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bushs-world · 7 months

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NEW MOON

Rating: ⭐/5

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Genre: Supernatural Romance, Vampires, Werewolves

Bingo Square: Sequels

So why did I read this book when people nowadays steer clear of this series? Well, one of the squares on the fantasy book bingo was 'Sequels'. Since there weren't any other unread sequels, and I didn't want to directly pick up the second book of an unread series, I picked up 'New Moon.'

I had read Twilight 15 years ago, I liked the movie 'Eclipse', I had a crush on Robert Pattinson and I had so many debates with my friends over Team Edward vs Team Jacob as a teen. So I thought it would be fun to pick up something I loved as a teen and see how it holds up now.

Also I remember amidst the widespread criticism of 'Breaking Dawn', many people defended this franchise that there's nothing wrong if Bella chooses to have a family coz that's what she wants. Stephanie Meyer also said that if feminism is about women's choices, then Twilight is feminist coz it's about Bella's choices. So I also wanted to see how that argument held up

Now, I knew the book was problematic but it's even more problematic, regressive and boring than I remembered

Detailed review under the cut. Spoilers warning

I am moving chronologically here and talking about my thoughts on this book but it is a bit long. Also I can see how SM's faith played out in shaping this book but I am keeping that aside for now.

The book starts with Bella having a nightmare where she's old while Edward's still looks like a teenager and it troubles her. Now, I won't say Bella is shallow coz I can understand her fear. It is valid for her to have insecurities if one day she might turn old and her bf would look like her son. This could have been an excellent opportunity for SM to explore the imbalances in their relationship, but instead she paints growing old in itself as something horrible and problematic. It's worse when you realise this book is marketed to teen girls

The rest of the chapter is the most irritating thing I have ever read. Bella spends the whole chapter moping that she's growing old coz she turned (n I kid u not) 18. I understand her fear that Edward was 17 when he turned into a vampire while she has crossed 18, but still to paint it as her growing old when she's just 18 felt extremely ridiculous. Also Bella wasn't keen on celebrating her bday (coz she didn't want to celebrate her growing old 😒) that she asks everyone to not wish her or get her gifts. And ofcourse, everyone around is super excited n Bella acts likes it's a prison sentence. When Edward n Alice show excitement and wish her, she hushes them coz she doesn't want others to know it's her bday. She asks Edward to ignore it's her bday as well. Look, I can understand being uncomfortable about getting attention n wanting to keep your bday under wraps. My bday comes n goes n no one outside my close friends or family learn about it. But if someone is so excited for your bday, it's coz they care for u. The polite thing is to appreciate the effort, rather than sulk coz others want to do something special for u.

But then there's a party organised for her in the evening at the Cullens house, and Bella makes so many excuses to not go (not coz she didn't want to be alone in a house full of vampires but coz she's clumsy n doesn't want attention on herself). At this point I started feeling bad for her coz it felt like she was dead opposed to the idea of a party n her wishes were being ignored, even on her birthday. In fact at one point, Edward tells her to act nicely coz this is the first birthday his family is getting a chance to celebrate in a long time and that everyone is excited.

When Bella is opening a gift, she gets a paper cut and a drop of blood oozes out which makes Edward's brother Jasper lose control and pounce on her. To save her, Edward pushes her away with so much force, she falls into nearby glass n now her entire arm starts bleeding (what a save 😒). The rest of the Cullens save for Edward's father, Carlisle (who works as a doctor) gets disturbed by the scent of her blood. One would expect Bella to act like a sane person n get shaken by his incident, maybe try to run away. But she stays right there in the house, having a nice chat about faith with Carlisle, while he bandages her up. Instead of reconsidering her own life choices, she is busy admiring Carlisle's willpower and abstinence. Once she's bandaged, she has Edward drive her back home n stay with her all night. N top of that she thinks it's her fault this accident happened coz she was so clumsy (as if the Cullens dont live along with other humans). Even Edward who is the more manipulative one, has to point out that if she wouldn't have risked her life over a paper cut if she was with her human friends. Her reply? 'I don't want to be with them. I want to be with you'.

I don't think this is pointed out enough but I feel Bella likes the Cullens so much because she idealises them. She feels they are superior to her and the others bcoz they all are pretty and pale. There have been many instances where she feels the same about other blood sucking vampires as well. This along with how the Cullens are treated as virtuous, self controlled n civilised n contrasted against how the Quileite tribe are portrayed makes this book quite racist.

Anyways, after this incident, Edward broods for a few days n Bella wants things to go back the way they were. She thinks it's her fault n he's brooding coz his family is staying away. She feels bad she's driving the Cullens away from their home 🤦. At one point, she also thinks that Edward is gonna ask her to move away with him n she's ready to lie to her father n run away with him. But Edward wants to break up with her due to the incident. To keep her off, he lies that he doesn't love her anymore n Bella's like ofc he won't love someone so plain n ugly like me (he's a vampire Bella!). Before leaving Edward makes her promise that she won't get into trouble.

When Edward leaves, Bella falls into severe depression. It is marked by blank pages turning in the book and when Bella slowly starts noticing the world around her, five months or so have passed. New Moon gets a lot of criticism for this, saying Bella got too depressed too fast over just a boy, or that the relationship wasn't that great anyways n she should have just moved on coz she was still young but I will disagree here. It doesn't matter what or how the relationship was, it mattered so much to her, she was ready to turn into a vampire to be with Edward. And it was yanked away suddenly from her. She is allowed to mourn the loss. Just coz she's young doesn't mean the relationship wasn't important or serious n she should be able to move on.

I do like the way the depression was written n when Bella slowly starts seeing the people around her again, she notices how people either ignore her or don't know how to act around her. At one point, she realises she has become a zombie. Despite everything, she starts making an effort to live a normal life again.

One thing I didn't like though was how seeking out help for mental health issues was demonised. At one point her father suggests she visit a therapist n she replies- you want me to meet a skank? Also people will hallucinations or mental illness were referred to as lunatics. I understand this book was written in mid 2000s so I can understand this stigma towards mental illness but it's still not justified imo.

Bella goes out with a friend to keep her father off her back n something, something long story but she finds herself in a similar situation like in Twilight where Edward came to save her n doing that time she heard Edward's voice in her head. I don't remember exactly what happened but Bella decides she no longer wants to keep the promise she made to Edward n wants to be reckless. This is another part that is criticised (n I totally agree it is very dangerous) but I think people keep forgetting this is a teen under severe depression. People r like Bella was reckless n yes, she is but she is trying desperately to cover up the void she feels in whatever way she can. She is not ok n that is the most important thing here. Also, for once SM doesn't romanticise her recklessness as an act of love. Bella regrets n realises how wrong her actions were. N she isn't doing it for Edward initially. Her wanting to be reckless felt to me as an act of rebellion against Edward n his hold over her life. By breaking her promise to him, she was trying to take back some control of her life. Ofc later she realises that she can hear Edward's voice clearly during this time n then it's all about wanting to hear him again.

In her pursuit, Bella takes two broken motorcycle to Jacob so that he can fix it and teach her how to ride it. This is where Jacob enters the picture. I will say Bella is to Jacob what Edward was to Bella, not in the sense that Jacob loves Bella, the way Bella loves Edward but rather Bella is as manipulative n exploitive of Jacob as Edward is of Bella. N Jacob is an ahole as well. Initially, their relationship is sweet. Bella sees Jacob as a lovely boy she can be friends with, he has a crush on her. She enjoys his company as friends, she cares for him n when she realises he has feelings for her, she asks him to move on coz she can't love him back. Till this point it was absolutely healthy until Jacob suddenly stops interacting with her, n Bella starts panicking coz she doesn't want to lose him from her life n wants him back (like u asked him to move on girl and if he doesn't want to be friends coz of his feelings, that's totally valid). In fact when she goes to meet him n confront about it, n Jacob ends their friendship, she replies- u r breaking up with me?? (like when were they even dating in the first place) N after that it's such a mess. Bella knows Jacob feels for her, Jacob knows she doesn't love him n they still stick to each other. Bella doesn't mind if others think she's his gf, Jacob is physically affectionate with her n neither wants to clear up the mess. N one hand, Bella keeps remembering Edward, on the other hand, she doesn't draw a boundary with Jacob n let's their relationship go into a complicated boundary coz she doesn't want to lose him. By the end, she's almost ready to compromise n date Jacob coz she won't get Edward back so it's better n wise of her to take the second option available to her (how about u not date anyone Bella?). N in a comedic twist, Alice comes back, Edward is in trouble n Bella quickly drops Jacob to go save Edward after just making the decision to date him a day ago.

Also can we talk about how SM sexualised both Jacob n the Quileite tribe. Jacob is just 16 n yet there r extensive paragraphs of his muscles, his jawline, his warm body. That's still a young teen. It's similar to how sometimes girls as young as 16 r sexualised in fiction. Also the contrast between the Cullens n the Quileites is stark. The Cullens r portrayed as sophisticated, virtuous and calm, able to control their impulses. The Quileites r savages, can't control their temper n can hurt u n they don't wear shirts.

By the end, Alice takes Bella to a city of vampires to save a suicidal Edward. In the process she comes across the vampire royalty Volturi, n now she has to turn into a vampire in a year so that she's not a danger to their secret. Edward comes back in her life n asks her to marry him. N Bella, in classic Bella style, tells her father, who is opposed to Edward being back in her life after the depression she went through like any sane father, that if he can't accept Edward in her life, then she can move out (she didn't learn a thing but then she didn't just accept to marry Edward straight away n initially resisted him coming back coz if he left again, it would crush her so maybe there's some development).

Now for the main thing, is this book by any chance feminist? The answer is a big no. For one, despite SM calling it Bella's choice, the choice is never hers. The men around her decide things for her on her behalf. Even with her wanting to be a vampire, she doesn't turn into one later bcoz that's what she wants but coz she's dying in childbirth. At most the decision she makes is whether to marry Edward or be with Jacob, but even there she has to face manipulation and blackmailing from both of them. We r supposed to accept the franchise isn't problematic coz it's what Bella wants but respecting someone's choices doesn't mean sweeping all the red flags under a rug. What SM is essentially saying it's ok n feminist for a woman to be in a toxic relationship bcoz she wants it. But feminism isn't turning a blind eye towards the romanticisation of abuse or accepting a toxic relationship as a healthy one coz the woman wants it.

In short, this book was a disaster n I might have liked this franchise as a teen but it def didn't hold up for me now.

#new moon book #new moon Stephanie Meyer #bush rambles books #book review

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