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wanderstheuniverse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Infertility
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Even when I was reading these books obsessively when I was younger, I disliked Edward’s controlling nature. Now that I’m older, I’m very concerned that this book in particular helped reinforce the normalcy of that manipulative and borderline abusive behavior. Although Jacob isn’t let off the hook either. The treatment of his assault of Bella (and the implication that she secretly wanted it) was handled incredibly poorly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Grief, and War
Minor: Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
directorpurry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
CW: discussion of rape, child grooming, nonconsensual touching/kissing, suicide as a threat
Note: Basically all of my update notes are geared towards the reader I was in middle school. I know I took a lot of things to heart that I shouldn't have, and I'm glad I've grown out of most of them, but I wish she could have read some of these thoughts just the same...
Despite everything Edward has ever done wrong, by Eclipse he's really stopped being too manipulative and he never touches Bella without her permission.
JACOB, meanwhile...
I really dislike Jacob in this book. He makes quite cruel choices and on multiple occasions he kisses Bella without consent. He manipulates her with the threat of suicide, so even saying she wanted to kiss him was not exactly freely-given consent... (Maybe SM should watch that mandatory sexual assault video series I had to watch before starting grad school - I feel like there are a couple of loose concepts she missed.)
Edit Aug 2021: But even if Bella DOES love him, she doesn't owe him a relationship! Like, Edward aside, that's kind of the worst part - this expectation that she WILL act on her feelings.
I think I take so much of this to heart because I've been in a weird situation before where the heart/brain connection wasn't quite there yet for me and I was kissed when I wasn't expecting it. Even though we dated for a while shortly after that, I still feel extremely uncomfortable and sometimes even upset remembering that evening. It doesn't matter if you love someone, being kissed without consent is bad, bad, bad.
I keep trying to see Rosalie as something other than a mouthpiece, but I really can't. Aside from her wicked, badass revenge, she's so... gross. She's perfectly aware how vain she is, but she doesn't do anything to curb it. Most of her energy goes into being upset over her lack of a baby. It's very uncomfortable and I genuinely see myself as a far opposite of Rosalie.
Edit Aug 2021: There's also such conflagration between romantic and familial love. Like, a romantic, loving relationship that doesn't result in children isn't "half" - it's a whole thing in itself. While you, personally, may feel unfulfilled without children, that in no way lessens the legitimacy of your relationship.
(mostly joking but) Honestly, it's SUCH an insult to Emmett, he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!!!
Leah is extremely poorly treated by both the cast and SM. It's worse in Breaking Dawn, but she's just kind of thrown into this to make more points about having kids...
Edit Aug 2021: There's just so much girl-on-girl hate there, it makes me so sad....
And don't even get me started on Imprinting! It's literally the grossest thing I've ever heard of and I hate it! Borrowing my friend's words: "It's normalizing grooming." These grown-ass men should in no way be allowed to look at a literal child and say, "Yep, that's the one. I'm going to wait for her to grow up and then I will marry her." It's such a horrific imbalance of power; this man you've known for your entire life saying to you one day that he's been madly in love with you for almost two decades, please marry him.
Definitely showing some Mormon bias out here... SpoilerIt did make me wonder, though - there's a bit in Midnight Sun where Edward chomps down on a pedophile - called by name. I'm curious if this is in response to arguments against the Imprinting concept? Obviously I know she still full-heartedly supports her weird story choices, but...
I'd be lying, though, if I didn't say I enjoy this book, lol. Mostly for Edward. I love Edward in this; now that he's finally not trying to leave Bella, now that he understands what a dumbass move that is, he's very fun. His personality grows more in this book than the rest of the series (Midnight Sun aside, obviously.)
Note: Basically all of my update notes are geared towards the reader I was in middle school. I know I took a lot of things to heart that I shouldn't have, and I'm glad I've grown out of most of them, but I wish she could have read some of these thoughts just the same...
Despite everything Edward has ever done wrong, by Eclipse he's really stopped being too manipulative and he never touches Bella without her permission.
JACOB, meanwhile...
I really dislike Jacob in this book. He makes quite cruel choices and on multiple occasions he kisses Bella without consent. He manipulates her with the threat of suicide, so even saying she wanted to kiss him was not exactly freely-given consent... (Maybe SM should watch that mandatory sexual assault video series I had to watch before starting grad school - I feel like there are a couple of loose concepts she missed.)
Edit Aug 2021: But even if Bella DOES love him, she doesn't owe him a relationship! Like, Edward aside, that's kind of the worst part - this expectation that she WILL act on her feelings.
I think I take so much of this to heart because I've been in a weird situation before where the heart/brain connection wasn't quite there yet for me and I was kissed when I wasn't expecting it. Even though we dated for a while shortly after that, I still feel extremely uncomfortable and sometimes even upset remembering that evening. It doesn't matter if you love someone, being kissed without consent is bad, bad, bad.
I keep trying to see Rosalie as something other than a mouthpiece, but I really can't. Aside from her wicked, badass revenge, she's so... gross. She's perfectly aware how vain she is, but she doesn't do anything to curb it. Most of her energy goes into being upset over her lack of a baby. It's very uncomfortable and I genuinely see myself as a far opposite of Rosalie.
Edit Aug 2021: There's also such conflagration between romantic and familial love. Like, a romantic, loving relationship that doesn't result in children isn't "half" - it's a whole thing in itself. While you, personally, may feel unfulfilled without children, that in no way lessens the legitimacy of your relationship.
(mostly joking but) Honestly, it's SUCH an insult to Emmett, he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!!!
Leah is extremely poorly treated by both the cast and SM. It's worse in Breaking Dawn, but she's just kind of thrown into this to make more points about having kids...
Edit Aug 2021: There's just so much girl-on-girl hate there, it makes me so sad....
And don't even get me started on Imprinting! It's literally the grossest thing I've ever heard of and I hate it! Borrowing my friend's words: "It's normalizing grooming." These grown-ass men should in no way be allowed to look at a literal child and say, "Yep, that's the one. I'm going to wait for her to grow up and then I will marry her." It's such a horrific imbalance of power; this man you've known for your entire life saying to you one day that he's been madly in love with you for almost two decades, please marry him.
Definitely showing some Mormon bias out here... SpoilerIt did make me wonder, though - there's a bit in Midnight Sun where Edward chomps down on a pedophile - called by name. I'm curious if this is in response to arguments against the Imprinting concept? Obviously I know she still full-heartedly supports her weird story choices, but...
I'd be lying, though, if I didn't say I enjoy this book, lol. Mostly for Edward. I love Edward in this; now that he's finally not trying to leave Bella, now that he understands what a dumbass move that is, he's very fun. His personality grows more in this book than the rest of the series (Midnight Sun aside, obviously.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and War