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| Meyer's legions of fans are likely to debate, discuss and dissect BREAKING DAWN for months to comeAt some point, writing reviews of certain bestselling series seems like a superfluous endeavor. When thousands, if not millions, of readers are going to pick up the next installment regardless of its praiseworthiness or potential weaknesses, we reviewers feel even more irrelevant than we do otherwise. Penning reviews of the later Harry Potter books certainly felt like that. Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, a publishing juggernaut soon to be made into a series of feature films, also, I would argue, has landed firmly in this category. I've reviewed all four novels for [...], and I've watched as a series that started out as an unusual debut vampire romance took on a life of its own. So this review is, in all likelihood, completely unnecessary --- but since the review has the potential to live online nearly as long as the immortal Cullen family, here goes.
Bella Swan is ecstatic --- and nervous. She's on the brink of marrying the love of her life, the charismatic, devastatingly handsome vampire Edward Cullen. Bella's parents have reluctantly come around to the idea of their teenaged daughter getting married. And the Cullens, particularly Bella's good friend Alice, who plans the event, couldn't be happier. Only Bella's old pal Jacob is upset at losing Bella.
The wedding goes off smoothly and beautifully, and Edward and Bella spend a magical honeymoon on a private island. There, they are finally able to indulge the desire they've always felt for each other (even if their lovemaking initially results in injuries both to Bella and their room, thanks to Edward's uncontrollable passion). When Bella begins to be alternately sick and ravenous, she becomes suspicious that --- despite everything she's been told about the impossibility of such a thing --- she might be pregnant with Edward's child. Terrified that she could lose her life to the ravenous, vampiric unborn child inside her, pressured by Edward and others to rid herself of the baby, Bella retreats into herself, concerned only with protecting her unborn child, even if it means harm to herself.
As for Jacob (who narrates the middle part of the novel), he tries in vain to imprint on other females, but he cannot forget Bella, especially when he learns of her perilous pregnancy and physical condition. When Bella and Edward's daughter is born, is it possible that this half-human, half-vampire can unite the Cullens and Jacob's shape-shifting La Push clan? Could she be the catalyst for Jacob and Edward's reconciliation? Or does her very existence --- particularly once word of her birth reaches the dangerous Voltari vampire clan --- put everything Bella loves at risk?
It was perhaps inevitable that Stephenie Meyer would disappoint some with this final installment. Readers --- who have lined up for hours for author appearances, pushed the series onto bestseller lists, and created thriving online communities devoted to the book --- obviously take the novels, and these characters, seriously indeed. Certain elements of BREAKING DAWN are perplexing, even off-putting --- particularly the scenes of sex, pregnancy and childbirth.
But it's nearly impossible to please everyone --- especially when so much of the series' drama has relied on the tension of Bella's choice between two very different but desirable lovers. Readers who are able, eventually, to gain some perspective will find much to redeem BREAKING DAWN, particularly its new insights into Jacob's inner life as well as its neat resolution to several of the series' pressing conflicts and its realistic (or at least as realistic as a vampire romance can get) portrayal of the complexities and joys of married life.
Meyer's legions of fans are likely to debate, discuss and dissect BREAKING DAWN for months to come --- at least until the film version of TWILIGHT comes out on November 21st, when they'll have a whole new set of creative decisions to consider and critique.
--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
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| I was a teenage werewolf.This book has been analyzed to death already, so I won't write too long of a review. Presumably, you will already have read Twilight before you read this book. This book pick up soon after that one left off. But fans of Edward the vampire may be disappointed, because he leaves near the beginning of the book and doesn't show up again until near the end. Instead, most of the book is devoted to Bella's friendship with Jacob the werewolf. We learn all we need to know about werewolves (Stephanie Meyer's version of werewolves, anyway). It's fairly entertaining, although some people may find all the "love that will never die" stuff to be corny.
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| EscapeI loved this book. It was the perfect fun easy intriguing book to read before bed. I had trouble putting it down. I agree with other reviewers that if what you want is a bloody Vampire book this is not your book. This is more about the inner struggle between good and evil, and of course about passion and love. My other favorite books are in the Harry Potter Series and East of Eden. Somehow there is a similiar thread. People keep saying this is a YA book. I am not so sure. I think I can identify with Bella and the way she feels about Edward only because I have 35 years and numerous relationships to look back on. I'll also say I am overly educated and I don't feel this book is "beneath me"-it might just appeal more to a certain personality whatever the age and education.
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| President Barack ObamaIt was after reading this book that I realized that I had to do everything within my power to ensure that Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.
There are two kinds of people in the world - those who know how to dream, and those who donot. For those of us who do, this book was a set of important guidelines on what this country could be. It took dreamers to create this great society, and it will take a dreamer and a man of action to get us out of the quagmire we're in today.
It was a long shot, but just like millions of other Americans, I knew that if the rest of the country got to know Barack Obama the way I'd taken the time to do, they would elect him president, and they did. If you don't support your newly elected president, that's okay. This country is great because we have the freedom to disagree, even with our most important leaders. But if you love this country at all, then you have to know that there's a movement afoot, one that will take us into a shining new future, one that involves all Americans taking control of their own civic lives, and working together across racial and political lines to do what's best for the country.
Anyone that doesn't want to be a part of that? Pretty sad.
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| Don't "know" Barack Obama?It's hard to see how anyone could validly ask "Do you really know Barack Obama?" when this little book is readily available and so readable. In the Information Age we've got so many sources about most of our political candidates that ignorance is no longer an excuse in the voting booth (or elsewhere, if you opt for a mail-in ballot).
Barack's narrative is modest, self-disclosing and completely lacking in the hubris that has poisoned the administration in Washington for the last 8 years. In short, I found this book completely genuine and honest. It convinced me that "what you see is what you'll get" in President #44.
"No Drama Obama" is *so* cool under pressure, and sets such high standards for personal responsibility that I feel I know him. Those traits come through in this book. He raises the bar for all of us: Blacks, Whites, Democrats, Republicans, Men and Women, GLBTS's, and religious minorities. Isn't that what our great experiment in Democracy is supposed to be all about?
I read most of "Audacity of Hope". My interest waned when I realized Pres. Obama's policies were pretty much a carbon copy of my own. Dreams from My Father convinced me that I share his ultimate objectiives, values and worries as a father, husband and human being as well.
I am an unrepentant Progressive, concerned more about our grandchildren's futures than those of my own generation. If you are a hardcore social Darwinist who espouses economic "survival of the fittest" and "May the Devil take the Hindmost" this book is not for you.
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| Product DescriptionThe Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.
The stories are accompanied by delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by Ms. Rowling herself, featuring a still-life frontispiece for each one. Professor Dumbledore’s commentary—apparently written some eighteen months before his death—reveals not just his vast knowledge of Wizarding lore, but also more of his personal qualities: his sense of humor, his courage, his pride in his abilities, and his hard-won wisdom. Names familiar from the Harry Potter novels sprinkle the pages, including Aberforth Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and his forebears, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (or “Nearly Headless Nick”), as well as other professors at Hogwarts and the past owners of the Elder Wand. Dumbledore tells us of incidents unique to the Wizarding world, like hilariously troubled theatrical productions at Hogwarts or the dangers of having a “hairy heart.” But he also reveals aspects of the Wizarding world that his Muggle readers might find all too familiar, like censorship, intolerance, and questions about the deepest mysteries in life.
Altogether, this is an essential addition to our store of knowledge about the world and the magic that J. K. Rowling has created, and a book every true Harry Potter fan will want to have for their shelves.
This purchase also represents another very important form of giving: From every sale of this book, Scholastic will give its net proceeds to the CHILDREN'S HIGH LEVEL GROUP, a charity cofounded in 2005 by J.K. Rowling and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP. CHLG campaigns to protect and promote children's rights and make life better for vulnerable young people. www.chlg.org
Published by the Children's High Level Group, in association with Arthur A. Levine Books, THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD will be available December 4, 2008.
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| I Balled Like a BabyThe third chapter of this book, Mr October, is simply amazing. I had to put it down several times and just sob before I could get to the end of it. That chapter alone is worth the time to read this book.
As far as the rest goes; it's mostly stories Artie has told on the Stern show. The story of his suicide attempt, Chapter, "Waa, I ran out of Cocaine" was a new revelation when the book was released. But was finally revealed to Howard on the air on November 18th, 2008.
A few places in the book are obvious attempts to appologize (or otherwise communicate) with people he has lost from his life (like Dana). They seem a little weird and self serving.
Overall, Artie's likeability and sense of humor come through very well in the writing. Everything in the Book having to do with Artie's relationship with his father is truly awe-inspiring.
I consider this a must-read for all Stern fans and a very good read for anyone trying to get through day-to-day life all the while struggling with their inner demons.
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