GoodReads Review of New Moon

The summary inside the paper-back cover says – “When the Cullens, including her beloved Edward, leave Forks rather than risk revealing that they are vampires, it is almost too much for eighteen-year-old Bella to bear, but she finds solace in her friend Jacob until he is drawn into a “cult” and changes in terrible ways. “
New Moon is the second book in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga and was also on the NY Times Bestseller list. If you’re looking into reading New Moon, you have to read Twilight first. New Moon picks up the story from the end of Twilight, after Bella’s near death experience and Edward coming to her rescue, again. They’ve been to prom and declared their love for one another and their relationship at the start of this book couldn’t be more perfect, aside from the fact he’s a vampire, and she a human.
There has been speculation on the symbolism of the book’s cover, of an upside down tulip, ragged and falling apart with one petal falling. If you read the story, you may come to the same conclusion as me. It, to me represents Bella in her current state of mind during nearly the whole of this book. So just what is that? Bella is hurting, she’s ragged, she’s falling apart, and her life has been turned upside down. As for the petal that has fallen away from the flower, I take that as a piece of her is gone. Why a flower? Well, I can only assume it’s because of the scene that causes the trouble in the first place.

So in keeping with the theme from Twilight, this is still a young adult novel and the main character remains to be Bella Swan. An accident at the beginning of the book sends Bella’s seemingly comfortable life with her new vampire friends and boyfriend into her darkest hours. Edward Cullen, feeling unable to protect Bella from harm from his vampire life and family decides, along with his family, that he needs to leave; it’s the only way to keep her safe.

This shatters Bella’s world. A world she was just beginning to know; a life she wanted for herself. Bella still longed to become a vampire and stay with Edward forever so when she asked him, “You…don’t…want me?” and he replies, “No.”, she crumbles. Bella falls into a deep depression, for several months. She then becomes closer friends with Jacob Black.

It becomes evident to the reader where this is going. Jacob loves Bella in ways Bella can’t love Jacob. If there had been no Edward, maybe, but she still was clinging to the hope that Edward might come back. She becomes delusional and hears his voice and sees his face. Her dreams intensify. Her troubles with the nomads from Twilight are not over. Then things get worse when one day Jacob is no longer returning Bella’s calls, and seemingly cut her out of his life altogether.

Nearing the books end, after Bella has another brush with death and after learning what happened to Jacob, Alice returns. She takes Bella to Italy to try and stop Edward from attempting to end his vampire life. He had decided a life without Bella in it wasn't worth living. It's very Romeo and Juliet, and in fact the author makes many reference points to Shakespeare.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Again, Stephenie’s descriptions are wonderfully written. Her dialogue is smooth and believable. I enjoyed learning more about Jacob during Bella’s dark times and you can really feel Bella’s pain. You find yourself wanting to curl into a ball and cry with her and cling to the hope that Edward comes back. But now you’re torn between Edward, who caused so much pain, and Jacob, who loves her too.

Who will Bella choose? Who should Bella choose? That's the question that remains. She loves Edward more than life itself, but Jacob was there when she needed him the most and she knows how he feels about her. This new element has given the story another twist. Safe, comfortable, happy-go-lucky Jacob, who her dad approves of, or the beautifully gifted and adoring Edward, who's life isn't so easy.