Choosing colors is one way to explain feelings and moods with little ones. Dr. Seuss’ “My Many Colored Days” is one of my favorite concept books to read with my toddler. This book assigns colors to moods, complemented by catchy rhymes.

“There comes a Yellow Day. / and weeeee / I am a busy, buzzy bee.” As you turn each page, you’ll be delighted by gorgeous paintings and whimsical lyrics.

I love that the book acknowledges that there are good days and there are lousy days. Whatever you’re feeling on any day, there’s a color to capture your emotions.

Can you guess what emotion green stands for? This is my toddler’s favorite page. He loves the big green fish! As for me, busybee Mommy loves the yellow page! If only I could blow up that spread and paste that image above my workspace.

You can use this book to ask your child what color he is today. You can also ask him if there are any colors that are not in the book. It’s amazing how these lighthearted illustrations are a great springboard for creative discussion.

The board book has very sturdy pages. Get this one for younger kids! The images are so colorful and playful that they would want to touch the pictures again and again.

“My Many Colored Days” is for kids ages 2 and up. My son has been going through this book since he was seven months though! He’s two years old now and still gets engaged every time he reads it. It’s definitely one of our favorite family books.

This book is a beautiful celebration of colors and feelings. It teaches kids of all ages that there may be days when we’re grey with boredom or down and brown, but there are also days when we’re buzzy yellows and free-thinking pinks! Then there are days when you can be a jumble of colors! No worries though because “it all turns out all right, you see. And I go back to being . . . me.”

What’s your color today?

“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.”

Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? That is the legend among the townsfolk of Twilight, Texas. Chubby, self-conscious teenager Sarah Collier believes it. She sleeps with kismet cookies under her pillow every Christmas eve, and ever year she dreams of the same guy — Travis Walker. So when she learns that Travis is getting married one Christmas morning, she runs to the church to try to stop his wedding! Many years later, Sarah grows up to become a popular children’s author. A letter from a sick little girl brings her back to Twilight, where she learns the little girl is the daughter of teenage crush Travis. What happens when Sarah just wants to leave her foolish past behind, but Travis has different ideas?

Thoughts from my armchair: The First Love Cookie Club was such a fun book to read! It was a sweet, romantic love story about finding your soul mate. You know how this book probably ends, right? Well even if you do have an idea, you’ll relish Sarah’s journey. It was such a light and engaging read I could hardly put the book down.

Warning: I may have been ovulating when I was reading this book. Translation: The book may be less sappy than it sounds. You know how hormones can wreak havoc with your emotions, right?! Still, if you’re looking for a quick-to-read romance that will leave your heart a-flutter, this books hits the spot.

I wish it would be turned into a Hallmark movie. Yes, it’s that happy and sappy. Yes, it’s perfect for those who love romance novels. I’m one of those!

Lori Wilde writes so engagingly. I just fell into the story and couldn’t stop turning the pages. I didn’t want the book to end. I still want to know what happens next! She has a couple more books, also set within the town of Twilight. I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

The First Love Cookie Club is predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable. After reading the book, you may not only find yourself hugging the book close to your chest, you may also find yourself looking for a recipe for kismet cookies. If you do put those cookies under your pillow this Christmas eve, let me know if you dream of your true love! Then you can go find him, that is if you haven’t already met him! <3

Duck & Goose’s How are you feeling? is one of my favorite books for the toddler. Duck, Goose and their friends demonstrate a variety of emotions in adorable ways. Each illustration tells a whole story, such as the scared story:

Patience is cute too. Here’s me being patient with the little boy who likes sneaking his shoe into the shot:

This is one of our favorites. Timmy likes pointing out the happy blue butterfly, the happy green butterfly, the happy flowers, all the happy things!

This is his favorite of all favorites: the loving page.

Everytime we get to his page, he leans forwards to get a loving embrace from me. For that alone, I am so keeping this book until he’s in college and even much longer after that.

Now I’m feeling sentimental. Sniff.

I got this book at Powerbooks Greenbelt. Duck & Goose have a whole series of books. Check them out. I think this one’s the best though!

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (An honest review)
This article was first published in the Philippine Online Chronicles.

If you’re a hardcore Twilight fan, you’re going to love Breaking Dawn. If you’re not a fan of the franchise, go ahead and see it but equip yourself with a sense of humour. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1’s tagline says “Forever is only the beginning.”

While it’s apt for Edward and Bella finally getting hitched, it’s also the perfect line to capture the tone of the movie. Some parts seemed to take forever to wrap up. Just get on it with already!, I thought to myself many times during the film. Then I remembered that’s exactly how I felt about the book. It, too, was slow and self-indulgent. It wasn’t all bad though. There was Bella’s stunning hair piece (highlight of the wedding, I must say). The much better chemistry between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. And of course, a cute little vampire baby. Spoilers follow.

So here’s what happened…

Finally, Edward Cullen (Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Stewart) are getting married. (Cue screaming of Team Edward.) Bella’s best friend, Jacob Black, (Taylor Lautner) becomes distraught at the news, then runs away with his shirt off (cue screaming of Team Jacob.) No worries, he appears again after the ceremony to congratulate the newlyweds, but not without some overly melodramatic moments (Cue the beginning of many yawns).

Bella and Edward spend their honeymoon in Isle Esme, a private island of the Cullens in Brazil. They finally have sex! I’m sure Bella was very happy. Edward apparently wasn’t, despite him saying “it was the best night of his existence.” Because of his super vampire strength, he not only broke the bed, the headboard, and destroyed a couple of pillows, but unintentionally gave Bella some bruises too. Traumatized by how he could have hurt Bella, he takes sex off the table. During their honeymoon. Even if his wife parades in skimpy undies. Meanwhile, Bella interprets the bruises as love. Way to send a good message to the under-18 crowd, huh? While not tempted by her skivvies, Edward eventually gives in to her pleadings after she cries about a sex dream she had of the two of them (Yes, they’re still on their honeymoon while this is happening). Shortly after (literally a day or two after), Bella is pregnant with a monster baby growing at an alarming rate. The honeymoon is cut short and they fly back to Forks.

Back home, Carlisle explains that this vampire baby could possibly kill Bella. Edward develops ill feelings towards “the thing,” telling Bella that they should get rid of the monster before she gets harmed any further. Bella is adamant about keeping the baby. Never mind if her ribs are being broken by the mutant baby. Never mind if it is draining her off her own blood. Never mind if she has to drink blood from a Styrofoam cup through a straw to nourish her fetus. Bella has suddenly possessed a strong maternal instinct and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. She also finds an unlikely ally in former mean girl Rosalie. Now BFFs, Rosalie, who always wanted to have her own child, takes care of a heavily pregnant Bella.

All is not well with the Quileute tribe, however. The werewolf pack believes that Edward and Bella’s vampire child is an abomination, a threat that can grow stronger. They decide to kill Bella before she gives birth, but Jacob comes to the forefront and acts as protector of the Cullens for now. He tells the Sam, the pack leader, he will kill the baby himself.

Back at Home Cullen, Bella shares her baby name selections with the family. If it’s a boy, E.J. or Edward Jacob, to which Edward beams. Seriously Edward? You want to have your baby named after someone who tried stealing your then-girlfriend away from you many, many times? And Bella, selfish much? If it’s a girl, it’s Renesmee – a combination of the baby’s grandmother’s names Renee and Esmee. Here’s where one highlight of the movie comes: Alice, Rose, and Jacob trying to stifle their giggles at how ridiculously absurd the name is. I wonder if Bella ever considered Charlisle (Charlie-Carlisle, see?).

Then Bella’s spine cracks and labour begins. This was the part of the film I was looking forward to the most. Not the feather-in-your-hair sex scenes, seriously, but the labour. It was written so grotesquely in the book I was curious how director Bill Condon would bring it to life. Bella writhing on the floor with broken bones? Edward biting into Bella’s abdomen to perform an emergency Caesarean? Come on! Surprisingly, it wasn’t as gross and as insanely written as it was in the book. At this point of the movie though, I didn’t know what to feel. I think I was numbed by the slow and sloppy pacing throughout the film that I needed this jolt of a bloody birth scene.

But hey, rejoice! It’s a baby girl! Renesmee is one healthy little bub, but mother Bella has flat lined. Edward injects his venom straight into her heart in an effort to still save her. While he tries to revive her, Jacob plots to kill the baby as a result of it killing Bella. But as he approaches the baby, something happens. He imprints. To millions of hardcore Twilight fans (including this former hardcore Twilight fan), this is another much anticipated moment. So that’s how werewolves imprint. Imprinting is finding your soul mate. Imprinting means he is obliged to love Renesmee forever and protect her at all costs. This was the love of his life, today and in the days to come, and his role as protector begins. As he looks into Renesmee’s baby eyes, he sees her future and the future they will share together. No wonder Jacob was always drawn to Bella. No wonder Bella felt “complete” with Jacob around (even with hubby Edward present). He was connected to her on a biological level. His soul mate, apparently, is the daughter of his first love. Yes, Stephenie Meyer’s storytelling is twisted like that.

The werewolves pack cannot attack Renesmee, as werewolves cannot harm someone from the pack has imprinted on. The truce between the Cullens and Quileutes is revived.

The film wraps up by showing Bella’s transformation from broken human to ethereally beautiful vampire. Apparently, Renesmee isn’t the only newborn in the family. Bella opens her eyes and reveals blood red pupils – the mark of a newborn vampire.

This former Twihard’s thoughts in a nutshell

The negatives: Clunky script. Schizophrenic soundtrack. Stilted musical montages. Stephenie Meyer cameo (She already had a cameo in the first movie!). Brazilian street party (the point?). Super leaden pacing. I can’t blame the movie for how bad it was though because the book it was based on pretty much sucked.

The positives: Bella’s sapphire-studded heirloom hairpiece. Bella’s life flashing before her eyes as she transforms into a vampire. (I loved the throwback to the first three movies and most especially, the family shot of Charlie, Renee and baby Bella at the end). Most of all, Charlie Swan’s reply to Bella when she asks him not to let her fall as they walk down the aisle (“Never.”). *sniff*

So that’s how Part 1 ends. What’s in store for the second, and last, installation? Well, there’s the Volturi, who learn about the marriage of Edward and Bella (and maybe even more). There’s the introduction of more vampires. There’s Bella’s adjustment to the vampire life. How will she tell her parents? Can she and Edward finally have unbridled sex? And of course, there’s Renesmee. What kind of trouble will she bring? What’s her future with Jacob going to be like? We will have to wait till November of 2012, or you can read the book and find out what happens. But just as I said in the beginning of this piece, equip yourself with a sense of humour. And patience. Lots and lots of patience.

The plot, more or less without spoilers: Alice and Mattia each go through life-altering experiences in their childhood that propel them to choose a solitude that is agonizing, but also strangely peaceful. When they meet in their teens, they develop a friendship that is intimate in its quietness but distant in its assumed (and unspoken) uncertainty. The book then chronicles the story of Alice and Mattia as they eventually try to face and hesitantly embrace adulthood. It is a story that is a sum of many quiet moments — some the uncomfortable kind of awkwardness present in silent lapses, others the awkward moments that ironically bring much relief. It is a story of two “prime numbers.” The question is: is a prime number’s destiny solitude, or can two primes ever come together?

This book was originally written in Italian. The translation was beautiful. The story was written from alternating viewpoints (Mattia, Alice), and I devoured each chapter. The characters are so intense but still relatable in their vulnerability. I finished it in a little over a day. I couldn’t put the book down. I lapped up the chapters, cringing as the book came to a close, hesitant to find out how it would end. It is a book to be relished. While this is a quick read, the story lingers with you long after you’ve read it. I would read it again. Interestingly, Paolo Giordano is a professional physicist. The Solitude of Prime Numbers is his first novel.

Meanwhile, this book has been turned into a movie in Italy. I saw the trailer on Youtube and the comments about it were mostly mixed. (The comments were in Italian but hurrah for Google Translate!) I’ll hold off watching the film until after I read the book again.

I highly recommend you read this book, especially if you’ve got a full day to spare. Just find yourself a comfortable space in a coffee shop, your couch or the corner of your bed and devour this book. Before you know it, Alice and Mattia will be coming to life and you won’t be able to put the book down.

“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” – Orson Welles

Book Reviews

Heather presents Review: The False Princess posted at Proud Book Nerd.

Mr Audio Books presents Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell posted at Audio Book Downloads.

Dividist presents On China by Henry Kissinger – Review posted at Divided We Stand United We Fall, saying, “Kissinger explains why it is vitally important for Americans (and Chinese) to make the effort to understand the cultural and psychological differences in our respective approaches to foreign relations. These differences have in the past and may again in the future lead to misunderstandings, distrust, unintended consequences and tragedy.”

Mike Bergin presents Review of Feathers posted at 10,000 Birds, saying, “Corey Finger gladly recommends Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle by Thor Hansen.”

KerrieS presents Review: THE WRECKAGE, Michael Robotham posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, “This is a great read, both for those who have been waiting for the next in this fractallated crime fiction series featuring retired London detective Vincent Ruiz and clinical psychologist Professor Joe O’Loughlin, and for those new to Australian writer Robotham’s work.”

KerrieS presents Review: SILENT VOICES, Ann Cleeves posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE, saying, “Have you discovered the Vera Stanhope series? This is #4 in the series and an excellent read if you like British crime fiction.”

Kevin presents Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School posted at Invest It Wisely, saying, “Is it possible to become a millionaire, on a teacher’s salary? Teacher and author Andrew Hallam seems to think so, and he shares his lessons in his upcoming book “Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School.”

Jim Murdoch presents Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman posted at The Truth About Lies, saying, “In this sparkling and provocative new book, the renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman navigates the depths of the subconscious brain to illuminate surprising mysteries: Why can your foot move halfway to the brake pedal before you become consciously aware of danger ahead? Why do you hear your name being mentioned in a conversation that you didn’t think you were listening to? What do Ulysses and the credit crunch have in common? Why did Thomas Edison electrocute an elephant in 1916? Why are people whose names begin with J more likely to marry other people whose names begin with J? Why is it so difficult to keep a secret? And how is it possible to get angry at yourself—who, exactly, is mad at whom?”

Neel presents Kafka on the Shore: Everything is a metaphor posted at Unsynchronized Thoughts…, saying, “Amateur book reviews.”

Malik Mirza presents Best Self help books | WisdomfromBooks.com posted at WisdomfromBooks.com, saying, “Here is my list of top 5 inspiration books. These include: What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business school, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The power of thinking big, Rich Dad, Poor Dad and The Secret. You may read more and other relevant details from my blog!”

Jim Murdoch presents Bed by David Whitehouse posted at The Truth About Lies, saying, “What makes life worth getting out of bed for? Mal isn’t like the other kids. So remarkable is his childhood that his family wait for the incredible things he seems born to do. Then one day he goes to bed, never to get out again. Recounted by Mal’s younger brother, Bed is a coming-of-age story like no other. It chronicles the metamorphosis of one extraordinary man, and explores what love, loss and family can do to you in a lifetime. Enchanting, funny, surreal and heart-warming.”

Zohar presents Book Review: The Hypnotist by M. J. Rose posted at Man of la Book.

Zohar presents Book Review: The Storm at the Door by Stefan Merill Block posted at Man of la Book.

Alex Washoe presents Goodbye Alpha Dog: A Review of Dog Sense by John Bradshaw posted at Books and Beasts, saying, “Recent studies of canine DNA, intelligence, and behavior — as well as new information about how wolves really live in the wild — has totally transformed our understanding of dogs. This incredibly informative book opens up new possibilities for our relationship with our closest animal companions.”

Jim Murdoch presents Vintage Sea: an introduction to the poetry of Marion McCready (part one) posted at The Truth About Lies, saying, “Scottish poet Marion McCready writes poetry that is quintessentially Scottish and yet not stereotypically so. She focuses on the landscape and especially the bodies of water in and around the country, the North Sea, the Firth of Forth, the River Clyde, Loch Ness and Loch Fyne. They are sonorous poems that focus on conjuring up images. As one review said, “not magical realism but a realism that becomes magical.””

Josh Hanagarne presents Book Review: The Tiger posted at World’s Strongest Librarian, saying, “If you ever thought that running into an Amur tiger might be a fun experience, John Vaillant’s brilliant book The Tiger will teach you a thing or two. The best sort of non-fiction book: reads like a thriller and has plenty to teach.”

Jailan Marie presents Book Review – USA Book News | The Daily Six posted at John Chappelear.

Books

Erica Morgan presents 10 Unusual Sites to Visit for Quick Book Reviews posted at Internet Providers.

Children’s Books

Read Aloud … Dad presents Terrific Treasuries: Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon posted at Read Aloud Dad.

Amy Broadmoore presents 7 Children’s Books About Soccer posted at Delightful Children’s Books, saying, “A collection of picture books for young soccer enthusiasts.”

Fiction

Rebecca Glenn presents Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz posted at The Book Frog, saying, “Melissa de la Cruz’s first foray into adult fiction is…underwhelming. Still, events in the final pages pique one’s interest for volumes to come.”

Rebecca Glenn presents Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan posted at The Book Frog, saying, “A juicy summer read, J. Courtney Sullivan’s sophomore effort (after Commencement) proves she’s no one trick pony.”

Non fiction

Clark Bjorke presents Unfamiliar Fishes posted at I’ll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book!, saying, “Hawaii wasn’t always part of the Unite States? Who knew?”

That concludes this edition. Thanks to all who submitted their reviews to this carnival!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of book review blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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(a) looking for a children’s present?
(b) a foodie?
(c) teaching any children about the alphabet?
(d) looking for ways to introduce Filipino food to children (or adults, come to think of it)?
(e) looking for ways to introduce the Filipino language to children (or adults again, come to think of it)?

If you picked any of the choices above, I’ve got just the book for you! It’s called “A for Adobo: An Alphabet Book of Filipino Food” by Tahanan Books.

From A to Z, the reader is taken into the world of Pinoy cuisine. The pictures are wonderful. I just want to grab a spoon and dig into that bowl of adobo. Mmmmm. A is for Ayayay…

Each letter comes with a description of the dish in English and Filipino. What a great way to learn about and brush up on the language! I like that it will give my toddler a better appreciation and understanding of Filipino. Given this, doesn’t this also make a great present for little ones living outside the Philippines? My sister seemed to think so. She got these books as presents for our little cousins living in the U.S.

My toddler loves this book. I think he enjoys seeing the food that he eats pictured in the book. The pages are also sturdy enough for a toddler to flip through them. He likes the letter M. Can you guess what food is pictured in M?

When the toddler’s reading other books, I take my turn reading this book. The letter Y is my favorite. Y is for Yummy! Y is for Yahoo! Y is for Yema! That piece of yema is practically jumping out of the book, wanting to be eaten. Or maybe that’s my sweet tooth talking.

I bought my copy of “A for Adobo” by Nelson Agustin and Tahanan Books from National Bookstore. It cost around P295. When looking for this in bookstores, check out the children’s section AND the cookbook section. I found my copy at the kids’ area but my sister found hers among the cookbooks. Well it is a book that’s about food and learning the alphabet…

This book gets an A from me and Timmy. A is for Awesome! It gets an N as well. N is for Nakakagutom (in English: It makes you darn hungry!). So here’s a warning: Don’t read this book on an empty stomach. And now to find myself a bowl of pork and chicken adobo. M is for Mmmmmmmm.

Want to learn more? Check out:
Tahanan Books’ Facebook page
Tahanan Books for Young Readers website
Tahanan Books Twitter

The Dolce Vita Diaries is the story of Cathy and Jason, a couple who left their successful careers as TV producers to pursue their dream of becoming olive farmers in Italy. Did they know Italian? A little. Did they know how to make olive oil before going to Italy? In theory. Did this get in the way of them finding a home in Italy and owning their own olive grove? Not at all. Fueled by their love of food (olive oil in particular), a joint sense of adventure, and their positive outlook, Cathy, Jason and their toddler Rosie grow roots in Italy, establish their olive oil business called Nudo and prove they’re just as tough as the olive trees they grow.

Their business success of course was based on one creative and compelling idea: Adopt an olive tree. Simple. Strong. Intriguing.

The book chronicles their journey to the grove. This includes sharing their first inspiration for the olive grove dream, how they learned the art of making olive oil, making new friends in their intimate town, dealing with four seasons in an unmodern area, looking for the perfect cappuccino around town, and so much more. My favorite parts were always the eating parts. Whenever they’d talk about food, I would read the page over and over. Such a yummy read.

Four out of four stars!
I think we’ve all had that desire to just jump out of our day jobs and pursue a passion, an interest, a wish we know would just make our lives more exciting and meaningful if it came into fruition. I was so involved in their journey that I hated the book to end. I wanted to learn more, more, more! The foodie journey was also terrific. I’m just glad reading about food doesn’t make you fat otherwise I’d weigh a ton after reading this book. The recipes were so interesting but the stories behind the ingredients and procedures were what brought the whole foodie reading experience to life. I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets turned into a movie. I’ll surely be first in line!

You will be mine… Screen cap of products from the Nudo website.

This is the set of olive oils I’ve been eyeing for the past hour (and one month) now. I hope to order my own Nudo products soon, and yes, maybe even adopt an olive oil tree. For now, I’ll keep on rereading The Dolce Vita Diaries. It hasn’t left my nightstand yet as I love going back to various stories in the book. As for their website, I’ve got it bookmarked. Poring through the Nudo website is my bedtime reading! Then I’d be able to drift off to slumberland where I’ll probably dream of olive oil with chilis, lemon or thyme. Mmmmm. I’ve got olive oil on my mind even in my dreams. Go read the book and you’ll see! You’ll be olive oil dreaming too.

Learn more about Nudo here:
Website: Nudo — Adopt an olive tree
Blog: The Dolce Vita Diaries
More about the book: “The Dolce Vita Diaries” on Amazon. I bought mine from Fully Booked, Power Plant Mall.
Twitter: @NudoItalia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NudoItalia

It’s the first of its kind here in the Philippines. Produced by Vibal Foundation’s Vee Press, it has a “read-to-me” feature that makes it play like an audiobook, complemented by full-color illustrations and animations with Filipino motifs.

I’m big on reading, especially classics taken up in school. Back then I felt like some of the required reading were being rammed down our throats by teachers. Encouraging students to read required classics should be, I think, done in the most engaging way possible. If an interactive e-book will encourage this generation to read more, I’m all for it.

Ibong Adarna is just the beginning of many children’s books that Vibal and Vee Press will soon publish in print and digital media. You can read the book via Amazon Kindle, Sony E-Reader, Nook, BlackBerry, iPhones, Macs, PCs, and tablet computers like the iPad.

This will be available at the Apple iBookstore on January 25, so watch out for it. Here’s the trailer:

I wonder what’s next. Florante at Laura? Noli Me Tangere? El Filibusterismo? This is a very exciting new journey in making the classics even more engaging for this generation.

What I liked about it:

• There’s more energy in Eclipse compared to the first two. Finally! It started off really slow, but it picks up towards the end.
• I like how David Slade puts in this “30 Days of Night” feel as the movie starts. It’s grey, dark, ominous.
• Riley! I think Xavier Samuel was perfectly cast. I just wish there were more of him, but then again the book doesn’t have much of him. A “Where is he now?” story would be great, but well, you know what happens to him in the movie. Darn it.
• Finally, more chemistry between Edward and Bella. In the first two films, I didn’t feel spark between them. Yeah yeah, that’s not how majority of Twihards probably felt, but this my review, okay? Whatever it is that David Slade told them, it worked. I felt more connection between the two of them. FINALLY, I felt that they belonged together, and that Jacob was a third wheel. I think it’s because they finally share a giggle or two. It’s not all intense staring at each other anymore. It finally feels like a real relationship.
• Edward struggling with Bella’s individuality. “If I ask you to stay in the car, would you?” (Bella goes out of the car.) “Of course not.” Haha. Again, more of a real relationship coming to surface here. They’re both still dazzled by each other, but it’s not all glitz that’s keeping the two together now.

• Jessica’s graduation speech. Was that in the book? I think she was great. It makes me more interested in her! I want to know where she goes after Forks. I want to know if she moves on to bigger things. I didn’t realize she was that smart. I was thinking Angela would be valedictorian.
• The proposal. Very literal translation from the book, which I liked. The ring was gorgeous!
• Jasper and Alice. There’s a moment in the book (not sure if in Eclipse or the first two) when Bella said she felt like an intruder when she was with Alice and Jasper. Their love for each other was just so intense she felt she was interfering in their moment. That’s how I felt when Alice snuggled up to Jasper after he told Bella his story. Go Team Jasper-Alice!
• The tent scene. This was a very important scene for me to watch, as it was one of the most intense in the book. I’m glad it stayed the same in the film. “I’m hotter than you,” goes Jacob. Him telling the duo it would be better without Bella’s clothes, thinking manly thoughts that annoyed Edward… Hey, did he crack the space heater joke? I don’t recall.

• Edward’s annoyance with Jacob was funny. “Doesn’t he own a shirt?” Haha. I like how emotions are FINALLY breaking through Edward’s cold, cold surface. Thanks RPattz. I think you’re better here than in the first two films.

• Save the best for last: Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. From a happy-go-lucky Jacob in “Twilight” to the angsty one in “New Moon” to the all-grown up, still angsty, but more passionate wolf in “Eclipse,” he was the highlight of the movie. I could feel his love for Bella. I could feel his anger and helplessness. I like how Taylor Lautner shows his emotions without having to look constipated like Edward. Sorry Team Edward, I know that Rob is fine and all, but his Edward is just a bit too stone cold in acting to me (to think this is an improvement over the first two films).

What I didn’t like about it:

• The newborns weren’t scary. If the newborns are a SUPER threat, couldn’t there have been more of a struggle when the Cullens and the wolves were fighting them? Easy, breezy, that’s how the fight seemed to me. Newborns are supposed to be creepy strong kind of scary. I didn’t feel their hunger or thirst in the film at all. I liked how Eclipse had more action than the other two films, but I wish there were more newborn action.
• Victoria. Sorry, I like you Bryce Dallas Howard, but Rachel Lefevre just made a creepier Victoria to me. The new Victoria just wasn’t sinister enough to be the main villain here.
• The Volturi. It’s been years since I’ve read the book, so I can’t remember how threatening they were. I do remember that while reading I went, “Uh oh, they’re coming to Forks and Bella isn’t a vampire yet. What’s gonna happen???” Well, I didn’t feel that same tension in the movie. They seemed like “by the way’s” to me. I like Dakota Fanning and company, but wish there presence was more relevant to the plot.
• Happy ending. Well, again, you know I’m on Team Jacob. Of course the movie just had to end the way it did. In the book though, it ends with Jacob’s perspective. He receives the wedding invitation through the mail, transforms into a wolf, howls and disappears into the woods. Now, that’s dramatic. THAT’S what the “eclipse” is all about. At the end, night time always wins even during daytime.

Overall, I think David Slade did a fine job. Is he directing “Breaking Dawn?” I don’t think so. I wish he were. Did “Eclipse” eclipse the first two films? You bet it did. Will I watch this again? You know what, if it’s on STAR movies or HBO, I would. Twilight comes on now and I just zap channels. But if Eclipse does get shown on TV, I’ll make time to watch it. Watching it in the movie house though? Nah. Once is enough.

What did YOU think of the movie? Share your thoughts! There are no right or wrong opinions here, so comment with no fear of being judged.

All images from Photobucket