|
Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) | 
| Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
List Price: $22.99
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $12.00 (52%)
New (76) Used (45) Collectible (2) from $10.25
Rating:  2555 reviews
Sales Rank: 1
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 768
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 2.3
ISBN: 031606792X
EAN: 9780316067928
ASIN: 031606792X
Publication Date: August 2, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new! Ships out next day with FREE delivery confirmation number.
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?
To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.
Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?
The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 2550 more reviews...
 A powerful message destroyed to tie up everything with a neat bow August 2, 2008
Eventide (USA)
1712 out of 2533 found this review helpful
I loved the first three books. I have always been a fan of Bella and Edward, but I liked how Meyer introduced the Jacob/Bella dynamic to show the complexity of relationships, and that love means SACRIFICE and making a CHOICE. Plot, character, and substance related issues I've had with the series were compensated by the message I believed Meyer wanted to make--Bella choosing to give up a normal life (and everything that comes with it) in order to be with Edward.
Now, I don't know what message the author wanted to say or what she was thinking.
(Spoilers Below)
Bella didn't have to sacrifice anything apparently. She gets Edward AND a baby AND immortality as a vampire. What about poor Jake--not a problem, he IMPRINTS on the baby, which I find disturbing not so much because it is a baby (though that is creepy just as it was with Quil) but because it's Edward and Bella's baby. Can we say cop out? Life doesn't turn out so neatly. People love and lose (and don't fall for the object of their affection's daughter). But in Meyer's world everyone is one big happy family.
So, girls don't worry. If you have problems, they will ALL work out. Is that what the author wants to tell her fans?
Or is it marriage and family by 18 are the way to go, forget about college, developing as a person, all you need is a husband and a child. No disrespect to people who marry at 18, but Meyer paints a glorified picture of the situation; most 18 years old aren't going to have an endless supply of money and never worry about how the lack of an education will affect their future. Yes, this is a novel, a fantasy, we shouldn't expect or require realism--then why go the mommy route at all? Just focus on Bella and Edward. Bella didn't want children, yet when she finds out she's pregnant she doesn't even freak out; she's carrying a vampire's child and it's just "my heart had grown, swollen up to twice its size in that moment."
Or is the author's message be passive and let others take care of you (what if there is no one else--no, no, girls, there is ALWAYS someone). One of my big issues with the series is how Bella has never had outside interests beyond Edward (or Jake), that she's not an independent person. I hoped Meyer would finally have Bella come into her own in this book, have her lack of personality be the result of high school immaturity or something, but obviously the author thinks a person's entire existence should be defined by others, not themselves. Another great message--not.
Don't even get me started on Bella's power. Again, another major opportunity to strengthen Bella's character is wasted. Also, the explanation of why Edward can get Bella pregnant is ridiculous considering the rules Meyer originally established for her world. The story may be dealing with supernatural/fantastic elements, but it still has to have internal consistency.
I wanted and expected a happy ending. I wanted Bella to become a vampire. I wanted there to be a resolution with Jake. I wanted and expected the Volturi to return. I also expected an intense exploration of pain, sacrifice, vampire Bella having to cope with giving up her family/old life. I wondered if Charlie and Renee would find out--wouldn't it be odd if their child just disappeared--and though a parent does find out (sort of), it was hardly the way I imagined it, especially with the way "newborn" Bella played out.
I wanted Jake angst about her being changed, him maybe not accepting her at first (or at all) but him coming to deal with it in some fashion so you felt there was closure at the end. I would have been fine with Jake moving on, but not with Edward and Bella's daughter.
Finally, why must Bella get everything? So much for a powerful message, I guess.
"You can't expect a message with vampires and werewolves!" I disagree. The best fantasy, horror, and science fiction stories all have a morality/deeper element to them. Fairy tales, as they were originally designed, were meant to teach children a valuable lesson. This does not (and should not) lessen the entertainment value of a story, but I think it's a cop out to say "it's a fantasy," as if that excuses anything. If you look at Lord of the Rings, The Hero and the Crown, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Last Unicorn, Harry Potter, Stoker's original Dracula novel, The Prydain Chronicles, The Little Prince--all of them deal with themes of sacrifice, choice, gaining wisdom, growing as a person, and/or are thought provoking/contain deeper messages.
Sure Twilight began as a dream, but three other books have followed it. Even getting away from message issues, I still have a problem with the plot and character developments of Breaking Dawn.
What was she thinking when she wrote this? August 2, 2008
J. Rogers (WV)
1076 out of 1601 found this review helpful
I think a lot of fans, die hards and those (like me) who just like to read a good book or series, woke up this morning thinking, "What was she thinking when she wrote this?"
I read the spoilers ahead of time and even though I found them highly amusing, a small part of me wanted them to be fake, even if I ended up with egg all over my face for it.
This review will not make fun of the name Nessie (even though I will stand by my thought that the Loch Ness Monster would not approve) nor will it focusing on Edward going a little to far to prevent Bella the pain of not having children. I think we all can understand why he approached Jacob and the desperation he felt.
The Twilight Series had everything: Powerful forbidden love, choices, sacrifices, and dynamic characters. So much could have been done with the final installment. Rather you were a Team Edward or a Team Jacob fan, you knew Bella would finally have to decide where her heart belonged and fully accept the consequences of her decisions: those good and bad.
I read so many fanfictions while waiting for this book released and I always skipped over the ones where Bella was pregnant because it was so unrealistic, not just because Edward was a vampire but because Bella has always been one of the most immature characters ever created (and I am a Bella fan).
She reminded us all older readers of the pain and greatness of first love. Granted, Bella took it a little too far before, ceasing to exist when Edward left and even resorting to dangerous activities for a delusion of his voice. This was NOT someone I ever wanted to be responsible for a child. She was a child herself. I could easily picture Bella in my head driving her truck with the kid in her lap or accidentally dropping her on her head. I guess its a good thing the child is half vampire. Having a child does not make you an adult or responsible; however as soon as Bella realized she was having one she went from wanting to be protected and cared for to wanting to be the protector. That doesn't happen like that. It's illogical.
Not only is Bella young, she's already married, begging for sex (which turns out to be the only reason shes willing to stay human- that's a good example of maturity), and once again, not even taking her health into consideration.
I am 28 and if I felt a baby kick for the first time, I would freak. I can't imagine what a real teenager would think if that happened. I doubt her first reactions would include joy. I would want my mother. I would be scared.
Bella? No, she calls Rosie.
Which brings me to Rosie. Did anyone else feel sorry for her? Here is this woman who all she wanted was to live and have a child now must endure watching someone have something she would have given her life up for. Nice.
I can't even complain about Jacob. He redeemed himself on some small level even though I never liked how he manipulated Bella into kissing him previous books. I always thought that was borderline sexual assault and really hoped young girls reading that wouldn't have seen that as an attractive quality.
I am not going to even touch on the creepy aspect of him imprinting on an infant but what blows my mind that he imprints on the child of the woman he so desperately loved. How can you even explain that. Its beyond unrealistic and somewhat disturbing. I can begin to imagine the stories Bella and Jacob will share with old Nessie.
Jacob- "I may have pictured your mom naked and pregnant with my child, but hey, you will do."
I know Stephanie wanted to give everyone a happy ending but there was other ways. Phillip and Renee could have had a child and X amount of years later he could have imprinted. A new girl could have moved to town. Hey that would have at least allowed Stephanie to expand the series, and let's admit it, make more money. Instead, he ends up with the child of the woman he loves. That is twisted.
Bella gets everything, which isn't necessarily bad but she gets everything in the most disturbing and inappropriate way. I can not imagine any parent being okay with the message this book provides.
All you need is Men in your life, a baby, marriage, and a small cottage in the woods. No matter how young and irresponsible you are.
Many of Stephanie Meyer's fans will fail to see anything wrong, many of them are young and hung up on the ideal of the perfect Edward, the perfect Love without even acknowledging the message this is sending to them. Already we have enough teen pregnancies, babies having babies, and struggling to be both and parent and a child.
This book tells you that it's okay. Having children that young is Okay.
I have skimmed many of the reviews on Amazon, IMDB, and MISC websites and found that many of her fans think alike on this subject. Many of them saw the potential for a powerful message to be sent to the youth of tomorrow.
A powerful message was sent. A very wrong one.
 Relax and Enjoy the Fairy Tale August 3, 2008
navyblue (USA)
714 out of 980 found this review helpful
Reading all these one star reviews is totally killing my post Breaking Dawn buzz, y'all.
--Please note: this review contains spoilers, as most of the reviews here do.
Bella's happily ever after is heart warming and tidy just like any other fairy tale you might enjoy from childhood, though with quite a bit more blood and (tastefully described married) sex. Many of these one star reviews criticize the happy ending, the early marriage, and motherhood in place of a college education, among various other complaints. I'm suspecting these reviewers would be much happier with an independent Bella who marches off in her human form to get a Masters degree in Psychology before marrying Edward. Or heck, not marrying Edward at all, and eschewing the idea of something so base and demeaning as becoming a wife or parent. Though perhaps it's more the youth of the heroine that causes their lament.
I however, like happy endings and am thrilled she gets to be a mother. Yes, GETS to be a mother. Many people I spoke to who were in "Camp Jacob" expressed their reason: "Because she could have a family with Jacob". Well surprise, she had a family with Edward.
Yes, Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter, but because imprinting on babies/children had previously been introduced in the series, I didn't find this at all unsettling. All this shouting about pedophilia is a little... intense for what really happens. Jacob makes it clear that it isn't a sexual thing at all while the object the affection is still so young. Jacob imprinting on "Nessie" means they all stay a family, which is what Bella wanted all along.
Which brings me to another common complaint: Bella gets everything. Goodness! After fighting for it, tooth and nail, yes, she does. Isn't that what makes most of us smile at the end of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty?
Some have suggested that having Jacob imprint on someone else would allow Bella to make a sacrifice by finally fully letting him go as well as remove that feeling some reviewers have that she gets everything. I do see this point, and perhaps this happening would have made it a more critically acclaimed book, but as I was reading the story, I was fully involved in watching Bella's story unfold and these things did not negate my enjoyment of the book.
As for the complaint that Bella should have gone to college first -- good grief, does she not have the rest of eternity to obtain as many degrees as she wants? This isn't real life, folks.
For those worried about the impact this book may have on impressionable young teen fans, if you're allowing them to read the books at all (I know some parents aren't), why don't you read the book along with them and talk about the real life application of Bella's choices? Sounds like a great excuse for some good conversation.
One complaint I completely agree with, Bella names her daughter Renesmee, which is hard to read, hard to pronounce, and impossible to spell. I'm amazed that made it past the editors.
Critics argue that you can't shout "But it's fantasy" to cover gaping plot holes. Perhaps to a more critical, serious eye, plot holes exist and are bothersome. But I truly was lost in Bella's story and as I read, very little jumped out as completely unreal or impossible to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and consider this rating a 4.5 stars.
Stephenie Meyer has been able to create characters that feel intensely real. I was able to lose myself in the story through all four books. While the first in the series remains my favorite, the characters remained almost tangible people that I cared about and rooted for throughout.
Stephenie admitted herself that pleasing all of her fans would be impossible, but insisted that this was the story she wanted to write all along. I've been a happy voyeur for the ride, and remain a happy fan.
Sadly Disappointed August 2, 2008
Sonja Sheffer (Richfield, UT USA)
641 out of 1091 found this review helpful
I am deeply disappointed in this book. It did not even feel like Stephenie Meyer was writing the story. I am surprised to say this as I am an avid reader and have devoured the first three books multiple times but I honestly would have stopped reading this book except I was curious to see how much more bizarre it could get. This is not at all what I expected. In my mind, the series now ends with Eclipse. This book was a huge disappointment and I just can't even imagine what Stephenie Meyer was thinking, let alone her editor.
A Juvenile Conclusion, A Wasted Opportunity, A Let-Down & A Cop-Out August 6, 2008
B. Junkin-Mills (West Chester, PA United States)
233 out of 290 found this review helpful
I'm 46 years old, and I bought the first 3 books for my teenage son. He liked them so much that I read them myself; I was pleasantly surprised! Although Meyer's writing is amateurish in places, she absolutely knows how to tell a tale. For the most part, I was mesmerized. In fact, I read the trilogy twice. And there was so much great story build-up, and so much opportunity for character growth and excitement in this 4th book; I bought it at midnight and read it all night so my son could have it the next day. Wow, am I ever disappointed.
To me, the first book was without question the strongest. The second book was also strong and I really enjoyed the dynamic of the Jacob relationship. It's true that Bella's incessant whining and ludicrously melodramatic pining for Edward (God, shut UP already about your 'wound'!) was aggravating enough to take me out of the story several times - but really, I couldn't put it down. The third book was the weakest of the trilogy, in that there is very little action until the end, the school storyline was all but dropped, and there wasn't a lot of character development - especially from Perpetual Victim Bella, who continued to be incredibly needy and dependent (while inexplicably attractive to every male in Washington), as well as in peril at all times (I hope that doesn't make other young women WANT to be victims!). But still, as I say, the series overall was gripping and enjoyable enough to have me impatiently awaiting Breaking Dawn.
[SPOILERS]
While I was waiting - I was hopeful. I was hopeful that Bella would grow as a person and not be so needy(and tearful, and prone to fainting, and melodramatic, and selfish). And I was REALLY hopeful that Bella would realize how incredibly dysfunctional her relationship with Edward was. (I know the young girls LOVE Edward but please consider for a moment if his personality was NOT packaged in a perfect body with an angel face and velvet voice, as well as super strength and speed, a nice car, and piles of money. Imagine if Edward's personality was in a scruffy working-class joe. I have to believe that most would then see his overbearing over-protectiveness and his controlling domineering nature as just what they are - sick and unpleasant.) I felt that there was some good foreshadowing in the 2nd book (how unhealthy her mourning of Edward was & how she felt better with Jacob) and in the 3rd book (how she realized that she also loved Jacob & and how she was scared to become immortal)that gave me hope that in the end, Bella would see Edward for what he was - her first crush (and yes, those first loves are cripplingly strong) but not her forever love. Neediness is not love! Being told what to do and what to drive and who to be friends with is not being loved! Being a victim is not sexy! Desire to forsake your friends, family, and humanity is NOT healthy! Stephanie Meyer had a great opportunity to show the growth of a young woman, to show the maturity that Bella could have gained that would have made her see the unhealthiness in her relationship(s)... Bella could have acknowledged the Odious Edward as a first love and someone who would always have a place in her heart, but not someone with whom she'd spend eternity - forsaking her own identity in the process. Bella could even have wound up as a College Freshman who cares about friends and education and life - without a boyfriend for a while! There's huge opportunity for character growth there - as well perhaps as a lesson of sorts to Meyer's young readers.
But Meyer cops out incredibly. Bella stays with Edward AND becomes immortal AND does not have to deal with any consequences for this (WTH?) AND has a baby (!) at 19. What sort of a message is this? During the entire tedious book I was cringing to imagine young impressionable girls fantasizing about finding a boyfriend who would tell them what to do, and be jealous of any other man they are friends with, and over-protect them so they never have to learn to take care of themselves, and provide for them so they never have to learn to provide for themselves... a boyfriend they would give up everything for... but it would all be okay and have a happy ending and they would live happily ever after. It sickened me. All I can say is that I hope that the young women of today are mature and self-confident enough to take this series for what it is - an exciting fantasy tale - and not actually dream of an 'Edward' in their lives.
ETA:
I see that a lot of people are saying that the negative reviewers (such as myself) have a problem with happy endings. I have no problems at all with happy endings! What I have a problem with are happy endings that are too easy, and too neat, and require retcon and deus ex machinas galore to achieve. They aren't 'real' - and of course I don't mean that vampires are real so everything in the book should be realistic - I mean that they aren't true to the story or, in this case, even to the canon of the story. Things like that are a slap in the face to devoted fans - such as myself- who have invested time, money, thought, and emotion into these characters and this story, and (rightly) expect a good payoff - a conclusion that works within the framework that the author herself has created.
The author herself spent 3 books outlining and detailing the many things that Bella would have to give up in order to join the Cullens. She set up the dilemma, the choice that Bella had to make. And then she turned around and allowed Bella to become immortal (& stay with Edward) without actually having to lose anything or make any sacrifices at all! It's fake, unearned, 'cheat' endings like this that I have a problem with - not happiness per se.
I do personally have a problem with Uber-Controlling Edward (I prefer hot to cold, life to death), but I know that a lot of people like the Bella/Edward romance. Stephanie Meyer could have kept Bella and Edward together and still given a conclusion that would be palatable to me, and others. All she had to do was stick to the canon of her world, and have Bella go through the things we thought she'd go through (losing friends and family, newborn-vamp strife, giving up the ability to have a child, etc) to become a vampire... and the inherent conflict in that (plus perhaps an Epic Battle or 2) would have made for a meaty read that stayed 'true' and was therefore satisfying. But, as I said, she copped out and made it all too easy.
This ISN'T a fairy tale. Fairy Tales are for young children. This is a series for adults - both young & old - and I expect a mature level of writing that reflects that. I didn't get it with BD, and I am pissed off about it.
|
|
|
We'll be adding even more exciting features to assist you in the coming year.
Thank you for shopping at the Depot.com online shopping depot.
©2008 Depot.com | |
