In Love with Edward Cullen

This quarter I read New Moon, the second book of the Twilight Series. It is a 563-page novel filled with both heartbreak, love, and adventure. I think this book works well enough as a stand alone; but like every other sequel readers will get a totally better understanding of the story and more entertainment from reading it if they read Twilight first.

The novel begins with Bella’s 18th birthday. She and Edward have been going out for six months now, and he tries to make this birthday memorable. In the midst of Bella’s birthday party at the Cullen’s, a stupid accident happens that leaves Bella covered in blood. This causes the party to fall somewhat flat, as the accident triggers a feeding frenzy in Jasper. Edward suddenly becomes distant towards Bella. He tells her that he and his family are leaving Forks for good, and that he never wants to see her again. This leaves Bella heartbroken, for her world revolves around Edward Cullen. Through the lapse of heartbreak, Bella’s world begins to fall apart as she loses most of her friends and becomes even more isolated and lonely.

As Bella loses friends, she grows closer to an old one. Jacob Black becomes Bella’s new partner in crime; she begins to explore her curiosities and go on adventures with him at her side. Although, the pain of Edward’s abandonment never subsides, Jacob becomes her best friend and he helps to fill some of the voids in her life. After spending a great amount of time with Jacob, Bella discovers he is not an ordinary boy, for part of his Quileute heritage is to be cursed to be a werewolf. And of course, it is not a coincidence that werewolves and vampires are each other’s worse enemies.

Alice returns to Forks and her extraordinary gift of being able to see the future tells her Edward is heading on a path of self-destruction –one that only Bella can advert. Bella and Alice leave Forks on a mission to save Edward, and after a series of unfortunate events and timing, they succeed. The lovers reunite, and their relationship is stronger than ever, but the big elephant in the room remains: what will happen to the camaraderie between Bella and Jacob?

This book was heartbreaking; I honestly fell in love with Edward after reading Twilight, but I hated him so much when he abandoned Bella. Regardless, I think Meyer did an excellent job in portraying Bella’s pain throughout the novel. It’s what this whole book is about. Most of the things Bella experiences in this book is a result of the overwhelming loss she is trying to bear. In addition, I believe her friendship with Jacob has a doomed quality to it not only because he loves her while she is in love with Edward but also because he is a werewolf and he naturally hates all vampires.

After reading the book, I fell in love with Edward all over again. His love for Bella runs deep, and it’s breathtaking to read about it. New Moon is bittersweet, and I totally recommend this book, as well as the whole Twilight series, to all! =)