Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: YA paranormal fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Print copy from my personal library
First line: The newspaper headline glared at me from under a little metal vending machine: SEATTLE UNDER SIEGE – DEATH TOLL RISES AGAIN.
I know that it seems to be the fashion among some book bloggers to deride the Twilight saga and anyone who likes them, but Twilight will always have a soft place in my heart as the book that introduced me to YA fiction. I enjoyed the entire series, even reading book four aloud to my daughter so I could skip the honeymoon scenes and she could still hear how the series finished.
When I heard about Meyer’s new release, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, I honestly couldn’t remember who Bree was – until I read this novella and remembered the scene at the end of the big battle. Meyer always knew how to tell a good story, and her writing has tightened up, become more crisp and polished. Bree makes for a great narrator, giving us a glimpse into the world of a newborn vampire. It was eerie to read about Bree’s thirst, about the way she had ceased to see humans as people and only saw them as food, their life’s blood as a necessity to be consumed.
The fact that the Twilight books are written in first person limits what the reader is told. In this novella, we get to experience the events that were going on in Seattle as Victoria and Riley are amassing their army of newborns. I imagine that this was a big help to the makers of the Eclipse film, which I have yet to see, but am very much looking forward to watching with my daughter.
If you are a Twilight fan, you will want to read this small book that gives readers a different glimpse into that world. Keep in mind, though, that it is very much more a vampire tale than the others, more bloody and gruesome, just the right amount of gore to help the reader enter into Bree’s story.
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
I admit, I can be derisive about Twilight. It just really all got on my nerves after awhile, but I still read them all. I think it also has some dangerous messages in there, and requires some parental involvement. I don’t begrudge anyone from enjoying them though. I remember exactly who this vampire is, in fact they do make notice of her in the movie. I’ll have to mention this to my daughter. She will probably flip out when she hears.
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Sunday Salon- Back Home Again in Indiana =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sandy – I completely agree about he parental interaction – Natalie and I have had a lot of talks about how the Edward/Bella relationship is the kind of relationship in real life that she would want to avoid!
Twitter: SavvyVerseWit
says:
I’ve got this book on hold at the library. I didn’t remember who Bree was either.
.-= Serena´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday 89 =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Serena – it came back to me when I reached the final scene.
Twitter: Trish422
says:
I enjoyed the books, very much actually, but I have to admit some derision came with the movies. I watch them, but man oh lordy I’m rolling my eyes a lot during them. I haven’t decided yet if I want to read this one or if it will just make me sad all over again the story is done.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..No Movies Here- Books that are Unfilmable =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Trisha – oh, I agree about the films – I have watched the first two, and think the second one made some improvements, but the acting is a bit melodramatic.
I’ve never read the Twilight books but I don’t have anything against them – they just don’t interest me. I’ll probably skip this one too.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – I know they’re definitely not for everyone!
I still haven’t read any of the Twilight series but I do have the first one on my shelf so I will get around to it one day!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathleen – is your list of “one day” books as long as mine is?
I really like Twilight, too. It’s just a fun vampire romance. I got this book from the library but haven’t been in the mood to read it yet.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..What Are Your 3 Favorite Genres =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Tasha – it’s a really quick read – took me less than two hours.