Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Online Book Discussion: Eclipse


Wow! This discussion is getting good! Let's move on to the next book, Eclipse. Just as New Moon was the transitional book in the series, I felt that Eclipse was the pivotal book, where more action happens, and the choices that Bella must make become clear.
I really loved Eclipse, and it contains my favorite scene. The scene where Edward and Jacob face off in a man to man (er...vampire to werewolf?) talk in the tent while Bella sleeps was a brilliant piece of writing! The concept of giving each of these characters a chance to reveal what it's really like to be what they are, and to question each other was fantastic, and brought SO much more depth to those two characters.
Not to underestimate the rest of this book. It flows nicely, and keeps the reader on the edge while spinning an adventure tale that is laced with a very bizarre, troubled love triangle.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This book is where Jacob lost me. I liked him up until this moment. I guess the reason is that I always felt Bella was supposed to be with Edward. She knew it too but she let Jacob convince her that what they had might be more than what it was. He was childish and irritating through this whole book.

Though I have to say Edward got over dramatic and over protective in this book not letting her go where she wanted. The whole time I just wanted her to tell him she'd go where she wanted when she wanted and stand up for herself but she never really did and it felt like an abusive relationship sometimes without the abuse. It was weird.

I liked the book but I didn't like the petty fighting which I felt was ridiculous. I guess i never saw Jacob as more than Bella's best friend ever. And I don't think she really did either other than confusing the kind of love she had for him to possibly be something it wasn't. I suppose it could have developed into that if she had let it but I just always saw him as the friend so the whole triangle was a little annoying.

Stephanie O' said...

I think this was my favorite in the series because it was the first book where I didn't know what was going to happen. I liked hearing the history of the werewolves and seeing the relationships develop more.

I also loved the tent scene where it really foreshadowed that both Edward and Jacob were a necessity to Bella. She needs both Edward and Jacob in her life and I think this book revealed that but still left the reader wondering how will that work out? It was fascinating finally getting to see inside these guys' heads for once and understand their view.

I think the part where Jacob steals the kiss from Bella is kind of necessary in that it opened her mind up to other possibilities. I think when we fall in love, it's easy to see only that one person and soon rely solely on that one person to make us happy. Jacob's kiss showed Bella that there is room for others in her life besides Edward. Plus, it makes her love and commitment to Edward all the more stronger because she has experienced other loves and nothing compares to what she feels for Edward. Plus, she can understand her love for Jacob better without the confusion on what kind of love that is.

Debnog said...

Ah HA! Very, very, insightful, Steph-O!

Isle_Esme said...

I think Amanda and I are Twilight kindred spirits. Here here to her post!

For me, Eclipse was what I was salivating for after New Moon. Just what I wanted...so I thought. I never really cared for Jacob to be honest, but Eclipse sealed the smelly wolfy deal. He was such a childish, arrogant, BULLY in this book, to the point where I couldn't fully recognize his feelings for Bella as true love - it was more infatuation, or puppy obsession (no punn intended). I do agree Edward was somewhat a bully in his own hot vampire way, which did get slightly annoying, but let's face it - Bella's kind of a wimp in a couple of these books, asking to be pushed around and cared for.

I agree...tent scene w/ Edward vs. Jacob was brilliant writing. Then down-hill she went! The scene where Jacob stole the kiss, and Bella fights the feelings, listening to her heart with all her might...oh...wait!...hang on...even though my soul has been devoted to Edward from the beginning to the point I would die for him...hmmmm...this forced kiss from a big brute is making me have second thoughts....hang on...I DO love Jacob like a lover!! I've been fooling myself! Pa-leease. Ick. That part read like a bad romance novel, and was unrealistic. The downfall was not making these feelings surface for Bella in New Moon. I never felt Bella to be any more than friends with Jacob. Ok...I don't want to "dog" Jacob too badly. I did learn to love him - FINALLY - in Breaking Dawn. But, I digress until that discussion...

blonde_mommy said...

Wow! I agree with so many of the comments here. At the beginning, I was really getting ticked off with Edward for being - yes - borderline abusive with Bella. But by the end I was amazed at how is attitude had taken a 360. He watched her snuggle up with Jacob in a sleeping bag! Speaking of Jacob...not impressed. I didn't even like him at the end. He and Leah need to get together. I did enjoy this book more than New Moon because, like Bella, I missed Edward terribly. Can't wait for Breaking Dawn...it's sitting here waiting for me!

wolfgirl said...

you all sayed it but i still liked jacob i new he would be the way he is

windsor said...

This discussion caught my eye because Eclipse is also my favorite book (next to Midnight Sun but that doesn't count). I liked the conversation in the tent, esp. when Jacob is told the night would not have been in Edward's top ten. I think Bella leads Jacob on (as Mike said- girls can be mean). But then again, Jacob knew what he was getting in to. I did not like Charlie's reaction to Jacob's stolen kiss. Later, he does acknowledge that it was wrong but the dad should have put jacob in his place when they first got home, at least that would be what I would expect between my husband and daughter. No means no. I love Bella's conv3ersation with Alice regarding the wedding- good fun. And I loved Edward's last words to Victoria- you can imagine it. I also thought Bella's all night breakdown after her visit to Jacob after the fight was a bit over-the-top. Edward was a bit obsessive in the begining and girlfriends should not have to sneak off to meet up with a friend- not a good model for teens. But it is still my favorite book!

Cullen_girl said...

In this book, i really disliked Jacob. He just just leave Bella to be happy with Edward, so he shows he cannot love her in the same way as edward. He was childish and irritating trying to kiss her before she realised she loved him, she told him thats not what she wanted. i never saw him in a different way as her best friend so it came as a suprise when the storyline turned into a love triangle. Atleast he finally gets over her in breaking dawn.



Although edward was trying to protect bella by trying to keep her away from the werewolves, he showed he was way to protective by making alice kidnap her everytime he went away. Although edward was being annoying he was still very like able.

I think it was written amazingly, showing the love between edward and bella like no other romance novel.

Eclipse was still an amazing book. Breaking dawn is my favourite. although i am only 13 it is the best book i have ever read. Eclipse is still very close behind. I cant wait to read the host !

Cullen_girl said...

In this book, i really disliked Jacob. He just just leave Bella to be happy with Edward, so he shows he cannot love her in the same way as edward. He was childish and irritating trying to kiss her before she realised she loved him, she told him thats not what she wanted. i never saw him in a different way as her best friend so it came as a suprise when the storyline turned into a love triangle. Atleast he finally gets over her in breaking dawn.



Although edward was trying to protect bella by trying to keep her away from the werewolves, he showed he was way to protective by making alice kidnap her everytime he went away. Although edward was being annoying he was still very like able.

I think it was written amazingly, showing the love between edward and bella like no other romance novel.

Eclipse was still an amazing book. Breaking dawn is my favourite. although i am only 13 it is the best book i have ever read. Eclipse is still very close behind. I cant wait to read the host !

Anonymous said...

Hello....
Agree with all of the above that Jacob is childish in this book, but hey, he was infatuated with Bella at 16... Edward happens to be over a hundred. he's had the time to become a bit more mature... Not sure that Jacob will not end up being the better of the two once he becomes a man instead of a kid.

nikki said...

I know this is a teen book and im not a teen but i cant put it down....I havent finished eclipes i have 3 chapters left but so far it is amazing! Until chapter 11 i was getting bored the page 327 hit i was like WHOAAAAAAAAA no way ive been waiting for so long for him to kiss her i was worried what edward do since he is sooooo in love with bella. I was glad charlie was there or things could have gotten very ugly. Then in the part when jacob has to keep bella warm in the tent if i was edward i would flip out with what jacob was saying. I was so surprised when mortal eniomies were going to help each other just to save bella. I cant beleive bella thaught she was dreaming cause of what edward and jacob were talking about. With the first kiss jacob gave to bella i woupdnt have just threatened him if i were edward i would have broke his jaw right then and there. When bella told jacob to kiss her i thought i was going to pass out even though it was cute... I wonder what edward is going to say since he said they could kiss as long as bella said it was okay for bella jacob to kiss her.....i wonder what edward and bellas kid would look probablly beautiful just like bella and edwards would be. i also wonder if alice saw if bella and jacob were going to kiss and told edward thats why he said he would leave them alone........I hope my sister reads alot so i can finish the last three chapters and i hope she finishes soon so we can get breaking dawn....