Eclipse: Stephenie Meyer

Book: Eclipse
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Pages: 640
Age Range: 13 and up

Unless you have been living under a rock (or without access to media of any kind, which is pretty much the same thing), you probably know that the third book in Stephenie Meyer's vampire trilogy (after Twilight and New Moon) was published in early August. Eclipse had an almost unprecedented (for a young adult book without Harry Potter in the title) initial print run of one million copies. It reportedly sold 250,000 copies in the first week (as reported by USA Today), and Little, Brown has already entered into a second print run. This book is HOT.

And, as is often the case when a series becomes very popular and people have bonded with the characters, the reviews are decidedly mixed. I adored Twilight, and was a bit disappointed in New Moon because of the absence of one of my favorite characters. But I quite enjoyed Eclipse. I feel a bit like I feel about the Harry Potter books, actually. I love the characters, and a new book in the series is a chance to spend time with them, and experience some new adventures. I wouldn't miss it for anything. The only thing that kept me from reading Eclipse sooner was the fact that I was traveling for weeks, and I didn't like to travel with such a large book.

I'll try to refrain from spoilers about Eclipse in this review, but if you haven't read Twilight and New Moon, I recommend that you stop here, and go read those first. Eclipse begins as Bella Swan is approaching her high school graduation. Edward has reluctantly agreed that after graduation, if she still wishes it, Bella can be turned into a vampire. He'll only transform her himself if she'll marry him first, but otherwise Edward's father figure, Carlisle, will take care of it.

Bella faces her upcoming change with a mixture of eagerness and trepidation. Bella's friend Jacob, a werewolf and natural enemy of vampires, faces her imminent transformation with horror and revulsion. Bella struggles to maintain her friendship with Jacob, despite his prejudice against vampires. This is complicated by the fact that Jacob is in love with Bella, and puts up a strong fight to win her heart.

The conflict between Edward and Jacob over Bella's affections plays out against a backdrop of increased danger. An apparent team of serial killers is ravaging nearby Seattle, and suspicion of the killers' true nature comes to light very quickly. Soon Bella, with everyone she loves, is fighting for survival.

The complaints that I've seen around this book center mainly on the fact that Bella goes through a lot of angst over Edward vs. Jacob and over her upcoming transformation. But I agree with Jackie on this one. Jackie said:

"Wouldn't you hate it just as much if Bella were unquestioning? What kind of girl would enter into possible UNDEAD ETERNITY without at least SOME KIND of serious analyzing?"

Hello! It's a big decision. She'll have to leave her parents and other friends. She'll never have ordinary human experiences like childbirth (or sickness, or death, for that matter, though she might pay taxes). She worries that she'll feel differently about Edward after the change, or, more importantly, that he'll feel differently about her. She knows that new vampires have a very difficult time controlling their lust for blood, and she wonders if she'll hurt people. It's reasonable to spend some time thinking it through, and I for one, am happy to be able to share in that thought process.

In depicting the conflict between Edward and Jacob, Meyer draws overt parallels with Wuthering Heights. Bella is hopelessly in love with Edward, the way that Cathy is about Heathcliff, and whether he's good for her or not doesn't really matter. (Although, in Wuthering Heights, Cathy does marry Edgar Linton, instead of Heathcliff.) I will admit that I preferred the Elizabeth/Darcy vibe of the first book to this Cathy/Heathcliff vibe (because I always loathed Wuthering Heights). But I'm a sucker for a well-constructed love triangle, too. Especially when the triangle isn't the middle person's fault, as in this case. Edward left Bella. Jacob healed her, and stitched himself into her heart in the process. It's a great source of natural conflict.

I did in this book occasionally find Bella's flinging of herself at Edward's feet to be annoying. At one point, when Edward seems insecure, she thinks (page 427): "It was mind-boggling, but, somehow, he still seemed unsure of his hold on me." It's like she's been hypnotized or something. But mostly I'm prepared to accept true love, and let it go at that.

I still think that there's something unusual about Bella, the cause for which will be revealed in future books. There's the whole thing where Edward can't read her mind, even though he can read everyone else's. There's her clumsiness, and the fact that she's a magnet for danger. There's even her pale complexion. I think that Meyer still has something up her sleeve about Bella.

I also still think that Stephenie Meyer is a wonderful writer, one who lightens high drama with flashes of humor. Here are a couple of my favorite passages from Eclipse:

"Posters crowded together on the cafeteria walls, and the trashcan wore a colorful skirt of spilled-over fliers" (Chapter 2)

"I tried to imagine telling my parents that I was getting married this summer. Telling Angela and Ben and Mike. I couldn't. I couldn't think of the words to say. It would be easier to tell them I was becoming a vampire. And I was sure that at least my mother -- were I to tell her every detail of the truth -- would be more strenuously opposed to me getting married than to me becoming a vampire." (Chapter 14, note that this is in the context of Edward wanting to marry, and doesn't reflect a decision on Bella's part)

"... You know, Jacob, if it weren't for the fact that we're natural enemies and that you're trying to steal away the reason for my existence, I might actually like you." (Chapter 22, said by Edward)

All in all, I find myself as eagerly awaiting Book 4 as I awaited Books 2 and 3. I am curious about how Meyer will handle the inherent conflicts around Bella becoming a vampire, but I suspect, based on past experience, that she has something clever up her sleeve. And I wonder which pair of literary lovers will provide structure for Book 4...

Publisher: Little, Brown
Publication Date: August 7, 2007
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: bookshelves of doom (short and not so sweet), interactivereader, My Random Acts of Reading, YALSA, Becky's Book Reviews, Everyday Reading, So Many Books, So Little Time, Random Thoughts, Book BInge, booknerd, avidbookreader, and lots more...
Author Interviews: squeetus blog (Shannon Hale)

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Comments

[becky]

Great review, Jen. I am still enjoying this series. (Though it took me two days instead of the usual one to finish.) But I found myself placing quite a lot of yellow posties because the writing--the phrasing--seemed so right somehow. Anyway, it's nice to read another positive review of it somewhere and not feel quite so alone. :)

[Alkelda the Gleeful]

For the first two books, I was wishing that Bella would just get it over with and become a vampire somehow. Now, I think it's a mistake. I suspect that Meyer will make Bella a vampire (based on some of her earlier writings posted on the website), but now Bella's humanity just seems to be too much to give up. When I went to the Stephenie Meyer booksigning, there was a half hour devoted to questions. I thought about asking my own question, but decided I wouldn't even attempt to compete with all of the enthusiastic teenagers. My question would have been this: What hobbies and interests did Bella have before she moved to Forks? I really want to know. If I were to go back and read my journals, I'd find three main subjects repeatedly hashed through: (1) boys (2) my weight (3) my writing. I imagine Bella as a photography buff or avid reader, but I'd like to know what Meyer thinks Bella's interests are.

[Sheila]

I've read the first two, because my 12 year-old daughter picked them up at the school's bookfair last year. Her english teacher warned me that while the books have no sex (and hooray for Stephanie Meyer about sticking to her guns on that), they do have an erotic element.

Well, I read them and ended up worrying about something else. That Edward. He sure sets up teenage boys for failure (or girls for disappointment). He's a teenager who is incredibly handsome, rich, graceful, has the maturity of a 100 year-old and stops himself before getting carried away while kissing. Well, we all know what teenage boys are really like.

But I really enjoy the books and can't wait to read the third. Thanks for the review (with no spoilers).

[Robin Brande]

Jen, I loved it, too. And I think the deal with Bella's and Edward's instant obsession may be something like Jacob described--that imprinting thing his tribe deals with.

Anyway, great review. And I'm with you--can't wait for book 4!

[Jen Robinson]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I've been wanting to jump into the Eclipse discussion for what seems like forever (though it can only have been a month).

Becky, you are not alone. And actually, I'm sure that hundreds of thousands of teenage girls share our passion for the book.

Alkelda, that's an interesting question (about Bella's interests). Didn't she dance? There was the scene in that dance studio. I think I identified with her the most in the first book, when she was the insecure new kid, surprised that people in Forks found her interesting.

Sheila, I do take your point about Edward. But hasn't that always been the way of romantic heros? Darcy is a lot to live up to, also. As are various movie leads. Though actually, to have girls looking for a guy who accepts them for who they are, puts them on a pedestal, protects them, and refuses to take sexual advantage, is that such a bad thing? Hard to find, perhaps, but worthy things to strive for.

Interesting point, Robin, about the imprinting. Kind of supports my theory that there's something special about Bella, yet to be revealed.

[Sookie]

Hmm... I completely disagree....well, not completely. I thought Twilight was sort of boring (but the characters were enough to pull me in). But I think New Moon is really the winner in this series (that might just be because my favorite character is Jacob). I really did like Eclipse and I can't wait for Breaking Dawn. I think there is something about Bella that is going to be revealed to us in the next book....

[Jen Robinson]

Well, Sookie, if we all agreed, life would be pretty dull. But I can certainly see that New Moon would be a hit with Jacob fans. As for me, I want to like Jacob, but, like Bella, I'm already in love with Edward, and just can't transfer my affection.

Right with you on the revelation about Bella. Fingers crossed...

[Isabella]

I just finished Eclipse today and was happy to find this discussion! I agree with a previous poster -- I would love to know more about Bella. I feel like even after 3 books, I really don't know much about her (besides her love for Edward). What her interests are, what her strengths are, what does she excel at? Why are all the guys falling head over heels for her? I really hope the author gives her character more depth and maturity in the next book. I found myself being sympathetic to Jacob's character, but he still annoyed me -- I guess I just thought he was too aggressive. But then again, Bella did really unfairly lead him on (even though much of it was unintentional). I am just so much more of an Edward fan than Jacob fan. I am really interested to see what the next book holds. It is so sad to see all of the Cullens fretting over Bella, taking care of her, planning things for her -- and she doesn't seem to appreciate most of it. She is a teenager afterall, and that explains much of her immaturity. I loved to read more background of the Cullen family and their former life as humans. Yes, that is what we need -- more background and depth. Can't wait for book 4!!

[Jen Robinson]

Glad to have you part of the discussion, Isabella. More background and depth, especially about both Bella and the Cullens, would be great to see in Book4. I personally hope that at some point Stephenie's re-write of Twilight from Edward's perspective will also get published - I read the sample chapter on her website, and I thought that it was fascinating.

I wonder if the not knowing so much about Bella's other interests is deliberate, to keep focused on the story. Also, she's kind of an everywoman now, we can all project ourselves into her position. Impossible to say. But fascinating to keep thinking about. Looking forward to the next book!

[Charlotte]

Thanks for contributing this post to the September Carnival of Children's Literature, now up and running at my blog!

[Jen Robinson]

This month's carnival is SO great, Charlotte! Thanks for letting me know that it's up.

[Ashna]

OhmiGod, thank you so much for reviewing Eclipse!!!!!!!!!! I am especially grateful because up until recently, I hadn't discovered the tantalizing Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and I'm up to reading Eclipse, but, due to a small issue with me parents (including pocket money), I can't get Eclipse for another 5 weeks, which, as I'm sure you'll agree, really SUCKS. I absolutely LOVE Twilight and New Moon and am trying to get my group of besties to read the series. It's already worked with 6 of them!!! And I'm REALLY looking forward to the fourth book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jen Robinson]

I'm glad that you've been enjoying the series, Ashna. I'm looking forward to the fourth book, too!

[jmk]

.,im getting interested with meyers books...,maybe sooner i have my own copy