Post by tokiohoteluk on Aug 7, 2008 11:55:38 GMT 1
Okay, lots of SPOILERS for Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyers.
Let me start by saying that for the first three books in the series, I enjoyed them a lot. The flaws did not outweigh how much I enjoyed the plots and characters of the books. I LIKED Bella meeting Edward in Book 1, I liked Jacob and the introduction of the warewolves in Book 2 and I enjoyed the epic love triangle of Book 3.
By the time we get to Breaking Dawn, the love story is over. Bella made her choice and what fueled the first three books is over. Where could it possibly go?
Into the ridiculous.
Firstly, Stephenie Meyer has time and again said that vampires can't have children. Bodily fluids turn to venom. Vampires are frozen at the moment they are created.
So not only did she go back on her own canon, the logic just doesn't exist. Either Edward stored up his one ejaculation for 107 years, or as a vampire he is creating more sperm.
Neither fit her rules.
My main complaint of the whole book.
If it was Edward's one stored up ejaculation (assuming he never jerked off in 107 years), then they should have made a human baby. If he's creating sperm as a vampire (had to be since it's ~half-immortal), she has gone against her own rules that vampires are frozen at the time of being turned.
That's just bullshit.
Secondly, the entire MORAL of the book is that women are not complete without a child. Families aren't complete without procreation. In the entirety of the three books, Bella has never desired a child. Suddenly, the idea of having a child is the most important thing she wants. Even more than Edward. Even though it's killing her. Even though they don't know what it is.
Meyer's mormonism is showing.
Thirdly, Jacob imprints on the baby. It's gross and sick. I can't get past that. But if you CAN get past that, can you get past how utterly CONVENIENT it is that suddenly the love triangle is over. Jacob wants their kid instead. Ew. And also how convenient that Meyer can give Jacob the happy ending. Even though from a writing standpoint she should actually have brought him together with Leah - bittersweet, but realistic.
Forthly, above comment x 100. Meyer takes away everything the first 3 books stood for - sacrifice. All along Bella chose Edward over her life and her family and her friends. The importance of that decision seeps through the entire series and her relationship with Edward. He left so she could have a life. He wants her to have her human experiences, he's sad she can't have a child. She was convinced she would lose her desire for Edward when she was turned. She shouldn't, once turned, have Jacob in her life. They would fight to protect Renemee and people would die.
Bella didn't sacrifice anything. She got a child, a new family, Jacob, Charlie, no one died, she kept Edward and all of it for eternity.
Fifthly - Bella the superhero. Bella has no flaws in this novel. In fact, she's a vampire superstar. She turns in two days without a whimpering of pain, she survives the birth of her half vampire child, she has the protective sheild which she suddenly is able to manipulate to save the day. she does not behave like a newborn vampire, miraculously, and has no desire to kill or drink human blood at all. It's ridiculous.
I could go on, but I won't.
I admit, there are huge horrible flaws in the other books, but I did enjoy them. Everyone is slagging them off to death at the moment and while I understand their complaints about the misogynistic overtones of the books, I don't think we need to take it THAT far. Edward is by no means a perfect character and Bella is certainly not a female character that young women should look up to, but the story is nice and the characters are awesome.
Claire
Let me start by saying that for the first three books in the series, I enjoyed them a lot. The flaws did not outweigh how much I enjoyed the plots and characters of the books. I LIKED Bella meeting Edward in Book 1, I liked Jacob and the introduction of the warewolves in Book 2 and I enjoyed the epic love triangle of Book 3.
By the time we get to Breaking Dawn, the love story is over. Bella made her choice and what fueled the first three books is over. Where could it possibly go?
Into the ridiculous.
Firstly, Stephenie Meyer has time and again said that vampires can't have children. Bodily fluids turn to venom. Vampires are frozen at the moment they are created.
So not only did she go back on her own canon, the logic just doesn't exist. Either Edward stored up his one ejaculation for 107 years, or as a vampire he is creating more sperm.
Neither fit her rules.
My main complaint of the whole book.
If it was Edward's one stored up ejaculation (assuming he never jerked off in 107 years), then they should have made a human baby. If he's creating sperm as a vampire (had to be since it's ~half-immortal), she has gone against her own rules that vampires are frozen at the time of being turned.
That's just bullshit.
Secondly, the entire MORAL of the book is that women are not complete without a child. Families aren't complete without procreation. In the entirety of the three books, Bella has never desired a child. Suddenly, the idea of having a child is the most important thing she wants. Even more than Edward. Even though it's killing her. Even though they don't know what it is.
Meyer's mormonism is showing.
Thirdly, Jacob imprints on the baby. It's gross and sick. I can't get past that. But if you CAN get past that, can you get past how utterly CONVENIENT it is that suddenly the love triangle is over. Jacob wants their kid instead. Ew. And also how convenient that Meyer can give Jacob the happy ending. Even though from a writing standpoint she should actually have brought him together with Leah - bittersweet, but realistic.
Forthly, above comment x 100. Meyer takes away everything the first 3 books stood for - sacrifice. All along Bella chose Edward over her life and her family and her friends. The importance of that decision seeps through the entire series and her relationship with Edward. He left so she could have a life. He wants her to have her human experiences, he's sad she can't have a child. She was convinced she would lose her desire for Edward when she was turned. She shouldn't, once turned, have Jacob in her life. They would fight to protect Renemee and people would die.
Bella didn't sacrifice anything. She got a child, a new family, Jacob, Charlie, no one died, she kept Edward and all of it for eternity.
Fifthly - Bella the superhero. Bella has no flaws in this novel. In fact, she's a vampire superstar. She turns in two days without a whimpering of pain, she survives the birth of her half vampire child, she has the protective sheild which she suddenly is able to manipulate to save the day. she does not behave like a newborn vampire, miraculously, and has no desire to kill or drink human blood at all. It's ridiculous.
I could go on, but I won't.
I admit, there are huge horrible flaws in the other books, but I did enjoy them. Everyone is slagging them off to death at the moment and while I understand their complaints about the misogynistic overtones of the books, I don't think we need to take it THAT far. Edward is by no means a perfect character and Bella is certainly not a female character that young women should look up to, but the story is nice and the characters are awesome.
Claire
