Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) by Stephenie Meyer
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Book Reviews of Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
Book Review: Breaking Dawn Brings Twlight Series to a Close with Twists, Turns, and a Wonderful Happy Ending!
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up my copy of Breaking Dawn at Midnight August 2, like many many thousands of fans and, of course, raced home to read it.
(Spoilers Follow)
By 1:30 am I was completely engrossed, eventually falling asleep with my face in the book. Meyer (thankfully) put the wedding scene in the very beginning of the book. I think after all this time waiting, (How long has it been...almost four years?) it was about time! I dont think I could have stood to wait any longer. It was beautifully planned and I thought it fit the characters well. The honeymoon was very tasteful (Well done Meyer!). I love that Meyer kept her younger fans in mind when she wrote this chapter, and that she kept basic moral values when writing to a large audience. I can imagine there might have been some pressure on Meyer to create a more vivid love scene, but it was balanced perfectly for the younger and older age ranges of the readers.
The big surprise for me was when we flipped into Jacob's Book. I wasn't expecting this, but I was actually very happy to get to see more of his side of the story. In the end of Eclipse, Meyer delves slightly into Jacob's head and, at first, that bugged me a little. But as I read his book in Breaking Dawn, it made me realize just how crucial it was to see things from his point of view. I have never been a Jacob fan. I thought him always a little too pushy, a little too whiny, a little too rude, and I only liked him in wolf form when all he could do was give big wolfy grins and whimper and remind me of my weet German Shepherd, But this part of the book gave me a lot of respect for the kid. Then again, he also did some growing up.
The alpha twist and the truce with Leah was fun to read, and Im glad I got to see that side of both Jacob AND Leah. One thing was brought up that was not answered thoroughly, however, and maybe I just missed it but, when Seth and Leah joined Jacobs pack, Seth was second in command. By the end, it was Leah running at Jake's right flank. It wasnt clear to me how or when this happened, but I was happy none-the-less. This was actually my favorite part of the whole book (A surprise for me-An avid Team Edward member).
Meyer did wonderful job keeping Jacob's imprinting a secret. I can usually predict what is going to happen next, and this was a huge surprise up until the actual moment when it happened. I also love how Meyer makes us feel like we are there with him We can feel what he is feeling as the center of his world shifts and all of a sudden, it was not gravity holding him to the Earth, but the Cullen's baby. Nice!
In regards to all the drama surrounding the baby I have a few comments First, I was never one to see Bella as a mother, but i felt for her as she suffered through the deadly pregnancy. I am not a mother and so I dont know what maternal instincts feel like but Meyer had me convinced that this was what Bella needed, and that is impressive! Second, I love how Meyer factored Jacob into pregnancy with the imprinting. And, of course, who could forget Edward begging Jacob to 'stud himself out' to Bella! I was happy to be able to have a good laugh over that one in the middle of all this angst.
I never expected Bella to go to College. Her pact with the Cullens was that, right after high school they would marry, and Bella would become a vampire. College factors in much later--how many degrees does Edward have? So bottom line- yes, we would to send a message to our children that going to college and getting a good foundation for the rest of your life is the way to go and then get married and have kids. But this is a book about vampires! Bella has the rest of her life and Edward has a centuries worth of school and work to support while she goes. They talked about going to Dartmouth, and the plan was still there when the book ended. I dont understand all this drama surrounding this whole having a baby first and college second deal. She's still going, isnt she? The whole issue with Jacob was that he could gave Bella a family. Now she has a family. Her picture perfect, happy family.
And it brought Jacob the love of his existence. An amazing twist, but I am happy for it.
On that note. Noone is going to deny that Renesmee is a terrible name. This is the one thing in the book I could not stand. Thank goodness for Jacob coining the nickname "Nessie." I love that Nessie is able to unite the Cullens and the wolves in a way that Bella always wanted to and never could. I almost felt Bella was standing in the kitchen with those two magnets again, forcing them together, and Nessie was a little string that wrapped around them and bonded them tight. There are some people out there who think the imprinting is gross. Like Pedophelia. And I would like to point out that thinking that is disturbing. We were introduced to this with Quil and Clare, And we even got to see their relationship in the beginning of Breaking Dawn. Like Jacob said, he will be the best big brother any little girl ever had. When she gets a little, her best friend and confidante. And then, when the time is right and Clare and Nessie are old enough, they will fall in love and get married. It was made very clear that it was nothing sexual. At all.
The last part of the book was so vivid with detail I had a hard time keeping up. Vampires of different cultures coming and going, the threat of the volturi, Irina's revenge, realizing and expanding Bella's Power, Alice taking off, it was a lot to take in. I found myself reading slower so I can process it all better. I have yet to find any plot holes that made any impact to the story whatsoever. I was very happy to see Irina stand up with her sisters after all, even though it meant death. I was very much looking forward to a great fight scene, but after all the breath-holding for the first part of the book, I was glad I was able to loosen my tension when it didnt happen. Though I would have loved to see Demetri not make it through And maybe Jane.
Id like to take a moment to thank Meyer for Charlie. That man gives me a good laugh every time he speaks, specifically because he is so out of loop but chooses to remain there. Jacob says, Man, you wouldnt believe whats going on! And Charlie says, What I dont know cant kill me, so long as I get to keep my daughter and grandbaby, never mind that she's half immortal and ages like someone spikes her meals with miracle gro!
The fact that Meyer was able to take this vampire novel, full of fire and angst, and give it a (albeighit twisted) fairy tale ending, proves what a literary genius Meyer is. I was nervous at the end of Eclipse, fearing that Meyer had written the story into the completely unimaginable, but it is my firm belief that she did an amazing job making it work and giving the story the closure we have been longing for with the Happy Ending I was so desperately hoping for
Book Review: A Realistic View of Breaking Dawn
Summary: 5 Stars
*Spoilers*
Alright. Let me start by saying that I am a fan of the Twilight saga and have been a loyal follower since four months after Twilight was released.
Now, let me also say that I have not let that fact affect my judgment of Breaking Dawn, of which I had many qualms.
For the sake of being oxymoronic, I'll start with the conclusion.
Stephenie Meyer has said before that she loves happy endings and will always write them. While I too am a fan of such endings, I feel that it is only logical to have a realistic sense of loss, or perhaps struggle, before we get there.
So it was that upon hearing the newest title, "Breaking Dawn", I theorized that the said title was some kind of pretty metaphor for the fact that the morning sunshine has to break through clouds before its light can reach, and subsequently warm, the Earth.
I was wrong.
In a sense, Stephenie Meyer "copped out", giving most of her characters the happy endings they all wanted and dreamed of, even if it meant defying some of her own logic and notions to get there. 98 parts dread and just 2 parts struggle defined the simple and impractical formula of her (anti?)climax. This particular ray of sunlight encountered no clouds in its voyage to Earth (paradoxical considering the setting of the novel in the cloud-covered Forks, WA!).
Also bothersome was the addition of a vampire-human-hybrid-baby into the story. If you don't know who the baby's parents are, I won't spoil, though you must be living under a rock if you're reading this review and yet are still unaware.
With the baby came many questions as to why Stephenie would blatantly defy the rules which SHE defined in favor of a story arc reminiscent of fanfiction. While I can't answer that, or try and reason why THAT was the direction in which Stephenie choose to direct her story, I can say this: any qualms *I* personally had with this issue were resolved easily with the 754-page mammoth (I guess the saying is true that time heals all wounds!). By the time I got to Book 3 (Stephenie had the novel partitioned into three "books"), my earlier resentment was all but vanished.
Which was beneficial, as if the book had been any shorter, my temper would've stopped me from continuing!
Jacob Black, a character I have always, if not liked, sympathized for, got a chance to tell his story in the second 'book' of Breaking Dawn, and in the process, my appreciation increased ten fold. However, all positive feelings for him were completely and utterly eradicated in book three, when an imprinting-gone-awry gave Jacob a completely false sense of entitlement to the aforementioned vamp-baby. He was so irritating as to argue against the baby's rightful mother holding her, and later to endow the poor child with a nickname 'Nessie', shared only by the widely known Loch Ness Monster. I am strongly against animal abuse, but in this case, I was willing to make an exception.
Another factor in 'Breaking Dawn' that threw me for a loop was the presence of sex. Bella and Edward kissed less than a dozen times in Twilight. Their lack of ability to let loose physically has always added a tense-yet-enjoyable aspect to their relationship, one I always wished against but enjoyed anyway. Meyer threw this aspect out the window in Breaking Dawn, making Bella a complete nymphomaniac (Bella actually wakes up in sobs after she is roused from a dream of her doing the deed with Edward!). Sex is good when those participating are married. However, when one wishes to retain their mortality for the sole reason that they can CONTINUE having sex, it gets ridiculous and uncomfortable.
Issues regarding Bella's unavoidable change to an immortal and how she will subsequently deal with her parents are handled in an offhand, unusual way. Events which I expected to take the forefront, like her wedding, are put on the back burner in favor of more seemingly unimportant things, i.e. the honeymoon. I almost expected this, however, when I read the first chapter and already issues that I thought would be major plot points in the story, like how her parents would handle her acceptance to Edward's proposal, were solved completely. It still threw me into a whirlwind of emotions, though.
The Volturi, of course, is brought into the story (albeit several hundred pages in). The method through which they are introduced and eventually dispersed is completely unexpected and anticlimactic. Though this is a staple of a Stephenie Meyer novel, I *was* expecting something a bit different for the conclusion that was billed as "breathtaking".
It certainly took my breath away, though I am not sure if its method was positive or a negative.
And though my rant has so far seemed negative, I give the book *tentatively* four stars. Oddly, I had a hard time deciding on whether or not to give it five.
Because, in retrospection, the book was smashing. It was epic in the most unexpected of ways, and though I had so many problems and complaints and confusions and surprises whilst reading, when I finally read the very last page, I was, simply, a whirlwind of emotions. A day later and I am still not quite sure how I feel.
When I finished New Moon years back, I was mad. Upon a recent reread in preparation of the finale, I realized just how much I loved it. A similar situation happened with Eclipse. Twilight was a book I loved automatically.
Yet neither of the sequels left me in the haze Breaking Dawn has. Unlike with Harry Potter 7, I don't feel angrily and disappointedly robbed with the ending of a favorite series (which says a lot, as I hold the Twilight Saga a fair amount higher in regards!). Sure, I feel sad and depressed that it is over, but I can honestly say that we've all been given our fair go.
I love Bella and the Cullens, and all of the others in the Twilight universe, and I think Breaking Dawn put them through the last loop of their literary journey. I am content and utterly joyous to know that they all can now get and retain their happily ever afters.
People may say otherwise, but I am utterly certain in my conviction that Stephenie Meyer has given us all of the closure we could ever require from our favorite bookshelf pals.
Maybe Breaking Dawn itself was the cloud in the sky. I am pleased to say that the sunlight has battled itself through flawlessly.
And what do you know? I started this review by giving the book four stars.
I have thoroughly convinced myself now that it is worthy of five.
In conclusion, and in summation of all of the wonderful, confusing, content, and downright joyous feelings this *breathtaking* series has given me, I only have one thing left to say to Stephenie Meyer. One thing which I think *ALL* readers of this series should say.
Thank you, Stephenie Meyer.
Book Review: It is what it is...the final chapter of an author's vision...
Summary: 5 Stars
People, it's juvenile fiction. I didn't have a way that I had envisioned for it to all work out. I've had a true best friend of the opposite sex, been in love with my soul mate, had children... and to me, all the plots, story lines and character developments were not THAT unbelievable. It basically just depends on your point of view and you personal life experiences. It's all subjective.
I liked the first three books, thought the characters were interesting and engaging and I wanted to see the author's vision for how their story ends (or continues indefinitely...or whatever). It's not my book. I didn't write it. I don't wish that I could change aspects of the book to fit what I would have preferred. It is what it is...the final chapter of an author's vision.
To have a child with your soul mate is an unbelievable occurrence. It's life changing. Period. You no longer are the same person. You ARE a protector. Everyday, even in mundane tasks. OK, Bella changed. She grew and matured, much faster than she normally would have had to with all the supernatural catalysts in her life. I expected it. Rejoiced in it with her. I was happy for her in the end. Even with the maturation of her character, she was always considered "special." The first three books gave us this insight with her natural ability to shield her mind from supernatural powers and the enormous capacity for love, regardless of circumstances (Edward, Jacob, etc.) There's been a lot of flack about this natural extension into her immortal life via the "love shield" as some would call it, but it's really a logical and natural extension of Bella herself...It would seem illogical and too convenient to me if it hadn't been such a deeply rooted theme regarding her character in the first books.
I dunno, I guess I don't get all the intense criticism.
To say that she got it all without sacrificing anything is laughable. Bella, as the heroine, went through a lot. Either she was battered, bruised and fighting for her life or she was so emotionally torn up (and not just for Edward...), she couldn't function. In every book she faced (and barely escaped) near death experiences. There were two in this book with the pregnancy/immortality and the Volturi. I'm confused; did people not want her to survive somewhat unscathed? I thought that was the point of a good love story/soap opera. You endure a lot for your happily ever after.
The whole thing about marriage at age 18 was a sacrifice for her. It's not what she wanted. It was a concession for her. She didn't really want kids, but when faced with the real alternative of a child growing in her womb, she changed. Nothing wrong with that. I thought that was very realistic.
Bella never wanted to be taken care of. Another concession on her behalf. Ok, he's rich, but what hero in a fantasy love story isn't? I would have found it more unbelievable if he had lived a century and hadn't found a way to acquire wealth. If she gripes in the beginning, she will have lots of time to get over it and deal with it. Also believable.
I really didn't want to hear full details about Edward and Bella's sex life. The innuendos were enough for me and perfect for general young adult fiction.
To me, the book sends a message that young love, marriage and sexual intercourse come with heavy consequences, BUT if you can work through the issues, it can work out in the end. But again, it may not be the best choice. I may be alone in this, but being severely bruised up during sex, getting violently ill and turning up pregnant unexpectedly, and having the baby tear your body up from the inside out does NOT paint a pretty picture of early marriage, intercourse and the birthing experience. Not to mention the myriad of issues the actual baby caused once born. If I was a teen, I would be like "Dag...I thought it was going to be so different, like sunshine and roses once she got married to her true love, turned into a vampire and had a baby..." Yeah, it turned out great in the end, but not before a lot of physical pain and mental anguish. Just like life can sometimes be. Again, I thought this was pretty realistic.
I thought Edward was doing what he thought he had to in order to preserve Bella's life that hung so precariously in the world of nearly indestructible immortals. When he had to, he offered her choices within the boundaries that would still keep her safe. She wasn't immortal. She needed help and protection to stay alive. If he was so controlling and manipulative, he would not have gone along with her wishes to have the baby. Most times he felt helpless.
I'm glad Jacob found his true soul mate. I'm glad that it happened to be Bella's daughter. The biological aspects of imprinting to me dismissed the notion that Nessie was Jacob's second choice. Imprinting goes above and beyond the human notion of love as demonstrated by Leah and Sam. Yes, Nessie is an extension of Bella, but he imprinted with her because it was their destiny. He still loves Bella, but it pales in comparison (much like what Bella may have felt for Jacob while with Edward). His focus is now the child, but again he obviously still cares for and loves Bella. It's convenient, I know, but it works for me. Not implausible.
Sheeesh. The characters in the story went through an awful lot to get to where they ended up in the end. Everyone struggled and everyone sacrificed. Physically, but most importantly, emotionally. Everyone. No one escaped unscathed in some way. To me, this made the ending all that much more satisfying.
This book is still all about choice and sacrifice. Not only of the central characters, but of peripheral characters (vampires, wolves AND humans) some newly introduced in this book. EVERYONE had choices to make, central to their survival. Some were easier than others, but still all made choices.
I hadn't planned to write this much, but the thoughts came easily, so I did...
Again, I think it's subjective. Many people have strong feelings about the characters and how they believe the story should end.
Read it for yourself and decide. I'd also recommend reading the first three in succession before you read this one. I did. I was surprised at the elements I missed the first time around or had forgotten about. The story felt more like a natural continuation and I relied on printed words to fuel my thoughts about the book rather my somewhat distorted memory of the first three.
I am an eternal optimist. I love the underlying theme of hope. You may struggle fiercely through the night, but joy will (and SHOULD) come in the morning. The title was extremely appropriate...
Book Review: Breaking Dawn: an opinion in 10 parts
Summary: 5 Stars
**Spoilers Inside**
I highly anticipated this book (probably most people who have posted reviews did as well). The book brought on several emotions for me which I will break down in detail. I will not recount the entire plot of the novel, only key points to make comments on.
1. The wedding - the wedding was beautiful and I was glad to see that Bella finally saw her human self as being beautiful. It was nice to see Jacob back, but he did ruin the mood once Bella mentioned the honeymoon and that angered me. The wedding and reception were shorter than I would have like it to be, but there were more important story lines to explore.
2. The honeymoon (part 1)- I thought Meyer did a fabulous job of conveying Edward and Bella's intimacy without being smutty. She reinforced the sanctity of marriage before sex which I believe is a fabulous message to young readers.
3. The honeymoon (part 2) - I was livid once I realized that Bella was pregnant; and, honestly, it was obvious that Meyer would go in that direction from all of the foreshadowing in Eclipse and in Bella's nightmares. I was horrified that a. Bella wanted to keep the baby and b. she ran to Rosalie for help. I could not refer to the baby as such, instead I deemed it vampire spawn. I felt that Edward was a blubbering idiot during this section and I wanted to smack both him and Bella and tell them to pull it together.
4. Jacob's section - I was so extremely angry and frustrated with Bella that Jacob's voice was immediately refreshing. His quips between him and Rosalie kept the mood light when everything else was not. I love that he matured in this section and was not the egotistical idiot that I once deemed him to be. I rooted for him as he took charge and took what was rightfully his - his postion as Alpha. I do admit that the imprintation on Renesmee was a complete and utter shock to me. Given the circumstances it is strange, but it also made complete sense. By incorporating the imprinting on Renesmee into the storyline, it opened up the communication between the wolf packs, allowed for peace to finally come between Jacob and Edward, and created a solid alliance between the wolves and the vampires. As for those who believe that this imprintation promotes pedophilia, I believe that they are misunderstanding the delicate balance and nature of the situation. Yes, Renesmee is just a baby, but no, Jacob is not thinking of her in a romantic or sexual nature. Jacob is first and foremost a guardian and a soulmate. He is not rushing her to grow up, but encouraging her to enjoy her childhood. Jacob will remain a teenager until he decides to give up his shape-shifting ways. Renesmee will become a full grown adult in just seven years and then they can live their happily ever after. For now, he is more a body guard and friend than a lover.
5. Bella- Not exactly the transformation she had in mind, but her tranformation took place because it needed to and not only because she wanted it. It was nice to Bella finally believe in herself and not rely on others. I really felt that Nessie and Bella's relationship was not as close of a bond as it should be. I also felt that Edward seemed somewhat detached from Nessie, and not very fatherly. I was relieved that she did not have to hide from Charlie and that he was somewhat in on their secret life, but I couldn't help but think - what about Renee? She is barely mentioned beyond the wedding. Poor Renee. I was, however, extremely excited to finally see Bella hold her own and become a stronger character once she transformed. I thought her power was amazing and for once she was the one who saved the day.
6. Renesmee - What an awful name. I get that it's a combination of Renee and Esme, but it's still hideous. I hope that fans do not become inspired to name their daughters after her. I did not want Nessie (a name even worse than Renesmee) to be born. I thought she would be an evil spawn that would destroy the characters I have known and loved. Once she was introduced, I, like the characters in the book, melted. How could you not love her? Yes, the Jacob imprinting was weird, but it gave Jacob a purpose in life and created an improved alliance with the Cullens and a reconciliation with his own pack. She was the key to pulling together the vampire clans to prevent the destructions of the Cullens. I really would like to learn more about her character and to see her grow...a Meyer spin-off perhaps?
7. Alice's role- I was aggravated that Alice did not have a voice throughout most of this book. I enjoy Alice's character and thought that she really did not have much purpose in this novel. I was extremely angry when she and Jasper left, but I had a feeling they would be back. Alice quickly redeemed herself in the final chapters, but I still hold a slight grudge.
8. The vampire clans - It was extremely interesting to meet the characters that had been mentioned previously but not introduced. With their help, Bella was able to become the strongest weapon in the group - for the first time. I thought the scene with the Volturi would have turned more violent and found myself somewhat disappointed that it did not turn into a showdown, but I was happy with the end result.
9. The happily ever after - Yes, this story had a happy ending. Did anyone remember that Stephenie Meyer's favorite author is Jane Austen? Austen was also a firm believer in her characters getting whatever they desired. Meyer's ending was no different. The characters had conflict in all the books, but it was resolved. Any conflict, no matter how large it may seem can be resolved. Yes, everything worked out conveniently well and there is no longer discord. The overwhelming theme was not that you do not have to make choices in life because everything will work out for the best, but rather, love does conquer all. It is a universal theme - with love anything can be and is possible - isn't that a lesson we can all agree on? Instead of a bloody war torn ending, there was a peaceful resolution - we can only dream of this happening more in real life. Yes, everything worked out for our beloved characters. What else was to be expected? This was a fantasy, no, I'm wrong - this was a FAIRY TALE! How could a reader not expect all the pieces of the puzzle to fit together when all along it seemed like a fairy tale - the knight in shining armor, the damsel in distress, the evil Volturi...(Meyer makes several allusions to literary fairy tales). Readers need to remember that this is not a work of nonfiction. It is not a work of realistic fiction. It is a fairy tale and everyone got their happily ever after.
10. I am going to miss these books and these characters. May they live forever on library shelfs and in the minds of their truly devoted fans. Bring on Midnight Sun!
Book Review: A great story with a balance of realism and fantasy: Spoiler Alert!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a reader in my thirties, I have to say that I enjoyed and identified the most with this book in the series. Having read many of the negative reviews, I must say that I respectfully disagree with many of those assessments.
I found many readers disturbed by the fact that Bella not only married Edward at the age of eighteen, but also became pregnant. While I agree that eighteen is rather young to marry and have a child, I feel that Bella has grown and matured substantially throughout the series. Eighteen-year-olds are old enough to go off to war in our country, after all. Also, in light of the fact that Bella has made the decision to become a vampire, the commitment of marriage only makes sense to show Edward how very much she is determined to live his lifestyle and stand by him for eternity (quite literally).
Bella does become pregnant, and she and Edward both view this as a mistake at first. Neither of them realized that this was a possibility, and although it is frightening for them both, they eventually come to accept and sacrifice to bring a new life into the world. They are not, contrary to many reviews, getting exactly what they want. They both must make tremendous sacrifices in their own ways for this life they did not plan on, as many young parents do not plan on pregnancy but must come to terms with it. Bella must sacrifice herself physically, and they are both emotionally torn in that Edward must sacrifice Bella for a child he initially resents and Bella discovers that she desperately wants this child who is the result of the love that she and Edward share even though she knows that the child may kill her. They both mature immeasurably in their individual realizations that their child means more than their own lives. I don't think this is a negative influence for young readers. Through the myriad emotions that Bella and Edward experience, hopefully a young person would come away with an understanding of the seriousness and unpredictability of pregnancy and child birth. Stephenie Meyer does not glorify teen pregnancy; she shows the scary, gritty side as well as the wonderful emotions one may experience while pregnant.
One review mentioned that a teen would most likely be scared to death the first time she felt her baby kick. Although I was twenty-three when my first child was born, that first quickening is the thing that I will always treasure the most from my pregnancy. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world to actually feel and confirm the life inside of me.
Yet another review discussed Bella's immaturity. Frankly, I don't see this aspect of her character presenting itself very often, and when it does I feel that it only reiterates her humanity. This is a character who has been forced to be the parent in her own relationship with her mother and father. I think that Bella's most redeeming quality is how much she tries to make everyone in her life happy. I don't believe that she lives her life for the men in her life; she lives her life to foster relationships that are the basis of her hapiness. Some individuals have an immense self-awareness and independence in the giving of their lives to those around them. This does not necessarily point to a weakness of character or a lack of relying on oneself, but a gift to love with one's whole heart and mind while making oneself happy in the process.
Regarding the subject of Jacob, I feel that he matured the most in this book. He finally comes to the realization that Bella has chosen Edward. His internal struggle with this, as well as his acceptance of Edward, shows tremendous growth on his part. This was the first time that I actually liked Jacob as a person. In past books I felt that although a loyal friend, he was also manipulative and somewhat selfish in his relationship with Bella. He grows up enough to appreciate the love that Bella and Edward share rather than resent it. As for the imprinting, I'm still not sure how I feel about that. I don't think of it as perverted in that Ms. Meyer did a good job explaining that sexuality was not a factor, rather it is a matter of two kindred souls entwining forever. We are shown that Quil and Jacob do not look at their young mates as sexual beings, but as children that they love in a brotherly or parental sense until their ages are appropriate for the change. Jacob and Nessie in particular don't seem as strange as Quil and Claire given Nessie's rapid aging process. Neither do I think it strange that Jacob imprinted specifically on Bella's daughter. After all, she is a part of Bella, and possesses many of the characteristics that Jacob loves in Bella.
I do not believe that the story is wrapped up with a pretty bow on the top, with each character getting exactly what they want. To attain their happiness they must go through hell and back. Perhaps Bella and Edward seem to have the perfect life even with the mistakes they have made. However, they still must be prepared for an uncertain future; for a child that is not perfect even for all of the perfection she may exude. They also still face the threat of the Volturi, as well as humans, who ironically, possess less humanity than they themselves in many ways. I also believe that there are many messages to be learned. Sacrifice is an undeniable part of love. We are at our most powerful with those that we love surrounding and supporting us. Struggle and sacrifice produces a strength and awareness of self that cannot be conquered. Family and friends are our greatest blessings. Giving of oneself to others does not detract from one's own independence, but fosters self respect. Humanity is the most important quality of all; even to those who are not human.
Lastly, this series is fantasy. Please remember that as you read. I truly believe and hope that young readers of this saga are intelligent enough to know the difference between fantasy and reality. I feel that we must give young people that are taking the time to read literature enough credit to form their own opinions without being influenced by the actions and decisions of a fictional character. The flaws that we see in characters are very often the best teachers.