Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer: A Mom & Daughter Chat

My daughter and I have both read the Twilight Saga novels by Stephenie Meyer over the last two years and just recently we've both finished reading the latest and last novel in the series, Breaking Dawn. There are numerous reviews of Breaking Dawn available on the internet by now, so my daughter and I decided to do something a little different and post an IM discussion we had about the book.

C: is Christine, the *beep* year old Mom. ;p

M: is Maria, the 13 year old daughter.

WARNING: THIS CHAT CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!

AIM IM with Maria 8/17/08 9:18 PM
C: hi
M: why hello, christine.
C: lol very funny
M: ha ha.

C: look we have matching icons

C: you copied me

M: lol mine's better

C: uh. no
C: mine's better
M: suit yourself mum
C: brb gotta get ur sis a bowl of cereal
M: otay
C: ok i'm back
C: shall we get started?
M: sure im multitasking so dont worry if i dont respond right away. is that ok
C: lol yes. i'm sure your sister will interrupt us a few more times.
M: kk
C: plus i'm watching the olympics
M: kk
C: let's start with the first part of BD told from Bella's perspective
M: okey dokey
M: What did you think of Bella's wedding??
C: it was okay. i didn't think Bella was so into it.
M: Yeah she just wanted to get it over with. Kinda like she was just doing it for the benefits afterwards.
C: i agree. i think if the whole vampire thing wasn't there, she would have waited till after college.
C: do you think she just agreed to the wedding so Edward would turn her to a vampire?
M: Yeah.
M: def. :]
C: the best part of the wedding was when Jacob showed up
M: Yeah I know! I was so sad when he had to leave.
C: I loved that scene. I loved the dialogue between Jacob and Bella when they were dancing.
C: He made me cry. :(
C: I heart Jacob. :D
M: Me too. As soon as he showed up I cried.
C: Me too.
C: I also liked the part when Bella and Edward tell Charlie they're getting married.
C: It was rather charming.
C: And the tone of the scene was reminiscent of the earlier books. I liked it.
M: Yes! Charlie and Edward said some of the funnies things in the book in that scene. Like that quote about not hanging up his gun. What was that again?
C: Edward wanted to start to talk to Charlie right away, but Bella protested and told Edward to wait until Charlie hung up his gun.
C: That was funny.
M: Yeah. Bella and Edward have really cute conversations. Were you surprised they slept together on the honeymoon?
C: No. They were married, so I figured it was going to happen.
C: Were you surprised?
M: Yeah, at first, I didn't really know it was happening until they started talkin in the water. Which reminds me, I wish Esme Island existed!
C: LOL I'm sure there are places like that in the world.
M: Haha :] I laughed when the pillows were ripped up in the morning
C: I thought that was kind of silly.
C: I was disappointed that it was written such that Edward actually hurt Bella.
C: I wanted Edward to have more control.
C: I expected him to.
M: I thought it was realistic. He didn't hurt her on purpose he just.... huged(?) her too tightly.
C: hugged*
M: :]
C: I know. I just don't think it was necessary.
C: so were you surprised that Bella got pregnant right away?
M: YES! Omg, I almost thought I was reading the wrong book! Lol... But I can see how Stephenie wanted the story to go that way.

C: Yeah... the whole pregnancy birth infant toddler thing seemed awfully rushed.
C: Don't you think it was unrealistic that they didn't even think they could possibly conceive?

C: Bella --as a human-- should have asked if it were possible
M: I think Bella would've thought of the question if it hadn't happened so quickly. I was surprised at Edward though, because he always worries about little things and this thing was big...
C: Edward-- as the ever so knowledgeable and overly cautious about EVERYTHING with Bella, didn't once wonder if he could get a human pregnant?
C: Oh I think Bella knew they were going to have sex on their honeymoon
M: Yeah.
C: she wanted to since Eclipse.
M: Since Twilight! Haha... just kidding.
C: Haha. She still should've thought about birth control.

M: Yeah.

M: I thought it was really cool that Jacob became Alpha of his new pack. He deserves that.,
C: oh yeah... lets move on to Jacob's part
C: My favorite part in this whole monster of a book was Jacob's part
M: Haha, not my favorite but I did enjoy it,
C: Really? I thought Jacob's voice was the only one that rang true to his character in the whole book.
M: You're right about that... But the storyline was more interesting in Bella Part III
C: slow down! I want to talk about Jacob!!! LOL
M: Okay. LOL
C: I liked the scene when Jacob came to see Bella at the Cullen's house.
C: And he came to see what was right... about Bella and the Cullens. That they were good people and didn't deserve to die just for existing.
M: Agreed.
C: And when he went back to his pack and realized he just couldn't be part of them any longer.
M: I was so proud!
C: I could feel Jacob's turmoil
C: I was, too! But I was so proud that he followed his instincts about what was the right thing to do
C: JACOB was the hero in this book
M: Yeah... Good wolf.
C: from beginning to end he did heroic things when everyone else was careless
M: Look who's Team Jacob. :]
C: ME! :D
C: Were you surprised that Seth followed him?
M: No, I've always thought Seth was kind of like Jacob. Loyal, but still stays true to what he believes in. You know what I mean?
C: Yes. Seth is a good pup. I like him.
M: He's my favorite wolf besides Jacob.
C: I was surprised that Leah followed them at first. But it turned out to be perfect for them
M: Yeah. I could see how she followed because of her past with Sam.
C: Yeah. That was sad when she talked to Jacob about that... and when she explained to Jacob that she understood Bella and Rosalie's position on the pregnancy.
That was such a great discussion. I totally admired Leah after that.
M: I know! It was a woman thing.
C: yes.
C: What did you think of Jacob imprinting on Renesmee?
M: I thought it was perfect! He's just what she needs and she's just what he needs.
C: From the outside it probably looks creepy. Jacob imprinting on Bella and Edward's human-vampire hybrid baby.
C: But it felt right somehow.
M: Yeah definitely. I'm so happy for Jacob that he just actually imprinted.
C: And the way he was with Renesmee for the rest of the story felt natural
M: Yeah. Just like how Quil was with Claire in one part of the story. I thought that part was adorable.
C: Yes. That was very sweet.
C: I secretly hope Stephenie Meyer writes a short story on Jacob & Renesmee when she's all grown up.
C: I can picture their future in my head... but I'd love to read it anyway.
M: I know! Renesmee is so cute. She's the perfect combination of Edward and Bella.
C: I think her gift was very clever.
M: Yeah what did you think of Bella's gift?
C: Well, it certainly came in handy against the Volturi in the last part.
C: Do we ever find out WHY she was unreadable as a human?
I get how it is related to her gift as a vampire.... but why was she that way before?
M: I don't think so. I think of it like she's always had a certain forcefield or block in her head... but that's unrealistic.
C: yeah.
C: too convenient.
M: Yup.
C: maybe I have to go back and reread a few parts. just to make sure it wasn't explained and I forgot the reasoning behind it.
M: I didn't remember reading an explanation either.
C: I thought Part III-back to Bella's perspective- was way too drawn out
and rather anticlimactic
M: Agreed. Way too fluffy. Like the part about Jenks.
M: That guy was pretty funny though
C: The only time I got the least bit emotional in the last part was when Bella showed Edward the locket she got for Renesmee for Christmas
C: And when Bella put Renesmee in Jacob's care when they thought they were going to die at the Volturi's hands and both Bella and Edward professed their love and trust in Jacob
M: I was so sad at that part even though I knew they couldn't die! That would suck.
C: I know. But it was still so emotional
C: And I NEEDED Bella, Edward and Jacob to be comfortable with their relationships
C: And that scene finally gave them all closure
M: Yeah. I was relieved when Alice showed up.
C: Me too!
C: I was happy she found another hybrid like Renesmee.
M: Yeah! I find it amazing how this book goes all over the world lol. Like one minute they can be in Forks, and then the next, in Australia. But that's vampires for ya.
C: LOL
C: I'm glad that Bella has such a pivotal role in the outcome with the Volturi.
C: She finally got to feel important and valuable
C: I think she finally felt like a Cullen.
C: Besides a mom will do anything to protect their babies
M: Aww :] Renesmee was my favorite character.
C: Jacob is my favorite.
M: So overall are you happy with the ending?
C: Yes. I think so.
C: Bella and Edward got their happily forever after.
M: And Jacob, too!
C: Yes, and Jacob imprinted on someone worthy of his love.
C: I think Charlie's acceptance and understanding of the paranormal was kind of weak, but oh well.
M: Yeah wish it wasn't the last book.
C: I'm glad its the last Bella & Edward book.
C: But I'd be open to a book about Jacob and Renesmee when she's grown up.
M: Same.
C: So what grade would you give Breaking Dawn?
M: B or -B
M: You?
C: well.. which is it? B or B-?
C: Your teachers don't give you open ended grades like that!!
M: B!
C: LOL okay
C: I would give it a B- or C+
C: :P
M: Ooh. I see :]
M: wait..... u have to pick one!
C: LOL
C: I'm going to go with C+
C: Too many plot flaws. Too drawn out. Most of the story was kind of boring.
M: Okey dokey.
M: Peace Out.
C: Peace Out.

How the Twilight Saga measures up in our house:

Maria: Christine:

Twilight A+ Twilight A+

New Moon A New Moon A

Eclipse A Eclipse B

Breaking Dawn B Breaking Dawn C+