New Moon

New Moon is based on the concept of Romeo & Juliet, but only so far as Bella and Edward would rather be dead than live without each other. The horizons are broader as there's cross-global action, even if I think that Bella is a little silly to ever doubt that Edward has anything other than her interests at heart when he breaks up with her, and even though I rolled my eyes through every bit of the part where she's on the plane with him assuming he's just going to ditch her when they land.

Still, I was a teenage girl once and I have to say, at the risk of offending everyone here who was ever a teenage girl, that teenage girls are their own brand of stupid. Idiots, really. And so it is not entirely unbelievable that Bella would think Edward was just avoiding a scene, but if so, really, shouldn't she have shown a little pride. Not that I would have, because hey, it's Edward.

He dazzles.

So I'll forgive Bella on that point. On the other point, and that would be the Jacob point, reluctant though I am to admit it, I was ashamed for teenage girls everywhere because who among us can claim innocence on the Jacob score? We've all had our Jacobs: sweet, adoring, almost-datable-but-not-quite, boys who we permitted to worship us from a-close during those times when our Edward was nowhere to be found. But Bella, the hand holding? Really?

Everyone knows the rule about leading boys on: you don't do anything you wouldn't do with your chummiest female friends. Lounging around and laying all over each other on your couch is allowed. Hand holding is out of bounds, unless you happen to be racing through a crowd or on a roller coaster. Those are gray areas. But you are definitely not allowed to hold hands outside of the theater. Maybe inside if the movie is really scary, but then only in a death grip, and burying your face in his shoulder is allowed, but only if your eyes are closed.

C'mon, Bella. Move away from the line. You obviously can't be trusted not to cross it.

I like Jacob, I really do. And if one mythical creature in the legend is true, why not both, right? So why is Jacob so slow on the uptake? Why doesn't he suspect the crazy truth? Maybe because he doesn't know about Edward. Bella knows, though, so she should be quicker about putting everything together. I'd have preferred to have these two characters suspect and doubt their own sanity than just be clueless.

Did I mention that I loved this book in spite of all that? I did. But it's possible I might have loved it more.

Anyway, The Dol makes a point when she mentions that we aren't a bunch of lecherous old women since Edward is, technically, far older than we are, but Sweet Pete, if I were a man, Edward would be turning me gay. As it is, every time I finish a chapter in bed I'm practically attacking the unsuspecting Mr. Poppins who has no idea how much vicarious, ahem, frustration I am experiencing via Bella and her oh-so-chaste ways.

I love that Bella is all about trying to tempt Edward's resolve. That is particularly refreshing and, with no disrespect meant, reminds me of Diosa and Blackstone in the early days, in a way that I hope she expounds on in her own post on the book, which I won't forget she promised to deliver in short order.

Having just finished Pride & Prejudice, I have to say that the recurring theme (don't let's forget Gone with the Wind) of men who can't live without women who refuse to be impressed or to go all aflutter at the slightest attention and women who, despite all outer appearances, are completely driven to distraction by their baser instincts, is really a hit with me.

I adore fiction. Anyone want to wait in line with me at the B&N midnight release party for Breaking Dawn? I've got my book on reserve and they gave me this black and red version of the yellow Live Strong bracelet that I've actually contemplated wearing.

Don't worry people, I'm not actually wearing it. I'm a geek, not a dork, remember? 

Comments

[The Dol]

I'm really worried that Stephanie Meyer, being Mormon, is going to keep these characters chaste all the way through. Dear God.

And I had the same thought about the hand-holding, Pols. Poor Jake. He is adorable, though.

[The Model]

It bugged me a ton that they were both so clueless about the werewolf thing for so much of the book. I agree, I'd have much preferred that they doubted and questioned their sanity. Bella in particular really should have known. In fact, I basically was annoyed with Bella for most of the book. The whole thing with actually taking Edward seriously when he left, and, like you said, thinking he was going to ditch her when they got off the plane. And wanting to become a vampire but not being willing to marry him. They do say that teenage brains aren't capable of rational thinking though, so maybe Stephanie Meyer has it right.

But, like you, I still loved it. LOVED. We have a playdate at B&N today, so I'm sure Eclipse will be mine by this afternoon. I can't wait. I wonder if they'll give me a totally sweet black and red rubber bracelet.

Dol, I heard that since she's Mormon, the whole series will stay pretty clean. Such a bummer. Although I'm sure there's no dearth of R-rated Twilight fan fiction out there!

[Diosa]

About the whole blind thing. When we were in high school one of the girls in our class was pregnant, actually there were quite a few pregnant girls, but not too many in the honors classes. Anyway, I said something to Polly once that this particular girl was really starting to get along, not trying to be judgmental or anything, just stating the obvious - or so I thought.

Polly, looks at me bewildered and says, "She's not pregnant."

"Uh, Polly, she's got to be like seven months by now," I told her.

Polly sat in class with the girl every day and was completely shocked and horrified when I told her the girl was pregnant, big belly and all. It was quite obvious too, even under the big shirts at that point. The girl was all belly.

I think sometimes we see what we want to see, or don't allow ourselves to see what we don't want to know.

[Polly Poppins]

Diosa, thanks to alphabetical order, I sat directly behind that girl in several classes while she was so pregnant it looked like she was smuggling watermelons. I never noticed. But that's only because it wasn't possible.

[Curls]

I love this series! Please keep writing about it! I literally squealed in delight when I saw the header!
It is so disappointing that she is going to keep in clean!