Hésitation - Stephenie Meyer
Hésitation - Stephenie Meyer
Deux futurs, deux âmes sœurs... C'était trop pour une seule personne. Je compris que ce n'était pas Edward et Jacob que j'avais essayé de réconcilier, c'était les deux parts de moi-même, la Bella d'Edward et la Bella de Jacob. Malheureusement, elles ne pouvaient coexister et j'avais eu tort de tenter de les y contraindre.
À présent, je ne doute pas de ce que je désire, ni de ce dont j'ai besoin... ni de ce que je vais faire, là, maintenant.
Or, for an actual synopsis:
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
OK, so Hésitation, for those who don't know, is the French translation of Eclipse, book 3 in what we're now apparently calling "The Twilight Saga." I read it in French in order to get something of value out of the experience.
So. Where to begin? Well, this book was full of the same atrocious writing that characterized the first two (which comes as no surprise, I'm sure). My main issue with it is that it's so repetitious. Facts, opinions, strategies, whatever, are all reiterated so many times you feel like throwing things. The whole book could have been about half the length had Meyer not felt the need to really really really make sure the reader grasped pretty much every detail. It was particularly annoying in the case of the endlessly-repeated conversation about whether or not Bella can go visit Jacob. The first quarter of the book consisted of "I want to go see Jacob." "No." "OK." And then repeat a few pages later. And again a few pages later. And again. Ad nauseum. Gah. But even that wasn't really as bad as the conversation they had later in the book about whether or not to have sex. Oh my god, those pages were horrifying. It was probably only 3 or 4 pages, but it felt way longer than that, as they had this painfully interminable argument on the subject. Blech.
Aside from that, I found this book somewhat better than the other two, for the simple reason that things actually happened. Which is interesting, because there was also quite a bit of exposition and backstory. In this book, we learned about Rosalie's history, Jasper's history, and the Quileute tribe's history. Surprisingly, however, these bits of backstory actually moved along pretty well, again, because things were happening in them. The werewolf story and Jasper's story both also actually related to and contributed to the main story, although Rosalie's was... perhaps a little pointless, and not exactly original. Her perfect life came to an abrupt end when she was raped and left for dead by her fiance and a bunch of his buddies, and then was rescued (or not, depending on how one feels about vampirism) by the Cullens. I guess it gave a little insight into her character, but didn't really add that much. But it wasn't too boring, so whatever.
Now, of course, we have the issue of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. Frankly, I'm still pretty much on Team Move to California and Find a Nice Human to Settle Down With, but if I really had to pick one or the other, I think I've come down on Edward's side. At the beginning of the book, I was leaning pretty hard toward Jacob, because while I am a big sucker for the whole absolute, overpowering, irresistible, One True Love (even though I don't really believe in it for real life), Edward's behaviour up to that point had been largely reprehensible. His excessively zealous "protection" of Bella, to the point of stifling control, was pretty bad. Sabotaging her truck or having his sister kidnap her so she can't go visit Jacob are huge red flags on the controlling and abusive scale of relationship behaviours. He also tried to avoid telling her as much as possible about anything that was going on, even though it involved her and the fact that she was being hunted by a vengeful vampire. Jacob, on the other hand, encourages her to make her own decisions about who she sees and where she goes, and tells her everything he knows so she's in the loop. Seems obvious which one's the better man here.
However. Partway through the book, Edward seems to grow up a little. Admittedly, it apparently took him a hundred years, but he did. He acknowledged that the werewolves were not going to hurt her, and relented on the subject of visiting them. He even drove her over several times. He was unfailingly polite to Jacob at all times, if icily so, and his reactions to Bella's sudden confusion over her feelings for Jacob were remarkably mature. Compare that with Jacob, who pretty much never stopped being a total brat toward Edward. Knowing that Edward can read his thoughts (whether he wants to or not), he would amuse himself by thinking of things he knew would upset Edward (like the state Bella was in right after Edward left her in book 2). He simply could not resist calling Edward and his family names pretty much all the time when talking to Bella, despite her asking him repeatedly to stop, and, despite being told quite firmly that she wasn't interested, persisted and persisted in pursuing her.
What absolutely closed the Jacob door for me, however, was toward the end, when they were all preparing for a big battle, and Jacob had just learned that Bella planned to marry Edward, and she had to essentially friend-break-up with him, pointing out that it wasn't fair to anyone, really, for them to try and be friends when his feelings for her were as strong as they were. His reaction was basically to suggest that maybe he should just go and let himself be killed in the fight. My reaction: "Oh no you didn't." Bella's reaction: "Well... what if I let you kiss me again?" Which, frankly, was gross enough, but then, when she doesn't kiss him back as fervently as he would like, he asks her, "Are you sure you don't want me to die?" My reaction: "If that's really what you want, then be my guest." Bella's reaction: Suddenly realizes she is indeed in love with him, and kisses him back quite thoroughly. Ew. Ew ew ew. Frankly, this little bit of emotional blackmail was probably the most distasteful and unpleasant thing I've read in quite some time, particularly as it came from someone who's supposed to be a good guy, who I'm supposed to like. So while Edward's behaviour certainly leaves a fair bit to be desired, Jacob's, to me, was unforgivable, and has irrevocably put me way off Team Jacob.
On a lighter note, I must say that I'm actually pretty glad I read this book, if for no other reason than the following (paraphrased) conversation between Bella and Edward on the subject of Wuthering Heights (Bella's favourite book):
Edward: Wuthering Heights is stupid. What do you see in it?
Bella: It's a great love story.
Edward: Well, it might be OK if either of the main characters had any redeeming qualities.
Bella: Their love for each other is redeeming quality enough!
I laughed my ass off. Seriously. Keep dreaming, Stephenie. Merely having your characters be insanely in love with each other is so not enough to make a good book. While I agree with Edward's assessment of Wuthering Heights (Seriously; Catherine and Heathcliff make Bella and Edward look like the pinnacle of charm and selflessness.), it at least is well-written. You can't use it to defend your own extremely poorly-written shlock-fest.
Next up: Paradise Lost, by John Milton
Deux futurs, deux âmes sœurs... C'était trop pour une seule personne. Je compris que ce n'était pas Edward et Jacob que j'avais essayé de réconcilier, c'était les deux parts de moi-même, la Bella d'Edward et la Bella de Jacob. Malheureusement, elles ne pouvaient coexister et j'avais eu tort de tenter de les y contraindre.
À présent, je ne doute pas de ce que je désire, ni de ce dont j'ai besoin... ni de ce que je vais faire, là, maintenant.
Or, for an actual synopsis:
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
OK, so Hésitation, for those who don't know, is the French translation of Eclipse, book 3 in what we're now apparently calling "The Twilight Saga." I read it in French in order to get something of value out of the experience.
So. Where to begin? Well, this book was full of the same atrocious writing that characterized the first two (which comes as no surprise, I'm sure). My main issue with it is that it's so repetitious. Facts, opinions, strategies, whatever, are all reiterated so many times you feel like throwing things. The whole book could have been about half the length had Meyer not felt the need to really really really make sure the reader grasped pretty much every detail. It was particularly annoying in the case of the endlessly-repeated conversation about whether or not Bella can go visit Jacob. The first quarter of the book consisted of "I want to go see Jacob." "No." "OK." And then repeat a few pages later. And again a few pages later. And again. Ad nauseum. Gah. But even that wasn't really as bad as the conversation they had later in the book about whether or not to have sex. Oh my god, those pages were horrifying. It was probably only 3 or 4 pages, but it felt way longer than that, as they had this painfully interminable argument on the subject. Blech.
Aside from that, I found this book somewhat better than the other two, for the simple reason that things actually happened. Which is interesting, because there was also quite a bit of exposition and backstory. In this book, we learned about Rosalie's history, Jasper's history, and the Quileute tribe's history. Surprisingly, however, these bits of backstory actually moved along pretty well, again, because things were happening in them. The werewolf story and Jasper's story both also actually related to and contributed to the main story, although Rosalie's was... perhaps a little pointless, and not exactly original. Her perfect life came to an abrupt end when she was raped and left for dead by her fiance and a bunch of his buddies, and then was rescued (or not, depending on how one feels about vampirism) by the Cullens. I guess it gave a little insight into her character, but didn't really add that much. But it wasn't too boring, so whatever.
Now, of course, we have the issue of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. Frankly, I'm still pretty much on Team Move to California and Find a Nice Human to Settle Down With, but if I really had to pick one or the other, I think I've come down on Edward's side. At the beginning of the book, I was leaning pretty hard toward Jacob, because while I am a big sucker for the whole absolute, overpowering, irresistible, One True Love (even though I don't really believe in it for real life), Edward's behaviour up to that point had been largely reprehensible. His excessively zealous "protection" of Bella, to the point of stifling control, was pretty bad. Sabotaging her truck or having his sister kidnap her so she can't go visit Jacob are huge red flags on the controlling and abusive scale of relationship behaviours. He also tried to avoid telling her as much as possible about anything that was going on, even though it involved her and the fact that she was being hunted by a vengeful vampire. Jacob, on the other hand, encourages her to make her own decisions about who she sees and where she goes, and tells her everything he knows so she's in the loop. Seems obvious which one's the better man here.
However. Partway through the book, Edward seems to grow up a little. Admittedly, it apparently took him a hundred years, but he did. He acknowledged that the werewolves were not going to hurt her, and relented on the subject of visiting them. He even drove her over several times. He was unfailingly polite to Jacob at all times, if icily so, and his reactions to Bella's sudden confusion over her feelings for Jacob were remarkably mature. Compare that with Jacob, who pretty much never stopped being a total brat toward Edward. Knowing that Edward can read his thoughts (whether he wants to or not), he would amuse himself by thinking of things he knew would upset Edward (like the state Bella was in right after Edward left her in book 2). He simply could not resist calling Edward and his family names pretty much all the time when talking to Bella, despite her asking him repeatedly to stop, and, despite being told quite firmly that she wasn't interested, persisted and persisted in pursuing her.
What absolutely closed the Jacob door for me, however, was toward the end, when they were all preparing for a big battle, and Jacob had just learned that Bella planned to marry Edward, and she had to essentially friend-break-up with him, pointing out that it wasn't fair to anyone, really, for them to try and be friends when his feelings for her were as strong as they were. His reaction was basically to suggest that maybe he should just go and let himself be killed in the fight. My reaction: "Oh no you didn't." Bella's reaction: "Well... what if I let you kiss me again?" Which, frankly, was gross enough, but then, when she doesn't kiss him back as fervently as he would like, he asks her, "Are you sure you don't want me to die?" My reaction: "If that's really what you want, then be my guest." Bella's reaction: Suddenly realizes she is indeed in love with him, and kisses him back quite thoroughly. Ew. Ew ew ew. Frankly, this little bit of emotional blackmail was probably the most distasteful and unpleasant thing I've read in quite some time, particularly as it came from someone who's supposed to be a good guy, who I'm supposed to like. So while Edward's behaviour certainly leaves a fair bit to be desired, Jacob's, to me, was unforgivable, and has irrevocably put me way off Team Jacob.
On a lighter note, I must say that I'm actually pretty glad I read this book, if for no other reason than the following (paraphrased) conversation between Bella and Edward on the subject of Wuthering Heights (Bella's favourite book):
Edward: Wuthering Heights is stupid. What do you see in it?
Bella: It's a great love story.
Edward: Well, it might be OK if either of the main characters had any redeeming qualities.
Bella: Their love for each other is redeeming quality enough!
I laughed my ass off. Seriously. Keep dreaming, Stephenie. Merely having your characters be insanely in love with each other is so not enough to make a good book. While I agree with Edward's assessment of Wuthering Heights (Seriously; Catherine and Heathcliff make Bella and Edward look like the pinnacle of charm and selflessness.), it at least is well-written. You can't use it to defend your own extremely poorly-written shlock-fest.
Next up: Paradise Lost, by John Milton