always thought this part of the saga was weird, concerning, and not romantic in the slightest.
Once again, this book goes on for about 45% (200 pgs) before anything interesting or exciting happens. This is the second book in the series that has pacing issues that make almost the majority of the book, boring. I always have to remind myself that the movie adaptation is superior to the books, because wow. Most of this was boring.
There were some interesting parts in this story, like the stuff near the end of the book. I shouldn't have to read almost half of your book for anything to happen Mrs. Meyer. I also still hate the dynamic Bella and Edward have, but I do like the side characters a lot. Overall, this book was better than the first. I'm giving this 2.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5 Stars
I listened to this for free on the library app [LibbyApp.com]
I'm glad I'm finally reading through this series after so many years of hearing about it and watching the movies. The books are definitely better and I'm really in the mood for this so that helps lol.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one but I did enjoy learning more about the Cullen's world and watching Jacob grow into his world. Reading from Bella's POV can sometimes be exhausting as she can be a bit melodramatic and whiny BUT then teens and their hormones so ..
honestly? skip this book. my god, jacob is the worst character whose ever annoyed me.... ever. read the beginning, skipped the middle with jacob, before settling back when Alice came back to Forks and “finished” the book from there.
La verdad es que me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo cuando sale Jacob