Breaking Dawn was the last book in the Twilight saga. Though Stephanie Meyer plans to write Midnight Sun the book will only run parallel to the series from someone else's point of view. There was no option then--all the unanswered questions had to be answered in this book. Everything had to make sense. I must say it exceeded my expectations.
At first I was unsure--with Edward and Bella's wedding done with by page 50 it seemed odd that this book could continue--everything was perfect, so long as Bella was made a vampire eventually. But Meyer had other plans up her sleeve. An unexpected pregnancy that no one could have guessed, and that at first seemed too silly and fanfiction-like. Who could've guessed that while vampires can't get vampires pregnant, the same didn't hold true for vampires getting humans pregnant. As silly as it was, one of my favorite parts occurred when Bella realized what was happening, when Edward was on the ground in shock, unable to move. The image was was clear in my head, and the thought of it made me laugh--I laughed a lot through this novel.
And then Meyer makes a bold choice and has Jacob Black narrate for the duration of Bella's pregnancy. We're able to see how everyone reacts without constantly hearing Bella's whining about not harming the baby, but not wanting to see everyone else hurt. Not to mention, Jacob was a pretty good narrator, what with his crude language, funny nicknames, and "bada bing". Yes, that was another favorite part of mine. I also very much enjoyed when Edward was able to hear the baby's thoughts, and he was finally taking on that fatherly image. What was more interesting was knowing what Jacob was thinking, and seeing Edward's reactions--something that was impossible when Bella narrates. And Meyer cuts off Jacob's narration at just the right point--when Jacob changes, when he imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter... when he's changed forever, and therefore, no longer a good narrator. It was time to travel back to Bella's mind, no longer suffering from constant thoughts of her child--there were new things to consider.
In order to save her from the traumatic ordeal of giving birth to a half-vampire, Edward had to change Bella. It was finally time for the heroine (as much as I hate to admit it) to become a vampire, and her narration started to become more interesting. It was great seeing the terrible transformation through the one who experienced it, great seeing the still lacking in self-confidence Bella getting used to her super model body, and Edward, loving her just the same as he had when she was merely human, convinced her that she was never just merely pretty. I do love Edward, love the way he has never lost his love for Bella, love the way he protects her, love the way he hurts when she hurts and blames himself for the tiniest little thing. You can see the good in his heart, though it doesn't beat, the perfection that is Edward Cullen. There's just one tiny mistake--
WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD LET THEIR WIFE NAME THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER RENESMEE CARLIE?!?!?! WHAT IS IT WITH BOOKS LIKE THIS AND HARRY POTTER, CAN NO ONE FIND A DECENT BABY NAMING BOOK?
Ok, sorry, just had to get that out. Other than the name, Renesmee is a joy to watch. Just like in the book, she's able to win over even the most skeptical readers, with her innocent charm. Though I thought I would abhor her birth, I actually appreciated her as a character. Afterall, if it weren't for her, there wouldn't be such a final battle.
All seemed right with the world, everyone was happy, and yet there were still 300 pages left of the book...something had to happen. Ah, yes, of course--the Volturi, the vampire police who covet the skills of Edward, Alice, and now Bella. I must admit, it was quite exciting to see the army of vampires build up, to all protect Renesmee at all costs, and still it wasn't quite as exciting as the final battle in Harry Potter. I know, I shouldn't make comparisons, but that's the truth. The battle seemed recycled almost, with Bella being able to protect everyone with a shield (sort of like Harry's sacrifice shielding everyone from harm). Still, it was interesting to see how everything worked out, how Alice finally showed up to save the day, but even more so how it all seemed to end at a standstill and both armies turned around and walked their separate ways. Oh, I must say, Aro reminds me way too much of Pegasus from Yu-Gi-Oh, just have to put that out there.
And so the story ends, as many fantasies do, happily ever after. I thought about it a little after I read the final sentence and closed by books in the early hours of Sunday morning. When I first read it, I was skeptical, because so much had changed, it was so different from the other three, but upon further thinking I discovered that I highly enjoyed it--because it was so different. The characters took on new traits and new flaws--they became different characters in a sense. Highly impossible, yet it seemed like Edward grew up in a sense, no longer a more perfect version of Romeo, but rather one who kept more than just his and Bella's self-interest. It was nice to see him stand up to Aro as almost the leader of the group, taking responsibility for his family--his wife, and his daughter.
It was even nice to see Bella grow into a vampire, able to control herself to keep the ones she loved safe. It was nice to see her take on that motherly role--though entirely different from the teen with the aversion to marriage Meyer created in the previous three books. I highly enjoyed the very end, when Bella is able to push the shield away from herself so that Edward can finally read her thoughts and know how she really feels. That was, to me, the perfect ending. Edward and Bella weren't so much the Edward and Bella we all learned to love from earlier in the series--they were completely different, and still, so much better.
See, Breaking Dawn wasn't so much the end of the Twilight saga... technically it all ended with Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn was a book on it's own, creating new characters that we still loved. Despite the elaborate plot, the terrible baby name, and the easy way out of having Jacob imprint on Renesmee, I found that this book was highly enjoyable, a 9 out of 10 for me.
Just one question though... what do you think will happen once Renesmee is old enough, and Jacob can fantasize... and Edward can read his thoughts... I'm guessing total bloodbath :D
1 comment:
I agree with alot of what you wrote. I guess it was the easy way out having jacob imprint on Nessie (if i think of the nickname it doesn't bother me so much) I like the idea though. How else could jacob have had a complete happy ending? Granted i never dreamed Bella would get pregnant. but why not? I also loved that she so easily fit into her role as a vampire. I think that its cool that she fit right in. That she fell right into it with such grace and elegance. she finally found her place in the world. she always felt so uncomfortable akward. i think it was because this was her fate. her destiny. and it was jacobs to imprint on bellas child. it just explained so much and made so much right at the same time.
the ending eas a little blah for me. i mean the whole shield thing. Yea i could se it and i guess it was needed to give the volturi the disadvantage. I guess the showdown between them was meant but i think it was good thatt it was resloved with little violence. i also love the idea of the introverted talent that nessie has. and yes the ending when Bella figured out how to let Edward in her head was so sweet. it was a great ending for me. I do hope she gives us Jacob and nessies story
Post a Comment