This gets my “worth consuming” with the huge caveat that it’s only worth consumption for those already hooked. At this point in the series, Meyer’s editor has let her foot off the brake entirely. Here’s a self-indulgent book that makes it a stranger to the first book in the series. From artfully constructed literary parallels in books one and two, we now have a sort of pet plot and pet characters. That’s okay with me – I’ll be honest – because I wanted to see everything gel. It’s just not a literary accomplishment at this point.

I’ve been thinking hard about this series and why it’s uncomfortable in its way. I think it has to do with Bella as the gothic romance heroine. The problem here is simple: gothic heroine’s have little to no agency, and there’s not much room for that doormat female character in contemporary literature. I have to say there’s something backwards-ly brave of Meyer for creating a main character who’s a complete dishrag, but it’s the same kind of backwards step that makes Sarah Palin a self-proclaimed Maverick. The more I think about it, even Bella’s favorite literary characters (Jane Eyre, etc) had more spine than she did. That’s saying something.

Ah well. I enjoyed it. A good ride while it lasted, with a fairly satisfying end.