Hellooo, all those out there on the web. This is Creative Karma and I’m back again for another book review.
For those of you that have been keeping up with my book reviewing, you’ll know I’ve been shamelessly playing into the Twilight saga that is rampant in our movie theaters. And, of course, giving the birth of a new phenomena known as the “Twilight Mom”. It’s a little sad to me that now they actually have stickers of that slogan for sticking in the window of your car. Yes, I’ve seen it myself and no I don’t know where they got them from. I really don’t wanna know.
Besides, this is a book review blog. Not a movie review blog. We are now one review away from diving away into book Breaking Dawn in which part one is now being shown in theaters. The book separating us from present day hysteria is Eclipse.
Now, while most people have their favorites elsewhere in the series, I personally finally Eclipse to be the best book of the series.
Why you may ask? Well, let’s delve into the book and see why. Here is Eclipse.
This book may have some of the same elements as in the other books but Eclipse is one of those books that doesn’t make it just about Bella, Edward and Jacob. While many screaming fan girls out there yelling at me, I may have been drawn into the romance to a degree but I just never found Edward or Jacob as the kind of guys that I’d want to spend my time with.
In this book, we actually get some insight into the characters that have been pretty much ignored the rest of the series. Namely, Jasper and Rosalie Hale. I appreciate that this is the place where we finally get to know these characters and appreciate them for what they’ve been through that made them who they are.
If it had been me, I would have done this much sooner. It would have given the readers a chance to see what each member of the family brings to the table. However, I can see the need to keep holding this off so we can have a big reveal.
Most of my friends know about my love for Jasper in this series. Here is the book were Jasper is pulled from the background of one or two lines and is made center stage. I won’t delve into too much here. However, this shows to us why Jasper has it the hardest of all the Cullen clan.
In my mind, Jasper is the ultimate example of dealing with the issues you have and never backing down. He doesn’t simply give up and in to his urges but goes to battle against them everyday. If he doesn’t give in, then he’s made an accomplishment. Something to be proud of and strive to get better at doing. Also, we are shown that Jasper has more inner strength and knowledge and power than the readers would have given him credit for. Jasper is the one that brings the knowledge to the table about newborns and the history of making the strongest type of vampire into an army.
Newborns are what vampires are in the first days and weeks of life as a vampire. They are stronger and faster. However, they don’t have the self control of a vampire that has been around for a few years or centuries.
Now, I know they segway this into talking about the fact Bella will most likely be like that when she is changed into a vampire. However, without Jasper’s knowledge and skill Bella wouldn’t be alive to become a vampire in the first place.
Now, onto Rosalie. While most people would dislike her for her attitude towards…pretty much everyone, we learn that it’s not for some superficial reason like most teen pretty girls. Keep in mind, she hasn’t been a teenager for years. Her reasons for not liking Bella aren’t because she’s human but because she’s so willing to give up being human.
To me, that’s a more than logical way for SOMEONE to feel about someone giving up all chances for a person to have a good life. Since Bella doesn’t even remotely have feelings linked to that then someone needed to.
Rosalie becomes the voice of reason. Someone who really makes Bella think about what she is giving up. The ability to have kids, to grow old and watch those kids have grandkids and going out to do all the wonderful things that vampires can’t do because of what they are. We know that they even hide away when it’s sunny outside so that means no more lounging on the beach. Bella couldn’t go back and visit her mom because of that very thing. It’d be more than suspicious that she’d never step outside.
These two characters balance out the others and bring a more down to earth feel to this story. They keep the audience grounded and remind them that there is far more to the story than just being a romance novel in a weird love triangle. If it was only about love then there isn’t a reason for all the added drama. This means to me that while the series features a love triangle between three very different people that this series isn’t just a love story.
It features the much deeper emotions and conditions that brought various and highly different individuals together to face these problems all together. Without each individual in the Cullen family and the pack of wolves that all come together for the sake of another, then Bella wouldn’t get to dream of a happy ending with Edward. She would have died in the first book or been on the run.
These things aside, this is the book where everything comes to a head with Victoria
It seems only logical that all this tension being built up so bring about an epic fight scene. Where we didn’t get it with James and Edward, we get it here. I will say this for the movie, they did an amazing job of bringing the fight scene to life. You don’t get much a sense of it from the book but you get Edward’s dialogue of what is happening. I would have liked this scene better if they actually had jumped down into the fight scene that was going on below them at least from an omnipresent perspective.
However, once the fight is over, the drama isn’t. The Volturi arrive on the scene leading them to realize that they knew damn well what was going on and let it happen. Of course, no one calls them out on this directly but through sly turns of phrase.
Once they give another warning about the fact Bella is still human, the Cullen’s know they have to watch their backs and Bella’s even closer now that the time is drawing nearer to her impending change after her graduation from high school.
The story ends as we finally pick back up the events that happened in the last book. If you remember, Edward offered to change her sooner if she would agree to marry him. Apparently, she has constantly kept him at bay on that subject not wanting to get married. Then again, it was Edward’s goal for her to put off turning into a vampire as long as she could. Even though it is planned for after graduation, he’s still getting his way and showing her that there is still one thing that stands between her and becoming a vampire.
Here’s a thought, if Bella wanted to become a vampire so badly then why not take him up on it? Isn’t it usually the girl who is asking for this sort of thing and the guy that is completely against it? It’s a nice role reversal and cunning device by Edward. He finally gets some points on the board in my book.
However, Bella seems to have been thinking about the offer and, before the battle against the newborns, had finally agreed to marry Edward in exchange for him being the one to turn her into a vampire. So far everyone in her life, save for the Cullens has been unaware of this change in plans for Bella because she hasn’t been wearing the ring.
The story closes on them attempting a more dangerous mission than dealing with newborns…telling Charlie about the engagement.
Now, while this may seem corny and silly it’s something to think about. In the previous books, Charlie has been given a more and more prominent role in his reactions to what Bella is doing. Many times we don’t see him actually punishing her while other times we hear his loud yelling and raving over Bella’s stupid actions that get revealed.
I personally would have loved a little side story at the end of the book to see Charlie’s reaction to her declaring she is getting married to Edward. In the back of my mind, I know that Edward is definitely not Charlie’s favorite person in the world. Who could blame him?
While the ending is rather anti-climatic, it’s the story in the middle that we are meant to remember. Everything from the funny to the action and the drama and even the telling of the most revealing stories in the entire series.
I have to say, I still get a chuckle every time I read about Bells talking with Emmett about how she didn’t break her hand by falling down but by punching a wolf in the face. It’s such an Emmett moment.
All in all, I love this book. This is one of those books that I find hard to let go of when the last page is turned over. Why? Because this book is not just about Edward or Bella or Jacob or some combo of the three. It’s about everyone. Jasper finally gets to stand center stage and we find out that he can more than hold his own which is a huge change from the “boy that looks like he is in pain” from the first book. Rosalie becomes an actual human being to the reader when we really get to understand what is behind the very actions that is against Bella joining the Cullen family.
Who would have thought that Rosalie is the voice of reason? I sure didn’t.
So while you my have the hots for Jacob or Edward, give this book a fair try and just maybe you’ll find that there are other characters that are far more relatable than an emo vampire and a jealous werewolf.
Keep it tuned in to this site as next week I will finally tackle Breaking Dawn.
Until then, I’m Creative Karma and the next time you see me I might be reviewing your favorite book.
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