Breaking Dawn, part deux (spoilers)

I am much more paranoid about spoilers for Breaking Dawn than I was for the other three books, since this one was just released recently and I know that several of you are not done with it. 

So I'm going to add a million lines of filler again....

to make sure that nothing shows up in your reader.....

that would give away anything in the book.

MMMMkay? 

Don't scroll down if you're not finished. 

Ten...

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OK.   You guys, I am so, so happy.  Breaking Dawn redeemed itself for me.  After the last post, where I was so very angry -- angry at Bella for being such a bratty little whiner, angry at Edward and Carlisle for being so irresponsible, angry at Stephenie Meyer for taking three wonderful books and totally destroying what they'd built -- I continued to be irritated and disappointed.   First there was the horrible wedding scene, then the pregnancy debacle, and then they name the baby Renesmee.  Jacob did his best to remedy the situation by coming up with the Nessie nickname, which I loved even more because it pissed vampire Bella off.   But still... Are you fucking kidding me?  RENESMEE??  RENESMEE CARLIE.   Sigh.  

And then Jacob IMPRINTS ON THE BABY.  I guess I should have seen that coming, but I did not.  I waffled between loving it (so he can finally stop mooning over Bella) and being really pissed off. 

As I read through the Jacob section, I felt the book gradually begin to stop grating on my nerves, and found myself actually enjoying it.   And as I read the last 200 pages yesterday, I crossed the line from enjoying it to loving it.  

For the two previous days I'd been convinced that the only way to undo the damage Breaking Dawn had done was to gather up all the copies in print, burn them and force Stephenie Meyer to either re-write the fourth book or just let the series end with Eclipse, her choice (see how nice I am?)  But now, I'm happy that Breaking Dawnplayed out as it did.  I'm glad it didn't follow the plotlines that we were all expecting, and I thought it was an excellent ending to the series.  I also have to disagree with those who've said that the saga was tied up too neatly and left no room for additional books - I thought she left things pretty open.  The Volturi are still in power, and holding a grudge against the Cullens; Bella is just beginning to discover the extent of her powers; Renesmee is still growing; we've just been introduced to a slew of other vampires who could serve as characters in future books.  I think it would be easy for Stephenie to decide to add onto the series in the future, should she want to. 

Now, although I am ecstatic that Breaking Dawn turned out not to be the abomination I thought it was at first, there are still a few things I would love to see changed.   Perhaps a recall and mass book burning isn't necessary, but there are still several things I would like to see changed - in a second edition, maybe?  HINT HINT STEPHENIE MEYER.

First of all, the wedding scene absolutely has to go.   And while we're at it, I think I'd like the first chapter, "Engaged", stricken from the record as well.   I don't think we needed to hear any more of  Bella's consternation at being engaged and getting married.  I propose that we start out right at Chapter 5, when Bella and Edward are on their way to Isle Esme. 

In fact, I have taken the liberty of re-writing the beginning myself.  Let's all open our books to page 75 and just pretend that the book starts there.

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Chapter 5 1.  Isle Esme

"Houston?" I asked, raising my eyebrows when we reached the gate in Seattle.

"Just a stop along the way," Edward assured me with a grin.

It felt like I'd barely fallen asleep when he woke me.  I was groggy as he pulled me through the terminals, struggling to remember how to open my eyes after every blink.  It took me a few minutes to catch up with what was going on when we stopped at the international counter to check in for our next flight.

"Rio de Janeiro?" I asked with slightly more trepidation.

"Another stop," he told me.

The flight to South America was long but comfortable in the wide first-class seat, with Edward's arms cradled around me.   I thought to myself that I should sleep more, try to rest up for whatever this trip, which Edward would tell me nothing about -- of course -- might have in store.  I knew that it was pointless to continue questioning Edward as to where we were going.  He was determined to surprise me, and although I feigned impatience, I knew that it didn't matter one bit.  Whether we were in the center of London or on a beach somewhere in the South Pacific, the only thing that would matter to me is that we were together.   Me and Edward, my brand new husband.  I smiled, thinking of how much that words "fiance" and "husband" had needlessly bothered me before.  I felt so silly for having been so anxious about the wedding.  After all, the one thing in my life that I'd never doubted was my love for Edward.  I touched the antique wedding band, the same one his father had given to his mother over a century ago, and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked.  "It's a little late for cold feet, you know," he said, eyeing my finger as it traced the intricate ring. 

I smiled at him, wishing I could have known how happy, how complete, I'd feel right now, as the new Mrs. Cullen, back when he'd first proposed.  "I just wish that you could read my thoughts right now, and know how silly I feel for being so afraid of the wedding," I replied.   "And I wish I'd had time to thank Alice before you'd all rushed me out of the house to get to the airport.  She did such a perfect job with the wedding.  It was... perfect.  Everything was perfect."  My gleaming smile faded a bit.  "I just feel sorry about what a poor sport I was at the beginning.  I bet I nearly ruined her fun."

"Don't worry about that, love," Edward replied, smiling brilliantly at me.  "It's nearly impossible to ruin Alice's fun when she's planning any sort of party.  And she could tell that you loved the dress, her thoughts were positively giddy when she saw your face."

"You didn't see --"

"No, no," he cut me off.  "I didn't see you in the dress in her mind.  Believe me, it took everything in my power to keep myself from peeking into her thoughts that day.  It's just that she squealed so loudly, we heard her all the way downstairs."  And then he added, "Well, my side of the family heard her, anyway.  Charlie was too busy sweating bullets in his suit.  I don't know that I've ever seen him so uncomfortable, except for maybe the night when we told her we were getting married."  My face dropped as I remembered the tension of that evening.  It had taken us half an hour to convince Charlie that I wasn't pregnant. 

"Don't worry, love.  He's honestly over any reservations that he had about letting his only daughter get married at 18.  I am quite sure that the worst part for him was wearing that suit all day."  He grinned, tapping his temple.  "I would  know."

I sighed again, and smiled.   The anxiety I'd felt was already fading into a distant memory.  In fact, I could hardly remember anything from our wedding day before the moment when  I'd seen Edward's perfect face waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.  From there, I'd known everything would be alright.  Nearly everything but him had been erased from the vault of wedding memories in my mind.  "Not to worry,"  I mumbled softly, "I'm sure Alice took plenty of pictures."  I smiled as I drifted to sleep.  I slept myself out and awoke unusually alert as we circled toward the airport with the light of the setting sun slanting through the plane's windows.

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Phew.  Yes, I like that better.  I think I'm just going to tear out pages 1-74, in fact.  (Except not really.  I could never do that to a book.)  

Now, my next problem was with the fact that after so much discussion over whether or not Bella and Edward could have a "real honeymoon" cough cough wink wink,no one even considered the possibility that some sort of birth control might have been in order.  I know, I know: they all thought there was no way vampires could have children!  It had never happened before!  But, still.  Come on.  There was so much consideration about the unique relationship between fragile human Bella and dashing vampire Edward and I just can't accept that Carlisle, a PHYSICIAN, would have been so careless.   So here's my solution:  Carlisle has a talk with Edward before they leave for the honeymoon and tells him that although he doesn't think there's any chance of their conceiving a child, that he'd still feel better if they took some precautions, just to be sure.  He prescribes some birth control pills, and Alice hands them to Bella as she's being whisked away after the wedding.   "Just to be sure," Alice would tell her with a wink.  Bella would roll her eyes and blush, but she'd take the damned pills.  Of course, it would turn out that a few measly pills were no match for Edward's super vampire sperm and she'd end up pregnant anyway -- but at least I would feel better if they'd tried to be responsible.

Speaking of the pregnancy, I've decided that I am OK with the name Renesmee after all.  I kind of like it, even.  But I can't get on board with the middle name, Carlie.  It was only mentioned once, so let's just strike that sentence and pretend it never existed. 

The rest of the book, I thought, was wonderful.  I was so relieved that Bella did become a vampire -- when she started waffling at the end of Eclipse, thinking about how a few more years wouldn't really matter that much, I was so afraid that she was going to end up backing out.  When she turned out to be pregnant, I was sure that was it: now she'd have to stay mortal for the baby.  I was delighted at the way that worked out.  Half immortal baby, two vampire parents.  I loved the description of Bella's transition, and I loved reading about her adjustment to life as a newborn.  I loved her and Edward's first hunt together.  Basically, I loved everything about the book from that point on.  The conflict with the Volturi, the gathering of all the vampire witnesses, Bella's discovery of her own power. 

Most of all, I absolutely adored the ending.  Bella being able to lift her shield to let Edward see her thoughts... brilliant.  There was one line in every one of the books that made me choke up (In Twilight, it was when Edward said "You are my life now"), and in Breaking Dawn, it was when Bella wondered what her vampire ability would be, and thinks "maybe my power would be to love Edward more than anyone had ever loved anyone else before.  That would be fine with me."  I don't know what to say, except that there is a hopelessly romantic 14-year-old girl that lives inside of me (right beside the bitter, cynical cat-lady).  That line nearly killed me in the middle of the book, and when it was repeated at the end... well, I cried.  The last edit that I'd make to the book, if I were writing the second edition, would be to end things on page 753, when Bella says "Now you know.  No one's ever loved anyone as much as I love you."   Or, we could end it after Edward's reply "You're almost right.  I know of only one exception".  Yes, actually, I think I like that better.  The End. 

I could go on for hours, but I think I'd better wrap up this post before it becomes longer than the actual book.  

As for the series as a whole, I can't seem to find the words to describe just how much I loved it.  I completely understand that this series would not be everyone's cup of tea, so to speak -- and instead of feeling defensive, as I usually do about books I adore, I'm happy to agree to disagree in this case.  Certainly, a young adult saga about vampires in love isn't going to appeal to everyone.   These weren't the best-written books I've ever read, not by a long shot.  They aren't literary masterpieces.  But, for me at least, they bordered on magical.  I can say without a single doubt that I have never, ever enjoyed any book as much as I have enjoyed these.  I would go so far as to say I don't think I ever WILL enjoy another book so much, but the first 20 pages of Midnight Sun look pretty promising.  I'd mourn that that I'm finished with the series, but I'm looking forward to re-reading all four books too much to be sad. 

And hey:  only 121 days until the movie comes out.

Comments

[Isabel]

Dear OPH:

I heart you.

Love,

Isabel

[Janssen]

You know, I have one friend in particular who is outspoken about how crappy they are and how annoyed she is that they're popular. And frankly, although her attitude is annoying, I don't care if she doesn't like the books. Because, I've been rereading the series (just finished New Moon again last night) and I love them. I laugh, I cry, I fall in love - if she wants to miss out on that experience, or if they dont' give her that, then that's unfortunate for her - but I'm certainly not going to pretend that they don't really do something for me. Those books are some of the most fun, transporting things I've read in years. And so I'll excuse the raptures about Edward's marble lilps and golden eyes.

I'm glad, in the end, you loved them. Thanks for all the recaps.

[Wickedly Scarlett]

I just saw that about Midnight Sun too!! I am so excited because Twilight was the book I really loved, and I think Edward was by far the most interesting character, so I would LOVE to get inside his head! Yay :)

[Viviane]

I finally read Breaking Dawn this past weekend, and I just wrote a post with my thoughts on the book. http://earthtobella.com/2008/08/19/twilight-addict-not-so-anonymous/
I am really curious and excited about Midnight Sun as well! I hope there will be more books from the Edward-and-Bella-verse.

[heidikins]

...clearly I am behind-the-times. I haven't started Twilight, and I have no idea what Midnight Sun means. So....I'm off to google for inspiration.

xox

[Erin]

I totally agree that the last half of the book redeemed itself. It really made me like the series a lot more.

I still hate the name Renesmee. Hate.

[Audrey]

I think you and I had the same turning point in the book. As soon as Bella turned vampire and started adjusting to her new life, I was hooked. Up until that point, I was interested, but I wasn't feeling like I NEEDED to read it every chance I got. And then everything changed, and thank goodness. Excellent, excellent end to the series.

I have to agree with Erin, though, about Renesmee. Terrible name. Absolutely terrible. It's the type of name that really shows Bella's youth, i think. The kind of name that you might think is a good idea when you're in high school, but that later, when you'd matured, you'd be relieved to have never actually forced another person to live with for their entire life. Terrible name, Renesmee.