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Post by sapphire on Aug 2, 2008 14:49:57 GMT -5
WHOA. SURE AS HELL DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING!
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Post by * amanda on Aug 2, 2008 19:54:01 GMT -5
OMFE! (oh my freakin' edward)
ME NEITHER!!!!
AND JUST WAIT.... I JUST GOT THROUGH THE BOOK OF JACOB AND ..... WTE! another surprise awaits!
Let me know when you're done and we'll discuss! (I'll be done by Monday at the latest....got a slow start today! Didn't get the book til 2pm and was celebrating Alex's birthday!)
is it just me or does this book seem particularly disturbing vs. the others? wow....
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Post by * amanda on Aug 2, 2008 19:56:20 GMT -5
P.S., is ANYONE else out there reading the book, too? Arabella? Rave? PLEASE join us once we're all done with this book this week, it should be fun to discuss!
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Post by arabella on Aug 3, 2008 17:33:09 GMT -5
Hi all, I am over half way through Breaking Dawn. I had to stop this morning about 3 o'clock. My eyes wouldn't focus anymore. I had to finish chapter 20 first though. I'm sure you know why Amanda.
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Post by Cissa on Aug 3, 2008 17:39:22 GMT -5
Hey everybody...sorry I've been away so long. After HP 7 depression set in at the end of the series and then there were other things that demanded my time like CAITLYN...OMG that girl likes to stay busy. Her first year of band was crazy and the second is shaping up to be wild too. Also, she has decided to take a billion dance classes and even wants to compete this year...more traveling...YEAH...NOT!!! Anyway, I got a new computer and unfortunately, lost the link to the boards. With everything else in my life, I just kinda lost touch with non-reality...I sure like it better here though. Real life sucks. Anyhoo, mom just got me hooked on this series like three weeks ago and I finished Breaking Dawn at 3:00 this morning. I have been DYING to talk to someone about it. I called mom and she's only half way through. But she did give me the address for these boards. I've read other boards, but I don't know those people so it's good to talk to you guys again. I hope everyone enjoys the book. Like you Gayle there were a LOT of things I didn't see coming and I can't wait to talk to all of you about it. I hope everyone is doing well and I hope to talk to you soon.
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Post by arabella on Aug 3, 2008 17:42:53 GMT -5
sorry about the abrupt ending of my post. I'm not sure what happened. I will post more when I have finished the book, which will probably be sometime tonight ,unless my eyes give out again. I just talked to my daughter on the phone. She finished last night and told me we have more suprises to come. I can hardly wait. talk to you later Arabella
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Post by * amanda on Aug 3, 2008 20:28:54 GMT -5
Fantastic! It's great to see all of you, and welcome back Cissa! Great to see you again!
I'm about 2/3 through now, I have had a lot going on this weekend. I plan on finishing it tomorrow so will be back a bit later tomorrow. I did spend about 3 hours reading this afternoon. It was total bliss. Outside on the sidewalk, next to the flowers, sipping a GIANT latte, reading BD...life does NOT get any better than that! Well, discussing the book with sapphi and rave last night was pretty good, too (on MSN).
Anyone can start discussing - just write what chapter you're discussing first thing in your post, that way we'll know whether or not to read further into your post!
I am still amazed by all that's happening in this book and am still letting it sink in - I think I'll wait 'til I'm finished before posting more on it!
HAPPY READING!
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Post by * amanda on Aug 3, 2008 20:35:59 GMT -5
P.S. Cissa, nice avatar. Aren't we lucky Robert is in both HP and Twilight? Convenient for the purposes of this board! Also wondering if anyone's joined any Twilight discussions elsewhere? I tried to get into the "Twilight moms" discussions because I can't find any other adult discussion sites on the series and I didn't know that some of you were about to read the books at that point, but that site has something like 10,000 members. Which is insane. That's the population of a small town! I found it a bit overwhelming and just lurk once in a while, but even then it's hard to keep up with. I'm glad so many of you are now into the books so I can have a few "friendlier faces" to discuss them with! (The best part about the TM forums is that Twilight's author, Stephenie recommends a book every month. I've read a few of them and so far haven't been disappointed. That's the most I've gotten out of the board- the other book recommendations - so definitely check them out when you're finished with breaking dawn: twilightmomsforums.freeforums.org/tms-exclusive-steph-s-official-book-of-the-month-c11.html?sid=e3c7e73f21c72490953772e2a48507ae )
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Post by * amanda on Aug 4, 2008 17:40:57 GMT -5
Beauitful! I finished it this afternoon. I can't quite get words wrapped around it at the moment so I'll hold off on my discussion. But, wow. Really, really, really beautiful. I never thought I would read books that come close to the pleasure I got from reading HP, but in some aspects, this series surpassed it. OMFE! (heh)
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Post by sapphire on Aug 4, 2008 20:01:06 GMT -5
I can not tell you how wonderful it was to open this thread and find you, Arabella and Cissa! Amanda and I have had some wonderful chats, but its always better with more good company. It looks like we are all just completely blown away with this book. I finished it Saturday night, because I just couldn't survive without reading every last word. I love my Harry, as you all know, and I still think that Jo's books win the prize for quality and originality, but I have never ever peeked at the end of a book before I was supposed to until Saturday. This story shook me to my bones from start to finish. I am about half way through my second read, and it's still quite powerful. Still finding myself bursting into tears, which is fairly embarassing when you are in public. Think I will wait til more folks declare themselves done before I make any specific comments. Whew, what a ride!
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Post by Cissa on Aug 4, 2008 20:14:59 GMT -5
Hey guys, it's been a loooooonnnnggggg day so I'm not gonna post a whole lot. School starts here tomorrow so I've been working my butt off (figuratively...I wish literally but oh well ). I also LOVED the book. I contemplated reading it again, but decided to start with Twilight again and relive the magic. There are so many wonderful, touching, romantic, and funny parts in BD that I can't wait to discuss. I laughed, I cried, it was bliss!!! I just wish I could get Caitlyn to read them. I know she would love them, but she seems to think that she doesn't have time what with all her myspacing and band and dancing and other forms of socializing. Brian even read Twilight just to see what the hoopla was all about. He started New Moon, but got a little bogged down once Edward left. He just asked me when all the girly stuff was gonna end. He just can't really appreciate Edward and Jacob the way we do. LOL I am hoping that he will decide to pick it back up sometime. Oh well, the guys are back with my dinner, I just got home from work. I had to make sure my office was in order and ready for the big day tomorrow. I just don't understand why so many people wait until the first day of school to register, but I am sure it will be absolutely crazy in the morning. I am also trying to get my MSN up and working again, but for some reason it's being a pain in the butt. I would love to chat with you guys sometime. Good night all and Sweet Dreams about gorgeous vampires and werewolves. ;D
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Post by Cissa on Aug 5, 2008 20:29:11 GMT -5
Hey everybody...I just wanted to touch base and let you know that Brian got my MSN messenger up and running but unfortunately, I had to get a new account and now I've lost all my old contacts. Could you guys send my an e-mail with your msn e-mail account so I can try to add you? My e-mail is cissa412@gmail.com. I would love to chat sometime. Well, I'm going to bed. Today was the first day of school and I'm exhausted. BYE!!!
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Post by Fins on Aug 6, 2008 14:21:47 GMT -5
Mine is pieperke@bellsouth.net
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Post by sapphire on Aug 6, 2008 17:49:25 GMT -5
OK, Kevin. You HAVE to read these books! I don't think I have ever been so blown away by a book before. On my second read through, taking it nice and slow, now that I can breathe again. Wow, when Bella graduated, she GRADUATED! The whole feel of the books changed dramatically. Arabella, have you finished? I'll wait to say anything more. Still processing a lot of it, anyway.
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Post by Cissa on Aug 6, 2008 20:00:50 GMT -5
Kevin, I agree with Sapphire. Even Brian is reading them...actually reading not listening to them on CD. He has read Twilight and is now on New Moon. I have a funny story for everyone...today was our first full day of school and the YMCA has an after school care program at our school. Well the 2 new college age kids that are supervising this year came into the office to meet our principal. Well I was working away and I heard them talking. I wasn't paying a lot of attention until I heard the girl say that she had just started reading New Moon. Of course this made me ask...so you're reading the Twilight series...I just love them yadda yadda yadda and the young boy pipes up and says. Yeah I've read them all. I was at the midnight party for Breaking Dawn. I started reading at midnight Friday and didn't stop until 11:00 Saturday night. I was just going WOW...I can't believe I know another guy who is reading the books and he told me that he was surprised that there were about 25 or 30 guys at that party. I don't know if they were just there with their girlfriends or not, but it's nice to think that there are some guys out there that enjoy these books too. I also very nearly died when the girl said that she was at the Jacob part and she was so mad because Edward had left and that she had skipped to the back to make sure Edward came back before she continued reading, because that's exactly what I did. LOL I did not want to continue reading if Edward was not coming back anytime soon.
Also, Sapphire, Arabelle (aka my mom) has finished the book, but she works 3rd shift so she probably won't be on until Friday night. Her routine is pretty much sleep and work, sleep and work. Well I better run. TA TA for now!!!
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Post by sapphire on Aug 7, 2008 19:38:02 GMT -5
Cissa, there were plenty of teen boys at the Barnes and Noble party I went to as well. They seemed just as excited as the girls, on the whole. So, where to start with Breaking Dawn? This book reminded me of Goblet of Fire in that somewhere along the way, the characters lost their innocence, and it shocked me. The whole story changed tone drastically. In GoF, it was the reincarnation of Voldemort, of course. In Breaking Dawn, I was sweating by the time Bella and Edward got to Isle Esme. When the cleaning woman pronounced Bella "morte", it hit me in the gut. Edward's shock was quite powerful, too. I could definitely sympathize. By the time Jacob checked in, I couldn't have put the book down if I'd wanted to. The chapter titles--simply AMAZING! Courageous writing. Edward's agony...gah! Just about killed me. Then there was that birthing/changing scene. I was so horrified I thought I might have some kind of fit. I didn't think anything could shock me more than Voldemort torturing Harry in that graveyard, but, holy cow, that did it. "So, how could there be so much book left?" I remember thinking, when my brain functioned again. Surely that was the climax. Did I really want to spend all those extra pages reading about Edward and Bella having vampire sex? Erm...sure, why not? ;D it seemed only fair, after all they had been through, that they should get some fun at last. And, seeing as how I had suffered right along with them, I might as well hang in there. HA! Was I in for a surprise. Forgot those creepy Volturi. The next thing I knew, my heart was beating just like Bella's did before it stopped altogether. ( The next thing I knew, my heart was beating just like Bella's did before it stopped--sorry, I have watched Airplane waaaaay too many times. ) Alice LEFT??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I loved Alice. She HAD to come back. And could they all really die at the end? Well, Edward kept wondering about having a soul and Stephenie is a religious person. Was she going to end it with Bella and Edward together for all eternity in...heaven? Not THAT! ANYTHING but that! So...at some point I realized that I was actually reading a book and books have endings and I had within my power the ability to relieve the unbearable stress, even though I have never, ever given in to such blaphemous thoughts before. Yes, I did it--I peeked at the last chapter. I feel so...dirty.
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Post by * amanda on Aug 8, 2008 10:43:52 GMT -5
Before I get into the discussion, here's a great little interview with Stephenie Meyer from this week: www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1592141/story.jhtmlEdited to add: Mugglenet interviewed Stephenie in this week's Mugglecast! If you haven't listened to their podcast in a while (like me ) now's the time...
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Post by * amanda on Aug 8, 2008 11:58:04 GMT -5
So, my thoughts about Breaking Dawn? Uh.... I think I could write about three pages' worth, but here, I'll start with the "condensed" (ha) version. This book absolutely took my breath, mind, focus, away. What has held me to the Twilight series since I first read it over a year ago were two things: the absolute connection I felt to Bella, how vividly Stephenie describes her thoughts, feelings, and life in Forks; and the thought-provoking issues that arise through the series (immortality, giving up family and friends for the one you love, self-sacrifice, what is valuable and what isn't, falling in love with two people and the different types of love someone can have for others...etc.). Okay, and maybe three things: I was absolutely engrossed by Edward and Jacob right off the bat. Breaking Dawn managed to include all of these themes and tie them up with regards to Bella and Edward in a beautiful, satisfying way. I love that Bella was absolutely, irrevocably certain that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Edward. I felt as though she went into the wedding (and thus immortality) fully understanding the consequences. I wanted her to be confident in her decision, and she was. The first part of the book, we really saw the "old Bella" - the uncertain teenage girl - morph into a more confident woman. The first night she spent with Edward I felt was the turning point. She realized that she was committed, safe, and felt it was a good thing. She drew strength from that and really gave all of herself to Edward, in so many more ways than one, that night, on such a deeper level than before. The way she suddenly felt comfortable as herself in her own skin that night on the beach. Oh, that night... I adore Stephenie's style. When nothing physical actually happens "before our eyes"... when the reader is instead set up and drifted off, I find it so incredibly beautiful and romantic. It's somehow more potent, more breathtaking. Meyer is a skilled writer to be able to so effectively convey such a crucial and powerful moment in Bella's life. Then Bella got pregnant, and things quickly became very serious. Cut to part two. When I saw we were going to see the story from Jacob's point of view, I was hesitant, but about three sentences later (and those hilarious chapter titles), I was sold. I adored Jacob as our narrator. But Bella's misery was heartbreaking. I felt for both her and Edward. But I think Jacob was the appropriate person to tell the story; his own agony over Bella reflected Edward's, but perhaps with more clarity than an Edward narrator would in such a tumultuous time. I liked the return to the pack, and to see Jacob stand on his own (four) feet for what he believed in. I didn't, however, see the imprinting coming even though Jacob's involvement in Bella's life at that point was perplexing. I was utterly stunned! And that was another part of the book (and entire series) I loved; the constant element of surprise that makes you addictively read on. A teensy footnote about the blood drinking and the birth. Surprisingly grotesque. This I did not love. This was my only complaint about the book; I thought the birth was unnecessarily graphic and grotesque (although we sure got the sense of the moment, didn't we?) and Bella drinking blood...ugh. Again, graphic. Though I suppose it did make sense because that's what the baby liked, so it would make sense she'd crave it and want it, too. But still... yeah... I didn't love the blood and guts bits. I know a serene birth wasn't to be expected, but... it did seem odd and out of place somehow. I was actually surprised that we witnessed Bella's transformation relatively early in the book. I was wondering if we might not see her as a vampire, or only see her as a vamp in an epilogue. But I am glad that we have so much of her life as a newborn; I realize now that we would have felt as though the story was not quite finished if we hadn't had the opportunity to see that after waiting three-and-a-half books. I knew, while reading this third part of the book, there would be fairly heavy criticism of the book because the incredible difference we see with this Bella vs. our "previous" Bella. Bella's physical transformation also completed her transformation into a woman - into maturity - but more than that. As she transformed, so did her mind. Suddenly, the married AND vampire Bella was no longer the girl we knew. I've been lurking on some Twilight forums and there does seem to be a significant number of disappointed readers saying that they could no longer relate to Bella after the 1st part of the book. But I found it to be very appropriate. Are you really the same person when you're married and have gone through a significant life change? In some ways, yes, hopefully you are, and I felt Bella was still in many ways herself. But in other ways, her transformation made perfect sense to me. You don't see the world quite the same when you've gone through giant changes in your life. Much less a significant physical change like changing species. She looked at the world differently; not just through the new, clearer eyes of a vamp (how cool was that?! I haven't stopped wondering what it would feel like to have the ability to see everything with such pristine clarity and light; I feel like I'm missing out!) But even more, changing species, I imagine, has quite an impact on your outlook on life. To help the reader understand that, I believe that's why Stephenie always gave Bella qualities that were so opposite of a vampire's qualities ("plain" looks, coordination, low self esteem, etc.) so we could better feel how she transformed and her outlook on life transformed when everything changed. I love the themes of family in this book, but also the theme of friendship. The choices that the characters had to make. The risks they took. This post is getting long so I'll stop giving examples; I think you know what I'm talking about. Each of these themes were woven so expertly through the book and found a satisfying, fulfilling end. Finally, the last "non-fight" scene, the battle, secured Bella and Edward's happily ever after. Bella's desperation to save her daughter vs. saving Edward or herself and coming up with a clear, realistic plan reflected her newfound maturity. But this fight scene without fighting to me reflected Stephene's sophistication as an author. Anyone can write a battle scene; most authors do. To write a negotiation scene, based on cleverness, strength, and perseverance, was gutsy. But the moment - the tension, the suspense, the sacrifice, the elation - was executed beautifully. I'm glad that we didn't have a Harry Potter or Star Wars-esque battle scene to cap this series off. Been there, done that. Besides, the Volturi were an interesting protagonist. In fact - were they even a protagonist? They were so different in the sense that they weren't bad, it's just, they weren't the best. They borderline abused their power but didn't have the worst of intentions. Again, anyone can create a really evil bad guy. But the bad guy who's maybe not bad after all, just a typical borderline power abuser who is creepy but ok, is so much harder to write (and more interesting for me to read about... I get so bored with battle scenes). Finally, the epilogue was truly beautiful. As Bella analyzed everything she'd been through, everything that she had fought for, and was satisfied with everything she had, I couldn't dream of a happier ending. It summed up so many of the themes of the story in order to end on a very satisfying note. ***So as for discussions topics***... there's so much to talk about! What did you like? Not like? What did you think of Renesmee? What did you think of Bella pre and post transformation? What has your favourite car been in the books? What parallels to other books did you see in BD? Myths? The Bible? What did you think of Jacob? Leah? Rosalie? Alice? Charlie? Ohhh we've got lots to talk about
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Post by sapphire on Aug 8, 2008 18:43:11 GMT -5
Hooray for you, Amanda! Thanks for organizing those questions. I still find the book so overwhelming that I haven't been able to get my thoughts in any kind of order. Almost totally agree with you about the book with two major differences: I found the Volturi some of the most evil, frightening bad guys ever. They wielded a tremendous amount of power in their world, and the way they destroyed Irina was cold blooded and horrible. There was certainly no "humanity" in that bunch, and that's why the last showdown was so riveting to me. Their only reason for any action was to get what served them. When Carlisle and co. outwitted them, it was the most amazing victory I could have imagined. It certainly explained the front cover--I know Stephenie helped design it and I was dying to see what it meant. I was so certain we were going to see yet another battle. My respect for Stephenie Meyer went sky high--and that is saying something! Secondly, although I agree that the birth/changing scene was extremely graphic, it was powerful beyond words. Yes, it did take the book more into the horror genre, which is what threw me, but in some strange, maybe sick way, I needed that. Again, it was one of the main things that yanked the book right out of the YA category and put it firmly in the realm of folks like Dean Koontz, whom I admire greatly. My one concern there is that young girls are reading this, and I think it should have had that age warning put on, as Stephenie wanted. Certainly very few kids under 15 or so should be reading it, and I saw many youngsters at the book party. As much as it hurt to read, Stephenie was making the point, in an extraordinarily graphic way, that there is no stronger love in the world than that of a mother for her child. She mentions that in one of the dedications--perhaps New Moon, so we really should have seen the pregnancy coming. I loved it when she called Rosalie. Imagine her desperation at that point. I do have to admit the blood drinking was just plain gross. That must be the human in me oozing out. Okay, while I am already in pain, here is my one negative-ish thought: I did NOT like it that Jacob imprinted on Renesmee. It felt contrived, as if Stephenie was trying desperately to tie up loose ends for her beloved Jacob. I would have rather had him fall for Leah. Of course, he might have always been more in love with Bella, but life works like that sometimes. I don't think it was necessary for every single character--no matter how much we love them--to come out of this whole and happy. The only cool part of that was when he got Charlie in on the secret, kinda. Not sure how that could have been resolved without him. Going to put some thought into the rest of your wonderful questions.
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Post by sapphire on Aug 8, 2008 20:45:52 GMT -5
I sure wish I hadn't read those comments on Amazon. I feel sick now. What a herd of jackals those people are. I need to find some way to counter that nastiness. Any thoughts?
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