This is my last post on The Last Song, and even though I regret saying this, it's not a happy one. As I had predicted, her father became ill. In fact, he had been ill for a long time, and had decided it bet to keep it a secret from his family, as he knew for a fact his life would be ended in about a year or so. It started when he had been first noticing signs that something was wrong, and when he finally went to the doctors, he was told he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, a cancer that could not be fully prevented from taking its own course. He remembers as well that is father was also diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier in Steve's childhood years. "It was over, he repeated to himself. In less than a year, he was going to die. Yes, he'd now something was wrong, and perhaps he'd even expected the doctor to deliver the news he had. But the memory of the doctor speaking the actual words began to recur in his mind, like an old-fashioned record skipping on a turntable (pg. 362)."
The day the turtle eggs hatched, the town gathered around the nest and watched as the many littler baby turtles broke free from their bondage and scattered into the water. The surprisingly beautiful moment had left Ronnie and Will happy, and overjoyed by what they had seen, even though Ronnie was worried about the baby turtle's lifespans. After Will made her feel slightly better, they sighted Ronnie's father and brother close by. They approached them in time to see her father go into a coughing attack, which would later lead him to be put in the hospital. "He gasped again, then lowered his hands. For what seemed like the longest few seconds of her life, Ronnie was frozen in place, suddenly more scared than she'd ever been. Her father's face was covered in blood (pg. 357)." I can relate to the way Ronnie felt. I too experienced watching my father reacting suddenly to his sickness, and the pain you feel is more greater than any pain you could ever have in your lifetime. Ronnie must have felt the same way, as the authored described her to be "more scared than she'd ever been." This is probably the most important thing I have related my life to in the The Last Song.
Later on when Steve was being treated in the hospital Ronnie became slightly dissappointed that her own family had kept something so important from her for so long. I imagine that what she was feeling wasn't really dissaoppointment, but frustration that this is what she had just started to get to know her father, and suddenly may have had to let it all go once again, as she somewhat pinpointed later on. I probably would have been frustrated as well, and mabye even a little disspaointed myself, as I may have felt very confused about how something so large could have come up so suddenly. She also may have been frustrated with herself by not figuring out what was oging on sooner, and discouraged that for a lot of her life she had treated him with disrespect and like an "alien." "Suddenly she knew why her dad had wanted her and Jonah to come to North Carolina... And his ceaseless work on the window now made perfect sense. She recalled his coughing fit in the church and the times he'd winced in pain. In hindsight, the pieces all fit together. Yet everything was falling apart... Despite herself, she remembered the day day she'd arrived at his house and the anger she'd felt toward him; she remembered storming off, the though of touching him as an alien to her as space travel. She'd hated him then and now she loved him (pp. 366/367)."
Throughout the novel, Steve had been trying his best to let himself experience God's presence, and he had failed at feeling such a strong being anywhere near him. I am religious, and even though there is no visible proof that God is real, I still believe in him and his name. Steve felt the same way. Even though his quest had had no apparent results, he never gave up on himself OR God. This is one of the most special things It thought there was to learn about Steve's character. He was brave to take his children back into his life as well, after all the years that had passed. And I realize now that I truly admire Steve and how hard he worked, and how he never gave up. I am very sad that my prediction had come true, but I also believe that his character and I have learned a valuable lesson: if you know your time is near, take advantage of everything you have now... you'll never regret it.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - Fire Burning Through My Soul
Ronnie, after realizes just how much she loved Will, and being convinced by Megan (Will's sister) that the love between the two of them is indeed worth fighting for, she races to the court, where Will is scheduled to compete in a volleyball tournament to enlighten him, and assure him that she is more in love with him than ever. "She would have talked it all through with him, but with the game only minutes away, she didn't have time. As soon as she was close, she threw her arms around him and kissed him as passionately as she could. If he was surprised, he recovered quickly and began to kiss her back (pg. 323)." This made me realize just how strong their love is, even though it has only been thriving for a small while.
As the game rambles on, and Scott and him take the lead in the tournament, and are about to win the tournament, when Will, in the midst of the winning match, catches a glimpse of a surprise show being put on by Marcus, Blaze and their friends. They were tossing back fireballs, as this is what their usual acts usually consist of, and as Marcus tosses a fireball to Blaze, her shirt, which had accidentally been covered in fuel as Blaze had been getting ready for the show, started to produce billowing blames as it interacted with the fireball. In no time at all, Blaze was burning furiously, and as Will closed the distance between the two of them in order to save her, as Marcus had fled the scene once more. "A moment later, her hand were on fire as well, and her screams drowned out all other noises in the stadium... Even from a distance, Will could see the flames consuming her like a cyclone." Will, afraid as though Blaze will not have enough time to spare waiting for the ambulance to arrive, flies Blaze to the hospital. I can only visualize what it looked like to Will, to see one of his older friends suddenly be lit on fire. I visualized Blaze struggling in one place, first dropping to her knees, then finally to the ground, as the burning subsided. It described her skin to be red and injured, and I can imagine her shirt half melted from the heat of the fire. I can see the panic that must have been showing in Will's eyes as he ran towards Blaze, knowing full well there could be a possibility he would be too late to save her. I can visualize his sweaty face, now bright red from running all the way from the court to Blaze in a matter of seconds, and his hands shaking as he reached for Blaze's frail body, the sudden surprising weakness making it a struggle to carry her to his car.
What came to my attention while reading, and what Scoot mentioned to Will later on, is that even though Will may have saved Blaze's life, she probably wouldn't have saved him if he had been in the same situation as she had been. "Scott took a step toward him. "Do you think for a second she would have done the same for you? If you were hurt and you needed help? Not a chance (pg. 341)!" But after hearing that Blaze had used to be a nice, caring young girl when she had actually been friends with Will, I do believe that Blaze would have helped Will under certain circumstances. But as Marcus seems to be holding her back, and sort of acting as a controller of the things she does, she may have also hesitated, and avoided the situation as not to earn Marcus's disrespect. But this also made me acknowledge that after everything that Blaze had done to her, and how even though she had admitted to Ronnie she had been wrong, and still refused to admit it in court as she was tied to Marcus, Ronnie hadn't thought for one moment whether to help her not, she had just pitched in at once, knowing full well that Blaze was good at heart, as Will had told her one time before. This is an example of just how understanding a person like Ronnie could be.
As the game rambles on, and Scott and him take the lead in the tournament, and are about to win the tournament, when Will, in the midst of the winning match, catches a glimpse of a surprise show being put on by Marcus, Blaze and their friends. They were tossing back fireballs, as this is what their usual acts usually consist of, and as Marcus tosses a fireball to Blaze, her shirt, which had accidentally been covered in fuel as Blaze had been getting ready for the show, started to produce billowing blames as it interacted with the fireball. In no time at all, Blaze was burning furiously, and as Will closed the distance between the two of them in order to save her, as Marcus had fled the scene once more. "A moment later, her hand were on fire as well, and her screams drowned out all other noises in the stadium... Even from a distance, Will could see the flames consuming her like a cyclone." Will, afraid as though Blaze will not have enough time to spare waiting for the ambulance to arrive, flies Blaze to the hospital. I can only visualize what it looked like to Will, to see one of his older friends suddenly be lit on fire. I visualized Blaze struggling in one place, first dropping to her knees, then finally to the ground, as the burning subsided. It described her skin to be red and injured, and I can imagine her shirt half melted from the heat of the fire. I can see the panic that must have been showing in Will's eyes as he ran towards Blaze, knowing full well there could be a possibility he would be too late to save her. I can visualize his sweaty face, now bright red from running all the way from the court to Blaze in a matter of seconds, and his hands shaking as he reached for Blaze's frail body, the sudden surprising weakness making it a struggle to carry her to his car.
What came to my attention while reading, and what Scoot mentioned to Will later on, is that even though Will may have saved Blaze's life, she probably wouldn't have saved him if he had been in the same situation as she had been. "Scott took a step toward him. "Do you think for a second she would have done the same for you? If you were hurt and you needed help? Not a chance (pg. 341)!" But after hearing that Blaze had used to be a nice, caring young girl when she had actually been friends with Will, I do believe that Blaze would have helped Will under certain circumstances. But as Marcus seems to be holding her back, and sort of acting as a controller of the things she does, she may have also hesitated, and avoided the situation as not to earn Marcus's disrespect. But this also made me acknowledge that after everything that Blaze had done to her, and how even though she had admitted to Ronnie she had been wrong, and still refused to admit it in court as she was tied to Marcus, Ronnie hadn't thought for one moment whether to help her not, she had just pitched in at once, knowing full well that Blaze was good at heart, as Will had told her one time before. This is an example of just how understanding a person like Ronnie could be.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - O What A Wonderful Wedding
Ronnie refuses to become too intimate with Will, as she know that come the end of summer, they will both end up going there separate ways, him to college, and her back to her original home. But Will longs to have something a little more serious between them. But I suspect he knows better than to argue with Ronnie, as he lets go and agrees with her almost always in the end. But he doesn't accept her refusal when he invites her to his sister, Megan's, wedding. Ronnie has never quite imagined herself as a sort of girl who would dress up formally for any type of convention, but she finds herself wanting to go so she is able to be with Will more often than never, as she may be separated from him sooner rather than later.
So she struggles to find a dress in the local stores to that with suit her, and she finally finds one good enough. She dresses herself up extravagantly, enough herself almost unrecognizable to her brother and father. "I don't know you, Ronnie told her reflection, turning this way and that. I've never seen you before. She tugged at her dress, adjusting it slightly. She looked pretty good, she had to admit. She smiled. And definitely good enough for the wedding... "You look normal again. But you don't look like my sister." "You look wonderful," her dad said quickly. Surprising herself, Ronnie breathed a sigh of relief. "Is the dress okay?" "It's perfect," her dad answered(pg. 300)." Ronnie was surprised by how much effort was put into the wedding, which was to take place at Will's grand home. Much like Ronnie herself, the place was almost unrecognizable. Will's mother had done plenty to make sure that the place looked absolutely picture perfect. "Ronnie had to admit the place was as spectacular as a movie set. There were flowers everywhere the hedge was trimmed to perfection, and even the brick-and-stucco wall that surrounded the property had been freshly painted (pg. 301)."
For once, Ronnie got to see Will the way she would expected him to appear with a background such as his was, and it surprised Ronnie by how much more amazing he looked "done-up." But even though she was with her true love, and that she knew that's all that mattered, being at a wedding wasn't something that Ronnie would like to do on a day to day basis. But much to her surprise, everything had gone well, until the thought of leaving Will soon made her feelings for him too strong to ignore, and Will starting leading her towards his father's boat. As they approached the vessel, Marcus made a surprise appearance, and decided it would be fun to "crash" the wedding. Will, knowing exactly what he was up to, tried to prevent Marcus from doing something irrational, and accidentally fell right into Marcus's trap. The two destroyed a reception tent as their fight unfolded, and Marcus, by getting a quick and unnoticeable getaway, left Will and an innocent Ronnie seemingly responsible for the damage.
The author described how Will was feeling as the recognition of just what Marcus had been doing all these years finally set into place. "Marcus hadn't tried to help her. He'd run away when she needed him, when she could have died. Will didn't care what would happen to him... He was beyond that now. This time, Marcus had gone too far." I can relate to Will's feeling of sudden intesnity and frustration towards Marcus. When I was younger, there were plenty of times where I thought that someone, who had been picking on me in school, had finally gone too far, and I knew in my gut just how horrible and mad it had made me feel. Although Will took it a bit more seriosuly than I had, I know what's it's like to, after so long, as Marcus had been against Will for a while now, to finally be able to resolve a problem.
After being seemingly disowned by Will's family, Ronnie leaves, knowing full well that her relationship with Will had come to an end far earlier than she thought it would have. I would have never expected that his mother would feel such strong hatred toward Ronnie. It seemed as though her stern reactions to Ronnie would turn out to be for a whole different reason altogether, and would have nothing to do with Ronnie herself. Will had tried to assure Ronnie that she would rub off on his mother sooner or later, and after hearing the way she quickly assumed it was Ronnie who had conducted the tent incident, and how she defined Ronnie by what class she came from, it hadn't surprised me that Ronnie was hurt. But when I read the words she spoke to Will's father... "Will you please tell Will that I said goodbye? And that I won't be seeing him anymore?" This surprised me the most. The fact that Ronnie felt as though because Will's mother didn't approve of her, she felt as though she had to run away from her relationship with Will made my heart rip into two.
So she struggles to find a dress in the local stores to that with suit her, and she finally finds one good enough. She dresses herself up extravagantly, enough herself almost unrecognizable to her brother and father. "I don't know you, Ronnie told her reflection, turning this way and that. I've never seen you before. She tugged at her dress, adjusting it slightly. She looked pretty good, she had to admit. She smiled. And definitely good enough for the wedding... "You look normal again. But you don't look like my sister." "You look wonderful," her dad said quickly. Surprising herself, Ronnie breathed a sigh of relief. "Is the dress okay?" "It's perfect," her dad answered(pg. 300)." Ronnie was surprised by how much effort was put into the wedding, which was to take place at Will's grand home. Much like Ronnie herself, the place was almost unrecognizable. Will's mother had done plenty to make sure that the place looked absolutely picture perfect. "Ronnie had to admit the place was as spectacular as a movie set. There were flowers everywhere the hedge was trimmed to perfection, and even the brick-and-stucco wall that surrounded the property had been freshly painted (pg. 301)."
For once, Ronnie got to see Will the way she would expected him to appear with a background such as his was, and it surprised Ronnie by how much more amazing he looked "done-up." But even though she was with her true love, and that she knew that's all that mattered, being at a wedding wasn't something that Ronnie would like to do on a day to day basis. But much to her surprise, everything had gone well, until the thought of leaving Will soon made her feelings for him too strong to ignore, and Will starting leading her towards his father's boat. As they approached the vessel, Marcus made a surprise appearance, and decided it would be fun to "crash" the wedding. Will, knowing exactly what he was up to, tried to prevent Marcus from doing something irrational, and accidentally fell right into Marcus's trap. The two destroyed a reception tent as their fight unfolded, and Marcus, by getting a quick and unnoticeable getaway, left Will and an innocent Ronnie seemingly responsible for the damage.
The author described how Will was feeling as the recognition of just what Marcus had been doing all these years finally set into place. "Marcus hadn't tried to help her. He'd run away when she needed him, when she could have died. Will didn't care what would happen to him... He was beyond that now. This time, Marcus had gone too far." I can relate to Will's feeling of sudden intesnity and frustration towards Marcus. When I was younger, there were plenty of times where I thought that someone, who had been picking on me in school, had finally gone too far, and I knew in my gut just how horrible and mad it had made me feel. Although Will took it a bit more seriosuly than I had, I know what's it's like to, after so long, as Marcus had been against Will for a while now, to finally be able to resolve a problem.
After being seemingly disowned by Will's family, Ronnie leaves, knowing full well that her relationship with Will had come to an end far earlier than she thought it would have. I would have never expected that his mother would feel such strong hatred toward Ronnie. It seemed as though her stern reactions to Ronnie would turn out to be for a whole different reason altogether, and would have nothing to do with Ronnie herself. Will had tried to assure Ronnie that she would rub off on his mother sooner or later, and after hearing the way she quickly assumed it was Ronnie who had conducted the tent incident, and how she defined Ronnie by what class she came from, it hadn't surprised me that Ronnie was hurt. But when I read the words she spoke to Will's father... "Will you please tell Will that I said goodbye? And that I won't be seeing him anymore?" This surprised me the most. The fact that Ronnie felt as though because Will's mother didn't approve of her, she felt as though she had to run away from her relationship with Will made my heart rip into two.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - The Change
Something that I have noticed in the book that has been slowly starting to build is the fact that Ronnie's father may be becoming ill. At first, Ronnie seemed to thin it was no big deal, when she heard from Jonah about her father not feeling too well, but not until she experienced for herself watching her father break down in a coughing fit did she start to wonder more about what was causing him to do so. "As he played, he coughed once, then again, before stopping the song. He coughed more, the sound thick and mucousy, and when it continued unabated, she broke into a run to reach him. "Dad?" she cried. "Are you okay?" He looked up, and for some reason, the coughin began to subside. By the time she bent down nextto him, he was only wheezing slightly. "I'm okay," he said, his voice weak. "There's so much dust here - it gets to me after a while. It happpens every time." he stared at him, thinking he looked a little pale. "Are you sure that's it?" "Yeah, I'm sure." He patted her hand. "What are you doing here (pg. 283)?"' I suspect that Ronnie knew full well that it hadn't been the dust, as Jonah had expplained how he hadn't been doing as well as normal at home either. But she must haven't been too worried, as the topic was quickly, and easily strayed from.
I predict that in the near future in the story, her father may be either diagnosed with a sickness, or becoming seriously ill, because I have noticed that usually, the author wouldn't have contributed this part of the novel in without it being somewhat important to the future storyline or plot. It may lead into something more than Ronnie would expect, or it may turn out okay in the end. I know though that my father, who was diagnosed with Leukemia almost three years ago, hadn't shown any earlier symptoms or signs that he was becoming ill. It came on unexpectedly, and we had to adapt to the changes that were made fairly quickly. I have a feeling that Ronnie' father's situation may become serious, and it may put a halt to the plans Ronnie had both with Will, and going home.
I predict that in the near future in the story, her father may be either diagnosed with a sickness, or becoming seriously ill, because I have noticed that usually, the author wouldn't have contributed this part of the novel in without it being somewhat important to the future storyline or plot. It may lead into something more than Ronnie would expect, or it may turn out okay in the end. I know though that my father, who was diagnosed with Leukemia almost three years ago, hadn't shown any earlier symptoms or signs that he was becoming ill. It came on unexpectedly, and we had to adapt to the changes that were made fairly quickly. I have a feeling that Ronnie' father's situation may become serious, and it may put a halt to the plans Ronnie had both with Will, and going home.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - Ronnie's Dinner w/ Will who's... Rich?
When Ronnie finally invites Will over for dinner at her home to meet her family, Will, surprised by the sudden offer, rushes to his home with Ronnie to get spruced up, even though Ronnie insists that there's no need to do so. But when Will insists, Ronnie finds herself in the midst of a beautiful, extravagant, luxurious property, and suddenly feels small, and very different. It was a shock for her to realize just how much more judgmental she had been towards Will, and how more and more her judgments had been false. "Okay, she thought, this was ridiculous. Not jut the grounds with the sculptured rose gardens and the hedges and marble statues, or the massive Georgian mansion supported by elegant columns, or even the overpriced exotic crs that were being waxed by hand in an area reserved for such things - but all of it... And here she was, wearing a T-shirt, and torn jeans. Nice (pg. 225)."
It seemed throughout the book that Will came from an average, middle-classed family, because of the way he presented himself. Shorts, T-shirts, and constantly playing volleyball on the beach with the rest of the town watching close-by. Never had I expected just how different he turned out to be. It reminded me of Ronnie. Ronnie, who has a warm, caring heart on the inside, and loves her friends and family as much as possible, instead chooses to dress up in dark clothing, and make-up, and struts around as if she wouldn't care what other people thought of her. She hides who she really is on the inside, even if she doesn't realize it, and only frequently, does that side of her make a full appearance in front of others. With Will, I had the same type of idea, but with his background. He hangs out with middle-classed people, and chooses not to flaunt the fact that he is in fact above everyone in power and money wise. Only would I have ever even suspected just what type of family background he comes from without traveling to his home, meeting his family, and experiencing it all for myself. Ronnie may not realize just how much she and Will have in common, but this is definitely something that I could tie back to both of them at once.
When Ronnie meets Will's mother, her first impression isn't very good. His mother shows her apparent dislike for Will's new girlfriend, which makes Ronnie rather uncomfortable. After spending a few silent, intense, moments with Will's mother, Ronnie is surprised to find Will's father is full-hearted, kind and enjoyable. She compares him to Will, which makes her realize how much comfortable it is to be around him than Will's father. Although Ronnie is now more comfortable, I suspect her feelings stay the same about feeling different. I know that if I were to have just met a girl who I immediately started to wonder how I felt about, then found out that they were rich, it would surprise me, especially if that person let on that they were a whole different type of person. It would make me disagouraged as well, knowing that the person I fell in love with turned out to come from a whole different history. Unfortunately, it may slightly change the way I feel about them.
It seemed throughout the book that Will came from an average, middle-classed family, because of the way he presented himself. Shorts, T-shirts, and constantly playing volleyball on the beach with the rest of the town watching close-by. Never had I expected just how different he turned out to be. It reminded me of Ronnie. Ronnie, who has a warm, caring heart on the inside, and loves her friends and family as much as possible, instead chooses to dress up in dark clothing, and make-up, and struts around as if she wouldn't care what other people thought of her. She hides who she really is on the inside, even if she doesn't realize it, and only frequently, does that side of her make a full appearance in front of others. With Will, I had the same type of idea, but with his background. He hangs out with middle-classed people, and chooses not to flaunt the fact that he is in fact above everyone in power and money wise. Only would I have ever even suspected just what type of family background he comes from without traveling to his home, meeting his family, and experiencing it all for myself. Ronnie may not realize just how much she and Will have in common, but this is definitely something that I could tie back to both of them at once.
When Ronnie meets Will's mother, her first impression isn't very good. His mother shows her apparent dislike for Will's new girlfriend, which makes Ronnie rather uncomfortable. After spending a few silent, intense, moments with Will's mother, Ronnie is surprised to find Will's father is full-hearted, kind and enjoyable. She compares him to Will, which makes her realize how much comfortable it is to be around him than Will's father. Although Ronnie is now more comfortable, I suspect her feelings stay the same about feeling different. I know that if I were to have just met a girl who I immediately started to wonder how I felt about, then found out that they were rich, it would surprise me, especially if that person let on that they were a whole different type of person. It would make me disagouraged as well, knowing that the person I fell in love with turned out to come from a whole different history. Unfortunately, it may slightly change the way I feel about them.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - Love for Passion... and Turtles
After Ronnie was convicted of the shoplifting felony, she met with her father on the beach. Her father was busy watching over an abandoned loggerhead turtle nest near the house, to make sure that a larger creature, such as a raccoon, doesn't come along and decide to eat the eggs. Ronnie and her father have their first productive daughter father talk with one another. Steve explains the story of the loggerhead turtles, and Ronnie thanks him for believing in her. But her father knows that he cannot stay out with the turtle eggs much longer, and the warm heart that Ronnie has within her, which she fails to fully show by her appearance and most of her actions, persuades her to act as a guardian for the turtles. She stays the night outdoors, and in the morning Will, who volunteers at the animal shelter, is called to scout out the turtle nest. Ronnie, recognizing Will, becomes irritated with Will, thinking that he was being irresponsible when the cage she had asked for wasn't put up to protect the nest.
But this leads Will and Ronnie to become companions to watch over the nest, and soon, Ronnie finds herself falling for the boy she had judged all wrong. She had figured he'd be a popular, self-absorbed person, when really his heart is tender, and caring. Although even someone as perfect as Will can make mistakes, he finds many ways to persuade Ronnie that he is in fact seriously interested in her. Will, previously in the story, constantly found himself thinking about Ronnie, but Ronnie had been protesting the thought of her even knowing him. Will: "The thing was, Will wasn't sure exactly why he was thinking about the girl. Particularly considering how little he knew about her. Yeah, she was pretty - he'd noticed that right off, despite the purple hair and dark mascara - but the beach was full of pretty girls... He's glimpsed a surprising tenderness beneath her rebellious exterior, ad it had piqued his curiosity (pg. 79)." Ronnie: "With this answer, she got the feeling he was trying to flirt with her, but she didn't know why. It didn't make sense - she knew she wasn't his type, and frankly, he wasn't her type either (pg. 127)."
It ended up that fate, as complicated as it is, brought them together, and soon, so it seems, Ronnie and Will were falling had-over heals for one another. Although they had just met each other about a week before, Ronnie and Will became deeply infatuated by one another. "If her weren't so damn cute, none of this would have happened... She shook her head, trying not to focus on Will's lean body and visible muscles as he chased the ball across the sand. tough to ignore, since her wasn't wearing a shirt. Maybe the rest of the summer wouldn't be so terrible after all (pg. 169)."
But I do predict that Will will end up making one of those large mistakes that usually happen in a love story, causing Ronnie and him to avoid one another for a longer period of time. Even though Will will struggle to understand what he can do to make it up to Ronnie, the two of them will end up back together in the end.
But this leads Will and Ronnie to become companions to watch over the nest, and soon, Ronnie finds herself falling for the boy she had judged all wrong. She had figured he'd be a popular, self-absorbed person, when really his heart is tender, and caring. Although even someone as perfect as Will can make mistakes, he finds many ways to persuade Ronnie that he is in fact seriously interested in her. Will, previously in the story, constantly found himself thinking about Ronnie, but Ronnie had been protesting the thought of her even knowing him. Will: "The thing was, Will wasn't sure exactly why he was thinking about the girl. Particularly considering how little he knew about her. Yeah, she was pretty - he'd noticed that right off, despite the purple hair and dark mascara - but the beach was full of pretty girls... He's glimpsed a surprising tenderness beneath her rebellious exterior, ad it had piqued his curiosity (pg. 79)." Ronnie: "With this answer, she got the feeling he was trying to flirt with her, but she didn't know why. It didn't make sense - she knew she wasn't his type, and frankly, he wasn't her type either (pg. 127)."
It ended up that fate, as complicated as it is, brought them together, and soon, so it seems, Ronnie and Will were falling had-over heals for one another. Although they had just met each other about a week before, Ronnie and Will became deeply infatuated by one another. "If her weren't so damn cute, none of this would have happened... She shook her head, trying not to focus on Will's lean body and visible muscles as he chased the ball across the sand. tough to ignore, since her wasn't wearing a shirt. Maybe the rest of the summer wouldn't be so terrible after all (pg. 169)."
But I do predict that Will will end up making one of those large mistakes that usually happen in a love story, causing Ronnie and him to avoid one another for a longer period of time. Even though Will will struggle to understand what he can do to make it up to Ronnie, the two of them will end up back together in the end.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - What We Do For Friendship
When Ronnie tries to persuade Blaze at the local music store that it was Marcus who was the love criminal and mastermind behind the seduction at the party, Blaze denies everything Ronnie tells her. She then explains the story Marcus told her, and starts to make Ronnie angry. Ronnie ends up yelling at Blaze, and trying to convince her how much of a lying sneak her boyfriend really is. Marcus had definitely been sleeping with many different girls behind Blaze's back, and Blaze willingly tries to avoid any situation or evidence that might convict Marcus of cheating on her. Ronnie, noticing how stubborn Blaze is going to be about the situation, forces as much truth at Blaze as possible before Blaze storms out of the music store, leaving Ronnie behind. Desperate, Ronnie races after her, and storms out of the music store as the loud beeping of a product detector alarms. The owner reveals from Ronnie's bag three expensive CD's that weren't paid for. Ronnie realizes just how Blaze was trying to get Ronnie to leave her alone. Ronnie knew that Blaze knew that by framing her for theft, Ronnie would never come close to her again.
In the past, Ronnie had been convicted of shoplifting twice, once being an accident. Now that Ronnie had been caught a third time, she knew that she wouldn't be let off the hook as easily as before. This is another perfect example of being blamed for something you didn't do. But there were two good things that came out of Blaze framing Ronnie. One: Marcus was unable to have as much interaction with Ronnie, as he had become a potential stalker, and Two: the relationship between Ronnie and her father got stronger. Steve, Ronnie's father, didn't think twice when Ronnie told him it hadn't been her fault, and was at once convinced she was innocent. Deep down, Steve knew his daughter, and the things she would do, but he couldn't get himself to blame her, especially after she had been trusting him to believe her. Ronnie felt loved, and cared about, knowing that her father believed her. Out of everyone that could have believed she was truly innocent, her father did, the person she had been secretly against her whole life. She realized just how much he cared about her. "And if there was one bright spot in all that had happened, it was that her dad hadn't blown a gasket. And even more incredible, he's said he believed her to innocent (pg. 124)."
I predict that Blaze, near the end or middle of the book, will realize how noticeable Marcus's affection for other girls are, and realize just how oblivious she has forced herself to be. She'll then realize how good of a friend Ronnie had been to her, and face Ronnie, apologizing for what she'd done. She may even tell everyone that the shoplifting incident had been her fault entirely. I also predict that Ronnie and her father will start to do more things together that will form a healthy father daughter bondage, and Steve will try his hardest to keep their relationship strong. But I can see Steve somehow making one more small decision that leaves Ronnie grieving once more. Although he may make a mistake like this, I know that either Steve will somehow make it up to Ronnie, or Ronnie willforgive her father on her own. It always ends up okay in the end.
In the past, Ronnie had been convicted of shoplifting twice, once being an accident. Now that Ronnie had been caught a third time, she knew that she wouldn't be let off the hook as easily as before. This is another perfect example of being blamed for something you didn't do. But there were two good things that came out of Blaze framing Ronnie. One: Marcus was unable to have as much interaction with Ronnie, as he had become a potential stalker, and Two: the relationship between Ronnie and her father got stronger. Steve, Ronnie's father, didn't think twice when Ronnie told him it hadn't been her fault, and was at once convinced she was innocent. Deep down, Steve knew his daughter, and the things she would do, but he couldn't get himself to blame her, especially after she had been trusting him to believe her. Ronnie felt loved, and cared about, knowing that her father believed her. Out of everyone that could have believed she was truly innocent, her father did, the person she had been secretly against her whole life. She realized just how much he cared about her. "And if there was one bright spot in all that had happened, it was that her dad hadn't blown a gasket. And even more incredible, he's said he believed her to innocent (pg. 124)."
I predict that Blaze, near the end or middle of the book, will realize how noticeable Marcus's affection for other girls are, and realize just how oblivious she has forced herself to be. She'll then realize how good of a friend Ronnie had been to her, and face Ronnie, apologizing for what she'd done. She may even tell everyone that the shoplifting incident had been her fault entirely. I also predict that Ronnie and her father will start to do more things together that will form a healthy father daughter bondage, and Steve will try his hardest to keep their relationship strong. But I can see Steve somehow making one more small decision that leaves Ronnie grieving once more. Although he may make a mistake like this, I know that either Steve will somehow make it up to Ronnie, or Ronnie willforgive her father on her own. It always ends up okay in the end.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - Marcus
Amidst the turntable crowd at the Carnival, Ronnie once more runs into Blaze, and decides to stay with her so as to avoid her father. She is not looking forward to going home to the death silence of his bungalow. Ronnie is introduced to Blaze's boyfriend, Marcus, who has a skill of playing with ball lit up on fire, and who takes a keen liking to Ronnie. "Instead, he stared at Ronnie, liking the purple streak in her hair and her tight little body, the glittery affect of her eye shadow. It was sort of an upscale, trampy style, despite the stupid shirt she was wearing. He liked that. He liked that a lot (pg. 46)." As soon as Blaze is out of earshot, Marcus tries his best to seduce the new girl with the purple streak in her hair. Ronnie finds it offending that Marcus would hit on her while dating her new friend Blaze, so she excuses herself from Marcus, leaving him alone, without any prize whatsoever.
Marcus consistently tries to get Ronnie to become interested in him, and it is when Ronnie is invited to another party with Blaze, Marcus, and their pals when things go seriously wrong. Marcus makes his move on Ronnie public, in earshot and view of a watching, clearly disturbed Blaze, making it look as though Ronnie both tried to kiss him, and take him for a midnight stroll along the beach.
The reason why I blogged about this part is the way Ronnie felt. She had just started to feel welcomed by some sort of people in her new summer home, and was almost becoming comfortable with her friends. But just as most things were going pretty smoothly, just as quickly, she lost her new friend, as Blaze thought it was her who had tried to seduce Marcus, and felt betrayed by Ronnie. It was a sort of chain, as Ronnie was friends with Blaze who introduced her to her sort of "possey," and as soon as Ronnie is excluded by Blaze, she is most definitely excluded by the whole party. In the real world, many situations tend to "blow up in people's faces." So many times have I and no doubt many other, been excited for something, or just gotten used to an idea, when that excitement, or idea, is pulled out from under us, and ends just as quickly as it started.
Ronnie must have felt the same way. Discouraged, dissappointed that things hadn't turned out the way she had planned, and most of all, humiliated, because she had been blamed for something she hadn't done, and was unable to convince her best friend of it. In real life situations, I've viewed, this happens a lot. When someone is blamed for something they hadn't done, they immediately think to persuade someone that they are innocent. But when no one believes them, they feel helpless, like they're now the only person in the world, and they only feel like that because of someone else's mistakes.
Marcus consistently tries to get Ronnie to become interested in him, and it is when Ronnie is invited to another party with Blaze, Marcus, and their pals when things go seriously wrong. Marcus makes his move on Ronnie public, in earshot and view of a watching, clearly disturbed Blaze, making it look as though Ronnie both tried to kiss him, and take him for a midnight stroll along the beach.
The reason why I blogged about this part is the way Ronnie felt. She had just started to feel welcomed by some sort of people in her new summer home, and was almost becoming comfortable with her friends. But just as most things were going pretty smoothly, just as quickly, she lost her new friend, as Blaze thought it was her who had tried to seduce Marcus, and felt betrayed by Ronnie. It was a sort of chain, as Ronnie was friends with Blaze who introduced her to her sort of "possey," and as soon as Ronnie is excluded by Blaze, she is most definitely excluded by the whole party. In the real world, many situations tend to "blow up in people's faces." So many times have I and no doubt many other, been excited for something, or just gotten used to an idea, when that excitement, or idea, is pulled out from under us, and ends just as quickly as it started.
Ronnie must have felt the same way. Discouraged, dissappointed that things hadn't turned out the way she had planned, and most of all, humiliated, because she had been blamed for something she hadn't done, and was unable to convince her best friend of it. In real life situations, I've viewed, this happens a lot. When someone is blamed for something they hadn't done, they immediately think to persuade someone that they are innocent. But when no one believes them, they feel helpless, like they're now the only person in the world, and they only feel like that because of someone else's mistakes.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - The Carnival
The reason I chose to blog about the section in the book where Ronnie, her brother, and her father go to a carnival that arrived in town was because it is in the carnival scene where most of the outside character (meaning, outside of Ronnie's family) are introduced. Ronnie sets off by herself, and wonders around the carnival, refreshing herself with a soda. She come across a volleyball court, where she views a tense game that is rambling on. She notices two teenage males, playing on the same team, and the sense she gets from them is negative. To Ronnie, the two seem the type of popular, self-absorbed boys, that flaunt themselves as much as possible. Ronnie, disgusted with the fact she stayed so long to watch a game she wasn't interested in in the first place, turns to leave, as one of the male volleyball players(Will) she mentally prosecuted runs to save a flying ball and collides with Ronnie, splashing the remnants of her soda all over her.
Ronnie, after quickly escaping the many apologies of a person who she wasn't very keen on meeting, finds her soda spilled on her again as she runs into Blaze, an girl about Ronnie's age with a dark, independent appearance. This is the same appearance Ronnie is trying to come across as to everyone else around her. After talking for a moment or two, Ronnie realizes she is fond of Blaze. Blaze suggests a change of clothes for Ronnie, but Ronnie refuses the offer at first, and once again finds herself with her brother Jonah after Blaze dissappears.
Meanwhile, Will leaves his place in the volleyball game and wonders the carnival game area. whiel playing a basketball game, his ex-girlfriend Ashley approaches and invites him to her home for a get-together with some friends. Will reluctantly refuses and leaves Ashley alone. Will later meets up with his volleyball partner, Scott, who tries as hard as he can to persuade Will to accept the invite, so that he is able to get together with Ashley's best friend, Cassie. Will is tired of the drama that constantly passes between himself and Ashley, and he tries to talk himself out of the predicament. Ashley is one of the characters I remember visualizing the most. I pictured Ashley to be a thin, sharp-featured girl with a smaller/average height. It described her in the book with blond hair, so I pictured her hair to be fully blond, straight, and reaching her backside, with small wave-like curls on the edge that are barely noticeable. Her smile would be sweet, and kind, but ignorant at times. Her eyes would be blue, and her nose would be longer and pointy. "Ashley smiled. Her white tube top, sandals, and dangly earrings shwoed off her blue eyes and blond her to maximum affect (pg. 52)." I visualized her voice to be calm and smooth, maybe slightly high pitched.
Scott ---------- Will ------------ Ashley - ex-couple
best friends
Ronnie, after quickly escaping the many apologies of a person who she wasn't very keen on meeting, finds her soda spilled on her again as she runs into Blaze, an girl about Ronnie's age with a dark, independent appearance. This is the same appearance Ronnie is trying to come across as to everyone else around her. After talking for a moment or two, Ronnie realizes she is fond of Blaze. Blaze suggests a change of clothes for Ronnie, but Ronnie refuses the offer at first, and once again finds herself with her brother Jonah after Blaze dissappears.
Meanwhile, Will leaves his place in the volleyball game and wonders the carnival game area. whiel playing a basketball game, his ex-girlfriend Ashley approaches and invites him to her home for a get-together with some friends. Will reluctantly refuses and leaves Ashley alone. Will later meets up with his volleyball partner, Scott, who tries as hard as he can to persuade Will to accept the invite, so that he is able to get together with Ashley's best friend, Cassie. Will is tired of the drama that constantly passes between himself and Ashley, and he tries to talk himself out of the predicament. Ashley is one of the characters I remember visualizing the most. I pictured Ashley to be a thin, sharp-featured girl with a smaller/average height. It described her in the book with blond hair, so I pictured her hair to be fully blond, straight, and reaching her backside, with small wave-like curls on the edge that are barely noticeable. Her smile would be sweet, and kind, but ignorant at times. Her eyes would be blue, and her nose would be longer and pointy. "Ashley smiled. Her white tube top, sandals, and dangly earrings shwoed off her blue eyes and blond her to maximum affect (pg. 52)." I visualized her voice to be calm and smooth, maybe slightly high pitched.
Blaze -----Ronnie ----- Jonah - sister and brother
new friends
Scott ---------- Will ------------ Ashley - ex-couple
best friends
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Ronnie's family has separated form one another for as long as she can remember. Her father deserted them when she was young, and she has avoided him ever since childhood. Her record held tight until he mother decided her and her brother, Jonah, would be spending the summer with her father in his quaint hometown. Ronnie, disgusted by the idea of even being left alone in the same house with her "traitor" of a father, travels to her father's home reluctantly."She wasn't just visiting her dad. Visiting implied a weekend or to, maybe even a week. She supposed she could live with a visit. But to until late August? Pretty much the entire summer? That was banishment, and for most of the nine hours it had taken them to drive down, she'd felt like a prisoner being transferred to a rural penitentiary (Pg. 7)." Ronnie, being the independent 17 year old girl she is, refuses to have contact with her father as much as she can. As Ronnie drives the long drive from the city of New York she recognizes one thing. She hasn't talked to her father since her parents divorced. Unwillingly starting now may be hard.
There are times in my life when I feel as though I don't want to have anything to do with my family. Whenever my family gets into a fight, or a disagreement, I feel as though I want to shut myself away and never talk to them again. But grudges aren't something I can hold fairly easily, so it's hard for me to do just what Ronnie has done to her relationship with her father. But something that might have supported her throughout the years of avoiding her father was the distance between them. I live with my whole family, so it's hard not to have any contact with them, but Ronnie is NINE hours away from her father, making it easier for her not to come into contact with him.
Steve, Ronnie's father, hasn't seen his daughter or son since who knows when, and as Ronnie makes her way towards his suburban home, he finds himself surprised at her appearance. "Behind her, Steve noticed Ronnie slowly making her way toward them. He was truck by how much she's changed since the last photo Kim had e-mailed. Gone was the all-American girl he remembered, and in her place was a young women with a purple streak in her long brown hair, black fingernail polish, and dark clothing. Despite the obvious signs of teenage rebellion, he thought again how much she resembled her mother (Pg. 20)." Although Ronnie has suppressed all contact possible with her father, her brother Jonah and Steve's "father-son" relationship is strong. Jonah, a premature 10 year old, is still too young to thoroughly understand what his father had done to their family.
Amidst the small family reunion, Jonah's thoughts trickle back to a small carnival going on in the middle of town. The large Ferris wheel towering over the town's homes caught his attention while driving up... '"Hey mom!" Jonah called out. He leaned forward. "What's over there? Is that a Ferris wheel?" Her mom craned her neck , trying to see around the minivan in the lane beside her. "I think it is, honey," she answered. "There must be a carnival in town." "Can we go? After we all have dinner in town (Pg. 14)?"' Although Jonah wishes nothing more than to spend time iwth his father, he still feels the slight need to ride the many carnival rides. So, Steve takes his family to the carnival, a place that Ronnie isn't the most excited to go.
There are times in my life when I feel as though I don't want to have anything to do with my family. Whenever my family gets into a fight, or a disagreement, I feel as though I want to shut myself away and never talk to them again. But grudges aren't something I can hold fairly easily, so it's hard for me to do just what Ronnie has done to her relationship with her father. But something that might have supported her throughout the years of avoiding her father was the distance between them. I live with my whole family, so it's hard not to have any contact with them, but Ronnie is NINE hours away from her father, making it easier for her not to come into contact with him.
Steve, Ronnie's father, hasn't seen his daughter or son since who knows when, and as Ronnie makes her way towards his suburban home, he finds himself surprised at her appearance. "Behind her, Steve noticed Ronnie slowly making her way toward them. He was truck by how much she's changed since the last photo Kim had e-mailed. Gone was the all-American girl he remembered, and in her place was a young women with a purple streak in her long brown hair, black fingernail polish, and dark clothing. Despite the obvious signs of teenage rebellion, he thought again how much she resembled her mother (Pg. 20)." Although Ronnie has suppressed all contact possible with her father, her brother Jonah and Steve's "father-son" relationship is strong. Jonah, a premature 10 year old, is still too young to thoroughly understand what his father had done to their family.
Amidst the small family reunion, Jonah's thoughts trickle back to a small carnival going on in the middle of town. The large Ferris wheel towering over the town's homes caught his attention while driving up... '"Hey mom!" Jonah called out. He leaned forward. "What's over there? Is that a Ferris wheel?" Her mom craned her neck , trying to see around the minivan in the lane beside her. "I think it is, honey," she answered. "There must be a carnival in town." "Can we go? After we all have dinner in town (Pg. 14)?"' Although Jonah wishes nothing more than to spend time iwth his father, he still feels the slight need to ride the many carnival rides. So, Steve takes his family to the carnival, a place that Ronnie isn't the most excited to go.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
The book that I'm reading for my Blog Project is called the Last Song. SPOILER notice... if anyone is either reading the book, or wants to in the future, do not read on. However, I encourage you to, because the storyline is very interesting, and different. It is a love story, a story about friendship, and also family. Enjoy!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Camden's Free Choice Book blogs
Hello and welcome to my blog I hope you all enjoy the blogs that I will be posting about my free choice book and feel free to comment any time you like
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