The song for Eclipse is
PRESSURE by PARAMORE
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pressure.mp3|titles=Pressure by Paramore]And here we are: the final chapter of Eclipse. It seems like so long ago when I started this book, probably because so much happened between its covers; or more likely because of how slow a reader I am! But either way, this chapter in the lives of Bella and Edward has finally come to a close. I found it immensely appropriate that Jacob should get the last word in this book.
As for the song, I will say that the top three songs were all within a mere TWENTY votes of each other: closer than any other voting we’ve done here before! The next three songs would have been:
2. Thinking Of You by Katy Perry
3. Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade
4. Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional
all of which would have fit wonderfully for the book. Admittably, since they were in the movie, Paramore had an obvious advantage that I think help to push their song to the top!
The drill here is the same as with Twilight and New Moon: my final thoughts remain short, so as to not draw away from the book itself. It is the same review that will appear in my library:
I am not the usual reader of the Twilight Saga: not only because I am a guy, but because I take my time reading each book, instead of devouring the entire novel in one sitting. Even in a fast-paced novel like Eclipse, the third in the series, I found myself taking months to read the story, as I tried to understand the motives behind each character: Edward Cullen, who let his girlfriend go out with another guy (no less than his archenemy); Jacob Black, who manipulated Edward’s girlfriend and yet says he loves her; and Bella Swan, who says she loves Edward and yet can’t bring herself to stay with only him. How is it that these three have entered into such a fragile triangle that binds them together, and yet causes each of them so much pain?
The real question raised by Eclipse has to do with love: what is real love, and how does anyone know if they’ve found it? Bella Swan finds herself trapped between loving two people: Jacob, a werewolf, and Edward, a vampire. She says she loves Edward, but can’t stop seeing Jacob. She tells Jacob she loves him, but she can’t leave Edward. What is the right choice when you love two people just as much, but in different ways? How can you force your heart to decide to give one up and keep the other, when you simply can’t bring yourself to make that choice?
Perhaps there really is no easy answer. As Bella said herself in the final chapter:
“…it just got to the point where I had to choose… Sometimes, there isn’t any way to compromise.”
Sometimes there is no best way — no happy ending that works out for everyone. Sometimes, the only thing is to choose one, even when choosing is the hardest part. And though Bella makes mistakes, these make her human. The hardest struggle for Bella was to grow up, and realize that she was to blame, and it was her turn to be strong and make the choice:
“It had not been Edward and Jacob that I’d been trying to force together, it was the two parts of myself, Edward’s Bella and Jacob’s Bella. But they could not exist together, and I never should have tried.”
In the end, she would have to be strong, and love only one. When Bella made the choice, it felt as if she had finally grown up. And though his heart was broken, I feel that this is not the last we will see of Jacob Black.
In a few days, I will continue on to the final book in theΒ series, Breaking Dawn, with just as many photo-manips and craziness as usual. Be sure to check back very soon for the new design for the next book. I hope everyone will continue to follow me as I slowly come to the conclusion of my journey through the Twilight Saga!
98 Responses
Wow, congratulations for finishing Eclipse, Kaleb. I can’t wait for you to read Breaking Dawn. What will you do when you finish that one?
Great song choice for eclipse, I was listening to it today.
I completely agree with your thoughts on the last chapter of Eclipse. Maybe I’m just getting soppy but I thought your comments were very nicely expressed. I could read them over and over again π
Cool, I’m the first person to post. That never happens.
YAY!!! you finally finish it!! what a great way to summing up Eclipse!! i can’t wait for you to read Breaking Dawn, with all the mix reactions to it, i want to see what you have to say for it!!
Congrats on finishing Eclipse Kaleb!!!! Eclipse is my favourite in the series.
I am interested to see what you think of BD, particularly given your final comments.
I think at your pace you are going to highlight a lot of the idiosyncracies that the rest of us breaze over in our quest to devour. Looking forward to it!
YAY!!! You finally finished Eclipse! You summed it up so great, I couldn’t of said it any better!! I can’t wait for you to read Breaking Dawn, it’s such a good book. It’s my second favorite in the series (my first is Twilight of course!). I can’t wait to see what you have to say about it!!
BTW i love your song for Eclipse I was listening to it earlier today. I love all of Paramore’s songs and have them all. It’s the perfect song for Eclipse!!!
Dammit! There I was wasting time on HGE when I could have been reading this! Dammit, dammit, dammit.
Paramore again? Predictable much? How many times have Paramore songs been picked as song for the chapter? Come on, Kaleb. Don’t you have any power over this? Make your vote count for 20. π
You know, you talk about how Bella’s torn between a werewolf and a vampire and it makes me think. If someone did a psychoanalysis on Bella, I think they’d find she’s actually somewhat unstable. These things don’t just happen. Normal people don’t just fall in love with a couple of different mythical creatures who are in fact enemies. I think she thrives on danger. Subconsciously, she knows when something is dangerous, we all do. But, exactly as Edward says, she has no sense of self preservation. Not only that, but she seeks out danger. That’s why Mike was never good enough for her. He was too normal.
Nice review. I have a question. If you could answer (assuming you read this) I’d really appreciate it.
Just how much of Breaking Dawn do you know about? I mean, I know no one’s come up and told you the plot (hopefully, anyway), but there’s a certain extent of spoilage you can’t escape. Fansites? Interviews with Stephenie Meyer? Random comments you happen to come across while perusing through some internet pages? I’d like to know.
Congrats on finishing Book #3! Great posts and a great Epilogue which sums up the book very well.
Looking forward to your thoughts on Breaking Dawn – it’s evoked some different reactions from the people I know who’ve read the series!!
The more I think about it, the more I want to shoulder most of the blame on Bella for ruining everyone in this book. She broke Edward, and she broke Jacob. For a usually selfless person, she was very selfish.
On another note…YAY BREAKING DAWN!! This book made me like Jacob for the first time. Also, I want to point something out to you. BD got A LOT of backlash after it was first released, as I’m sure you remember, and this backlash I think really hurt Stephenie and therefore she has crawled into a hidey-hole for a long while. After I had finished BD at 8 the next morning after devouring it all night, I had a lot of mixed feelings about it, mainly because it was a shock (no spoilers, I promise). But the more I thought about it and the more I re-read it, the more I loved it, and it’s now battling Twilight for the number one spot in my favorite SM books. The reason why there was backlash was because people who got it at midnight were so freaking pumped and had spent months theorizing about it and expecting something much simpler than what was written and it was the shock of the whole thing that made people react in awful ways (such as: “I want to burn the book!” Seriously, people, way melodramatic and just plain hurtful. Nazis did that, remember?)
Anyway, sorry for the rant (it’s late, I’m tired, it probably doesn’t make sense), I just don’t want you to go into the book thinking it’s going to be horrible since so many people hated it when it first came out. Everyone I talked to who read BD way after its release loved it immensely, so my theory is it was just shocking for those who waited in line at midnight to get it. Ugh, rambling again, sorry. I’m gonna end this. See ya!
(wow I’m lame)
Hey there! New to your blog, but am happy to have stumbled upon the one proud male Twilight reader. I loved Eclipse, and is probably one of my favorites in the series (hard to compete with the original that started it all of course). Anyway, I am very interested to read your reaction to Breaking Dawn. That one was very controversial for me. But it would be great to get a male’s perspective on that one.
I’m so happy to hear that you’ve finally finished Eclipse! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Breaking Dawn!
I have to agree with Rachel about your pace…you say things that I probably didn’t think about b/c I wanted to finish the book and know what happened next.
Happy readings!
Congradulations Kaleb! 3 down, one more to go!
I’m going to miss your Twilight-related posts when this is all over, I quite enjoyed them. Plus, you can put things into perspective very nicely. Not many people can do that, let alone a guy who likes Twilight so I commend you for it =D
I look forward to your thoughts about Breaking Dawn.. now that will be quite interesting~
Congrats on finishing Eclipse Kaleb!!! Now on to Breaking Dawn! WOO, I LOVE that book! Can’t wait to see (read?) what you think about it. It’s…interesting, to say the least. Can’t wait for the new layout either! I agree with Heather! I had mixed feelings but it’s the book that made me love Jacob after hating him for soo long.
congrats on finishing it! im excited for you to read BD!
Congratulations on finishing the book! I can’t hardly wait to hear your thoughts about Breaking Dawn. BD made me love Jacob. I didn’t care if there were negative things that were said about BD. I just love this book.
I loved your review Kaleb, and I always agree. I will say this though: The love that Bella has for Edward and Jacob are both potent but very different in their own right. I look at it as when someone is married and the spouse passes away and the one left later on decides to re-marry. That spouse makes room in their heart for them. They still love their former spouse, but they love their new mate as well.
You see where I am going with this?
Edward left, and Bella decided to move-one (somewhat), she made room in her heart for Jacob. She was so used to Jacob and this new experience with him, that when Edward came back the love that she had reserved just reawaken, but did not dim her affection for Jacob.
So she can love two people at the same time, but very differently, according to each others needs.
awesome you finished it π FINALLY haha you should have had a blogtv party for this xD jk jk
anyway you had a little typo in the 3rd paragraph π instead of “help” it should say “helped” haha then again it is like 2 AM sooo… anyway My song for Eclipse didn’t even make it to your top! haha I Love the Song “Star Crossed Lovers” by Scary Kids Scaring Kids =D now THAT song is perfect for Edward and Bella PERIOD π
I have to say, I love the song for Eclipse.
Seeing as this is the end of Eclipse and you don’t have the usual “question for the comments” for us, I’d like to know where you think the story is going to go in Breaking Dawn.
YAY you finished! lol you voted for the top 3 like twenty times.
I love your post today. It’s very true and honest to what the book’s message is. I remember reading stuff on Eclipse on Stephenie’s website. She was asking questions and saying what the main message of the book was. It’s pretty cool. I love how its all revolved around Bella deciding what she really wants? It’s great. Although I do think that New Moon has a better message behind it. It’s probably the most meaningful.
I cant believe you’re nearly finished. Only one book left. Ahhhh I’m so excited. Cant wait for your next post. :p
YAY! I love your thoughts on this book, Kaleb! I totally agreed with you on everything.
This was my favorite book in the saga but I CANNOT WAIT for your thought on Breaking Dawn! That one is definitely the most…interesting lol π I hope you haven’t got spoilered about anything yet!
YAY for finishing Eclipse! It’s my favorite book after New Moon. I’m REALLY curious what you will think about Breaking Dawn. I didn’t like it and was disappointed with it, but I have a feeling you will like it and accept it for what it is. Why? Well, because you’re you.
Congrats on finishing what is my fave book of the series. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Breaking Dawn. I have some real issues with that book. Didn’t hate it, but it just doesn’t hold a special place in my heart like the first.
That’s great you finally finished it ^^ But don’t worry, we’ll follow you, even if you’re a slow reader π
The Paramore’s song is great and fits perfectly the book.
To me, “The Hardest Part” by Coldplay also fits, but I’ve just thought of it at the moment, so… π
Anyway, I can’t wait to see what you’re gonna say about Breaking Dawn. As Eclipse was my fav one, it was really interesting reading your thoughts on it. And as I like less BD than the others, it’d be interesting too (:
Hey there. First comment of mine. I am late to finding this site and I felt like commenting on old blogs would be a bit weird and of course show how behind I really was in reading them. So I just like to say I love your thoughts. I tend to say I am Team Switzerland simply because I loved Bella’s Switzerland speech, and that I had a hard time disliking Jacob. I liked Edward and Jacob that’s right I said it. However eventually Bella couldn’t be Team Switzerland because there is always a choice in a triangle that needs to be made. So therefore I suppose I as a reader needed to let go of Team Switzerland and decide who I wanted Bella to end up with. Oh blah. Let’s just say I was happy with the ending. Now get to breaking dawn Mister ha. It was my favorite of the series.
YAY KALEB!
ALSO- YAY FOR THE SONGS!
YAY FOR YOU ALMOST STARTING BREAKING DAWN!
yays for EVERYONE!
wow! finally! coming up next breaking dawn! yay! why i’n i putting an exclamation point ev everywhere!?!
Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think of breaking dawn. It really is completly different and I’m REALLY excited for some of the chapters. (: …and once again you’ve shown your psychic abilities.
Congrats on finishing the book. I loved your finishing thoughts for it as well; you really put the whole thing in perspective. Here’s to reading your thoughts on the final book!!
Congrats, Kaleb! You did it! Now you have to start with Breaking Dawn real soon! I really like to read your thoughts, so much that I will be really sad when you get to the end. Great sum up, by the way!
But hey, I wish you would have talked a bit more about the epilogue. After all, it was a different epilogue, wasn’t it? Jacob’s point of view and all… And it had a few points I wanted you to comment, such as Leah, Jacob acknowledging to himself that he would be ok if Bella was changed, but couldn’t think about the possibility of her dying by Edward’s teeth, Billy’s relationship with his son, Jacob’s runaway…
Well, there will be plenty of time to discuss Jacob in Breaking Dawn. π Looking forward to that!
*applauds*
Of all four books, Eclipse is definitely my favorite. And I’m looking forward to seeing your thoughts on Breaking Dawn!
Congrats on finishing Kaleb! Eclipse was my favorite and I’m sure that Breaking Dawn will leave you with much to blog about and I can’t wait to see your perspective
Yay!! You finished Eclipse. I’m really excited to hear your thoughts on Breaking Dawn. I happened to love it – I can see the arc of the story that SM was following. Interested to hear your take on it!!
Go Kaleb!!! Read on!!
By the way, I loved your review. Great summary of the book!
Congratulations! And of course I’ll continue to follow your progress through Breaking Dawn. I can’t wait to hear your reactions (although I’m sure you’ve been somewhat spoiled; it would be inevitable).
Have fun reading the 4th! It’s by far my favorite.
I’m so excited you finished Eclipse! and can’t wait for you to start breaking dawn! theres some AMAZING stuff in that book! I happened across your website when you were on chapter 7 of twilight. I love reading your thoughts on each chapter! thanks for an awesome website!
I know it’s not the same, but you should totally read The Host once you finish BD. I don’t think any of us are ready for the end of Twilight Guy yet!
This is great…you finished t π π
I’m so looking forward to your resume of the first chapter of Breaking Dawn π
You know what i really liked and disliked your final comments on eclipse, one becase you have gone soft on Jacob i think and i dont want my opinion on him to change. yeah i know i am a stubborn butthead. and i liked them because well you kinda brought it into more a perspective wiewpoint. she loves Edward and Jacob in two different ways. i was reading stephenie meyer’s FAQ on her website, and one of the questions was: “What was with Bella falling in love for Jacob at the end of the book!?!?! Don’t you believe in true love?” stephenie’s response was that she did but she also believed that their were many different types of love. i liked it when you also helped bring that into sight. i’ll stop tyoping now. π
Oh by the way Breaking Dawn is my second favorite in teh series hope you enjoy it, in my opionion it is way better than Eclipse! (My least favorite in the series)(twilight was number one of course!)Eclipse had to much drama!
okay this is my last comment i swear!! so i was listening to th esong (love it by the way perfect for eclipse) when i knida realized soemthing. it’s almost as if the sogns are kinda edward or jacob. like thinking of you by katy perry. whenever i hear that song i think of New Moon, not Eclipse. depending on which book you through it into it takes on a different meaning! like thinking of you is kinda Jacobish when thrown into this book, but when thrown into New Moon it is more Edwardish. Maybe im just crazy and delusional! who knows! just want to know if anyone else sees it that way!
Thank you, Kaleb for a wonderful ending review to a very complicated novel. It was very true and utterly profound. You captured the essence and core of the book. I am so glad you finally finished. We will forgive you for taking so long. More anticipation is exciting! And we will forgive you…when your book comes out (yeah!! Can’t wait to read it!!). Totally worth it.
The Epilogue to Eclipse was so annoying to me. It is appropriate to have Jacob have his say but being in his head frightened me. I have read Eclipse a couple of times…only read the Epilogue once. It is my least favorite book of the saga, but I still love it. The triangle is just too frustrating to go through the pain too many times. Edward gets tortured by Bella over and over again and I just can’t stand it. And I agree with Mylles. You have been too forgiving of Jacob’s ridiculous attitude, he is a sore loser and enjoys ruining people’s lives. Manipulative is putting it lightly. Just say what a jerk he is already! Bella was no longer much of a heroine for me in this book. She took part in being the villain. At least Victoria doesn’t hide how she feels! By the way, I met Rachelle Lefevre who plays Victoria in the movie in Salt Lake City on Friday! She is so sweet!!
Anyway, I am so glad you are going to read Breaking Dawn. It is so glorious and beautiful!! I won’t spoil anything but Stephenie was able to fix everyone’s problems with impeccable grace and perfection concerning the triangle. The love Bella shares with both men are for a purpose. Toward the end, Edward and Jacob have a short exchange that makes me weep just thinking about it. I won’t say anymore.
Hurry, Kaleb, READ READ READ!!! PLEASE!!!
one more comment. I am so so happy that I am not the only one whose favorite or second favorite was Breaking Dawn. I am glad to hear that in your comments. Because a lot of people didn’t like it and I just can NOT understand why. So kudos to the fact I am NOT alone in it being my favorite. I can’t wait for your comments on it. Oh and I don’t think Jacob was no more a jerk than Edward was. Boys and competition. It’s the usual attitudes. It brings out the worst in the boys that are competing. In the end if you put all that aside I think Edward and Jacob as individuals are great beings. I say beings because well people just doesn’t quite fit ha.
there are going to be a LOT of “omgs” and “lolz” from you when you read breaking dawn…lol
Kaleb, this has already been such an incredible journey to take with you. As you prepare to step into the final leg of this beloved series I wanted to just let you know that there actually are many of us out there who absolutely love every moment of Breaking Dawn. As you know, it hit a wave of critical controversy this Summer when it came out.
The only thing I can fathom from people who didn’t like it, or didn’t like parts of it, is that in the end, those individuals really didn’t understand Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight world at all. These are the likely the same folks who rushed through New Moon just to get back to Edward. They may be great fans of the series, sure, but simply didn’t grasp the true depth of character in everyone Steph introduced us to (good guys and bad guys alike).
There are both wonderful as well as trying times ahead and it is true that character is not built in times of stress, it is revealed. Stephenie takes brilliant care of her audience in closing out this time in the lives of the Cullens, the Quileutes and the Volturi.
I very much look forward to following along with you once again for my, honest to goodness, favorite book in the series.
All three of the songs that I picked were in the top 4. And I put Pressure as my first.
mmmhmm.
:]
I cant believe you just finished Eclipse! Congratulations. My favorite book in the saga.
Im happy because the song I voted for won π
I hope you enjoy Breaking Dawn, and I’ll be checking every post!!! Yay!
GRaH… Thinking of You was my pick. How awful that it came in second place. Booo! LoL
It really felt to me like Bella has finally crossed that huge leap into being a grown-up as well. It’s almost as if Meyer closed up the storyline enough that this could have been the last book, if it had needed to be, but still with plenty left open to continue…. as you’ll soon read!
I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed the series so much. Now that I’ve finally read it, I’m interested for you to read The Host. Maybe that will be next on your list? By that time, I’ll finally be reading Bran Hambric: The Fairfield Curse. π
Yea! You finished Eclipse…it’s kind of sad though because now you’re going to the last book.
=(
I really wish that that Katy Perry song won! It was beyond perfect!!! I really liked your final thoughts on the book.
Reading the other comments on this page, I seem to be the one millionth person saying this, but yes, I will say it anyway: Congratulations on finishing Eclipse, and I can’t wait to see what you think of Breaking Dawn!
I’ve only discovered this site in recent months, but I wish I’d found it sooner. It is very satisfying and immensely interesting to read the opinions of 1. A writer (as I am also a writer), and 2. A male, on books that are primarily read by adolescent females. You add new insights to the series that I never would have considered, and pose thought provoking questions that I cannot always answer. I applaud you for keeping up this routine of blogging so frequently, when I can imagine how busy your schedule must be! π
I’ve also noticed that you didn’t really pick a side on the whole Edward-vs-Jacob debate: Did you have a strong opinion as to who was better for her?
Now I have to go back and read all the old archives of postings I missed. I think you’ll like BD. It is veryβ¦interesting. π
Don’t worry… I can be a kinda slow reader too! Start Breaking Dawn soon! I can’t wait to hear your reaction on the first few chapters. They’re… interesting to say the least!