Book 4 - BREAKING DAWN (Note: Nothing but SPOILERS here)I think the easiest summation for this book is to say - this book was not necessary; the series would have been better served as a trilogy and should have ended with Eclipse.
For one thing, we get a two-pronged p-o-v which is introduced in book 3 with us being inside Jacob Black's head for a bit. In reading the chapter titles, I was wondering why Meyer is doing this again but the reasons become evident as you read on...
We start up from Bella and Edward taking some time off for their honeymoon. And ONLY after they are legally wed do they finally consummate their love (and of course, the reader gets no gratification in this area meaning we are left to our own imaginations).
Edward is tortured about his strength having the ability to physically hurt Bella due to their "intensity" and then we find out (ta da!) that she is pregnant! This is a phenomenon Edward and clan were not aware is even possible for a human and vampire.
So there is the prolonged torture of this unusual pregnancy and all the physical stress it puts on Bella. The psychological stress comes from her desire to keep the baby even though it is killing her from the inside out. Because of the stress and strain Bella is put through, Meyer retells the story from Jacob's p-o-v (I guess because it would be unfair if from Edward? Or maybe she's saving Edward for MIDNIGHT SUN? This is the one main drawback of a first person p-o-v but I digress).
The idea is to let Bella die while giving birth and THEN Edward can turn Bella into a vampire. Good idea there. Bella does suffer the pain of the venom as promised but she doesn't suffer all the symptoms of a freshly born vampire: she is able to control her thirst, she doesn't have the rage issues, and she is immediately nimble. And of course she's easier for Edward to love now that she's indestructible so the whole time you're left wondering, "why didn't they just do this right away and avoid all the 'problems' involved with her being human?"
And then it's the meeting of the Volturi against the Cullens because they feel the new hybrid Cullen is either a danger or will be desired as a strange gift. Oh, and to top all this off with a nice cherry on top is the fact that Jacob has imprinted (described in book 3) on Edward and Bella's new baby girl. It turns out she is Jacob's true love; his destiny. Did I mention her name is Reneesme? Um, yeah... Oh, and she is growing/developing at an incredibly accelerated rate which means she'll be old enough for Jacob to change his brotherly love into romantic love sooner than later. (A bit ewww but whatever.)
But it turns out Bella's "skill" which is enhanced by becoming a vampire is her ability to shield her mind so even Edward can't read her thoughts. But now she is able to project this "mind shield bubble" beyond herself to protect others from the skills of the Volturi vampire.
In short, there is a huge build of the biggest clash between the old vampires (Volturi) versus the newbies (Cullens) who are backed up by the wolf pack (Jacob and his brethren) and all the nomad and friendly vamps they can gather. It's a climactic meet with a battle to what will be the death - and then nothing happens. Bella's "mind bubble" thwarts the dangers of the biggest attacks (mental pain) so everyone on her side is safe. The battle is called off and the Volturi go away. Mind you, this took 400+ pages to tell.
Even beyond this, the Bella and Edward romance has taken a backseat to the love of their baby girl, now nicknamed Nessie (which is better than Reneesme). Gee, kind of like a real marriage after all, neh?
It's a tale I really didn't need to know. Meyer mentions on EW.com (see link below) that she loved Anne of Green Gables because of the fact it takes you to the very end of her story. I'm not exactly sure that is always necessary nor does it have to be the case if it feels forced. I think BD is a case in which the characters' behaviors and their actions seem forced and rushed. I didn't hate it and I can kind of understand her line of thinking, but I think it was a disservice to the series as a whole. A good ending on ECLISPE would have sufficed.I guess the only things left are the movies and MIDNIGHT SUN. I hope the filmmakers can jazz up the action!
ALSO:
I found this link on EW.com in which Meyer gives her 12 Inspirations for TWILIGHT including my personal favorite JANE EYRE which I always felt is evident in the Bella/Edward romance (not to mention Jane's love is Mr. Edward Rochester).
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