'Twilight': A snap judgment on 'Breaking Dawn'

(This is spoiler-heavy. Consider yourself warned.)

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

Related:

'Twilight' video: Jacob and Edward fans sound off

'Twilight': Scenes from the 'Breaking Dawn' release party

Comments

[EO]

i thought it was amazing. and what happened was perfect and how many of the fans wanted it. plus it will make for a great couple of movies.

[bre]

simply put:
people who think harry potter sucks compared to twilight...

here are the reasons why you think that:
-you're a preteen girl who just wants to read sappy love novels.
-you clearly aren't a writer with literary understanding
-you just don't have any understanding of literature beyond the simple lessons taught in school.
-you don't like tragedy
-you don't have mental capacity to be enraptured by the intricacy of Rowling's writing.
-you're a vampire.

[Camden]

It honestly amazes me how much little credit everybody is giving Stephenie Meyer and also the lack of depth you all search for some understanding. Ok so you don't like the ending, did you ever stop to ask yourself perhaps why you didn't and what the author meant by it?

Perhaps you missed the statement of Bella and Edward's life of free will and independence triumphing over an established tyranny disguised as a wise, and well-intended oligarchy without the use of violence or force?

Or did you catch the gathering of several different groups of vampires collecting from all around the world for a simple cause. After recognizing how truly similar they all were in such a short time, that cause then growing into a bond so strong that these vampires are willing to fight and die together for this ideal?

I mean I know your simple minds really were craving for some good ole smack down so common in every other tv show, book, and movie today. But some of these comments are truly insulting to both the author, and anybody with half a brain.

Meyer's ability to weave satire regarding human nature as well as contemporary politics into an in-human fantasy world full of rich characters is more than most authors today could even dream of and apparently more than most people can recognize despite the fact that it's right in front of their faces.

Hmmm, didn't think of that one did you?

[Disappointed]

Very true
"Breaking Dawn" was disappointing.
all the inconvenient things from Eclipse were just ignored or hastily looked over in breaking dawn
ie. jacob vs edward.
bella's thrist for blood

the not so climatic battle conrontation between the cullens and the Volturi was lame.

and i totally agree that edward being descirbed as "perfect" "beautiful "and "dazzling" all the time does wear off after a while.

but i cant wait to see kristen stewart pulling off an extremely pregnant bella . :P

[Ashley]

I'm not going to lie, I hated the book, and I've been in love with the Twilight Series since the moment I was able to wrap my fingers around the first novel.

It was way too predictable, which ended up nearly killing half the book - the excitement part of the book, anyhow.

Though, everyone is free to their own opinions of the book.

I, personally, was looking forward to a little more tension between the love triangle.
Maybe a bit of violence, with a fight between the Volturi.
And maybe being torn between Bella going immortal.

So I do agree with the ending comment about their needing to be some angst, some heartbreak, and a possible dark-looking future.

The book did not keep me on the edge of my seat like the other three did, either, which was rather disappointing.

Honestly, this book was the last book of the phenomenon; The Twilight Series. I believe, one hundred and ten percent, that Stephenie Meyer should have gone out with a big bang in this book, not what she did go out with, though.

[Chelsea, Ada]

I absolutely loved Breaking Dawn. I thought it was the best book of the series besides Twilight itself. I wish people would let up on comparing Meyer to Rowling. I thought it ended like it should have. Bella and Edward’s story is over that is the point of Breaking Dawn. Has Meyer not stated before, in not so many words, that there is a chance that more books are coming, just from a different point of view? (Besides Midnight Sun) I would surely hope so; she left the book off for that possibility. I believe that is why she had all the vampire witnesses and told us so much about them. For all the people who thought learning about the different covens was boring, I’m deeply disappointed. Why would you not want to know as much as possible of Meyer’s new world that she created. That is what people have done with countless other books/moves: Star Was, Inheritance, Harry Potter, and even Narnia. It’s possible that the next book could be from one of their point of views or Renesmee’s.

Speaking of which I think Renesmee is a beautiful name. If it weren’t for people creating and re-pronouncing names differently we would all have names from the Stone Age, like the names is the Bible. (Nothing wrong with them though) But I remember when Mackenzie was a weird and unusual name, especially for a first name. If you didn’t know Mackenzie is Scottish. Meaning: Mac = Son of, so Son of Kenzie. Also, vampire’s having kids is not so far fetched. Maggie Shayne did it in her Wings in the Night Series and so did R.L. Stine in his Last Vampire Series. Hell even Amelia Atwater-Rhodes book Demon In My View had a somewhat vampire-child birth in it. Of course they all did it differently. And none of these author’s vampires are alike though.

And here is something to ponder. If Jacob didn’t imprint on Renesmee then whom would she end up with in the end? She couldn’t possibly end up with a vampire because what if he bit her and turned her into a full fledge vampire? What would happen? Would she die? Would she ceased to be the Renesmee Meyer’s had wanted? Is possible that with Renesmee being a half vampire, half human that in time, maybe a couple of hundred years, she will slowly start aging again. Then that would leave her full fledge vampire mate to go on without her. Where has Jacob could continue to live for as long she did, not aging, then when Renesmee started aging he could to by leaving his wolf-self behind. And if Renesmee ended up with a human what would happen? She would be stronger than him, possibly hurt him and then be rejected when he found out who/what she really was. And even if he didn’t reject her, he would surely age and die as well unless he chose immortality. Which goes back to the first possibility I talk about. No Jacob imprinting on Renesmee was the right choice.

And not having a big battle scene at the end was no big deal. I wish half of our human wars could end like that, without ever drawing blood. Not everything has to end in a fight. So for those of you who wanted a fight in the end of the book just go back and re-read the end of Eclipse with the Newborn Vampire battle. Go get your kicks there. I agree with Adriella. If you didn’t like the book then give it someone who will or destroy, it’s your money you are burning. No one is forcing you to read or keep the books. And for those of you who said they hated the books from day one then why did you read the series? If you didn’t like it then why didn’t you put it down? I couldn’t have been that hard. Unless deep down you really liked it, just didn’t want admit to yourself or to others.

Oh and ekkostar, you can drop the act of Rowling setting the standard. The standards always get bet eventually. I loved the Harry Potter books but I only got into reading them because I wanted to know what I missing from the movies. That is all. And no author writing anything about vampires would have anything to go on if it hadn’t been for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Over all I think Meyer did a great job with the books. I’m totally for Team Edward and I got my wish and happy ending. Please don’t let it be the end of the series. I don’t care if you write from someone else’s point of view. I will gladly recommend your books to anyone that I know. I’m even trying to get my sister into them and she doesn’t like vampires or reading. LOL

[Esther]

ok, let me break this to you
HAVE ANY OF YOU PEOPLE EVER READ A BOOK THAT WAS PERFECT FOR YOU, FULFILLING EVERY LITTLE STANDARD YOU MAKE? be honest! maybe ONLY a few of you willl say yes, now do you find ANOTHER person with the exact opinions? OF COURSE NOT. the whole point is that all books are different, stephenie meyer cannot possbile write just to please millions of DIFFERENT people. "the series should have ended at eclipse" "what was this pregnacy all about?" "there wasnt a love triangle" and MANY more opinions
i am not going to oppse or defend any of these coments
of course, everyone is differen, some people think breaking dawn is crappy, others think its good! It good that everyone has different opions, so we can learn from each other and have fun sharing our views.
but please note this, no book is exactly perfect, and this isnt focused on the books, its about the author! stephenie meyer has devoted her time in creating a magical series for all of you? don't agree with me? fine then, i understand but you have to see stephenie meyer putting in so much in her books! please appreciate her effort

[Amanda]

I thought the book was great - I'm glad there was a happy ending and that nobody died! What a bunch of pessimists you all seem to be. The only thing I thought was weird was the fact that Edward could apparently produce semen when none of the other glands in his body worked...

I don't think it was the best book in the series (for me that was Eclipse) but I liked the way it summed everything up and how everything came together. Call me a romantic, but I'm glad Bella got her happy ending.

[twilighter1000000]

TWILIGHT TWILIGHT TWILIGHT TWILIGHT TWILIGHT!WOOOOOOOOTTT<3

[Dani]

i loved this book. my favourite book in the saga has to be twilight though.
the only problem that i have with breaking dawn is that stephenie meyer didn't go into more detail when edward and bella finally "did it". she made a big deal about it for the first few books and then left us wondering about the specifics.
but overall, i loved breaking dawn.

[Travis]

I am really suprised from a lot of the discussions forums out there where people do not like the book...from the obssesed nature of all those pre-teen girls in line at Barnes and Noble, I wouldn't think a negative comment could have slipped its way through.

I am completely out of the target audience of this book. I am a 24 year old male. I love listening to audiobooks and pretty much give everything a try. I never thought I'd enjoy Harry Potter, that just wasn't a genre I had ever appreciated before...but I blew through those in a few weeks time. I didn't even hear the first book in that series until about the time Half Blood Prince came out, so I didn't have to wait long.

I literacy finished the Eclipse audiobook while pulling into Barnes and Noble for the midnight release. I finsihed all 3 previous books in about 2 or 3 days...I was permenantly attached to my iPod. Stephanie Meyer's writing is very engaging and draws you into the characters, the same as J.K. Rowling. I actually cared what happened to them, and felt a strange internal struggle at the hardships and happiness they faced.

That said, Harry Potter and Twilight is apples and Oranges. Do not make the mistake of too closely comparing the two just because they sit somewhat adjacent on the bookstore shelves. While HP has a neverending web of mythology, symbolism, iconography, and religious parallels to satisfy a scholar...the Twilight series is just...great. I cannot further describe the pull of the series, but I am sure that many of you know exactly what I am talking about as you Visine-ed your eyes all monday morning from lack of sleep and staring at a book for 700+ pages (Another great reason to listen to audiobooks).

In response to those who feel some of the previous storylines were wrapped up to quick, go revisit the other three books...or should I say other 6?...You could almost rips each one right down the center and read two different stories, especially New Moon and Eclipse. Breaking Dawn was no different.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and no one will ever end up agreeing on the outcome, but I will say that, for myself, Breaking Dawn was very good and I enjoyed it.

[Andrea.]

Breaking Dawn was my least favorite in the series. It was alright. The rest were amazing. I liked it, but there was something missing.

[Edie]

For all these people who are upset about the comparison between Harry Potter and Twilight, remember that it was the TWILIGHT publisher who kept fueling those comparisons, so blame them. As a fan of both series, I enjoyed them both, but Harry Potter has the better sales record and better story by far.

I liked parts of Breaking Dawn, but I felt it was lacking overall. I thought this review hit it on the head- structurally, it was a mess. She resolved the love triangle issue way too early- why do you think we kept buying the books? Because of the love triangle!

And no one has to die, but if you've created this scary opponent (the Vultari), then you need to have a showdown. A true showdown with fighting (fatalities optional, although it's more powerful if you have some). That's what Meyer set up, and she failed to finish it off.

Also, I think Meyer suffered from something many writers suffer from- she cared too much about her characters. She cared so much about them that she didn't want to see them truly suffer. Unfortunately, good stories involve SUFFERING. They can end up with everything going well, but they have to suffer first. That's just good storytelling.

I think we have to remember that Stephenie Meyer has not been given the chance to develop her craft enough. It's tough to do that in the limelight. I think her agent and editor failed her by not giving her good feedback on this book. Or if they did give her this feedback and she chose to ignore it, then hopefully she will learn something from this mixed reception to what should have been an amazing finale.

[LuLu]

OKAY, its really insulting when people compare Stephenie Meyer books with J.K. Rowling, i loved the harry potter books along with the thousands of fans out there, the language Rowling uses in her books are completely breath taking a complete master piece! I also like Stephenie Meyer books but THEY do NOT have the same amazing impact Harry Potter had on me, the vampire romance has been done, think about it angel the tv programme had a vampire child who grew up in a hell dimension and therefore aged extremely fast, the mother killed herself so the child could be born, i know this isn't what happens in the book but the outline of Meyers idea for her book is there. The idea is un- original and Meyers writing is un developed and often boring when descibing things, unlike Rowling who could create an amazing picture in our imagination. Meyer isn't a skilled writer she can put the right words in the right places but cannot create something 'magic' Bella is a deluded, pathetic character who in the end comes across quite selfish. I personally think the ending should of had Jacob risking his life to save Bella and there we have a tradgic end which okay wouldn't please jacob fans but would of made the whole thing a lot more interesting. The writing is rushed and the whole sex thing on the island i mean PLEASE Bella acted like a complete IDIOT, it sets a bad example to all the young readers and to be honest makes her character even more pathetic. Anyone who says Meyers books are the best books out there obviously don't read much, i know you want to stick up for your favourite author but i think its time you open your eyes and realise Meyer isn't the bees knees. To be honest i am looking forward to midnight sun as seeing through the eyes of Edward is an interesting idea, i hope she bucks up her ideas and writes a maserpiece, i think she has the potential to be something amazing.

[Matylda]

And also: I believe the only people who are saying that this book is wonderful are idiotic. The story lacks everything! A plot, depth, actual chemistry - good grief, do you people not realize that Stephanie Meyer isn't even CLOSE to being the next J.K. Rowling?

I can't stand it that people are comparing Meyer and Rowling together, and I also can't stand it that people are saying that Meyer is better. Are you serious? Not only did Harry Potter appeal to all age groups, it also was a huge phenomenom. Yes, Twilight is too, but is it as big as Harry Potter series.

No. Not at all.

The only thing making this stupid, cliche, stereotypical book a success are these teenage girls who have NO idea what a real story is - and not to mention this is actually coming from A TEENAGE GIRL who can NOT STAND Twilight, nor its fanbase whatsoever. (Well, the intelligent twilight fans are a huge exception, but if you even chant a word about how much you're in love with Edward and how he'll come after anyone who doesn't like Twilight, then you should really go crawl in a corner and stay away from books for a long time.)

[Matylda]

quote/ Omg.. quit your whining.. it was a good book.. im Sooo glad no one dies. and i say that with no sarcasm.. im tired of the war books.. maybe we should take a hint.. i wish it was better but it was still great. i Love Twilight.. and i Cant wait for the movie! Hope everyone has a good day/night.. the author of this blog is complete crap. end of story..

good night and good luck..

Des /quote

You're the exact person that I was talking about. You're probably some illiterate sixteen year old girl hellbent on reading things with horrible romance, non-existent plots, one dimensional characters, and completely destroyed mythical creatures. Not only that, but you can't stand to see people give Twilight a negative comment, so you want to call the author wrong, when it FACT she is telling the truth and nothing BUT the truth.

I wish Breaking Dawn would have had a horrible ending - characters actually die, relationships mess up, etc. The only reason why I say this is because nothing else was interesting in Twilight, and maybe something along the lines of death and struggle would actually spice of the series, but no, Meyer had to add a sappy, completely insane happy ending to Breaking Dawn because she didn't want to disappoint her obssessive fans - which I can see defines what you are, am I not telling the truth?

The movie is going to suck. The previews are enough to make me scrunch up my brow in disgust.

[Dawn]

This was the worst book I have ever read. The story read like very poor fan fiction.
The love story was no longer there.
During the first three books it is discussed that Bella has to sacrific, but in the end SM give her everything. Including a demon child, Jacob and her father knowing what she is.
The most disturbing part to me was the "offer of stud service" of Jacob. Edward having a medical degree surely could have figured out some other way of giving Bella a child.
This was a horrible ending to a wonderful series.
As I do every Monday, I took the garbage out and returned my book!

[ana]

i think both TWILIGHT SAGA and HARRY POTTER are unique in their own way... so it is unfair to compare..... twilight deals wif love so beautifully.... making evryone drawn closer to EDWARD and BElla LOVe.... on the other hand... HArry potter is full of curiousity... making us wanting to know how HARRY deals with EVil....

hence.,... eets simply boils down to each preference.... wel to me...both books deserve a thumbs up.... GREAT job stephanie meyer...

[Kay]

Is it wrong to love a happy ending?

[Nicole]

Breaking Dawn might not be the best in the series, but it it most certainly is not as bad as people are making it out to be. Why is it that most of the reviewers that dislike BD seem to be mad that there is a "happy ending" Is it so terribly wrong for her to write a story where her characters end up happy? Reading a book has always been to me an escape. An escape from reality. If Meyer wants to take us to a world where happiness is possible, I say good for her. We live in a world full of hate and wars, is it really that terrible to see some fluff? Perhaps this need for pain is a sign of how cynical our world has turned....

[gemm]

soo not truee breakng dawn was amazig and soo was harry potter, not breaking dawn had more to offer, it brought suspenseup until the end, it was really good, both authors are different, and they write in different sytles, i loveed the breaking of breaking dawn..

[Jenorama]

GREAT review, Denise. I was absolutely flabbergasted. I think I ended up reading the entire book because I was stuck on a 13-hour car ride. I was terribly disappointed. This book faltered on so many levels. Thanks for a great review.

[s meers]

I completely and vehemently agree with the writer of the article. The book was a disappointment and lacked so very much.

[tttttttt]

This is just my opinion:
The book was too happy. It needed something to draw me in. I found myself putting down the book to watch FRIENDS instead. That would never have happened with the other books. Everybody knows the basic structure of a story is introduction, a few minor climaxes, a major climax and a resolution. This story was just a string of small climaxes and resolutions. The worst thing that happened was Alice leaving, and she came back and explained everything. Not that we didn't know she had some plan to carry out and always intended to come back. The only person that died was someone we didn't know or care about. I'm not saying a book needs to have death to be a good one. But after reading chapters and chapters of Bella worrying about her loved ones dying, it was only to be expected. And even though it would have been sad if one of them had died, the ending lacked the emotional thrill. Not once did this book make me cry like New Moon. It didn't make me laugh as much as Twilight. The ending was nowhere near as satisfying as Eclipse.

But still i think SM did a great job. Anything she did she would have been ripped apart. If she had written the death of one of the characters we loved, many of her fanatical readers would have been devastated. She obviously wrote what she thought her readers would most enjoy. Which is her job. And she really does have skill. Her power of riveting her readers (not so much in Breaking Dawn though) is quite powerful enough to have me reading until six o'clock in the morning when i know I have to wake up at eight for school. Her first three books were something out of this world. Because she made it believable. Bella was an ordinary girl who didn't believe in fairytales too. And of course we all pine over Edward Cullen. When Bella was pronounced his wife a tiny part of me wanted to slap her.

As for comparing it to Harry Potter? That's not fair. They are completely different stories, with only the fantasy genre in common. The Twilight series is first and foremost a romance. Harry Potter focuses more on the magical, 'saving the world' thing. Which is fine, i love HP, and it is impossible too choose between them.
I do think Twilight fans are more fanatical though. Some things I've read and heard are somewhat ridiculous. I honestly don't consider myself in never ceasing adoration of these books, (though you'd think otherwise judging by the length and content of this comment, my sister hasn't finished yet and need to discuss it with someone) I really did enjoy them all. And i congratulate Stephanie Meyer on entrancing millions of people around the world with her work.

[Marissa]

I absolutely agree with Denise. I didn't like this book at all. The only good part of it for me was everything from Jacob's point of view. There were a lot of things that I didn't understand. 1, Bella getting pregnant? I was under the impression that the only fluid vampires have is venom, so how can you impregnate someone with venom [that may just be my ignorance]? I also HATED the name Renesmee. I didn't think Esme would've been that big of an influence. And even if she wanted to use the names Renee and Esme, she could've gone with Resmene, because that is an ACTUAL NAME.

The whole ending was kind of a letdown. It angered me that it was just a confrontation, not even a fight. All these new characters came into the picture for no reason. And nobody even died! The last few pages did nothing for me. It really was like a crappy movie ending.