SubscribeThis is the third book in the incredibly popular Twilight Series. Before you start reading this book, I highly recommend that you go back and start from the beginning. Immerse yourself in Twilight, angst your way through New Moon. Only then will you be able to fully appreciate Eclipse, the third book in a four book series.
Where to begin in describing a book that has so much? How about this video of Meyer talking about the books, which was released right around when Eclipse came out :
Most of the adults who were reading this series at the same time I was told me that they felt that Eclipse was the best book in the series. They amended that statement with the phrase: “so far”, already anticipating that the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, would just blow everything else right out of the water. Now that I have read Eclipse, I have to agree with them. This book, as the author says in the video, takes place in a short span of time, but is just packed full of action, and suspense, anticipation, and mixed emotions. I started to hope that there would, someday, be a movie made based on this book.
It has taken me a little while to be able to write this review, because I could not figure out how to write it without giving out too many “spoilers”. The last thing I would want to do is ruin a book this wonderful, for readers who have not read this far. It just wouldn’t be fair, or right, in my opinion. I finally decided to not list any of the plot at all, and instead give my own personal impressions of the book.
This series has an amazingly high number of “superfans”. I have met quite a few at the bookstore I work at, in the past few weeks, as we were building up to the release of Breaking Dawn. It is important to me to encourage literacy, and what better way to do that then to suggest a book this good to a teen that is just starting to find reading fun? So, out of respect for the superfans, who seem to find everything on the internet that has anything at all to do with the Twilight Series eons before I can find it, I will not give any “spoilers” in this review.
One thing that is no surprise at this point in the series is the existence of a love triangle (of sorts) between Edward, Bella, and Jacob. From the very first book, Edward and Bella are clearly head over heals in love with each other, and most definately an established couple. But then, in the second book, Bella starts to become close to Jacob, while Edward is gone. By the end of that book, readers can see that Jacob loves Bella, and that Bella has very strong feelings for Jacob. Are those feelings love? Jacob seems to think so, but Bella is oblivious to this possibility. In fact, for the most part, she is in denial that Jacob likes her “as more than a friend”, to use a very teenage phrase.
Here is where the battle begins, as Edward and Jacob “fight” for Bella’s love. I liked how Meyer had one of them appearing to come out on top in one minute, only to have that suddenly go the other way, all too quickly. Neither one intends to get into a “fight to the death”, (because killing their rival would ultimately hurt Bella). Instead, each guy announces that he will not be “fighting fair”, and both proceed to win Bella’s heart.
I am impressed by how polarized fans are when it comes to the following question : “Who do you think Bella should end up with, Edward, or Jacob?” Despite my expectations, (and my jaded view of romance novels, in general), I found myself not only choosing a side, but cheering for one character over the other. What can I say? Meyer is a great writer. Her books sucked me in, (pun not intended in reference to this series about vampires).
In the video above Meyer mentions that the overwhelming majority of readers want to see Bella end up with Edward. In my own investigations, which I conducted by cornering people who walked through my bookstore with a copy of Eclipse in their hand, and asking them tons of questions, it was clear that most readers prefer Edward. They don’t just like Edward better, they feel very strongly about him, and cannot be swayed in their viewpoint. Same with the few people who wanted to see Bella end up with Jacob. Neither side is going to change their mind, and each is happy to try and talk people who are “undecided” into “voting” their way. With any luck, this enthusiasm will spill over into the election process, when the majority of the readers get a little older, and can vote for president. That would be something!
So, Edward is who the majority want to see “win”. Why? Lots of reasons. The biggest reason seems to be that Edward loves Bella, and has eyes only for her. Bella also loves Edward, so much that I, personally, find it unhealthy. (Bella may be codependant, in my opinion, at least when it comes to Edward). In any case, the two spend lots of time together, and say “I love you” all the time. Add to this how many times Edward saved Bella’s life, (and ignore how often that Bella was in danger because of Edward), and he looks even better. It also doesn’t hurt that Edward is absolutely gorgous, which gives Bella “butterflies” all the time, and the chemistry between the two of them is just fantastic. Edward is the dictionary definition of the perfect boyfriend, if you are between the ages of twelve and seventeen.
Fans of Jacob have just as many reasons, but they are different. From my own informal investigating, it seems that it’s the adult readers who strongly prefer Jacob. Why? In a lot of ways, Jacob is good for Bella. He is much better than Edward could ever be. Jacob was there for her when she was falling apart, because Edward dumped her. He’s a great friend, and Bella is actually really happy when she spends time with Jacob. The two have intense feelings for each other, which Bella defines as “best friend”, and Jacob defines as “love”. He saves Bella’s life, (but isn’t the cause behind why Bella needed saving). The two of them start… let’s say a hobby… together, and have a great time. It also doesn’t hurt that Jacob is stunningly handsome, but in a completely different way than Edward. Jacob is the dictionary definition of the perfect boyfriend if you are over the age of twenty five or so.
In short, adult readers are mature enough to see what the teens aren’t seeing. Adults see Edward’s overprotectiveness of Bella as “he’s a control freak”, while the teens see it as “he really loves her”. Adults see how much Bella will lose if she ends up sticking with her decision to become a vampire, despite the threats she faces if she stays human. Teens seem to see the threats against Bella’s life as bigger than what she will have to give up. I also think that adults are noticing that the relationships (or marriages) that work out the best are the ones between two people who are best friends. Most teens haven’t had enough life experience to realize that the chemistry doesn’t stay that hot forever and ever. It’s been an interesting little sociological experiment for me to find out which character people favored, and the reasons behind them. I don’t think a person can read this far into the series without having a favorite. I started prefering Bella with Jacob as I was reading New Moon, and stuck to my choice all the way through Eclipse. Certainly, there were other readers, the majority of readers, in fact, who prefered Bella with Edward the whole way through.
In addition to the whole love triangle, readers get detailed information about the background of many of the other characters, and it’s all fascinating. There is a build up to a dramatic and tense fight scene, (which entwines with the “battle for Bella’s heart”), that made me reluctant to put the book down and be interrupted by things like the end of my break time at work, or the lateness of the hour before I went to sleep for the night. Readers will get an insight into what it really is like to be a newborn vampire, at the same time Bella learns these things, which is exciting. Will she change her mind about becoming a vampire? Or will she stick with her original intent? This was a very quick read, despite how fat the book is. It’s just packed full of stuff, but I still found it incredibly easy to “digest” all the new information. The moment I read the last sentence on the last page, I found myself hungry for the final book in the series, Breaking Dawn. I am completely impressed with the Twilight Series, and Meyer’s ability as a writer.
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