dragonfire88's Full Review: Stephenie Meyer - Eclipse
The Twilight books have become very popular in the last several years. I only read the first book, Twilight, about a year ago and while I enjoyed it, I didn't think it was as great a book as many others have. It took me almost a year to read the second book, New Moon, and then I was extremely irritated by several things, though I still enjoyed the book overall. I ended up taking a little longer with reading Eclipse and I think that helped me keep from getting too irritated.
Things that happen during Eclipse will be spoilers for Twilight and New Moon for people who haven't previously read those books. Some of what I mention during this review will probably be spoilers for those people as well.
Previously in the saga of Bella, she arrives in Forks to live with her father even though she doesn't really like the town. Bella starts making new friends and notices the Cullens, especially Edward. In no time, she figures out that all of the Cullens are vampires. It doesn't take long for Bella and Edward to start a relationship. Things are complicated when Bella is threatened by a group of more vicious vampires, but the situation is dealt with. Things go wrong because of a minor accident and Edward decides to end things to keep her safe. She is depressed for months before she starts spending time with her friend Jacob. Around that time, she also decides to start doing dangerous things because that causes her to hear Edward's voice. Bella is in danger again and ultimately she and Edward get back together which really hurts Jacob who has his own feelings for Bella.
Graduation is approaching and while Bella is happy to be back with Edward, she isn't as happy about other things. Edward still isn't happy about Bella becoming a vampire, but he does realize that she is in danger as long as she remains human. He decides that he wants Bella to marry him first, something that Bella is resisting. She is also upset about the state of her friendship with Jacob. She wants to remain friends even though she knows that he has stronger feelings and wants more. Once again, Bella is in danger from Victoria and the werewolves and Cullen family must find a way to work together to deal with the threat.
The plot for Eclipse really isn't that complex and not a lot happens despite the length of the book. Much of the book deals with Bella being torn between her feelings for Edward and Jacob. The danger that she is in from Victoria seems more like an afterthought and when that situation is finally dealt with, it seems anticlimactic. I mostly felt the same way about the danger elements in New Moon. This book picks up fairly soon after the last book, and it covers a much shorter time frame. There is really only a small amount of action in the book, most of which doesn't happen until very late in the book. Only a small amount of violence turns up.
Even though Bella is in danger again, more time is spent on the issues between her, Edward, and Jacob during Eclipse. Bella did lead Jacob on during the previous book, though by the end, she made it clear that she was going to be with Edward while still wanting Jacob as a friend. He wants more from a relationship with her and he is willing to do anything he can to win her over. Jacob is nice enough, but his obsession with Bella does get a bit old. Something is shared during the book about how the werewolves find their mates and it isn't like that between them but he won't give up. Bella knows he has stronger feelings for her, but she insists on spending time with him and she lets him get away with certain things. To me that amounts to her leading him on again like she did in the previous book. I didn't like all the conflict added in through the issues between Bella, Edward, and Jacob. It just seems like a forced way of adding more conflict to the book that doesn't work that well for me.
More background is shared in Eclipse about certain things. At one point, Bella hears stories about the werewolves. That is somewhat interesting, though I did think it dragged on too long. I did start losing interest in that part. A little more is shared about Jasper as well along with a tiny bit about Alice. I did enjoy learning more about Jasper. His past includes some experiences that will end up being helpful by the end of the book. All the information shared is interesting, though I do think some of it could have been condensed a bit. The pace for the book overall drags slightly, something that has been an issue with the previous books as well.
Bella is still irritating in Eclipse. At one point very early in the book, she goes on about her mother making foolish choices while she is the responsible, mature one. Reading that actually made me laugh after the hugely irresponsible way Bella acted in the previous book. She is a little better since she isn't running around deliberately putting herself in danger to hear Edward's voice, but she still irritates me. She wants everything her way and she gets really upset when that doesn't happen. She wants to become a vampire so she can be with Edward forever and she wants him to be the one to change her, but she thinks his wanting them to get married first is irrational. She tries to convince Edward to do things her way more than once, and she gets irritated when he won't just go along with that. Bella can question Edward about why he feels a certain way, but she doesn't like it when de does the same. She goes on about how much she loves him, but she has a fit if he tries to give her a present. In fact, she does that when just about anyone gives her something, which makes her seem very ungrateful. She knows that Edward and the rest of the Cullens are worried about her safety and have some issues with the werewolves, but she is always quick to run off to La Push to see Jacob without telling anyone where she is going. She knows it upsets Edward, yet she continues to do it because she just has to see Jacob. She knows that Jacob has stronger feelings, but she doesn't make much of an effort to make sure he knows that it is just friendship. Bella is rather selfish at times and it is harder and harder to like her, though she is slightly less irritating since she isn't wallowing in misery.
The relationship between Bella and Edward has been important since the first book. They seem more devoted to each other at times in Eclipse, though Bella is more reluctant about certain things. They do have some discussions about their future, including Bella's issues with marriage. Once she finally explains that to Edward, it does seem to be a stupid reason to avoid marriage, especially since she is wanting to become a vampire so she can be with Edward forever. They are some more romantic and sweet moments between them and those were probably my favorite parts of the book. There are a few sexual situations and discussions as well, though there aren't any actual sex scenes in the book. At times, Bella does seem to be more obsessed with sex, though that isn't that unusual for a teenager. Certain scenes are more suggestive, so parents should probably check out the book before letting their children read it.
Like the first two books, Eclipse is told in first person from Bella's point of view. All of her thoughts and feelings about various things are shared. There are times when it seems like too much is being shared. Bella isn't a horrible person, but she isn't always that likable either. She is irritating to me, though she isn't as bad as she was in the last book. Edward gets more to do and finally seems to fit the way Bella thinks of him. He is a bit sneaky at times when it comes to getting what he wants, but he isn't as manipulative as other characters.
Jacob is around for a decent amount of the book. He starts off refusing to talk to Bella because she has gone back to Edward. I get that Jacob is hurt, but that does come off as a bit childish. Once he decides to speak to her again, he encourages her to do things that he knows will upset Edward. Jacob ignores the fact that Bella is with Edward and keeps trying to win her like she's some prize in a competition. Jacob takes great delight in tormenting Edward every chance he gets. Jacob is also rather sneaky and manipulative when it comes to Bella. I really didn't like Jacob that much in this book and think he comes across as childish many times. The other werewolves all turn up, though none of them really stand out that much.
The various members of the Cullen family are around again, though none of them end up with that much to do. The most is shared about Jasper this time since he finally explains some things to Bella. Esme still is just around in the background of scenes without adding much. She does seem nice, but she doesn't end up with much to do. Alice is very likable, but she didn't have as much to do as I would have liked. Rosalie, Emmet, and Carlisle don't have that much to do either.
Charlie pops up in short scenes throughout the book. He keeps trying to push Bella toward Jacob, and even tries to lay a guilt trip on her about certain things. I get that Charlie is still worried that Edward will leave again, but his blatant favoritism of Jacob got on my nerves more than once. Bella's friends from school are only barely mentioned even though they graduate during the book.
Eclipse has issues, but it is entertaining overall. I did enjoy the book a lot more than New Moon even though Bella still aggravated me. People that have read the first two books should give this one a chance too, though it isn't a book for everyone.
General Fiction - Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance escalates to an exciting conclusion in this trilogy clincher. As in Twilight and New Moon, Seattle...More at Barnes and Noble
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