Breaking Dawn
*SPOILERS*
So, at first, I thought it was just me. But then I went online and let a ton of other reader-reviews and realized that I most definitely was *not* the only one. In fact, customer reviews at amazon.com seem pretty straightforward, from what I understand.
I was not a fan of Breaking Dawn.
Twilight was unequivocally my favorite among the entire series, with Eclipse coming in second, and New Moon growing on me with every reread. I was never *too* keen on Bella's entire devotion to Jacob, given her supposed absolute love for Edward (most especially the selfish nature of it, given the fact that she was aware of how much that devotion hurt Edward).
That aside, however, it's kind of hard to miss the degeneration of Edward's character as the story goes on. In Twilight, there's a mystery and a caustic-ness about his personality that is captivating, more especially because his character is alive with all sorts of odd but appealing character traits. In New Moon, his...relatability and 'dynamic' nature diminishes. The melodrama with which he's characterized irked me at the time, but I tolerated it--because I love Edward.
Eclipse was difficult for me to get through, though it is one of my favorites, because of the whole Edward-Jacob conflict. I can't really understand how/why Bella determines that she loves both of them--it's one or the other, and it's not fair to either the way she treats them. Though a lot of blogs sympathize with Jacob--he is experiencing the worse kind of abuse, I feel like, since Bella's using him, be it inadvertedly or not--a lot of other ones talk about how hard Bella's fixation must be on Edward.
Seriously. A girl who you love more than anything, and who claims to love you, can't live on without loving someone else, too? I never liked that part of the plot, despite the fact that I *do* love Jacob.
I could get in on all my theories and reasons for both pairings, but that's not the point of the post.
So, I went to a midnight-release party for breaking dawn--my first--and proceeded to read through the night.
The first book [Part One, BD] was difficult to read through, mostly because...umm...Bella's pregnant? All right, putting aside the inevitability of that, insofar as normal vampire lore is concerned (and, technically, Twilight vampire lore) why on earth introduce a plot element where Bella gets pregnant, when the primary focus of the story is the relationship between Edward and Bella.
I would've been okay with the pregnancy and the freakish (she's creepy, albeit endearingly) Renesmee (and really...Renesmee? and was she really naming the kid Edward-Jacob if it was a boy? ...I feel for Edward) if it weren't for the fact that we see nothing of the relationship between Edward and Bella.
Sure, they have sex all over the place, breaking beds (...alternate title: BREAKING BEDS?) and going about their hormonal ways, but we never really see that playful, infatuted (yes, it was annoying, but I missed it) soulmate sort of dialogue/interaction that we saw in earlier books. I missed the Edward-Bella dynamics were the two were so in love and afraid of each other (and of the vulnerability of that love). it seemed as though Renesmee shifted Bella's focus entirely, and--while I'm not a mother, and I'm probably missing something as a result--it seemed a bit extreme to ignore the possibilities of Edward's character.
I understand the whole mother-daughter bond thing, but the relationship seemed a bit unhealthy and forced. And, can I just say that it doesn't seem as though Edward's a father at all? His relationship with Renesmee is barely explored, and more often than not we see Nessie with Rosalie or Bella, or Jacob (don't get me started on that) instead of Edward. In fact, Jacob seems more of a father to Renesmee than Edward.
And I think Edward would be a very indulgent father.
Edward's just so flat in this book that it's inconsistent with all we've seen from him so far; yes, he turned into a wimpy infatuated vampire somewhere between New Moon and Eclipse, but at least he had those character traits. I feel like Edward--and the rest of the Cullens, for that matter--were entirely overshadowed/overlooked by Renesmee and the Bella-vampire dilemma.
I'm particularly disappointed by Jasper's absence in the book. I thought he was one of the characters with the most potential, and I looked forward to more backstory--be it his, or that of the Cullens--but there was none. That aside, was Jasper and Alice's disappearance really necessary? And J.Jenks--was that really all that essential to the storyline?
I feel like the characters changed too quickly from what they'd come to be, given their personalities in books 1--3.
Let it be said, that Jacob (and Garrett/Kate) were my saving grace for the book. This is kinda tragic considering that I'm Team Edward and had a mostly hate-love relationship with Jacob following New Moon (I came to appreciate his victimization later on). How bad is it that I found Jacob's narration (Book II) the most tolerable part of the story? It was a breath of fresh air, and thankfully, still in character. His jibes and groans were straight-on, and, though he was still attached to Bella, it was nice to see that he was still Jacob.
I was most especially pleased with the Jacob-Seth-Leah relationship, though I honestly wondered why on earth so much of the book was focused around Jacob and the pack.
I also wondered why the hell Jacob was narrating a part of the book in the first place. It was implied, at the end of Eclipse, that he had disappeared (forever), only to reappear in BD. And, his reappearance be damned, was there really any reason for him to be narrating? Shouldn't Edward have at least had that honor? Nevermind that Jacob's narration was the only part of the book I enjoyed.
I may be, however, one of the few that wasn't really disgusted by the whole Jacob-Renesmee imprinting thing. I didn't think it was perverse or anything, since the whole Quil-Claire thing had already been discussed.
I did think it was unnecessary.
Most especially since it seems like Book II (Jacob's part) spends quite a bit of time setting up something of a relationship between Jacob and Leah. In fact, I thought they would end up together, which would lend credence to the whole love isn't always where you think it'll be. The way I see it, Jacob falling in love with Leah--imprinting aside--would make a great case for the different ways to stumble on love (and the different types of love). I thought it was a bit cheap for Jacob to imprint on Renesmee. It was a great way to tidy up loose ends and make everyone happy, but not the way I would've seen it coming.
And really, why was a huge chunk of the story about pack drama? I loved it, of course, and--for the fifteith time, it was my favorite part of the story--but was it really necessary? The story's supposed to be about Bella and Renesmee Edward.
And all that gore! I thought I was reading a very badly written Tale From the Crypt when I heard all about the nasty little monster growing inside Bella, that emaciated her, and kicked and broke ribs and gnawed through her (she was supposed to anyway). I was disturbed by Bella's want of the thing (though I think I was supposed to be) and all that gore.
And really? Bella skips the newborn stage? What's the point in that? Imagine the plot-line possibilities of that--of her realizing the fullness of the sacrifice of her humanity. I feel like that angle wasn't explored at all. Bella didn't at all seem to relish her humanity, or be hesitant to leave it behind at all. I understand her love for Edward, but there wasn't the slightest reluctancy or want to be with her family or friends any longer.
She barely even considered the sacrifice.
Not that it mattered much, since she skipped the whole bloodlust thing. Maybe because she was too busy sexing it up for Edward with black lingerie.
I should, maybe at this point, mention that I thought their first love-scene was very well written, insofar as the whole innocence-uncertainty deal lies. It wasn't trashy, but very sort of sentimental. I liked it. I did not like the unnecessary drama (melodrama) of the morning after.
Nor did I like how much Bella lied to Edward in this book.
But my biggest pet peeve? It's too tidy. Too perfect. Maybe I've been spoiled conditioned by other pieces of literature, but I've gotten used to a bit of sacrifice/death, a-la-Dumbledore-Fred style. Of all the vampires gathered at the final judgement with the Volturi, couldn't she have killed a few (Irina aside)? It wasn't as though the readers had much sympathy for the newcomers anyway (except for maybe Garrett and Kate).
And I can't believe that the Volturi just disappeared like that.
A fight was inevitable. It was supposed to be inevitable.
I don't know. I can't see Aro just leaving.
And what the hell? Alice and Jasper come back?
GAH! It was too 'happily-ever-after' for me--everything worked out too well. Bella had no bloodlust, she didn't have to give up her motherhood, and her powers just happened to save everyone.
Oh yeah, and sex with Edward.
um. sounds like a Mary Sue.
Yeah, don't kill me.