Bibliographic data
Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. ISBN 9780316024969
Critical analysis
This fantasy-romance novel is the second book in the Twilight Saga series.
Sidenote: Edward is gone throughout most of this novel. I know…it’s sad. But some readers might be happier because Jacob is with Bella as a replacement. I, however, wasn’t impressed and missed Edward tremendously.
Bella is celebrating her 18th birthday at the Cullens’ residence. She opens a gift and gets a paper cut. Jasper cannot control his vampire hunger and lunges for her.
Jasper slammed into Edward, and the sound was like the crash of boulders in a rock slide. There was another noise, a grisly snarling that seemed to be coming from deep in Jasper’s chest. Jasper tried to shove past Edward, snapping his teeth just inches from Edward’s face. (28-9).
To protect Bella, Edward decides that the Cullens family must move away to keep her safe. Bella is brokenhearted and lonely. He asks her to keep herself safe, but the only way Bella can still “hear” Edward is when she is risking her life in daredevil stunts. Jacob and Bella become closer and she finds out he is a werewolf. There is a bit of miscommunication and Edward thinks Bella has died. He cannot go on with living and goes to the Volturi so that he may die. An action-packed track across the world keeps readers at the edge of their seat in hopes that the two may be reunited again.
This installment of Twilight Saga parallels Romeo and Juliet. Both stories deal with losing your true love, a forbidden love. It’s forbidden because of the, me vampire – you human concept of course and also because of the rivalry between the werewolves and the vampires. Juliet and Bella both appear to commit suicide and Romeo/Edward is so distraught by the news that they go and try to commit suicide themselves. Edward fans are lucky though because he does not succeed in this attempt. The beginning of the book has:
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume. (Act II, Scene VI)
This novel is less romance and more action this time around for the series. Thank goodness because how long can Bella long for Edward in a 563-paged book? However, there is some love-tension concerning Bella and Jacob. It is nice that there is a change in the relationships in this book. Jacob’s character has really starts to develop and create a mold for himself in this novel. About the middle of the book the story started to drag and I once again longed for Edward’s return to keep me interested. Bella is still a flat and boring character in my opinion, which moviegoers will be in luck because she’s depicted in the same way, thanks to Kristen Stewart’s lack of acting skills. For any readers that have been dumped by their loved ones before and then if they’re lucky reunited with that handsome vampire…er boy, this book will tug at their heartstrings.
Practical suggestion
Book website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/
Author website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/
Prepare a book/movie trailer
Of course – go see the movie in November!
Questions:
How do you think Edward and Bella’s relationship will change when she transforms into a vampire? Will Edward be as attracted to Bella? Will she be as attracted to him? Do you think they'll stay in love forever?
How well does Bella deal with the pain of losing Edward? Does she grow as a person from the experience of losing and then regaining him?
Will Charlie and Renée notice the change in Bella if she transforms into a vampire?
External assessments
Kirkus Reviews
Psychic miscommunications and angst-ridden dramatic gestures lead to an exciting page-turner of a conclusion drenched in the best of Gothic romantic excess. Despite Bella's flat and obsessive personality, this tale of tortured demon lovers entices.
Children’s Literature
Readers who have not read Twilight may find some of the references to previous relationships and plotlines hard to follow. This is an overly long novel with a minimum of action. The ending makes it clear that there is another sequel to follow.
VOYA
Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. ISBN 9780316024969
Critical analysis
This fantasy-romance novel is the second book in the Twilight Saga series.
Sidenote: Edward is gone throughout most of this novel. I know…it’s sad. But some readers might be happier because Jacob is with Bella as a replacement. I, however, wasn’t impressed and missed Edward tremendously.
Bella is celebrating her 18th birthday at the Cullens’ residence. She opens a gift and gets a paper cut. Jasper cannot control his vampire hunger and lunges for her.
Jasper slammed into Edward, and the sound was like the crash of boulders in a rock slide. There was another noise, a grisly snarling that seemed to be coming from deep in Jasper’s chest. Jasper tried to shove past Edward, snapping his teeth just inches from Edward’s face. (28-9).
To protect Bella, Edward decides that the Cullens family must move away to keep her safe. Bella is brokenhearted and lonely. He asks her to keep herself safe, but the only way Bella can still “hear” Edward is when she is risking her life in daredevil stunts. Jacob and Bella become closer and she finds out he is a werewolf. There is a bit of miscommunication and Edward thinks Bella has died. He cannot go on with living and goes to the Volturi so that he may die. An action-packed track across the world keeps readers at the edge of their seat in hopes that the two may be reunited again.
This installment of Twilight Saga parallels Romeo and Juliet. Both stories deal with losing your true love, a forbidden love. It’s forbidden because of the, me vampire – you human concept of course and also because of the rivalry between the werewolves and the vampires. Juliet and Bella both appear to commit suicide and Romeo/Edward is so distraught by the news that they go and try to commit suicide themselves. Edward fans are lucky though because he does not succeed in this attempt. The beginning of the book has:
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume. (Act II, Scene VI)
This novel is less romance and more action this time around for the series. Thank goodness because how long can Bella long for Edward in a 563-paged book? However, there is some love-tension concerning Bella and Jacob. It is nice that there is a change in the relationships in this book. Jacob’s character has really starts to develop and create a mold for himself in this novel. About the middle of the book the story started to drag and I once again longed for Edward’s return to keep me interested. Bella is still a flat and boring character in my opinion, which moviegoers will be in luck because she’s depicted in the same way, thanks to Kristen Stewart’s lack of acting skills. For any readers that have been dumped by their loved ones before and then if they’re lucky reunited with that handsome vampire…er boy, this book will tug at their heartstrings.
Practical suggestion
Book website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/
Author website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/
Prepare a book/movie trailer
Of course – go see the movie in November!
Questions:
How do you think Edward and Bella’s relationship will change when she transforms into a vampire? Will Edward be as attracted to Bella? Will she be as attracted to him? Do you think they'll stay in love forever?
How well does Bella deal with the pain of losing Edward? Does she grow as a person from the experience of losing and then regaining him?
Will Charlie and Renée notice the change in Bella if she transforms into a vampire?
External assessments
Kirkus Reviews
Psychic miscommunications and angst-ridden dramatic gestures lead to an exciting page-turner of a conclusion drenched in the best of Gothic romantic excess. Despite Bella's flat and obsessive personality, this tale of tortured demon lovers entices.
Children’s Literature
Readers who have not read Twilight may find some of the references to previous relationships and plotlines hard to follow. This is an overly long novel with a minimum of action. The ending makes it clear that there is another sequel to follow.
VOYA
While certainly better written than its predecessor, it may leave the reader wishing for something different-a more empowered and self-assured heroine, comic relief to balance the perpetually brooding Edward, fewer references to the vampires' innate beauty. Meyer is at work on the third addition to the Forks saga so there is hope these transformations can occur. Despite the flaws, expect this book to remain checked out by its legions of fans as they await the third novel's release.
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