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Question: What is your opinion about this review of Stephenie Meyer's new book, "Breaking Dawn!?"
Firstly, this is not my personal review of the story!. It's from the LA Times!.
It’s virtually impossible not to draw parallels between "Breaking Dawn," the concluding installment in the “Twilight” series, and the final “Harry Potter” book!. Both involve revolve around mythic worlds and young, ill-prepared protagonists headed toward a supernatural showdown between good and evil!.
The problem is Stephenie Meyer is no J!.K!. Rowling!. We who’ve enjoyed the work of both authors have known this since we picked up “Twilight!.” (I like Edward too, but there’s only so many times I can read how “beautiful,” “perfect” and “dazzling” he is!.) But with these final chapters, in which both authors really swung for the epic, Meyer’s bunted!.
Things looked promising at first!. The pace is swift and the curve balls surprising and frequent: Bella and Edward finally get busy, we get inside Jacob’s head, Bella joins the Cullens in immortality, Jacob finds his mate!.
But all the while, a larger story arc is missing!. The love triangle is, sadly, summarily dealt with, and once the romance is over we’re left only with Edward and Bella’s child Renesmee -- even the name, well, it’s no Hermione is it -- and all the conflicts she so quickly and disappointingly resolves!. Edward versus Jacob!? Over and done with!. Vampires versus werewolves!? One big happy family!. Bella being a ravenous newborn!? She’s not going to eat her kid!
So what to when you’ve written yourself into a corner!? Meyer is forced to more or less start over and she spends the second half of “Breaking Dawn” going for outright thriller!. The second half of the book singularly involves the mystery of Renesmee and shielding her from the threat of the Volturi, an enemy initially so full of literary potential!. Bella, Jacob, Edward and the rest of the “Twilight” characters become little more than Renesmee’s anxious protectors!.
Bogged down in the new, too convenient mythology -- Bella’s new power is the only one that will matter -- the book winds up faltering under its own weighty aspirations!. Bella’s covert operation, the additions to the Cullen camp, the unique powers of the new vampires are explained so thoroughly yet serve so little dramatic effect that “Breaking Dawn” could easily have trimmed off 200 pages and reached the same anticlimactic ending!. What’s worse, the new guys are there merely to populate the side of good for a battle that -- the big spoiler -- never happens!. That's right!. No blood shed!. No deaths of loved ones to kill readers in the gripping way Rowling did in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!."
At least when you get to page 735 -- where you’ll find the resolution neatly tied up -- it’s more a confirmation of what you saw coming rather than simply a letdown!. And as for the final scene, Meyer writes this one like she's already imagined it on the big screen, with the swelling of sappy love song and a fade to black!.
We would have much preferred the whole thing to end in book three, "Eclipse," with yes, some happiness for Bella, but also some angst, some heartbreak, and a dark, ominous future looming!.
-- Denise Martin
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Just wanted to see how everyone felt about it, and get some discussion going!. I'm quite appalled by what the writer of this review thought!. I think SM is an AMAZING author, and everyone needs to quit comparing the Twilight saga to HP!. It seems nobody is happy unless someone dies! But, honestly, I am happier that no one DID die! Anyways, I want other opinions!.!.!.!.
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I agree with you hon about everyone comparing SM to JKR!. Both who are great authors in their own ways!. Now they aren't the best authors to come around but they each have changed, in their own ways, the book industry!. They have gotten millions of people to read and that is awesome!. They are two very different writers and people need to realize that and stop comparing the two!.
About what you said about the characters being killed in books, it is kind of nice that SM didn't kill any one!. I was shocked that so many were killed in HP, but then again it made me even more attached to the characters that were still alive!.
Either way I enjoy SM as a writer, but I also enjoy Edgar Allen Poe, James Patterson, and Nicolas Sparks!. So none the less I support the book Breaking Dawn, even though I have yet to read it!. I bought it today though!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Loved it!.!.
its true and she wasnt screaming "Breaking Dawn Sucked!"
would have been nice if breaking dawn was some what like eclipse!.!.funni,sad,anxious making,fight scene!!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Harry Potter will always beat everything!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I to agree with everything this person wrote!.
Most of the reviews i've read are positive!.
It's nice to see that someone knows how to tell the truthWww@QuestionHome@Com
I could not agree more!. With the reviewer that is!. Meyer's writing is subpar and I'm glad that was addressed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
my opinion is that is was horrrible, like a fanfiction!. But it was still okay!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Thats fair!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
ha ha!. I'm sure that this person (Denise Martin) is telling the truth!. It doesn't sound like a good book!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think that Breaking Dawn was fantastic! Okay, sorry there was no blood, guts and death plaguing the climax!. I thought the tension and anxiousness of the situation was enough of a climax- for me, at least!. I think that fans set very (very) high expectations for the book, so naturally, they were disappointed!. Jacob imprinting on Renesmee, I thought that was a great way to smooth out the love triangle! Jacob-fans would be livid if Jacob didn't get his happy ending!.
Personally, I think Breaking Dawn is the best in the series!. I don't agree at ALL with that critic!.
EDIT: After re-reading that (harsh) review, I noticed the critic pointed out that Stephenie Meyer didn't kill her fans with death like J!.K Rowling did!. What really would have happened if Alice died!? If Edward died!? If Carlisle and Esme died!? If Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper died!? I would burn the book!.
To all the people who wanted someone to die, we're sorry that Stephenie Meyer wanted a happy ending!. Harry Potter was so depressing, in my opinion!. I didn't like it!. I'm glad that all my favorite characters lived!.
(Okay, that's the end of my little rant!.)
<3Www@QuestionHome@Com
This man has no love in his life apparently he must have been neglected as a child!.!.!. i totally agree with you i don't like how they put down SM and also compare her with JK Rowly!. yeah sure they both are amazign authors but they have differnet styles! also why would any one stop at book three if Jk rowly didnt' stop her series until the seventh that is so predjuduce !.!.!. well, my thought is that i love the twilight series and can't wait for the movie or Midnight sun !!!!! Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think the review is excellent except that I object to the constant comparing of the Twilight books to the Harry Potter books!.
She's spot on in her criticism!. The only change I'd have made to that review is I'd have been a bit harsher on Meyer's writing, her depthless characters and her cliched dialogue!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I agree with this review!. Ive been reading fans talking about it since 12:01 am saturday!. The book was a bit of a letdown there was no dramatic effect, no emotions like in eclipse!. Stephenie said she wrote the book for herself, but i think that she took fanfics and put them alltogether to create this monstrosity of a book!. She could have put a little more effort into this grand twilight finale, she should have went out with a BANG! Steph's plot is just all over the place she tried to make a completely different story and added random stuff to make it come all together!. She changed all of the characters personalities! Bella, is now wearing satin and silk lingerie!? And shes a sex addict!?<---Question mark!?!? Anyways, I really wish that maybe Steph would write another book to make up for this failed novel and put a little more thought into it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Honestly, I liked the book!.
And that review is actually pretty spot on!.\
I don't think SM is a bad author!.
In fact I love the way she writes and I wish I had half her skill!.
And I actually like BD more than Eclipse!.!.
idk why really!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
The reviewer was dead on!. J!.K!. Rowling maintained a vision throughout her entire series, and wasn't afraid to disappoint fans!. She made the books how she originally planned them!.
It seemed like Meyer browsed fanfics and decided the course that would make fans most happy!. The point of fanfics if for people to see what they wish would happen!. It's not what is actually supposed to happen!. They're too perfect, free of conflict!.
Breaking Dawn was a huge letdown for me!. After every chapter I would have to pause and think, "Is this really Bella!?" She was soo OOC it was ridiculous!. And her flawless self-control!. Her and Renesmee (wtf kind of name is that!?!!?!) both turned into Mary-Sues!. They were waaay too perfect!. Everybody would love to imagine that everything ends perfectly, and every single character gets their happy ending but reading 754 pages of that makes for an extremely dull book!.
It really didn't hold my interest and I was extremely disappointed with the conclusion to a series that I enjoyed so much!. It didn't carry the mood from previous books, and all I can say is that I was really disappointed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
The ending itself I was happy with but the book felt rushed, and many parts felt unnecessary, like Renesmee, and the whole Volturi bit!.!.!.I think the reviewer was way too harsh, after all I think Stephenie just didn't want to disappoint fans!. I think the book was really good over-all though!.!.!.and I have said this many, many a time, Harry Potter and Twilight, are two completely different series,, by two different authors!. People really, REALLY need to quit compairing the two!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
This is the first real review of the book I've seen, and I must say it's spot on to what I thought of the book after my initial reading!. I think this was by far the worst of the series, and I refuse to read New Moon because of how sad it makes me! At least then you cared about what happened!. This book just got tedious, and every thread got all to neatly tied up in a little bow with no angst or trouble whatsoever!. That is not the making of a good story!. at!. all!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
SPOILERS : D
I honestly didn't enjoy reading this book!.
I had to force myself to finis it!.
i love SM shes a great author!.
but i hated the end of this series!.
J!.K did an an amazing job wrapping the story off with a boom
Twilight ended with i whisp!.!.!.blehh!.
Edward STILL has no personality
Bella changed so much, i felt like it wasnt the same book!.
Jacob was still the same, but id rather he didn't imprint on Renemee!.
that's just sad!.
I liked little nessie thoughh!.
but i dint like her in this book!. but she seemed like a sweet girl
The whole Voltuire thing seemed like she just wanted to drag the story on, it was veerrryyy pointless!. Im just kinda sad it had to end with me being a HUGE fan to "ehh!.!.!. ill never read it again" which sucks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I find one problem with this review!. The seventh Harry Potter was a flop as well!.
And i agree I think people need to stop comparing Twilight to Harry Potter!. They are two different series, with two different worlds, by two different authors!. I would only compair them if they were written by the same author!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Totally agree with this reviewer!.!. the book felt like I was reading a fake spoiler on the internet before the book was even released!.!.!. the first three books were fantastic there was a lot of thought put into them, Meyer should have put more time and effort into this one especially the FINAL of the series!. Meyer could have tied all the lose ends of the first three novels together if this book was not so rushed!. I believe meyer has a talent to captivate readers and she did not use it to write breaking dawn!. The plot direction of the first three books and the characters changed drastically for this, I felt like i was meeting some of them for the first time!. I'm not saying that I was wishing for some more blood and murder, Im just saying meyer could have came to the same conclusions tying everything in a neat bow, without the reader feeling like they have no idea what is going on!. SPOILERS Book One was what I would expect from meyer and then boom bella is pregnant and meyer does not explain how this could happen (it doesn't make sense to me or the characters) Book Two I really liked Jacob's point of view it helped me get over the bella's prego!. Then jacob imprinting on nessie I was alright with cause you could see it coming once bella being preganant happened!. Book Three I was not impressed with it was all over the place I had to reread parts to try to figure out what was going on meeting all these new people that didn't really have any value to the book other than to be witnesses!. Anyways that is my rant I just expected more considering the first three of the twilight series!.
By the way there should be no comparison between Meyer and Rowling they are two COMPLETELY different authors writing about different subjects!. Both are talented and both have success, and their names should not be put in the same sentence whether you like one better than the other!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I honestly agreed with everything that reviewer said!. EVERYTHING!. She was spot on!. Hit the nail on the head!. I may have to quote her from now on!. I think Stephenie Meyer is a terrible author, and the reviewer is right-- the conflicts from the previous novels were either dropped completely or too easily resolved!.
It's nice to see that some people have common sense when it comes to literature :)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com