New Moon (Twilight Saga, #2)

by Stephenie Meyer

[nitzan_schwarz]

YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG

I've previously mentioned the Twilight Saga is one of my favorite series, so this rating might come as a shock. To be completely honest, I really enjoyed New Moon the first... three times I read it or so. It wasn't until I was more versed with reading that all the issues I had with it sprang at me all of the sudden.

And once I realized all those things, I couldn't unknow it.

Because in terms of plot, this book would now make me throw it against the wall in a raging fit. Like, I'll be the first to protect the Twilight Saga - I still proudly admit to loving it, even when people scoff at me. But this book... This book...

New Moon made me hate characters that I absolutely loved in Twilight.

The first of which? They name is Bella Swan. Oh Bella, how have thee fallen! I couldn't stand your behavior in this book, at all. I thought of you as a smart, courageous, active character, but in this book you threw it all away in order to become pathetic and passive.

The sum of Bella's (in)action in this installment: moping around, finding no point in life, worrying everyone in her life, forgetting all her friends, and the only times she makes decisions are based on the off chance Edward will come back. Yikes, I was shouting at her the whole time!

And when this start to dissipate? When Jacob, another male, enters the picture. Without him, she'll still be a living corpse. I wanted her to show some strength and pull out of it on her own, if only to prove to girls out there that while having a boyfriend is nice and dandy, it does not define who you are, and you are not left with nothing without him because you always have you.

Then there's Edward. Eddy, Eddy, Eddy... can I call you Eddy? When did you become so stupid? THAT'S your solution to things? Running away is one thing, but did you have to leave her in a freakin' forest on her own?? Not to mention the whole suicide deal was just face palm all around.

It felt to me like this whole book was Bella and Edward competing in the Worst Reaction to a Breakup tournament. And this is possibly the first time in history the judges will be compelled to award a couple the title.

And then there was Jacob. Jackie boy, get the hint. Bella is emotionally taken. Bella is saying NO. Back off, because this highhanded manner is just ruining all your future chances with her and the fandom. You were cute in the first book, but you're coming off way too forceful in this one. Lay off.

So that leaves me with liking.... um... er... no one? oops.

If this book was more than just its characters, and had an overall plot to focus on aside for the characters' general mopiness and lack of interest in life, maybe I could continue to love it with a clear heart. But it doesn't so I am forced to face the truth that this book just might not be good at all.

Even though I love it.


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Old Version
To read the organized version of this review, and more, go to my blog; Drugs Called Books!

I have to say something first - while I'm going to march on a rant, this book is good, and you will enjoy reading it. Fact is, I gave this book 4 stars at the beginning, but had to lower it. In terms of writing, this story is wonderful. It's gripping, a page turner and a great read. And still, I had to give it two stars after some serious considerations resulting from a session of complaints about Bella's behavior in this book with one of my best friends. Read the rest of the review for my arguments and reasons.


I love Twilight series. Basically, I'm not a Twi-hater. I love it for what it is - a romantic story about the the kind of love we all want to have. It's not Harry Potter, it's not the Hunger Games (which I've not read or seen, but know enough of to understand the two are vastly different) and any attempt to compare the two is meaningless in my view and means nothing. I do not look at it as something compare to, but as a creation on it's own, and I love it. It is one of my most favorite series, and I have two copies of each book in my house because me and my Mom fought on who get's to have the books in her room (yeah, we are slightly crazy...). I've read each book about ten times... in one year. So yes, I love this series.
I have read this particular book of the series about 5 times, maybe more. I gulped it down in one day, as I had the other books.

AND YET!

I gave it a low rating, especially considering I've given [book:Twilight|41865]five stars. Maybe it's because I love this series that I couldn't compromise and forgive the annoying bits--wait, it's all annoying bits... ~sigh~
Quite simply, I hated Bella in this book. I love her, but at a point I realized I really couldn't stand her behavior here and I nearly found it a personal insult to my somewhat feminist views (I'm not a radical, though). If we would've seen more of Edward, maybe I would've hated him to, and I sure didn't like Jacob. That leaves me with... um, no one. Oops?
Bella handles (or rather don't) Edward's departure by entering a long period of depression which starts to lift only when Jacob, another male, enters the pictures and pushes her slightly out of it.
She is so dependent on the men in her life that she is pathetic, in my opinion (and the thing is, she can be strong, as shown in [book:Breaking Dawn|1162543] and even Twilight).
So, Okay, you lost the love we all want to have - but, damn, girl! Show some strength! SOMETHING! Dear lord, she is simply annoying in this book! moping around and finding no point in life, staying there only in case Edward decides to come back, worrying everyone in her life and forgetting all of her friends, not eating... I was gritting my teeth and shouting at her in my head the whole time. She didn't care.
After all, we hear everything from Bella's POV, and let me tell you, it is an aggravating POV... as a hero, I find that Bella doesn't really do much on her own in this book. She is completely passive, which I dislike. Her entire world revolves around Edward. She depends on others to the point of being utterly out of it the moment she loses them, she doesn't change anything on her own - even all her freaky adrenalin junky thingy is caused because she can see Edward when it happens...
Edward pissed me off, as well. What kind of a solution is that, running away from her - leaving her in the middle of a freakin' forest, no less... not to mention the whole suicide deal... ~sigh~ maybe they're competing at "the worst reaction to a break-up" competition?...
And Jacob... I love Taylor Lautner's sexy self, adore those abs of his (Yes, Taylor is from the movie. No kidding?... You've to admit he's Yummy.) I love Jacob as a character, but I absolutly hate love triangels and the fact he just couldn't get the hint and really just forces himself on Bella drove me insane. Why does he want her, anyway? She's so meek and pathetic here...

Anyway, I enjoyed reading this book, but the more I read it the more I notice how annoying everyone are in this book, and how pathetic the plot in this book is. I love the series, But I couldn't bring myself to to give it high stars because, honestly, plot-wise this book annoys the hell out of me. It won't stop me from reading it again and enjoying it (and once again rattling about all the annoying stuff, of course), but still. Hope this is not too contradictory for you guys...

AGAIN - I'M THE FURTHER THING FROM A TWI HATER! THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AND MOST-READ SERIES! I JUST HAPPEN NOT TO LIKE THIS ONE VERY MUCH...

To read the organized version, go here