Review: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

"'Breaking Dawn, the final book in the #1 bestselling Twilight Saga, will take your breath away.'
Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for... "

Bella Swan is marrying Edward Cullen, the [not so] man of her dreams.  She will soon become a vampire and leave the life and people that she loves behind her to spend an eternity with him.  The wedding, although a little outrageous for her taste and Jacob having wolf rages, was perfect.  The honeymoon was equally fabulous, she finally did the deed for the first time with someone that she loves and was going to be with forever.  She and Edward on a secluded Island with tons of things to do, but what Bella really wants to do is have sex with Edward, who refuses, again.  Other than that their honey moon is perfect as well.  That is until the impossible happens.  Bella misses her period and starts having strange cravings.  But that’s impossible, Edward is a vampire, and vampires do not reproduce that way.  Edward and Bella’s lives are about to be turned upside down and the forever that they thought that they would have together might be caught sort by a disaster.

My rating for this book:

[Spoiler Alert for those who haven’t read the book.]
When Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment of the Twilight series came out I was so excited I went to Walmart to get it at midnight.  Although it started out really good, it was my least favorite of the series.  I’m not really sure how I would have went about doing to story myself if I was Stephenie but I feel like a happy ending for everyone was way too forced with Bella ending up with the best of both worlds.  Although I myself usually enjoy books with weird aspects, this one was a little too weird for me.  But then again that’s what’s so great about the supernatural genre: anything goes.  

I did like how the book starts and ends with Bella’s perspective but in the middle it’s Jaocb’s point of view.  I also liked how all of the character’s finally come together and there are no more secrets which is the way I feel books are supposed to end.

Stephenie Meyer lives in Arizona with her sons and husband.  The Twilight series was her first and then she followed with a second book called  The Host, which is now be casted to become a major motion picture.

So are you guys going to see the movie tomorrow?  Tonight at midnight?  Are you bigger fans of the movies or the books?  Let’s get some discussion going!!!

Review: Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

"...As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob—knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?"

There were many things I enjoyed about this book, first and foremost, the action. The book starts out with a serial killer on the loose! I also liked how Stephanie finally approached the sexual tension between Bella and Edward. I thought the entire scene was beautifully written and well thought out. And of course, the vampires and the werewolves are at it again in their ancient battle against one another. Come on guys, Edward left and Jacob stepped in to fill the void, you can't blame him for that! One of the things that bothered me was the portrayal of Jacob. As a Team Jacob fan, I thought that book made him seem a bit insensitive and immature. And what is up with the idea of imprinting? It's like deciding someone's destiny for them, just doesn't seem fair.
Lastly, I'm left seeking and searching for more depth to Bella only to find a pouty teenager. By now, even years ago, the books had picked up enough hold on the publishing world that Stephanie could have deepened Bella, making her an inspiration for teenage girls to want to be instead of the whiny, insecure girl she still is. I think I just expected a bit more character development with her.

Nonetheless, M and I both think that this was by far the best book in the series. Somehow I found myself although annoyed, still captivated enough to finish off the rest of the series eagerly!

My Rating for this Book:

 

Stephenie Meyer first book was Twilight, which as we all know went on to become a best-selling series and movies.  She originally formed the idea through a dream where she saw a young man sparkling in the sunlight.
She is also author of the best-selling book The Host which is in the process of being made into a movie as well.

Review: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

"In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality."

I found this book a bit crazy. After Edward's decision to step away to protect Bella, the first half of the book is Bella going insane over losing him. It feels like your typical breakup from your first love. Only her first love happens to be a sparkly vampire. But of course, some good does come from this... enter best friend Jacob who is there for Bella at just the right moment. I loved Jacob's relationship with Bella, it was so innocent and sweet. It wasn't nearly as intense and crazy as Bella's relationship with Edward. But the idea that Bella willing to take her life to try and have Edward to near her again, I felt like that went way too far.

Also, is it only me or is this age situation getting a bit out of hand? Personally, I think that I look much cuter now at 21 than I was at 18 so I'm just not sure what the huge deal was. Given, I wouldn't want to wait until I was 40 for my vampire lover to change me... but 20 isn't old!

This book for me, was an enjoyment to read when I was younger, (don't get me wrong just because of my iffy review.) but it was definitely a bit slow until at least halfway through the second portion. However, the ending had me standing on my toes, pumped to see where it went next. Now that the Volturi knows about Bella, what are they going to want? Can Bella save Edward from his own destructive self?

My Rating for this Book:

I found this book more of a transition type book than a real deal within the series.

Stephenie Meyer first book was Twilight, which as we all know went on to become a best-selling series and movies.  She originally formed the idea through a dream where she saw a young man sparkling in the sunlight.  She is also author of the best-selling book The Host which is in the process of being made into a movie as well.

Mainstream Monday: Twilight

With the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 coming out Friday, for all you Twilight lovers out there, we’re doing a week of all things Twilight!  Today we’re going to do ten fun facts about Twilight.

1. Rob Pattinson had to wear a nude man thong for the honeymoon sex scene.
2. The honeymoon was filmed in Rio.
3. Rob and Kristen thought the sex scene was awkward despite their friendship.
4. Rob said that the birth of Renesme was weird and more like a horror movie.
5. Over the past few months, Rob, Kristen, and Taylor left their hand prints and shoe prints at the Grauman Chinese Theater.
6. The cast cooked, jammed, and played board games while working on the Twilight movies.
7. Kristen Stewart apparently make phenomenal tortilla soup.
8. Ashley and Kellen have been good friends since before the twilight series even began.
9. Ashley Green originally auditioned to play Bella.
10. According to gossip magazines, Rob and Kristen may or may not be dating.

There’s some fun facts to help get you guys through your Monday.  If anyone wants to add anything else feel free!

And I'll leave you on the note of the trailer, which I'm sure everyone has seen by now... :)

--M

Review: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

“Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and danger. "

When I first read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, I was a sophomore in High School.  I had always been into the fantasy fiction books but this was my first vampire books and I feel in love with the monsters.   Since then I’ve read The Vampire Diaries, The Sookie Stackhouse series, Anita Blake series, and many more.  I read Twilight in just a matter of days and flew through New Moon then had to wait months in anticipation for Eclipse, which became my favorite of the series.  I went and got Breaking Dawn at a midnight release and was extremely disappointed when I learned that Stephenie Meyer was no longer finishing Midnight Sun because some asshole leaked it on the internet.  Since then the movies have come out and my obsession has died down.  Maybe I’m just contrary and don’t like what everyone else does.  But Twilight will always have a special place in my heart.

When Bella Swan moved to Forks, Washington she didn’t expect to become Miss Popularity, let alone meet a guy.  But when she meets Edward Cullen her life turns upside down.  In a town that she thought she would be suffering silently in, she has found friendship and love.  But with the love comes a great price that could cost her, her life.  Twilight is a beautifully written story of first love with a new, sparkly take on vampires.

My Rating for this Book:

What I like about the twilight book is Bella and the fact that I find her very relatable. She is almost the universal teenage girl.  In Arizona she was uncool and invisible.  But in Forks she has all of these friends even though she still feels awkward and nerdy.  She’s clumsy, something that I can completely relate seeing as how I fall in the same spot on my drive way every year when it ices over.  She’s completely selfish and selfless all at the same time.  She is polar opposite of herself in a lot of ways at different points of the series but that allows everyone to be able to relate to her in some way.

I enjoyed the take on vampires and how the Cullen’s worked as a family unit, and my favorite one of the group had to be Alice by far. She almost seems to be the glue that holds things together.But there were a couple of things I didn't care for: I wish Bella had more confidence within herself, and I don't understand why vampires sparkle in sunlight. The writing was a bit young for my tastes as well, but that's speaking from a now standpoint versus when I began reading them in 10th grade.

Stephenie Meyer first book was Twilight, which as we all know went on to become a best-selling series and movies.  She originally formed the idea through a dream where she saw a young man sparkling in the sunlight.  She is also author of the best-selling book The Host which is in the process of being made into a movie as well. 

So how many of you guys read this series?  Fans?  Not so much?  Going to see the new movie?  Let us know!