FAQ's for Breaking Dawn

[Shannon]

I just checked out Stephenie's website and she's posted the Frequently Asked Questions section for Breaking Dawn. I think there are some interesting discussion points there. Check them out if you get the chance: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/bd_faq.....

What do you guys think about the pregnancy explanation?

The battle scene explanation?

[Sarah]

This may be what she originally planned at first, but I still think that once she wrote the middle two books and developed Jacob's character more the story changed too much for her to keep certain plot items tha same. For example, Jacob imprinting on Reneesme. In her explanation on her website, Jacob originally never had deep romantic feelings for Bella. It was just a crush. However, that changed when she wrote "New Moon" and "Eclipse" which ended up making it feel too weird for many readers to accept the imprinting, as well as in a sense diminishing Jacob's strong character in the end. He was reduced to being a babysitter for the second half of the book and didn't develop anymore. The other example is that the Cullen's character's were more developed in the middle two books but originally wouldn't have been if it went straight from "Twilight" to "Breaking Dawn". That's why the characters didn't feel like themselves in "Breaking Dawn" because it was written before that development took place. Omce she wrote the middle two books, she needed to have made some adjustments in her "Forever Dawn" manuscript to accomodate that development, however in my opinion she failed to do that. She admits that she would improve her writing if she went back to write it again but would not change the actual story. I think that would still be poor writing on her side because instead of following the characters where they went once the other two books were written, her ending would need to fit that growing and changing story. For me, I believe that is why "Breaking Dawn" just didn't feel like a real part of the series.

[Shannon]

I couldn't agree more.

[Kat]

I have to say though, I felt like Meyer's answers were well thought out and maturely handled. I was most impressed when she was talking about the negative reaction to the book - she admitted she was disappointed but that no book was right for everyone. I think that's just about right. It was more mature and respectful than what I was expecting. So my opinion of her has gone up a bit based on this.

[Shannon]

Wow, Helkat, I completely disagree. Stephenie's answers to the FAQs pretty much destroyed the last shred of respect I had for her as a writer. Here's why:

1. In explaining her big "mental battle", she justifies its use because she admits that she didn't want to kill anyone. That's a cop-out. Now, I wouldn't have been totally disappointed with a WELL Done legal drama, but her ending left the story deflated. It had potential and she didn't live up to it.

2. She talks about how the basic story of Forever Dawn didn't really change that much. She admits to using an ending that didn't really take into account how her series had progressed. She attempted to retrofit it, and it was obvious. It was bad judgment to proceed with that course of action, and I wish she'd kept her mouth shut. I'd rather not have had confirmation that she ACTUALLY did such thing, even though many of us speculated that she had. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

3. Then, sin of all sins, she throws the "it's just fiction" defense out there when explaining the pregnancy. Now, she does go on to offer the way the biological processes work within the context of the story, which is great. BUT, I can't believe she actually said, "First of all, of course it's not possible. None of this story is possible. It's a fantasy story about creatures that don't actually exist."

[Kat]

Shannon - let me clarify. I didn't think her answers were necessarily good ones. I was just impressed that they weren't dodges, and that she didn't attempt to turn the fault around on the readers. She at least TRIED to answer the questions. I guess I had come to expect that she wouldn't even do that. She seems to own her choices, even if her justifications are poor, and I respect that.

My opinion of the story hasn't gone up at all. Just my opinion of Meyer as a person.

[Shannon]

Helkat,

I understand what you're saying. Really, I do. I think in my points above, I made it sound like it was all about the story when really I was trying to analyze the thought process behind her responses. I think I'm the one that needs to clarify. I have less respect for her as an author now because:

1. She does attempt to answer her readers' questions. However, in my opinion, the answers to the more important questions actually do wind up sounding like dodges or passing the blame to the reader.

2. She admits to committing some pretty unforgiveable writing sins. Now, the proof that she had done so was irrefutable if you read BD and analyzed the plot. However, I think she should NOT have opened her mouth and owned up to it. It took balls, I'll give her that. I just think it shows a lack of strategy on her part and it makes her look weak, in my eyes. Most of the time, I'll agree that honesty is the best policy, but SOMETIMES it's better to just plead the fifth.

So, that's why I say I have less respect for her, personally, now than I did before she answered the FAQs.

My opinion of the story hasn't changed either and I wasn't suggesting that yours had. I know you think too clearly for that. ;)

[Shannon]

Kara, she just attributes the brittleness to changes that occur over time. I think on the FAQs she was just picking the biggest, baddest questions out there. I know there are tons of things I'm still curious about, but she did hit the high points.

[Sarah]

I personally think that a good writer shouldn't have to justify their writing and explain the plot, etc. to the reader. The writing should speak for itself and the fact that an author would have to justify all of the story elements with long explanations doesn't reflect well on her as a writer. If it needs that much clarification (as "BD" obviously did) then it is further evidence that the author needs some serious help. I like the quote Shannon used above. For me the answers to the FAQ made SM look worse.

[Sarah]

I thought that was funny of her to say, too, because she kept the same ending even though the characters lead her elsewhere.

[Emma]

Exactly, completely ridiculous.

[Amber]

I'm very surprised at everyone's comments. I originally liked the book anyway, but after I read her FAQs I thought that it would be helpful to others who hadn't and it might change their minds. Not that you're not allowed your own opinions of course, but I guess if you liked it or didn't like it originally the FAQs part isn't going to change or help your opinion of her much anyway. I really liked her explanations for everything. And I agree, it is still fiction in a totally unrealistic world where vampires and werewolves don't exist. So to me all of her explanations were valid.

And I like happy endings where everyone doesn't die.

[PandaRanda]

Actually I wasn't at all surprised by everyone's comments. =P Obviously all those who voice strong opinions will be willful and stubborn. So anyone who passionately loves the book will stubbornly stand their ground, and those who thoroughly loathe the book won't easily be appeased by a few explanations.

I'm guilty of being one of those willful, stubborn lovers of Breaking Dawn, but when I read her FAQ I too cringed when she said, "Now, on to the "how is this possible?" question. First of all, of course it's not possible. None of this story is possible. It's a fantasy story about creatures that don't actually exist." fully comprehending the negative reactions towards such frivolous statements. Honestly I totally agree, logically speaking, she's bang on...theoretically maybe not...but hey, that's just me. There're many who definitely do not agree. Many have argued that, "It's fantasy!" doesn't explain the pregnancy because she added science into the fray. Therefore they're willing to accept the "fantasy" explanation for the entirely scintifically-incorrect existence of vampires, but not the same explanation for vampire pregnancy because of the apparently "more" obvious scientific implications of such an occurance. However, she didn't stop there, she went on to explain, using science, why and how vampires can have hybrid babies. If she left it at that statement and chose not to elaborate, I would have been duely disappointed in her lack of explanation. Her scientific explanation did, however, make sense. Obviously, not a sound scientific explanation, but at least she studied up a bit.

I think all her characters changed in the end...but I don't necessarily disagree with how they changed. In fact I quite liked how her characters changed and developed in the last book. They were all truly beginning to grate on me by the end of Eclipse, and I was thoroughly frustrated with a number of them. But Breaking Dawn cleared that up, because instead of digressing, constantly whining and being caught up in their angst(as they had been doing up until Eclipse), they begun moving along...actually picking up the pace. That, of course, is only my opinion. " Oh, it might do it for some people, it might be exactly what they were looking for. But there's always going to be another group who was looking for something else." So I guess it did it for me...because honestly, if Bella, Edward, Jacob and all of the rest of them DIDN'T change, I would have been seriously unimpressed. But I guess it didn't necessarily do it for everyone, which is reasonable enough.

I did like her take on the whole "anti-feminist" thing. Seriously, she's so right...what's wrong with a strong headed female willing to find love and have a family? You can still have both...just because you choose that pathway, doesn't mean you became the more insignificant and weaker gender of the two. No one's forcing you to make that choice just because you're female. I really detest hypocritical people...I especially hate myself if and when I fall into that category. *shivers*

Overall I think her FAQ was alright, it cleared up a little bit for me too, and who doesn't like their questions answered? (Unless you were intending for them to be rhetorical, like the question I just asked...but I doubt the questions asked about Breaking Dawn were rhetorical...) Obviously if you're going to ask...then expect to be answered. Sure, silence is bliss (or was that ignorance?)...but it's also terribly annoying to those who have to endure her silence/ignorance when they're demanding answers out of her. So if she did shut up and choose not to elaborate I would've spurned her for her cowardice, but she didn't. Ah but, you can't make everyone happy...*shrugs*