August 8, 2008
I finished Breaking Dawn yesterday. I have seen evidence and heard rumors of reviews/criticisms/spoilers on TWITTER but I will not do anything that will ruin the story for those reading it. I assure you. I am going to leave a bullet list of points after the jump here for those of you who HAVE finished it - so we can discuss it in the comments.
Edited to Add: So the entry showed up IN FULL in my feed reader. I don’t want anyone spoiled in their feed readers, so I’m going to put the actual entry as a COMMENT on this entry. Okay? I’m trying my best not to ruin the story for anyone!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh….
Can’t look, can’t look! I’m still reading the second book.
Overall? I’m very pleased with the book. VERY pleased. Here are some fine points:
I’m sure I’ll have more to say - as you leave your comments. I’ll return with my own responses periodically to add to conversation. What did you think?
I agree with all your points! She ended it very well. I also felt the same with the anticlimatic end, BUT I think that leaves very open for more down the road. *cross your fingers*
I read some of the Q/A answers from the Chicago book signing, and Stephenie said that the Merchant of Venice reference (the book that Alice left the clue for Bella in) was forshadowing that the resolution wouldn’t involve a battle, but a battle of wits. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the book. Was in tears when Jacob imprinted Nessie. Re-reading it already because I blew through it so quickly the first time.
I read it in a day, too, so I need to go back and reread it again.
I thought it was good, although not quite my favorite. And a bit of me still mourns for Team Jacob, even though I always knew she’d end up with Edward. I love Jacob and I’m glad he got to narrate for a while.
And yeah, no fight? What in the world? But I think she’s left it open to write another one if she wants.
I agree with you about a lot of it. I feel like she kind of kept it open for a book later on, maybe down the road, maybe not on Edward and Bella specifically, but pertaining to them and/or the covens they know - that the Volturi battle still needs to happen. It’s also interesting how strong she made Bella and Carlisle’s family now. I liked meeting all of the other vampires. I like how she had Jake imprint on Renessme, because in book 3 I was kind of annoyed by him. I was also annoyed at the pregnancy at the beginning, but once I saw how she used it, I liked the twist more.
I recommend this series to my students fairly frequently (I teach high school) so I have to admit I was a little put off by the whole Bella as a teenage mother thing, but overall I liked the book. The no-fight ending was *definitely* anticlimactic.
I still like Eclipse the best. The love triangle aspect had a lot more power than whatever drove the plot in the book.
I’m torn, I’m torn, I’m torn! On the one hand, I loved it simply because I love the characters. On the other, though, it felt too rushed, too pat, if that makes sense. I love that SM introduced new characters, but I would’ve liked more explication with them. Even though she wrote “The End” on the last page, I can’t believe it’s the last vampire book; she left too many loose strings.
In comparison to Rowling, however, SM is the clear loser. Rowling is much better at builing a layered plot, and it’s obvious that all SM can do is skim the surface of her characters. I found myself just accepting that there was little reasoning for character motivation with SM, but Rowling will build a backstory to help flesh out a character (except for Hermione, why is that??).
I’m so glad you’ve read the books, though. No one in my “real” life has read them, and I miss not being able to talk about the series with anyone.
Couldn’t agree more — when Bella became pregnant, I got a little freaked out, and I was so relieved when that storyline was resolved.
I thought that this book reflected a big change in the focus of the series. Bella and Edward’s romance has been played out as far as it can, I guess, and Meyers seemed a lot more engaged by the idea of community — the Cullens, the other covens, the Volturi, the vampire community in general, the werewolves… It actually reminded me a lot of “The Host” in that sense; she’s exploring the way people interact with each other outside of romantic or family (biological, that is) relationships. She’s also more interested in creating the vampire world and explaining their rules and history. The cast of characters and the playing field both got a lot bigger with this book.
I understand why she made those changes, but Bella and Edward’s romance (and the complication of Bella and Jacob’s relationship) is what drew me to the books and made them compelling for me. I’d love for Meyers to write more books in the series and continue exploring the vampire world, but I think the first three books will always be my favorites.
I hope we’ll have at least one more book, so we can see what Renesmee grows up to be like. Maybe a book from Jacob’s point of view, set several years ahead of “Breaking Dawn”?
As I mentioned last night, we kinda agree on all points. Though somehow, I saw the pregnancy coming. Not in a big way, but I suspected it. Maybe just not so early in the book (I had also expected the transformation to vamp later in the book - like to save her during the big battle).
However, I would *love* to get a book on the Romanians and the other early vampires. I think it would be great to see the Volutri take-over of power. Now that they seem so scary and diabolical, I would love to see them during a time when they were just “regular” vampires.
I just finished the book about an hour ago. Your blog which I lurk on (sorry) Actully turned me on to the series. Huge Thanks!
While I enjoyed the story. At first I was ticked about the whole pregency and the honeymoon part of the story. After it all started to fit it, it made perfect sense. I also was crying when she said goodbye to Nessie. Being a mom it is easier to understand that bond. The part that makes me a little sad is that this book seemed to move beyond the Young Adult genre. I love that kids are intrested in reading them but it seems to have major adult overtones. That is a disapointment because the *teen* ness that are apparent in the first books were my favorite part. Thanks again!
I love a happy ending, too…and this paves the way for another book: Jacob & Nessie, or maybe that other dude?
After I read it the second time I loved it. I admit I read through it really fast the first time to make sure that Bella and Edward ended up together, and the whole pregnancy freaked me out a little. But like you, once we were able to see where the story was going I LOVED IT!! I also bawled like a baby when all the couples were saying good bye to each other…all in in all for me it ended great…and I have to say Thanks for turning me on to this series, because I heard about it first on your blog!
I have no clue about the book series you are talking about but it does sound very good, but I am touched about how thoughtful you are, putting your review in your comments so as not to spoil the book for other readers. Good luck on your first day back to non-at-home work next week.
Am I the only one who wasn’t thrilled when Jacob imprinted on Nessie? I mean, I eventually came around when I saw how it all worked out, but I was NOT a fan of that development at first. I have to say, even though I saw the pregnancy coming a mile away, I never expected that particular twist.
I thoroughly expected an ending where Edward and Bella didn’t survive, so I was quite relieved that it DIDN’T come down to an actual physical fight with the Volturi. The conflict that did take place, with Aro being manipulative and Caius chomping at the bit in favor of slaughter was, for me, tense and climactic enough.
Oh, and I’m very excited for “Midnight Sun,” which is “Twilight” from Edward’s perspective.
Well, I must say that I felt the same way at the end of the fight (or non fight) that you did. I love a happy ending, but she brought us all the way there…and then there was just nothing. I then listened to her interview on mugglenet podcast (have you heard it?) and she says the reason she didn’t let them actually fight is because she knew who had to die, and she just couldnt do it. Really…I am okay with that! I couldnt stand it for any of the family to die!
The more I have thougth about the book, the more I really did like it. It was so different from waht I was expecting that it took me off guard, but I am now planning to read it again, a lot slower this time, and enjoy it for exactly what it is!
I loved it
I have not read it yet.. But with all these good reviews it seems that i must.
Making a trip to the library tomorrow!
I was a little thrown off by her getting pregnant. And I was also disappointed there was no big battle with the Volturi. But in the end I loved the book.
I started with book 1 a week before Breaking Dawn was to come out, finishing Eclipse Friday night and then waiting for my copy of BD to arrive. You and a few other people are the reason I picked book up in the first place, so it’s you I have to thank for turning me on to a great series.
The only thing I can’t wrap my head around in this book is the name Renesmee.
I hate it. It seems overly “cute” to combine the two ‘mother’ names and make a new one; but then again that’s my point of view as someone in their late 20’s, I imagine if I was 16 and reading it I’d think it was the most beautiful and romantic name ever. Everything else was resolved in a way that made sense, and all in all I’m very happy/satisfied. I think since I read them all in such a short amount of time I need to take a few weeks to ponder and then re-read them to see what I might have overlooked the first time.
I totally agree with you on the Volturi non-battle. It almost seemed like she was just wanting to wrap the story up nice and neat without having to write any action scenes. It was anticlimactic and a bit disappointing. I, too, was glad that if Bella had to change, it was because her life was in danger not because she wanted to, because, frankly, that made her look like a very selfish little girl. In the end, I’m not quite sure what I think of this book or the story as a whole - some parts I liked (like Jacob’s story) and other parts I didn’t like or was annoyed by (the whole pregnancy thing and the “fairy tale” cottage in the woods), but overall I think it was pretty good.
I enjoyed the book over all - I am not a die hard fan, just a casual fan! However, I did not like it when Jacob told the story, I much prefer Bella’s narration. Just not for me. I was happy when it turned back to Bella. I also HATED with a RED HOT PASSION the name Renesmee. Just fugly, and half the time I was going, “How do I say this again?”
I was happy there was no big battle, mostly because I didn’t want ANYONE to die. Like Meghan said earlier in the comments, I’m going to have to re-read it soon so I can catch the details I skimmed over in my rush to finish!
Good points all, Zoot!
As for the ending, all I could think was, “if Joss had written this there would have been some death involved.” The ending seemed too pat and unrealistic, which one one hand made me happy, cuz happy ending, yay, but on the other had, I felt like she took the easy way out. Maybe I’ve just been warped by my dedication to the Whedonverse.
Is it wrong of me to admit that I’m just glad we finally got a sex scene? I think like Edward was stringing me along!!
I’m such a horny teenage girl stuck in a old mom’s body!
I also felt very gipped about the lack of confrontation at the end, especially if this was the “final” installment. I kept thinking that the Voluturi would NEVER let the Cullen family get that large/powerful. And yeah, I would’ve hated to have Bella or Edward (or Alice) die, but the lack of any violence made all the build up and stakes seem so cheep (I think I would’ve been OK with a Rosalie death, she got on my every nerve, man).
But, I totally agree with all of your points there. I’m glad Bella was FINALLY turned (that would’ve pissed me off, too), and that it was done to save her. I never expected a pregnancy, so that was fun. I’m not sure I loved having a Jacob section, mostly because we’ve had three entire books of just Bella (plus, I got sick of the Jacob loves Bella plot).
I think my favorite part, though, is the bond with Bella and Charlie. I loved that she stuck around to be near him.
Regarding Megans comment that a 16 year old girl would think that reneesme was a beautiful, romantic name.
I’m 16
I think that is a horrible name.
Blasphemy as it is, I never really loved Edward. He was too overly Byronic for me.
I haven’t read all the other comments, but I agree with you, Zoot! I just finished last night (out of town for the weekend and didn’t take it with me) and was overall quite pleased. One thing to add - Stephenie Meyer keeps saying this is the last book from *Bella’s* perspective. I think most people assume she’s talking about Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward’s perspective) but I could also see (and would love) a future book about Nessie and the return of the Volturi, or some new enemies. (Definitely need some new villians.)
I think I need to go to the bookstore…
I FINALLY got to read this post today because I escaped from the house to a quiet place this afternoon to devour the last quarter of the book. LOVED IT! When Jacob imprinted on Nessie, I just gasped out loud and loved it. I was so tense during the impending fight at the end, I was seriously upset and afraid they were really going to die! I loved it though. I loved that she brought in new storylines with Jacob as Alpha and the baby. I loved Bella as a Vampire. Sigh…
I’ve been anxiously waiting to read this post until I finished BD. I finally did, and I agree with you totally! I was so confused and angry at first… but once she had the baby and Jacob imprinted on it, things fell into place. I started off so disappointed, but by the end I loved BD almost as much as the other three. Not quite, but almost. I thought it was a great ending to the saga.
Loved it! Can’t wait for Midnight Sun.
Just finished Breaking Dawn and, I gotta tell you, I absolutely agree with you on some points. I loved that she tied Jacob/Nessie together, because it made sense as to why he was so obsessed with Bella, but I kind of wanted a battle with the Vulturi - even if it was just Edward and the jerk he wanted to kill!!
I KNEW Alice would come back at the end, but I had no idea she’d bring what she did. Am definitely going to re-read this one again!
OMG I really liked breaking dawn! The first time I read it I thought it was totally stupid. Then next few times it got better and better. Of course there are some weird parts like the name renesmee and the fact that she was killing bella. Also that Edward asked Jacob to get Bella pregnant that was so out of character and not right. I also think that the book was not as based on Edward and Bella’s love as much as the other book. It also seemed to revolve around physical love a lot. I love how we get to see from Jacobs point of view that’s really cool! The wedding scence was really good. Apart from all the sex I thought the honey moon was great. I think before skinny dipping Bella’s nervousness and anxiousness was so right. I think the scene with the volturi was PERFECT. It didn’t end up being a fight so no one died!!!!!!!! Also it was very tense and you never knew what was coming. Also we got to see how well bella’s power worked. I loved how we got to learn about the vampires from all over the world and learn about their different powers. I think it’s neat that charlie is able to be let in on the secret a little that way bella doesn’t loose him completely. ALthough confusing I think it’s cool how alice suddenly shows up with all this proof that savs everyones butts. She was great in being prepared and making sure bella had all the neccesary stuff for if something happened. All in al I think this is a great book and although i’m sad that the series is ending I think it was a great ending!!!!!!!!
I just finished this yesterday. I did like it much better than Eclipse, which I felt was poorly written, particularly the first few chapters of Eclipse.
I thought Leah was going to imprint on Nahuel but that didn’t happen.