Title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 1, 2006
Format: Hardcover, 563 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: The Twilight Saga (Book 2)
New Moon is the second book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series. My review of the first book, Twilight, can be found here.
New Moon continues the story of Bella and Edward's relationship and the troubles that they face together or apart. I really want to enjoy these books but that is difficult when I don't like the main character. Bella is moody and self-absorbed through the entire book. She only decides to hang out with Jacob Black at the insistence of Charlie and to feed her need to hear Edward's voice in her head while doing stupid, dangerous things. Bella is very aware of Jacob's feelings for her but decides to use him anyway. Although the vampire family is not physically present for most of the novel, they are never far from Bella's thoughts and motivate many of her actions. Although I can understand the lure of the handsome, mysterious vampire I also think that most teenagers would have enough sense to understand the danger that the vampires (and other supernatural creatures) pose to a mere human. Instead of running screaming, Bella heads straight toward the danger begging the family to make her one of them.
I did greatly enjoy the section of the story when Bella is thinking about Edward and Jacob and is comparing her situation to Romeo and Juliet. It is clear that Bella is very aware of her actions and how she might hurt Jacob but she manages to rationalize their relationship. Despite knowing how many people she might hurt, Bella continues to forge forward with reckless abandon. I realize that teenagers can be full of angst, especially in first love relationships, however I feel Meyer pushes it a bit over the top in Bella. I do want to like her and these books but I am finding it very difficult to do so.
I will finish reading the series since I'm already halfway through and now I want to know what happens to Bella and Edward but unless Bella becomes more sensible and likable I doubt my reaction to the last two books will be more favorable.
I totally understand what you mean. Bella's character gets more and more annoying through the books, it's just so hard to like her sometimes. I wont spoil for you, but I will say that New Moon was my 2nd favorite of the four.
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My first time here, I like your blog.
Oh no, that does not bode well if Bella gets even harder to like!
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Well, you were nicer about it than I was! hehe I really didn't like Bella either and just can't see myself finishing the series. I did my own review a little more than a week ago. So many people say that New Moon was their favorite but it's the one that turned me off.
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I liked the series but wasn't crazy about it. If I were a teenager I probably would have loved them but it's hard when you have teens of your own. After I read the first one I did want to know how it ended but New Moon was my least favorite of all of them. It's funny how different opinions can be. I'd be curious to hear after you read all of them.
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