Sunday, August 24, 2008

Book Chat

Breaking Dawn. I've finished it, so let's discuss.

My initial assessment:
There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but overall I have to say that it wrapped up too nicely for my tastes. I wanted/expected someone to die or remain suffering in the end. Like Jacob. His whole imprinting on Nessie thing seemed oh so convenient.

But, the biggest "THAT'S convenient" of all went to Bella's power. I mean . . . come on. It felt like a cop out.

Fact of the matter is, at the point where Alice sees the Volturi coming and simultaneously Bella find out about her power, I knew exactly how it was going to end. And I was right.

It's too bad because I felt fairly engrossed by the first three books, but this one kind of felt like a chore. It certainly could have been written at least half the size. There were a few cool moments, no doubt, but overall I was usually frustrated with Breaking Dawn.

P.S. What's with the cover? I still don't get it.

4 comments:

Natalie Whipple said...

Hehe, I don't get any of the covers except the first one, so who knows.

I actually guessed Bella's power way back at the end of book two, so that didn't throw me. Jacob's imprinting on Renesmee (don't even get me started on THAT name) didn't bug me too much either.

What did bother me was Charlie. Why? It would have been so easy to leave him out and it would have felt like some kind of sacrifice.

And my HUGE gripe--where's the super awesome vampire fight scene where at least one important person dies at the end? If they had fought, if there was some kind of sacrifice for their way of life, then I could have bought it all and been just fine. I think.

Kiersten White said...

It felt like fanfic to me. Too many new, random, pointless characters introduced, outrageous plotlines that BREAK THE RULES SHE SET UP FROM THE BEGINNING, and storylines that went against characterization. And then building up to a huge climax to stall out and do nothing with it, but give everyone a nice pretty perfect happy ending complete with a bow on top.

I have a lot more than that, but we'll leave it there. I think she needed to let it stew longer, resolve the plot threads, and edit, edit, edit.

Renee Collins said...

Natalie, I too was irritated with Charlie's response. It was another one that was too convenient. I mean, your telling me that for the rest of his life he is never going to "need to know" what is up with his unaging daughter? Too convenient.

And, the let down of no big fight scene was very agrivating to me.

I also agree with you Kiersten about the confusing blob of new characters that didn't seem to serve a purpose.

Oh, and I thought of another thing that was too "happy ever after." The fact that Nessie won't only live fifteen years after all, no she'll just grow to adulthood fast and then live for hundreds of years. Come on, didn't ANYONE have to suffer?

One more thing, the last line in the book was cheesy, and totally unessesary. To quote Kiersten, "edit, edit, edit." It was the only time in the entire book that I honestly considered taking a pen and crossing the line out.

Natalie Whipple said...

Oh no, Charlie will never ever care that his daughter is suddenly ageless and hot and he has this freaky granddaughter who hits maturity and runs around with a werewolf how she can bite as much as she wants...

Oy.