Eclipse: Twilight, Book 3 - Stephenie Meyer

Engrossing vampire read is bad model of romance.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Stephenie Meyer
  • # of pages: 629
  • Publisher:Little, Brown & Co.
  • Original Publication Date: 08/07/2007
  • Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
  • Hardcover: $18.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 12
  • Read Aloud: 13
  • Read Alone: 13
  • ISBN: 9780316160209

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that, aside from some kissing and one violent fight, the main concern here is how Bella is portrayed. This book follows the conventions of a romance novel -- the heroine is completely helpless, and completely obsessed with her love, and this is portrayed as perfectly OK instead of unhealthy.

Families can talk about Bella's relationship with Edward. Why is she so obsessed with him? Why can't she be apart from him? Do you think this is what true love is really like? Do you think it's healthy? Why or why not?

Message

Social Behavior:

Bella is a helpless damsel in distress, and her life completely revolves around her love, from whom she can't stand to be separated, and for whom she will make any sacrifice, including her family and life. In Book 2 Edward attempted suicide when he thought Bella was dead. In this one Jacob threatens it if Bella chooses Edward. Overall Bella doesn't have healthy relationships, yet they're not portrayed as unhealthy -- just romantic.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Vampires fight and dismember one another, with some help from werewolves. Body parts fly. A helpless teen vampire who has surrendered is killed anyway.

Sex

Kissing. Lots o'kissing. Bella wants more, but Edward says no. Bella's father awkwardly tries to have a sex talk with her.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Matt Berman

Bella and Edward (the dashing vampire) are back together, but Jacob (the teen Native American werewolf) wants to win Bella over for himself. Bella wants to become a vampire right after high school graduation (kids these days!), much to Jacob's horror, but Edward refuses unless she marries him first (much to Jacob's even greater horror).

Meanwhile Victoria, the vengeful vampire, is still out to get Bella, and Seattle seems to be infested with new, young vampires on a killing spree. And the two problems may be related. So ancient enemies, vampires and werewolves, join forces to protect Bella and solve both problems -- before the Volturi intervene.

Is it any good?

4
Fans of the series have been waiting breathlessly for this third entry, and nothing will keep them from it. Those who don't find hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds) of pages of mooning over hunky vampires appealing will have read the plot synopsis, rolled their eyes, and moved on.

Of its type, though, this is very well done. Author Stephenie Meyer has a writing style that can keep the reader turning the pages even when there is nothing much happening (which is most of the time), and there is a lot more suspense in this entry than in last two, as well as a pretty entertaining climactic battle (though much of it happens offstage).

Those who were hoping for a final resolution of everything will be either disappointed or thrilled to know that Meyer plans a fourth book, and that's the one that will "wrap everything up in a bow," according to Meyer.

Other choices

Other Books in This Series:
Twilight
New Moon

More Teen Vampires:
Thirsty by M. T. Anderson
A Living Nightmare: Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 1 by Darren Shan
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Related Web Sites:
Author's site
Official site Twilight Lexicon

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 72 reviews.

3

Posted on 01/05/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5


Posted on 12/22/08 by Kuralay Adult contributor

I loved

i think that twilight books are really good! it's really interesting and exciting.... touching love story between Bella and Edward......and i like the Cullens family.they all together....strong...and always support each other.i think it's really important....
5

Posted on 12/18/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 17

Falalala

I like when they had rerereal sex and almost had a baby
5

Posted on 12/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

I LOVE IT!!!!!

OMG!!!! I love the whole Twilight series!!!! I wish I had an Edward!!! I picked up these books and couldn't put them down! These books are amazing!!!
4

Posted on 12/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

SO GOOOOOOOOOD.........!

even though Edward was really controlling, this book was really good. It was a fun romantic, and had a nice bit of action. the love triangle was a little weird, but good.
5


Posted on 11/29/08 by superreader101 Kid contributor, age 13

A must read book for every teenager.

I thought the first 2 books are awesome, I just have not got to read the last 2 yet. But I am sure they will be awesome.
5


Posted on 11/29/08 by superreader101 Kid contributor, age 13

A must read book for every teenager.

I thought the first 2 books are awesome, I just have not got to read the last 2 yet. But I am sure they will be awesome.
5


Posted on 11/25/08 by QueenBee2.0 Kid contributor, age 14

OMG

OK so I just finished the book and it is spectacular. I LOVED IT!!!!! It has some annoying details..... but it is not bad. I must read the next.
4

Posted on 11/24/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

WHAT.THE.FUDGE.

I have no idea of what Stephanie Meyer was thinking. What happened to the semi-self independent Bella from the first story who at least had SOME dignity. Heck, I would even settle for the slightly creepy sketchy Bella of the second book, but this was just ridiculous. seriously, who on earth is that obsessed with such an annoying sexist guy. But I have to admit, even though Bella was a totally over obsessed damsel, and Edward was a fairly flay, sexist pig (sometimes), I really enjoyed this book (even though it was not quite as well written as the first two books), and it satisfied my Twilight craving. If you like the first two, you might like this one
4

Posted on 11/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

ok......

This book in the series is OK but you need to know how your kids would react before you let them read it. I could not finish the book entirely because it was too intense in romance.

See all 72 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

3

Posted on 01/05/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5


Posted on 12/22/08 by Kuralay Adult contributor

I loved

i think that twilight books are really good! it's really interesting and exciting.... touching love story between Bella and Edward......and i like the Cullens family.they all together....strong...and always support each other.i think it's really important....
5


Posted on 11/12/08 by the fallen Adult contributor

This book was another great read

I like this book a lot better than the second book New moon but the second book was no pushover but I loved this book I like Edward and his higher of self control and he will do any thing to help her out to save her life Jacob I fell sorry for him he is a good kid at heart but he don’t know what he want I hope he will find the girl of his dreams soon at the end it was a little graphic about a little mulling and what not but still a great read YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5


Posted on 07/27/08 by LuNaDraWn Adult contributor

Good Book

I was again very mad at the Common Sense review. This book isn't only about a girl who loves hunky vampire's. Bella, would rather Edward not be rich or beautiful and she loves him. And this isn't only about that either. here's the plot. Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his family Edward,Alice,Rosalie,Esme,Emmat and Japer are all vampires. And Edward is in love with a human named Bella Swan. Victoria a wild vampire has gathered an army to kill Bella to avenge her love, James's death (who Edward kills to save Bella in book one.) mean while Jacob a werewolf is also in love with Bella forcing her to chose between them. Victoria and her army begin to murder inocent people in Seattle. The cullens have to save them and Bella before it's too late. Some parts in this story are inappropriate but thats only about three pages and I just had my daughter skip it.
5

Posted on 05/17/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

THE BEST OF THE 3

This was definatly my favorite of the 3 twilight series. It was a little more intense than the first 2. I would be ok with my kids reading it, but you need to know your kids & how they could react to it.
5


Posted on 05/05/08 by lilace24 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 03/21/08 by apedigo08 Adult contributor

It is my favorite book in the series. I love this book!
1

Posted on 03/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

not a fan

I don't think this book was as good as everyone thinks it is. The main character has no mind of her own which is not a good thing in a relationship. I did like how Edward did think about her more in this book than he had in others. I also didn't like how Belle would try to talk or trick Edward into going farther than he wanted to. I also don't like how Belle was more worried about Edward than about a future. I think this gives teenage girls the wrong idea of what love and a good relationship is.
3

Posted on 12/27/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

An iffy model of romance.

Bella is much to attatched to Edward. She is clingy, and he is overprotective. This romance is unrealistic, and would never survive in the real world. Bella disregards the advice of her father, and abandons her friends for Edward. She plans no future for herself, does not plan to attend college, and thinks exclusively of her future with Edward. Much of the story centers around vampires and werewolves battling over territory and Bella as well. It is as if she is an object rather than a person! The plot line is so much the same as the first two books that it becomes redundant. It is not without merit though. Despite being repetitive, the whole thing is a cute, fluffy, read. It's fine for a rainy afternoon, I just wouldn't recommend wasting any other time on it.
5


Posted on 11/19/07 by kenlynnfaithsarah Adult contributor

Better Than Book 2

For those who loved Twilight and then made it though New Moon a bit disappointed, not to worry. Edward is back in the book the whole time. Some complain that Bella is helpless. Doesn't bother me. Heck, in most vampire books the woman is helpless anyway. I did like Edward's strong morals and him sticking to his beliefs about what Bella should do. If you haven't read Twilight and New Moon, you really have to go back and read those for this book to make any sense.
See all 11 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 61 reviews.

5

Posted on 12/18/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 17

Falalala

I like when they had rerereal sex and almost had a baby
5

Posted on 12/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

I LOVE IT!!!!!

OMG!!!! I love the whole Twilight series!!!! I wish I had an Edward!!! I picked up these books and couldn't put them down! These books are amazing!!!
4

Posted on 12/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

SO GOOOOOOOOOD.........!

even though Edward was really controlling, this book was really good. It was a fun romantic, and had a nice bit of action. the love triangle was a little weird, but good.
5


Posted on 11/29/08 by superreader101 Kid contributor, age 13

A must read book for every teenager.

I thought the first 2 books are awesome, I just have not got to read the last 2 yet. But I am sure they will be awesome.
5


Posted on 11/29/08 by superreader101 Kid contributor, age 13

A must read book for every teenager.

I thought the first 2 books are awesome, I just have not got to read the last 2 yet. But I am sure they will be awesome.
5


Posted on 11/25/08 by QueenBee2.0 Kid contributor, age 14

OMG

OK so I just finished the book and it is spectacular. I LOVED IT!!!!! It has some annoying details..... but it is not bad. I must read the next.
4

Posted on 11/24/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

WHAT.THE.FUDGE.

I have no idea of what Stephanie Meyer was thinking. What happened to the semi-self independent Bella from the first story who at least had SOME dignity. Heck, I would even settle for the slightly creepy sketchy Bella of the second book, but this was just ridiculous. seriously, who on earth is that obsessed with such an annoying sexist guy. But I have to admit, even though Bella was a totally over obsessed damsel, and Edward was a fairly flay, sexist pig (sometimes), I really enjoyed this book (even though it was not quite as well written as the first two books), and it satisfied my Twilight craving. If you like the first two, you might like this one
4

Posted on 11/14/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

ok......

This book in the series is OK but you need to know how your kids would react before you let them read it. I could not finish the book entirely because it was too intense in romance.
5

Posted on 11/13/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

I Love it!!!!

OMG This book is freakin awesome!!!! also one of my most favorite ones!!!!
4


Posted on 11/13/08 by volleyballer36 Kid contributor, age 14

A great book

See all 61 kids reviews >
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