Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

[snugglekitty]

I have liked this series ever since my old roommate bryghtrose got me an advance copy of Twilight. I still like it. The books go by surprisingly quickly for their length - they keep you turning pages. But I also have some beefs, which unfortunately I tend to forget in between reading volumes.



So, the main character has a werewolf for a best friend and a vampire for a boyfriend. They fight over her, like she's some kind of prize or toy. But neither of them treats her as a person most of the time. Yes, they're facing danger and evil. Yes, she is more fragile than they are. Well, even the odds! They never share information with her without being asked. They never suggest that she take martial arts courses or learn magic. They don't try to find her a neutral, loyal bodyguard. They don't even install an anti-spooky security system in her house. Come on, people! When is somebody, ANYBODY in this series going to empower this girl instead of treating her like a trophy?

I felt it particularly in this book. Jacob's behavior appalled me. He is willing to go to any lengths to "save her." He doesn't seem to care about her feelings, or the morality of his actions, one bit. If a friend treated me like that, I would cut them out of my life forever.



I still have to give the book three stars. It's not like anything else being done in the YA vampire genre this days. I just wish that Bella would grow a backbone, or that someone well-meaning would help her grow one. But maybe that's too much to ask.

Comments

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[trouble4hire.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Meyer is doing the super, duper "Bella is vulnerable" thing for a pay-off down the road. Bella has always been up front about wanting to join Edward as a vampire. I wonder how the behavior of all three of the main characters would change if Bella became very strong very quickly. It reminds me a bit of how Willow went from being a liability in most cases to being the strongest weapon in the Slayer group.

Re: setup

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

That would be very cool. I'm not sure I'm going to keep reading the series, so let me know if that happens. :)