 What is all the fuss about??? |
| Review Date: August 17, 2008 |
| Reviewer: BRANDY N. TALIA, Sinking Spring, PA USA |
I didn't get my book right away and my husband warned me that there was A LOT of negative feedback over Breaking Dawn. I was apprehensive to start the book because I loved the first three so much (Twilight by far my favorite!) that I couldn't bear to be let down. And now...here I am asking...What is all the fuss about???
I LOVED Breaking Dawn. I am a 35 year old woman with a 3 year old daughter of my own. I am not a 15 year old teeny booper who thinks that having sex, getting pregnant, married and not going to college is the ideal life style. I do not think that money grow on trees and we all live happily ever after...but that's why I read books!
I AM glad that Bella got everything. I still love Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of the Cullen Clan. I have even fallen for baby Renesmee. I am glad that Bella was allowed to become a mother even when it wasn't something that she wanted. I think there was an important message that the book DID get across...with Bella marrying Edward...with her having the baby...that sometimes, things that we don't know or think we want can be the most wonderful and powerful and happy things in our lives.
I don't think there was anything wrong with Jacob imprinting on the baby. It was even noted how Bella needed him around while she was pregnant. That desire was because of the baby that was inside her...he hadn't even seen the child and the attraction between the two SOULS was already in existence. I don't see it as pedophilia at all. I think that is just ignorant and juvenile thinking.
I am happy with the way everything worked out. I enjoyed Bella finding out how her power worked. I loved that at the end she was able to show Edward her mind...I thought that talked alot about the bond between them...her strength, her trust, her love. I would have liked to see a fight and the end of the Volruri, but come on...she left us with so many characters and places for furture novels to go that even without Edward and Bella as the main characters, they can pop up all over the place. And we have the future of Renesmee to look forward to, too.
People...it is a fairy tale....it's about werewolves and vampires...things that go bump in the night. It is not meant to be realistic. It is not meant to convey some deep, meaningful message. It is a STORY...meant to entertain and thrill. It did just that for me. I get so wrapped up in Bella and Edward and their lives that I can't put the book down. And now that it's over and I have moved onto my next book, I keep wishing it was still Bella and Edward I was reading about.
I have read many reviews condemning Bella. People don't like her character, say she's weak, boring, etc. I thin she's a great character. Very human and real to life. Even in her vampire form, she's more HUMAN than some people I know. She is down to earth, sarcastic, witty, fragile and weak yet strong and determined. She is so niave and smart at the same time. Her nature is so dualistic, that's why it's so hard for her to choose between Jacob and Edward. But in the end, there is always that ONE that is yours...the one your heart...your mind can't do without and that is her Edward. And I have to admit....that I have read a lot of books in my time, and I have yet to come across a character tha I LOVE as much as Edward. His character is without any flaw, as I see it. He is loving, caring, fierce, determined, cold and calculated, yet one of the warmest characters ever. His tortured mind and heart make you love him all the more.
I can't complain about this book in the least. I will reread it over and over again, as all the other books in the series. I say "Well Done, Ms. Meyer! You can't make everyone happy...so don't try."
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Relax and Enjoy the Fairy Tale
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: navyblue, USA |
Reading all these one star reviews is totally killing my post Breaking Dawn buzz, y'all.
--Please note: this review contains spoilers, as most of the reviews here do.
Bella's happily ever after is heart warming and tidy just like any other fairy tale you might enjoy from childhood, though with quite a bit more blood and (tastefully described married) sex. Many of these one star reviews criticize the happy ending, the early marriage, and motherhood in place of a college education, among various other complaints. I'm suspecting these reviewers would be much happier with an independent Bella who marches off in her human form to get a Masters degree in Psychology before marrying Edward. Or heck, not marrying Edward at all, and eschewing the idea of something so base and demeaning as becoming a wife or parent. Though perhaps it's more the youth of the heroine that causes their lament.
I however, like happy endings and am thrilled she gets to be a mother. Yes, GETS to be a mother. Many people I spoke to who were in "Camp Jacob" expressed their reason: "Because she could have a family with Jacob". Well surprise, she had a family with Edward.
Yes, Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter, but because imprinting on babies/children had previously been introduced in the series, I didn't find this at all unsettling. All this shouting about pedophilia is a little... intense for what really happens. Jacob makes it clear that it isn't a sexual thing at all while the object the affection is still so young. Jacob imprinting on "Nessie" means they all stay a family, which is what Bella wanted all along.
Which brings me to another common complaint: Bella gets everything. Goodness! After fighting for it, tooth and nail, yes, she does. Isn't that what makes most of us smile at the end of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty?
Some have suggested that having Jacob imprint on someone else would allow Bella to make a sacrifice by finally fully letting him go as well as remove that feeling some reviewers have that she gets everything. I do see this point, and perhaps this happening would have made it a more critically acclaimed book, but as I was reading the story, I was fully involved in watching Bella's story unfold and these things did not negate my enjoyment of the book.
As for the complaint that Bella should have gone to college first -- good grief, does she not have the rest of eternity to obtain as many degrees as she wants? This isn't real life, folks.
For those worried about the impact this book may have on impressionable young teen fans, if you're allowing them to read the books at all (I know some parents aren't), why don't you read the book along with them and talk about the real life application of Bella's choices? Sounds like a great excuse for some good conversation.
One complaint I completely agree with, Bella names her daughter Renesmee, which is hard to read, hard to pronounce, and impossible to spell. I'm amazed that made it past the editors.
Critics argue that you can't shout "But it's fantasy" to cover gaping plot holes. Perhaps to a more critical, serious eye, plot holes exist and are bothersome. But I truly was lost in Bella's story and as I read, very little jumped out as completely unreal or impossible to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and consider this rating a 4.5 stars.
Stephenie Meyer has been able to create characters that feel intensely real. I was able to lose myself in the story through all four books. While the first in the series remains my favorite, the characters remained almost tangible people that I cared about and rooted for throughout.
Stephenie admitted herself that pleasing all of her fans would be impossible, but insisted that this was the story she wanted to write all along. I've been a happy voyeur for the ride, and remain a happy fan.
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Not what I expected but...
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| Review Date: August 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: H. Bonales, seattle, wa |
Breaking Dawn was definitely not what I expected to end a series of books that I truly became engulfed in and loved. However, I wasn't disappointed. I honestly believe that Stephanie Meyer wrote a book filled with the happiness of writing something you truly enjoy. So it's not my place to quarrel what someone else has imagined. The fact of the matter is, is that this is a work of fiction. In the world that Meyer created where vampires do exist, Bella could only live for Edward, she could get pregnant, and she could have the ultimate happy ending. Via crazy twist and turns! The fact that people can get so worked up over meaning and tone and analyze a book to death is beyond me, especially when its a story about vampires, werewolves and becoming immortal! I'm amazed at how some people can't stretch their imaginations enough, who cares about Bella being married and having sex by 18. That world of fiction is not the tangible one we exist in. Meyer even makes that clear in Eclipse, when Bella mentions how in a normal world she would be with Jake. But she isn't in a normal world, under normal circumstances and so belongs with Edward. Besides, if all you're worried about is some crazy intention on the part of Stephanie Meyer to condone getting married and having sex at a young age, I think this book is the least of your worries. Bella and Edward may be young but they hardly fall into the category of horny uneducated teenagers who have sex because everyone else is. How about we take a closer look at the parents who are "parenting" these teenagers instead of pointing a finger at an author who wrote a book and gave you the CHOICE to read it. I chose to read this book, and just because Bella and Edward had sex, doesn't mean I'm running out the door with Stephanie Meyers encouragement. People can get so caught up in their virtues and ethics that they forget to think for themselves.
Anyway, this is supposed to be a review for a book I did enjoy. I'm incredibly glad Bella got her incredibly perfect happy ending. The world and life can be so unbalanced and cruel that I don't need to be reminded of the "realities" of it. For once, for freaking once, someone had the guts to just give me what I wanted. A sweet ending, to an incredible love story. The end.
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Why do people bash books with happy endings?
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Pheebers, Massachusetts |
It's true this book wraps up loose endings, but I can't imagine why so many people think that's a bad thing. It's done over the course of the entire book, not in the last chapter. I laughed, I cried with happiness. I read things I'd predicted and many I hadn't. And then, at the end, I sighed in contentment.
The Twilight-reading world would be screaming if we hadn't had details of the wedding, honeymoon, transformation, and Jake's resolution. We got to see the Denali clan, the Volturi make a nicely threating appearance, and everyone gets a happily ever after. Is that so bad?
As a society we are programmed from middle school to consider anything with a tragic ending "literature" and anything with a happy ending a trite fairy tale. I LIKE reading books with happy endings. Sometimes I'm in the mood to read Doctor Zhivago, but I also appreciate well-written books that don't end tragically. That's Breaking Dawn.
Reviewers are complaining that Stephenie Meyer is encouraging marriage at 18. Hello? She spent a great deal of time explaining that, to most people, early marriage is ewwwwwww. She also spent three books leading up to the circumstances that led to the marriage. Bella and Edward are not typical. Unlike most 18-year-olds, money is not an issue. They intended for Bella to continue her education (even if it were going to be delayed) and there was no expectation of pregnancy. I think it was a POSITIVE message, well argued on both sides.
Also, why do people say it's anti-feminist for Bella to choose to keep her baby? Feminism is about allowing choice and not judging the mother. We were shown both sides -- Bella's unconditional love for her unborn baby, even at the risk of her own life -- and Edward's anguish and desperation at the thought of it killing her. If anything, Bella is more assertive in this book than in any of the others. Edward's always been possessive and protective. Remember him not allowing her to do things, like seeing her friends at La Push or even just being alone? He did it for love and because he was protecting her, but no one could say it was feminist.
I highly recommend this book. It's meaty, satisfying, and well-written.
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Saved the Best for Last! (No Spoilers)
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| Review Date: August 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Brandon Witt--redbirdboy, Denver, Co United States |
I don't remember the last time I have felt so passionate and angry about a novel. I enjoyed Twilight, I liked New Moon, I loved Eclipse, and now I am completely infatuated with Breaking Dawn. Each one got better and better.
It will be hard to give complete specifics of what I loved about Breaking Dawn without using spoilers, but I will do my best, without ruining the details for someone who has yet to read the book.
I was one of the ones waiting in line at midnight with a bunch a preteen girls in prom dresses. It would take a lot for a book to be worth that experience. Before I started reading it the next morning, I hopped on Amazon to see the soaring ratings of five stars and was shocked when the vast majority of what I saw was one and two stars. I didn't read any of them at that point so I wouldn't ruin the book's surprises, but I went into it afraid that I would hate it too. At first I thought I was going to, I thought I saw where Meyers was taking it and I kept pleading with her to not go there. She did. And, she pulled it off beautifully. What easily could have been cheesy and contrived kept me in awe page after page and made me fall more and more in love with characters that were already dear to me. The aspects of Bella and Edward's personalities that I always found flat and dormant, I saw grow and mature in this final installment. Ever since I finished the book, I have been sad, simply because I miss it. I want to still be lost in Bella, Edward, and Jacob's world. I am going to re-read all of them immediately, something I didn't plan on doing.
The complaints I have read on here, I find laughable. The book was too long. It was too happy. It has bad morals. It is weird. It grosses me out. It is contrived, blah, blah, blah. We have spent three books with very little else but angst and stress and tears. It is not a betrayal of the series that the characters don't all slit their wrists at the end. Plus, this book was filled with stressors and tears. And giving a book low rating because you don't like a new character's name is insulting to everyone's intelligence. As for bad morals and a bad message for teenage girls. Get a grip. We are talking about vampires and werewolves, lighten up! If that was your concern, you should have been worried from the beginning about all these lemur-like girls who you believe have no minds their own. They should have been out trying to drink their neighbors' blood years ago! I am teacher, an I can attest that I have seen more girls involved in reading and dreams of writing as a career thanks to Stephanie Meyer's books and her constant encouragement through interviews than any other motivator.
I wish I had another seven hundred pages to read. Every question I had been dying to know since the very first book was answered, some in ways that I guessed and some that completely shocked me. Having your series wrapped up in a completed way is not a sign of poor or safe writing. When done well, as here, it shows the amount of thought, planning, and detail that was given to these beloved novels.
I hope that Meyers can take the low stars as a compliment. Anything done well, anything that takes risks, and anything that makes people uncomfortable enough to think is something that has immense value, and it is always controversial and condemned.
Amazing work, Mrs. Meyers! Thank you for the awesome ride and adding gleaming gems to my library and irreplaceable characters to my heart! |
Breaking Dawn: an opinion in 10 parts
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: N. Beck, Pennsylvania |
**Spoilers Inside**
I highly anticipated this book (probably most people who have posted reviews did as well). The book brought on several emotions for me which I will break down in detail. I will not recount the entire plot of the novel, only key points to make comments on.
1. The wedding - the wedding was beautiful and I was glad to see that Bella finally saw her human self as being beautiful. It was nice to see Jacob back, but he did ruin the mood once Bella mentioned the honeymoon and that angered me. The wedding and reception were shorter than I would have like it to be, but there were more important story lines to explore.
2. The honeymoon (part 1)- I thought Meyer did a fabulous job of conveying Edward and Bella's intimacy without being smutty. She reinforced the sanctity of marriage before sex which I believe is a fabulous message to young readers.
3. The honeymoon (part 2) - I was livid once I realized that Bella was pregnant; and, honestly, it was obvious that Meyer would go in that direction from all of the foreshadowing in Eclipse and in Bella's nightmares. I was horrified that a. Bella wanted to keep the baby and b. she ran to Rosalie for help. I could not refer to the baby as such, instead I deemed it vampire spawn. I felt that Edward was a blubbering idiot during this section and I wanted to smack both him and Bella and tell them to pull it together.
4. Jacob's section - I was so extremely angry and frustrated with Bella that Jacob's voice was immediately refreshing. His quips between him and Rosalie kept the mood light when everything else was not. I love that he matured in this section and was not the egotistical idiot that I once deemed him to be. I rooted for him as he took charge and took what was rightfully his - his postion as Alpha. I do admit that the imprintation on Renesmee was a complete and utter shock to me. Given the circumstances it is strange, but it also made complete sense. By incorporating the imprinting on Renesmee into the storyline, it opened up the communication between the wolf packs, allowed for peace to finally come between Jacob and Edward, and created a solid alliance between the wolves and the vampires. As for those who believe that this imprintation promotes pedophilia, I believe that they are misunderstanding the delicate balance and nature of the situation. Yes, Renesmee is just a baby, but no, Jacob is not thinking of her in a romantic or sexual nature. Jacob is first and foremost a guardian and a soulmate. He is not rushing her to grow up, but encouraging her to enjoy her childhood. Jacob will remain a teenager until he decides to give up his shape-shifting ways. Renesmee will become a full grown adult in just seven years and then they can live their happily ever after. For now, he is more a body guard and friend than a lover.
5. Bella- Not exactly the transformation she had in mind, but her tranformation took place because it needed to and not only because she wanted it. It was nice to Bella finally believe in herself and not rely on others. I really felt that Nessie and Bella's relationship was not as close of a bond as it should be. I also felt that Edward seemed somewhat detached from Nessie, and not very fatherly. I was relieved that she did not have to hide from Charlie and that he was somewhat in on their secret life, but I couldn't help but think - what about Renee? She is barely mentioned beyond the wedding. Poor Renee. I was, however, extremely excited to finally see Bella hold her own and become a stronger character once she transformed. I thought her power was amazing and for once she was the one who saved the day.
6. Renesmee - What an awful name. I get that it's a combination of Renee and Esme, but it's still hideous. I hope that fans do not become inspired to name their daughters after her. I did not want Nessie (a name even worse than Renesmee) to be born. I thought she would be an evil spawn that would destroy the characters I have known and loved. Once she was introduced, I, like the characters in the book, melted. How could you not love her? Yes, the Jacob imprinting was weird, but it gave Jacob a purpose in life and created an improved alliance with the Cullens and a reconciliation with his own pack. She was the key to pulling together the vampire clans to prevent the destructions of the Cullens. I really would like to learn more about her character and to see her grow...a Meyer spin-off perhaps?
7. Alice's role- I was aggravated that Alice did not have a voice throughout most of this book. I enjoy Alice's character and thought that she really did not have much purpose in this novel. I was extremely angry when she and Jasper left, but I had a feeling they would be back. Alice quickly redeemed herself in the final chapters, but I still hold a slight grudge.
8. The vampire clans - It was extremely interesting to meet the characters that had been mentioned previously but not introduced. With their help, Bella was able to become the strongest weapon in the group - for the first time. I thought the scene with the Volturi would have turned more violent and found myself somewhat disappointed that it did not turn into a showdown, but I was happy with the end result.
9. The happily ever after - Yes, this story had a happy ending. Did anyone remember that Stephenie Meyer's favorite author is Jane Austen? Austen was also a firm believer in her characters getting whatever they desired. Meyer's ending was no different. The characters had conflict in all the books, but it was resolved. Any conflict, no matter how large it may seem can be resolved. Yes, everything worked out conveniently well and there is no longer discord. The overwhelming theme was not that you do not have to make choices in life because everything will work out for the best, but rather, love does conquer all. It is a universal theme - with love anything can be and is possible - isn't that a lesson we can all agree on? Instead of a bloody war torn ending, there was a peaceful resolution - we can only dream of this happening more in real life. Yes, everything worked out for our beloved characters. What else was to be expected? This was a fantasy, no, I'm wrong - this was a FAIRY TALE! How could a reader not expect all the pieces of the puzzle to fit together when all along it seemed like a fairy tale - the knight in shining armor, the damsel in distress, the evil Volturi...(Meyer makes several allusions to literary fairy tales). Readers need to remember that this is not a work of nonfiction. It is not a work of realistic fiction. It is a fairy tale and everyone got their happily ever after.
10. I am going to miss these books and these characters. May they live forever on library shelfs and in the minds of their truly devoted fans. Bring on Midnight Sun! |
A wonderful ending
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| Review Date: August 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: T. Arnold, Plainfield, NJ |
I'm not sure why everyone is hating this book so much. I think that it was a wonderful conclusion to the series with room at the end for possibly another book. People upset about the choices that Bella made need to understand that this book is about her being in love with a vampire. That key factor should make people stop making this book into some type of reality and enjoy it for what it really is, a wonderful work of fiction.
This book shows everyone doing a bit of growing up and I am very happy about that. Bella spent a lot of time being whiny and childish, and she has come into her own in Breaking Dawn.
spoilers below:
People want to complain about the fact that there is a mention of sex in the book, but completely overlook the fact that there was also mention of not having sex until you are married. People complain about her getting married at eighteen without worrying about anything else, but that is completely untrue. She's going to a great college and does nothing but worry about her future and the future of the people she love.
Then there are the others that don't understand why Bella gets everything she wants at the end of the series. To that I pose another question. Why did you read any of the books?!? This is a fictional love story. Most people like to see love stories end happily, and this one did. I'm going to take a guess and say that if you kept reading the book, you liked Bella's character which means that you would want the book to end with her happy.
She becomes a wife, a mother, and a vampire in this book so why would people expect her to act the exact same way she did in the other books? I think that Stephenie Meyer did a great job with this series and I can't wait for Midnight Sun. |
Read it twice!
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| Review Date: August 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Hen, Colorado Springs, CO, USA |
I am not going to lie, I HATED this book the first time I read it. It was such a blindsided slap upside the head and something that I was so totally and utterly not expecting that it left me feeling unfulfilled and let down. I mean Stephenie is my favorite author of all time (something hard to be considering the book slut I am) and she totally bailed on me.
Well, that's what I thought for the 24 hours after I read it. Then I picked it up again, willing to give her another shot and the benefit of the doubt and you know what? I LOVED IT!!!
What changed was that I had time to think about it and let it roll around in my head. So many things came together. True it seemed like a much changed Bella and Edward, but how many of us changed after we married? I did! I feel so much more comfortable with my hubby than I did dating him. And the sex thing. Understand it from the perspective of a person who waited until marriage to do it -- you become a nympho on your honeymoon. Sorry, it's the truth (and who wouldn't make a deal with their new hubby for a little more one on one -- especially if he were Edward?). Besides, why else go on a honeymoon? You're not there to talk politics! Baby names? Who hasn't named one of their kids something that at least one person in the family hated? I thought it was sweet and showed just how much Bella thought of her mothers. And if I have to read another review with someone going on about how shocking it was to have Jacob imprint on the baby, I'm going to scream!!! Come on, people, read and pay attention!!! It is not a sexual thing. Jacob is NOT panting after an infant (just like Quil wasn't after Claire). He is whatever she needs him to be when she needs it, ie; an uncle or brother or protector this early in her life. IT IS NOT SEXUAL!!! But what a love story that will be when she is old enough. I hope we get it! I think it's nice to have a reason that Bella's and Jacob's relationship was so crazy from the beginning -- it needed to be for the next generation! Kudos to you, Steph!
Anyway, I think with a little thought and a revamping, most of the people who didn't like it the first time through will like it. It's Steph's world and what she says is (the perks of creating)! Enjoy the ride! And remember "loose fitting khakis"! :o)
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Absolutely LOVED IT!!
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Carol Roberts, Montgomery, AL United States |
Just finished "Breaking Dawn" and loved the book. (NO SPOILERS in this review). I felt no sense of disappointment in the outcomes of the characters I have grown to know and love over the series. In fact, I was extremely pleased with the outcome, it is exactly what I wanted (and more).
I have read reviews complaining about the writing, and I'm not sure what that's all about. I see no difference in the writing style or language or syntax in this book from the first three books. I found the author's writing to be genuine and amusing.
There also seems to be a lot of disatisfaction about how the stories are resolved. The bottom line is, there is no way to please every rabid fan. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book... it's entertaining fiction, what it was intended to be all along. It's a suitable ending for the series as told from Bella's perspective.
Don't let the mixed reviews scare you away. The final book stays true to the series with a satisfying conclusion.
A final note: I find it kind of suspicious that not only are there so many 1 star reviews, but that most of the negative reviews got the "most helpful" votes while positive reviews were given the most "not helpful" votes. I realize there are some strong feelings about this series on both sides, but I also know Stephanie Meyer said in an interview that she reads the 1 star reviews on Amazon. HMMM.... |
Can't get this series out of my head (spoiler free)
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| Review Date: August 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Sandie Elsom, Australia |
My 12 year old daughter read these books and really enjoyed them, but I still wasn't tempted until a friend of my own age (40) insisted I read them. I started with Twilight and then gobbled up the whole series within a week.
I can't believe how involved I got with the characters! Sure, in this final instalment we have to suspend our disbelief a little further but so what? It never pretended to be reality.
I read a huge amount, but this is one of my favourite series ever. Some of the grammatical errors really bugged me (of off? come on!) but they didn't detract from the excitement. I think it was the romance that I loved the best - I understand Bella's love for Edward - I feel that way about him too.
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