Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Midnight Sun is Twilight told from Edward’s point of view.  This book is exactly as advertised, the exact same story from Edward’s first-person point of view.  I read all of the Twilight novels when they were first out and loved them for entertaining escapism reading.  I was looking forward to reading another book in the saga.

I found it slow reading.  It was interesting at times, but as you knew everything that would happen, it was not very exciting.  I’ll admit, I made it about 350 pages in and then realized I really didn’t care to read the rest and wanted to move on to a different book, so I skimmed to the end and moved on.  I was hoping for more differences in the story, especially more background on Edward’s life before Bella.  It did give insight on what intrigued Edward about Bella. I loved when Bella talked about her favorite books as they pretty much match what I like to read.

Favorite Quote:

“Mostly I dream about being with you forever.”

Overall, Midnight Sun was as advertised, a retelling of Twilight from Edward's point of view.  I didn’t find it to be that exciting of a book.

Book Source:  Kewaunee Public Library – Thank-you!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was a quick and easy reading novella set in the Twilight universe. Bree Tanner made a brief, but memorable appearance in the novel Eclipse. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner tells of Bree’s life as a young newborn vampire in Seattle trying to survive among the irrational newborns in her coven. Bree and her love interest Diego are smarter than the rest of the newborns, but not smart enough to thwart their destiny as their leader Riley and Victoria lead them on a path of vengeance in the small town of Forks.

This novel is different than the other Twilight novels as it is not about “civilized” vampires, but more classic vampires who are out for death and destruction. Although the ending was inevitable, I rooted for Bree and wished she had a different destiny. The novel was also an interesting read after the Eclipse movie as it seems that many parts of the book were incorporated into the movie.

Overall, if you are a fan of the Twilight series, this is a must read book. I enjoyed it and was not disappointed.

Book Source: The Kewaunee Public Library

New Moon and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

I read New Moon and Eclipse for the second time while I was sick back in April and May to gear myself up for the Eclipse movie. I enjoyed reading them again and noticing details I had either forgotten or not noticed on my first round of readings. Truthfully though, even though it was good to read them again, I didn’t get the thrill I got out of them when I read them for the first time and they were a new story to discover. In other words, it was enjoyable, but not the same as a book like Pride and Prejudice or Outlander that I can read over and over and over . . . Do you have certain books that you can read over again and always love and others that are okay the second time around, but not as good as the first time?

For more information on the novels, read my original review here.

Book Source: I purchased these books from amazon.com at some point last year.

Eclipse (2010)

My FLICKS Book and Movie Club went together to see Eclipse last Wednesday evening. It is always fun getting together with the ladies and enjoying a movie, and we all had been looking forward to this movie for quite some time. Twilight was my book choice pick for the club last fall and I managed to get many of my friends addicted to the series.

I know there are a lot of “haters” out there of the books and the movies, but I am not one of them. I read books of all types as you can tell from this blog and the Twilight series was great escapism reading that I literally could not put down. While it is not a literary masterpiece such as Pride and Prejudice, I think there is room in this world for fun reading. While I enjoy many types of books, not too many keep me wrapped up in them the way the Twilight series did.

To me, the movies follow the same principle. At times the first two movies were good campy fun, but they are fun to watch. I enjoyed Eclipse and thought it was a better movie than the first two. I thought the screenplay, acting, and special effects all had enjoyed a boast as the movies have come along. I enjoyed Eclipse as I have the other two movies as it is really enjoyable to finally have a movie that is about romance and not just sex. It’s also nice to have the action without gross out violence. I thought I was the only one that has gotten tired of super violent sexed up movies, but I think the popularity of the Twilight movie series shows that many people feel the same way. Bring back the romance!

My favorite line of Eclipse was when Jacob entered the tent and said something along the lines of “I’m hotter than you” to Edward. It made me laugh out loud. I also LOVED the back stories of Jasper and Rosalie. I was sad the back stories got mostly cut out of the other two films and hope they are put back in Breaking Dawn.

My only complaint about Eclipse was that Bella really needed a jacket after the tent scene. She was almost frozen to death in the night, but yet the next day she wanders outside with no hat, mittens, or coat. While that is okay for Edward and Jacob, it is not okay for Bella. I know it isn’t as romantic to have her kissing Jacob all bundled up, but it would be more realistic!

As I posted on Facebook, I realized after this movie at the grand old age of 32 I might be getting old as I decided I am “Team Charlie.” Charlie is funny and not bad looking. I especially liked his attempt to have “the talk” with Bella in Eclipse.

I am looking forward to Breaking Dawn, although I am not looking forward to seeing “the birthing scene” on the big screen. I’m also not thrilled about it being broken into two movies. The first one will just probably include the marriage, honeymoon, and baby birth with the large action scene at the end being movie two. I think it could have easily been one movie like the previous movies and think it’s just a way for the movie makers to make some extra cash . . . which they will out of me as I will be there! I’m only sad that Breaking Dawn Part 1 won’t be out until November 2011.

New Moon (2009)

It was a girls’ night out in Kewaunee on Saturday night. I went with a couple of friends to see New Moon in Green Bay. Armed with our pre-purchased tickets, we only had to wait in line for 15 minutes or so before we were let into the theatre. It was a full house consisting of almost all women, but we luckily were able to get good seats. How awesome is it that New Moon was such a success largely due to women? Hopefully Hollywood starts to realize that if they make movies women would like to see, they will go to see them.

New Moon is the second movie and book in the Twilight saga. The story begins with Bella’s 18th birthday. The Cullens throw her a surprise party. Bella accidentally cuts her finger, causing Jasper to almost kill her. Afterwards, Edward decides to leave forever in hopes that Bella can live a normal and safe life. Bella sinks into depression and is only able to finally see her way out of it when she starts spending more time with her best friend Jacob. Jacob has secrets of his own. A series of dramatic events leaves Bella racing to save Edward’s life.

The highlight of the movie going experience for me was when the entire theatre gasped with Jacob ripped his shirt off. I have never experienced anything like that in my life, I laughed out loud for awhile. In Facebook conversations with my friends in different movie theatres, it seems that is was a nationwide phenomenon. Did this happen in your theatre? Sound off below!

I thought the movie did a good job of bringing the novel to the big screen. I especially liked how the movie managed to show the passage of time during Bella’s depression, but did not dwell on it as much as the book did. I also thought Taylor Lautner was hot as Jacob. He played the perfect part of being Bella’s best friend torn by his love for her and his new life. I also love Charlie, Bella’s dad. He always has some great lines, such as when he was telling Bella to move on and then realized he never really followed his own advice.

There was one scene with much cheese in it – Alice’s vision of Edward and Bella as happy vampires in the future. I laughed when it showed them frolicking in slow motion through the woods. The special effects were MUCH better in this movie. I especially liked how Edward now sparkles more as I imagined it would be by the book description. In the first movie, the sparkle was hardly there and I was confused on why Edward couldn’t go out in the sunlight if I was viewing the movie alone without the book. I liked the score and edgy direction of the first film better than this movie, but it was still a good movie.

There were two scenes I had issues with, but it has been a year and a half or so since I read the book so I need readers to comment on what they think. Did Bella ride on the back of some stranger’s motorcycle? I don’t remember this happening. Also, I don’t remember Edward proposing until Eclipse. Did they just put that in as the final moment of the movie to make it a cliffhanger until next summer?

Overall, it was a very enjoyable movie and movie going experience. It’s always fun to go to the theatre on opening weekend and see the crowd full of excitement. I can’t wait until Eclipse comes out next summer as that was my favorite novel of the saga.

Twilight Your Favorite Book

I just had a great laugh of today. I am a fan of the Twilight series, but I know things can get carried a bit too far. There has been much chatter lately about a recent release of Wuthering Heights, which has a "Twilight" cover. Not only does it look like Twilight, but has "Edward and Bella's Favorite Book" on it (although they discuss Wuthering Heights in Eclipse, I'm not sure it is their favorite novel). While some are outraged, I think it is a smooth marketing move.

The ladies at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books took this a step farther and had people submit "Twilight" covers for their favorite books. The results are HILARIOUS! If you need a good laugh today, I suggest you take a look and vote on your favorite cover. (Make sure you click on the "more, more, more" tab to be able to see the covers.) There is only a 24-hour period to vote. I only wish I were as creative as the ladies who submitted entries!

What were your favorite entries? I had many favorites. I few that made me laugh included the Bible (we had the apple thing first), Gone With the Wind, the baby name book, the Stephen King book (King once acknowledged Stephenie Meyer's existance - LOL!), etc.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I reread Twilight last week for my new FLICKS Book and Movie Club. My original review and synopsis can be read here. I still greatly enjoyed the book during my second reading. The story really draws you in and is hard to put down! My club meets tonight at my house to discuss and watch the movie - it should be fun!

When I read the story this time, I was trying to look at it from several different angles. I keep reading on blogs and in comments that Stephenie Meyer does not write well. I’m not really sure where that is coming from. Meyer writes a very engaging story. Two of my friends in book club were sucked in by the book and are reading the rest of the series now. The books are meant for teens so they are not adult books with deep literary themes – but they weren’t meant to be.

I’ve also heard the complaint that Bella is weak and Edward is controlling. I got the opposite picture reading the book on Bella. She is very strong and is able to hang out with an entire vampire family – which is kind of a scary situation! Also the set-up at the end of the book is because Bella wants to save her mother instead of staying in a safe place. Edward is a bit controlling at times, but it is because he cares deeply for Bella. She sticks up for herself too and doesn’t let him totally take charge of her life.

Personally I think it is rather sexy that Edward is caring and very decisive. My husband is strong-willed and decisive, which I love. But he definitely doesn’t control me!

I really like the teen angst in the book. Although I am an old lady of 31, I remember many of the feelings that Bella had in the book when it comes to trying to fit in, being clumsy and first love. I think it is really this ability to identify with the heroine as well as the engaging story that makes this such a must read for so many people.

My favorite quote:

“Of three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how potent that part might be – that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

I highly recommend this novel!

Today in Pop Culture - Sea Monsters, Bridget Jones, and Twilight

I'll admit. I am a nerd. The first thing I did this morning was to log onto Facebook and check out Quirk Classics announcement about their new title, the follow-up to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I was vastly entertained to see the new title is Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and enjoyed the book trailer. I also enjoyed reading about it on ew.com. I can't wait to read it when it comes about in September, although I am sad that the author of P&P&Z (Seth Grahme) will not be back for this novel. I'm also wondering why they didn't pick Persuasion for the sea monster theme. With all of the naval talk and Bath setting, it seems like it would have been perfect!

I also read on ew.com that there is talk of a THIRD Bridget Jones movie staring Renee Zellweger. Please no more! While I LOVED the first movie and both books, the second movie was not very good. It really lost the point of the second novel paralleling Persuasion in my opinion. I really hope this movie is not made. Focus on something new and exciting instead!

Two other points of interest were a sneak peak at the Twilight graphic novel. I can't wait to read this and I also can't wait to look at more illustrations that will be in this week's Entertainment Weekly. There is also a post on Entertainment Weekly trying to start a fight between Harry Potter fans and Twilight fans. I am a fan of both series. Why can't we love them both and not compare? One does not have to be better than the other! Stop the violence! My own personal Twilight news is that I have succeeded in getting two of my friends in my new book club obsessed with Twilight. The highlight of my day was one of my friends telling me how she stole her daughter's teen magazine to read about New Moon and look at the pictures. :-)

That's all for now - I hope everyone is having a great day!

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I finally got Breaking Dawn from the library and finished up the Twilight Saga. Breaking Dawn was a good book and kept me riveted at the end with the adventure and final showdown, but overall I thought it was the weakest of the set.

I felt this way mostly because after the tension has built up between Bella and Edward for three books, it was a let down for them to be suddenly married and for Bella to be in the midst of a horrific pregnancy. It was strange for Jacob to be the narrator for much of the first half of the book. The pregnancy details were terrible and could have been toned down. I liked the second half of the book one this first part of over. I didn't feel at the end though that the saga was finished - I want to know more about what will happen to Nessie.

So what was the overall plot of this book? Bella and Edward finally marry, but Bella becomes pregnant on her honeymoon. The pregnancy does not go well with a half vampire baby. Nessie is born and is perfect, but the vampire world is thrown into upheavel at her birth. Bella and Edward and all of the Cullens must find a way to protect her and keep their family together.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I love the Twilight series, therefore I thought it was about time to check out Meyer's "adult" fiction.

The Host is a very interesting science fiction novel. In a not so distant future, an alien race has taken over the earth. They are parasitic type creatures that bind to a host human's brain and take over the human's thought functions and personality. So the human is no longer themselves although there body is still walking around. Scary! In this novel, Wanderer has been installed in an adult human body that has just been captured. Melanie fights back however and Wanderer has to share the mind with Melanie. Wanderer keeps getting memories from Melanie's old life and finds herself falling in love with the memory of a man named Jared. Where is Jared and Melanie's brother Jamie? Are there more rogue humans left on earth? To tell more of the plot would give too much away.

The concept of the novel isn't new if you are a Star Trek or Stargate fan. What is new is the depth that the novel portrays the thoughts, conflictions, and emotional journeys of Wanderer. This is something that is generally avoided in sci-fi. There is a nice love quadrangle and I found myself riveted by the novel. It is not as fantastic as the Twilight series - but it is still an excellent novel. It had me asking Ben such questions as, would you still love me if I had been taken over by an alien being? I was riveted throughout and couldn't put it down towards the end. I highly recommend this novel!

New Moon and Eclipse both by Stephenie Meyer

I can't get enough of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga. I know what all of the buzz was about - her books are excellent, thrilling reads that are all but impossible to set down. I am now waiting impatiently on the waiting list for Breaking Dawn at the library.

New Moon is the second novel in the saga. Edward and the Cullen family leave town after Edward decides that they will always bring nothing but danger to Bella. Bella is devestated and sinks into a deep depression. The only thing that is able to bring her out of her depression is her friendship with Jacob, a young native American teen that she has known her entire life (dads are friends). Jacob has a supernatural secret of his own . . . this book was fantastic. I liked the discussion of Romeo and Juliet throughout and the parallels with this novel.

Eclipse is the third novel in the saga. Bella is torn between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob as the two are mortal enemies. An evil vampire is on the hunt for Bella with a vampire army. Edward and Jacob and their families unit to protect Bella from this evil force. The battle is quite thrilling as is the theme of Bella being torn between the two men. I LOVED the discussion of Wuthering Heights in this book and the parallels. I also loved the use of one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost at the beginning of this novel. Meyer seems to have the same literary passions as I do - no wonder I love her works.

Okay - plot spoilers ahead for those who haven't read the books . . . I know I am in the minority here, I love Edward and think he is one of he sexiest literary heros I've ever read before, but I actually love Jacob and kind of wish Bella would have chosen him. I love the close friendship they have and the fact that she would be able to live a mostly normal life with him. He's also a tall, warm, and hairy man . . . sounds kind of like my husband - no wonder I think Jacob should win.

If you haven't read the Twilight Saga yet - I highly recommend these books. They are fantastic reads - some of the best books I've read in awhile. I'm really looking forward to the "Twilight" movie!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I feel like I am behind . . . I read all about the "Twilight" series in Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago and realized I had read not one of the "best books since Harry Potter." I decided it was time to change my state of ignorance and reserved a copy of Twilight at my local library. Twilight is a young adult novel and rather large, but it took me no time at all to read through it. And let me tell you - it definitely lives up to the hype!

Twilight is a passionate and thrilling story about a young teenage girl, Bella, who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father. She has normal teenage angst about fitting in at a new school, but also finds herself enraptured with a beautiful teenage boy named Edward. Eventually she discovers that Edward is a vampire. The book takes a thrilling turn when Edward and his family must protect Bella from an evil force - and I will say no more.

I can see why teenage girls are enraptured with this book - Edward is one of the sexiest heros I've ever read in literature, even though there is no sex in the novel. He rates up there with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Rochester, Heathcliff, Rhett Butler . . . I need to start a list of top ten sexiest heros of literature! :-) He is not only gorgeous, but has a tortured soul that yearns to love Bella.

I highly recommend Twilight - it was a fantastic, thrilling, vampire love story. I can't wait to read New Moon!