 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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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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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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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! |
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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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. |
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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Well, I loved it!
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| Review Date: August 5, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Emily Ragsdale, Kansas, USA |
I thought Breaking Dawn was a great ending to a wonderful series. New Moon will always be my favorite, but Breaking Dawn answers questions, ties up loose ends, and gives a happy ending to Bella and Edward's story.
From Bella's pre-wedding jitters to the alternately romantic and hilarious honeymoon to all the shock and fear and excitement that comes next, Stephenie Meyer takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions. I was gripping the book so tightly in some parts that my fingers cramped, and for the last few pages I had to stop reading periodically to wipe away tears and blow my nose.
I've read complaints about people being out of character in this book which I don't understand. They all seemed spot on to me. Of course there are changes from Twilight but then Bella and Edward have been through a lot since that fateful biology class. They aren't the same people they were then, so they aren't going to act the same. Even Edward's seemingly reprehensible request of Jacob early in the second part of the book is in character, because that's how he is -- anguished, blaming himself for Bella's plight, he'll do anything to save her life, even if it means asking the unthinkable. Look at what he did in New Moon. When it comes to Bella, Edward would rather cut off his own arm than hurt her.
And really, people, Renesmee is freaking adorable. And the name sorta grows on you. It's no worse than people naming their kids Kayden and Jayelle and all the other weird made-up names you hear these days. |
Gratitude to a fabulous author.
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| Review Date: August 4, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Arlene Ross, Miami, Florida |
I was thrilled from beginning to end reading BREAKING DAWN, grateful to Stephenie Meyer for writing such a wonderful saga, and saddened to read the bad reviews from petulant readers.
Ms. Meyer has created complete, rounded, fully-faceted characters, and let us go along as they each matured -- even the adults. I was hoping for a book that brought the saga to a happy ending, because that was the point all along: Bella and Edward had a once-in-an-existence love that could meet and defeat any and all challenges.
For those who carp on small details, I ask this question: When did you decide that vampires, werewolves, Volturi, mind-reading and all the other staples of THE TWILIGHT SAGA were permissible, but a baby and a happy ending was not? Either you hand yourself up to be entertained, or don't bother reading.
One other thought: These are Stephenie Meyers' characters, not yours, no matter how you might identify with them. She fleshed out her dream and shared it with the world. To have any response other than gratitude for being taken on a wild romantic ride is sheer selfishness. For those who would rather be right than be happy, pick at details. For those who want to be satisfied over and over by a fine author, grab BREAKING DAWN and the first three in the TWILIGHT SAGA and have the time of your life. |
Oh Please.
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: S. Skyrm, |
This book was not what I expected. In a good way of course. I loved that the book was told from two perspectives. Bella grew up in this book. Yes she was frozen in time at 18, but she was grown up...she made grown up decisions. She has developed so much from the first book. Now she is someone completely different..in a good way.
Listen you fun suckers (all of you who gave this book a bad rating)...I think that this was a perfect ending to the Saga. At the end of book three it's true I hated Jacob...I mean how could he do that...make life so confusing. But that is what life is confusing, heartbreaking, and hard. It wasn't meant to be easy. But I had read her book "The Host" and knew that everything would turn out fine. So WHAT if Jacob imprinted on Renesmee? Who cares? Don't you see..it was predestined. Bella was meant to meet Edward and become a vampire. Jacob was MEANT to reconnect with Bella...so that he could imprint on her daughter. It had nothing to do with happy endings...it was meant to be.
As for this whole teenage pregnancy crap...ok. I certainly don't want to go out and get pregnant after this book. Haha. That is the funniest thing. She was married for goodness sakes...hello. Isn't that the part people have been trying to get there kids to do...get married before they have sex...which is exactly what Bella and Edward did. Then they had a kid...wow...what a sin..not. Most parents do it that way. |
Breaking Dawn (let down or not - you decide)
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| Review Date: February 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Crys, Arkansas,USA |
SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!! This whole reveiw is a SPOLIER ALERT!!
I had heard of twilight and i planned on reading this series before the movie came out. However plans don't always go the way you want. I ended up watching the movie first(i spoil my sisters too much)and then i read the books. Now i give every book five stars!!!I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! and I loved the saga overall!!! It has made my Most Liked Books List(and that's saying something) I think that people dont understand that when Meyer originally wrote these books (all of them) they were more for adults and her publisher's had her tone it down. Now obvioulsy she did not tone it down in "Eclipse" & "Breaking Dawn". I think that people are making a big deal out of this book, because they really are only looking at it from one view.
First of all,
The whole imprinting on the infant should NOT be taken out of context, Stephanie specified that when u imprint it is for what your needed for. If your needed as a big brother, friend, partner, etc. then thats what you will be. Which was the explanation for Quil imprinting on a two-year old. This is just a book and people seem to take this out of context of the facts. So all i can say to anyone who has a problem with the imprinting GET OVER IT!!!
Secondly,
Everyone thinks that her having a baby is not understandable. Yes, Bella was 18 when she had her daughter (A child that she thought was not possible) and she never saw her self as a mother due to that fact and because she knew that she could not have a child with the one person that she would have wanted to have one with. Her little nudger was a miracle in her eyes and all she saw was Edward's child. So of course she was going to go through with it.
Lastly,
Everyone wants to be critical saying that Bella got everything she wanted. I think anyone who has read these books and understood them knows that Bella may have recieved A LOT, but she never thought that what she was getting was possible nor did she expect it. So yes Bella did not have to go through what (they thought) normal vampires went through and yes she had a special ability. AGAIN saw it coming and so should you, it was made clear at the end of "New Moon" that Bella would have an ability and a very unique one at that. Now we get to Bella's happy ending (being a vampire, having Edward forever, Jacob as a friend & family, having an ability, having her father in her life,etc.) which she deserves after everything that happened not only to her, but her family (Jake,her parents, and the Cullens). Bella and Edward both received more than either of them expected, however people fail to realize that Bella will never be able to see her mom again, she will only be able talk to her, that to me is a sacrifice, she will loose her parents and friends in years to come seeing how she will never age (another sacrifice). Bella will have to continue to move and meet new people and loose them (for those who knows Bella her attatchments are hard to break from). Then the one thing that i believe is what will NEVER give Bella her happy ending is the Volturi. That is all i could think of at the end especially when Edward confirmed that they were NOT going to let that confrontation go. Which is not a happy ending if you think about it.
Also i wanted to point out that it was made clear that Bella was not your average 17 year old from the start. She practically took care of her mom especially emotionaly, so to me this saga is meant for a much more mature audience. "Eclipse" & "Breaking Dawn" however seems to be meant for adults, because that is exactly what she is (really she's an adult in all of them) and like her mom said "But commitment was never your problem, sweetie". "My little middle-aged child. Luckily, you seem to have found another old soul." I think its safe to say Bella has never really been your average teen.
Just for clarification i don't really think this book sends a wrong message considering its for ADULTS (17 & up) and ITS NOT REAL!!!!!!! so anyone who is trying to sail that boat(i will never let my kids read this because its sends the wrong message boat)it just SANK.
Again ITS NOT REAL!!!! (its all about imagination and being able to disconnect from the real world if just for a couple of hours. Everyone needs me time or down time thats what reading is about. Expand your imagination.) Besides its all about how you raise your child. They should be able to tell the difference between make believe and reality.
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Excellent plot, no matter what the others say
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| Review Date: November 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Iziclover, Little Rock, AR |
| I can only imaging how difficult it is to write a final book in a run of bestselling books. Reading the other reviews made me not want to read this book. Everyone kept saying comments like "jumped the shark." I know that this book tends to reach out to young adults, and maybe many of these people want unresolved drama and death. If that is what you are looking for in an ending, this not the book the read. Meyer is trying to show how through love and cooperation, with her vivid characters, that you can overcome things and have that happy ending. I do not understand why some people would rudely return a book that they had read, or wish for Jacob's death. If that is what you are hoping for, then do not read this book. Meyer ends this on a good note with finality and demonstrating the importance of family. Maybe you would have to experience what it is like to not have a family and then become part of one in order to feel the meaning of this book. She somehow ties up all the loose ends and brings a great ending to this saga. I highly recommend this book, despite the other reviewers. I noticed that the older audience (greater than 20 years old) tends to enjoy this ending more than the younger audience. Maybe there is an understanding that dramatic writing does not need to end with a horrible dramatic finish in order to still have a good ending. Meyer weaves in drama throughout her book to keep you reading, while also bringing a finality to these books. I have read a lot of books before, and people write in their reviews of this book that some of these events are ridiculous. Have you ever thought of vampires and werewolves as ridiculous? These books are fiction. These are not real characters. |
A great ending
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| Review Date: August 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kate Ryan, Kennewick, WA |
| I've been a kind of obsessive 30-something reader of these books since Eclipse came out. I waited in line for it at midnight last night, read until 3:30 in the morning and finished it up today. I have to say it's NOTHING like what I was expecting... except I knew the Volturi would play into the plot somehow. I really loved it and thought Stephenie did a great job of twisting the plot so Bella and Edward COULD have it all. I especially loved seeing Bella in her role as a confident vampire and that for all her low self esteem as a human... as a vampire she KICKS BUTT! About time that Bella show's off her true talents. |
This was a fantastic book - don't be so quick to judge it
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| Review Date: August 4, 2008 |
| Reviewer: OcherMe, |
I have to admit I was very nervous when I began reading Breaking Dawn. Contrary to most people's opinions I did not like the way the series was heading. Twilight was (obviously) a fantastic and well written book. New Moon was ok, for me it was Jacob's sarcastically funny and light hearted character that kept it going, and Eclipse was bearable. Stephenie Meyer was gearing away from everything I loved about Twilight - the mystery, the unnattainable love. Everything was becomming so mushy and lovey-dovey. So when I broke open my shiny new edition of BD, I was reasonably nervous that it was going to be dripping with sappy, unrequited love.
Was I ever proven wrong. The book was capitivating from the beginning, drawing me in and not allowing me to set it down for a second. The problem with Eclipse was that it had been too boring. Nothing had happened. BD was entirely different. Sure, it might have been a bit predictable. But at least it kept me entertained - not once did I feel the urge to yawn.
I loved that SM made the book more mature. There was the gruesome birth and the 'sex' scenes between Edward and Bella. It wasn't an X-rated romance novel, but it wasn't a coy childrens book either. What made this book different from J.K. Rowling's final book was she didn't feel the need to SHOCK her readers by killing off everyone's favorite characters. SM shocked us in her own way, and it didn't leave me with that empty feeling of a needless death.
Personally, I loved this book. This is close behind Twilight as my favorite in the series. I am tired of all the bashing reviews. One of my favorite things about this book is that SM broke the mold, pushed herself, and delivered a completed work that was different from what anyone expected. Twilight fans need to give her a break, think outside the box. Not everything always happens in the way that you expect, which is half the fun of reading - being amazed at what the author has decided to do with her characters. Honestly, I think Stephenie Meyer ended Bella and Edward's story wonderfully.
Oh, and for the record, I actually liked that Jacob imprinted on Renesmee (even though I wasn't so fond of her name...). I am a huge Jacob fan and I am glad he got the ending he deserved. I also loved the part of book that was written from his point of view. It had me smiling and laughing the entire time.
In conclusion, I ask for Twilight fans to not think so critically of BD. It is a well-written work that Stephenie Meyer poured her heart and soul into. She introduced us to the world of Bella and Edward flawlessly and she ended it with the same grace. I have never been so impressed with the final installment of a series I love whole-heartedly.
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Why so Cranky? It was a great book!
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| Review Date: August 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jenny Alves, New York, NY |
For a final book in a 4 book saga Breaking Dawn was perfect! It's true that somewhere along the way it stopped feeling like a Twilight book but then again hadn't the characters themselves changed so drastically?
Breaking Dawn was not a book that would continue on with Bella's innocence and Edward's reluctance to make her immortal. Her choices were made in Eclipse- her days of innocence and mortality were numbered!
I'm glad Stephenie introduced the back story of the immortal children and the succubi and inccubi. It allowed me to understand the danger they would face in this book. She could've easily prolonged Bella's change into 700+ pages but instead she introduced us to a new and very loveable character and allowed us to hope for future books and glimpses into the Twilight universe!
The fact that everything was tied-up in a neat bow satisfied me. Too many times I have read books that never answered some of the more important questions and left me hollow. I'm glad no main character died because that would've been heartwrenching. I can see a real future for all the characters, big and small.
Through it all her fans have been asking her for a great finish. They wanted so many different things that not everyone could be satisfied. Take a step back and realize that for the characters we have all come to know and love, life is good now. Be happy for that and stop complaning about the things that cannot be undone. |
Amazing, Breathtaking .. Just Loved It
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| Review Date: August 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Shanahan, Owings, MD |
| The book was everything and more than I could have possibly imagined. It had everything in it and I never wanted it to end. I think the author did a job well done and I can't wait for the series to be made into a movie. I literally could not put the book down, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I can't evern begin to tell you how much enjoyment I got of the epic series.. This series was a billion times better than Harry Potter.. Doesn't even compare... Even though this book is the last book in Bella's perspective, I am definately looking forward to the author continuing the story. This book still made me want more and I AM NOT A TEENAGER. |
Twilight
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| Review Date: January 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Elizabeth Bennet, Virginia |
I think that these books in the Twilight series are some of the best books that i have ever read, and i read alot! I couldn't get myself to put them down, though i tried, i didn't want to finish them to quickly.
Throughout the whole series, it was like i was there, with Bella. I saw what she saw, and felt what she felt. When Edward left in New Moon, it was like he had left me and not Bella. I cried after he left and felt much like Bella that there was a hole without him. I atribute this to the very talented Stephenia Meyer. She made the whole story seem so real. I felt all of the ups and downs of Bella and Edward's relationship. Even though I didn't really like Jacob Black, i was to in love with Edward Cullen. When in the end of Eclipse he left, suddenly i couldn't help but feel like crying. It was then i realized, that i had indeed liked him. It was like he was apart of me as he was of Bella. It ripped my heart out when he left. It was a bitter sweet moment. I wanted him to go and yet i wanted him to stay.
I have no favorite among the books in the series, they are all of equal importance. I loved the ending in Breaking Dawn. Everyone had gotten what they wanted. It was the perfect ending for everyone. Bella got Edward. In a way she got Jacob. All she had ever wanted was for her and Jacob to have that kind of family love. In the end, she got that. With him imprinting on her daughter, it let her off the hook. He finally loved her the way she wanted, because he was in love with her daughter. Which only made sense, i didn't see that coming, but it was genius. Since he couldn't have Bella he got the next best thing, her daughter.
Everyone is talking about the price that was paid for all of this. It was a very high price indeed. In the end, it was worth. Worth the happy ending for everyone. But the prices that Bella had payed had been what she had wanted from the beginning, so it wasn't very hard for to except this.
This was the perfect ending to a very troubled start.
I liked that it had so many other literary backgrounds. From Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet, being doomed lovers that it was certain would never work out in the end because of the differences. To Wuthering Hieghts, Bella was Cahty who caused most of the pain, because of her indecision.
Stephenie Meyer, i don't think anyone else could have done a more wonderful job than you, writing these books. You sucked me in, right form the beginning. I couldn't put the books down. As soon as i read Twilight, i immediatly had to have all the other books in the series. Even though i know that writing is for the writers own soul, to take you other places then where you were, Maybe even to make yourself known, for your own imagination, even though writers write their pieces for themselves and their own soul. I feel like this wasn't just for you. It was for people everywhere, people who feel the same way you do. Not just for your own soul but for everyone who reads this. |
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