These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,

which, as they kiss, consume

Romeo and Juliet Act II, scene vii

Book Review: New Moon

A Novel by Stephenie Meyer

Second novel in a four-part series

Plot Summary

     In the first book of the series, named Twilight, you meet the main characters, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, and watch their love for one another blossom.  In this book, things won't be so easy for the star-crossed lovers.  The book begins with a sullen Bella being forced to celebrate her birthday with a special celebration at the Cullens'.  However, when things go awry you may be shocked to see that sometimes the people thirsting for Bella's blood are the very same people she considers her second family.  Once Bella and the Cullens' hit an unexpected bump in the road, everything turns upside-down for Bella Swan, sending her into a love-driven depression that may be the reason the author chose to give the book the dark and ominous name 'New Moon,' which is also the darkest cycle of the moon.  As Bella takes you through the second book in the series you will watch her battle affections for a new man, depression, herself, and worst of all, The Volturi, the most powerful vampire coven to ever exist.

Textual Elements

     The setting of the book falls in two locations, Forks, Washington, Bella's hometown where she lives with her father, and the second location is overseas, in Volterra, Italy.  In Italy they are in primarily one location, while in Forks Bella divides most of her time between her home, school, and the indian reservation where Jacob Black lives, La Push.

     The main characters of this book are Bella Swan and Jacob Black, who steps in as the leading male role for this story.  Jacob is a great person, but readers find it hard to get behind him and Bella, just because of the love they have cultivated for Edward in the first novel, Twilight. The next most prominent characters would have to be the Volturi, who represent the antagonists in this book.  The three brothers who have the most power are named Aro, Caius, and Marcus, and they are the ones you will hear the most from in this book. 

     The whole book is told from Bella Swan's point of view, and it is very easy to read because she is a very good person, and does not distort the details of things.  I believe that the main themes of the book are good vs. evil and the search for true love, both of which many people can relate to.

Analysis and Critique

     While the novel New Moon did not contain many artistic elements I can strongly argue that the literature was very effective.  While reading the book it was not uncommon for me to find my imagination had taken me somewhere completely different than where I had sat down to read the book.  Meyer paints pictures with her words that are so intricate and expertly woven you would swear the characters were right in front of you.  She uses vivid imagery and is able to get the big picture across while not leaving any details behind.

Book Excerpts

"I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow.Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm—into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires."

-Bella Swan

"And now that it had hit, it was even worse than I'd feared it would be.  I could feel it--I was older.  Every day I got older, but this was different, worse, quantifiable. I was eighteen. And Edward never would be."

-Bella Swan

"He gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. I looked into his liquid topaz eyes, and my heart gave a not-quite-so-gentle-squeeze of its own."

-Bella Swan

     The author's perspective is one of someone with a pure mind and heart, that is, all the protagonists are very wholesome and know there is a distinct difference between right and wrong and constantly strive to follow that.  Her style is very descriptive, allowing you to paint a picture in your mind.

     The book has also come to be very social relevant, due to a massive following by a younger teenage to adult market.  The amount in which we are plugged in as a society has also led to the twilight phenomenon flooding the market, from twitter to myspace to facebook to blog sites everywhere.  

For instance, if you go to this website

http://www.facebook.com/twilight?ref=ts 

you will be able to see new trailors, video clips, music videos, and extras for the series.  You will also see that the site has over 18 million fans.

Also, here is an interview by the author, Stephenie Meyer, discussing her new book on youtube.

     Overall, I think this is a great book and everyone should at least give it a chance.  The themes of the book are easy to relate to, and although it is fantasy you may find yourself having a lot more in common with a vampire or say a werewolf than you had ever thought.  So go to the bookstore, hit the library, or even just bug a friend to borrow it, because this is a book you won't want to pass up!

Citation

Picture Book Citation

Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Illus. Illustrator First and Last Name. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

One Author (No Illustrator)

Last Name, First Name. Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Two or More Authors: 1)  List the names in the order they appear on the title page. 2) Only the first author's name should be reversed: Last Name, First Name. 3) Use a comma between the           authors' names. Place a period after the last author's name.

Last Name, First Name and 2nd Author First Name Last Name. Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

References

Will need to look up format for the type of source used.