This is actually a re-read. Via audiobook at work. I read it when it first released and was among the .8% of the fanbase that actually liked it. So when I saw the audio at my library and was bored with my current selections, decided to go at it again and see if upon rehash, I still liked it.

And I do. I’m not a rabid fan by any means. I do know an embarrassing amount of trivia I’ve found lately thanks to Facebook quizzes but have only read any of the books once each, excluding this. I do own the movie and have watched it a few times.

Anyway, I can see why some said it reads like fanfic. But don’t you kinda get the feeling that Bella “she’s so mature but really we are never shown why and are only told ad nauseum by other characters she is” Swan is really just an avatar for Stephanie anyway? That in her own mind she’s the prettiest, most special, amazing girl in Forks but gosh, she’s so darned clumsy! Silly Stephanie, I mean Bella.  So the fanficy aspect never bothered me because they all read like that.

I’m glad she finally had the guts to make Bella a vampire. I remember being annoyed in the first one they “fixed” her when they continued to hang out with her. That seems a little dangerous. But then we’d have never gotten the drama at the beginning of New Moon leading to the depression she goes through for the entire book…that doesn’t really read all that different because she kinda seems like an emo even with her darling Edward.

I find Reneesme a bit…creepy. But I’m not a kid person so page after page of everyone falling under her spell, which I took to be an offset of one of her gifts, was a bit weird but not unbearable.

The only thing that still bugs? Jacob imprinting on her. I know it was necessary to get the wolves and the vampires on the same side and ensure that Jacob would be part of Bella’s life/family forever without the weird obsession he’s had with her since late in New Moon. And I know they SAY it isn’t a romantic feeling until they’re older…but at what age would it automatically snap on? And since she ages quicker anyway. Same thing bugged me with Claire and …Quill? Emory? They’re interchangeable. But in Jacob/Reneesme’s case, there’s the added squick of her parents knowing whenever they’re having sex because they’ve got amazing hearing. And what if they don’t feel it’s time yet? That just grossed me out.

And yeah, it’s a bummer there’s no real fight at the end but I can understand Stephanie’s point of view. Realistically, it’s be a slaughter on both sides. She says she’s done with the Twilight saga but she left it open-ended enough that if she should change her mind down the road she could go back and write more. Or follow any one of the other or new characters. I’d love hearing about Kate and the other Denali’s. Or maybe a back-history on some of the Volturi. There’s lots of possibilities.

One thing I did keep thinking was there is NO WAY they can pull that off as a PG-13 movie. And I don’t think Kristin Stewart has the chops to do it. She doesn’t feel like book Bella anyway but I don’t think she can pull of the selflessness/martyrdom Bella goes through early on and how are they going to vamp her? It’ll be a hot mess. Assuming they managed to make the movie before half the cast O.D.s