Sunday, June 2, 2013
Symbolic Visual
Review
This touching novel by Nicholas Sparks is certainly an inspiring love story. It was interesting how it was narrated by the protagonist himself, as he told the story as a flashback. Although it has a tear-jerking ending, the story line was different and had a good meaning. I am not a fan of reading books that don't end in a happily ever after. Before choosing a book, I read the last page or two to see if it ends well. I normally put down sad endings, but this book kept me reading.
Summary
By going back into time when he was seventeen, the fifty-seven-year-old man, Landon Carter, tells the story about his first love and how she changed his life forever.
As a seventeen-year-old teenager, Landon was rebellious and only cared for himself. He came from a wealthy family, but his dad was a stranger to him. Worth Carter, his father, was a congressman and was not around for much of Landon's childhood. Besides going to church every Sunday with his mother, Landon was not very religious. He went to high school with his best friend Eric Hunter, who was a popular athlete. Afraid of being judged, Landon always stood by the crowd. His character begins to develop as he starts hanging out with Jamie Sullivan, the minister's daughter. Jamie was a religious girl who always carried around a bible. She was sweet and enjoyed helping the unfortunate, but she did not have many friends because all she talked about was the Lord's plan. Oblivious of others mocking her, Jamie always walked with a cheerful smile.
When in need of a homecoming date, Landon ends up asking Jamie, who agrees to go under the condition that he will not fall in love with her. He makes the promise, thinking that it was only a joke. Unaware, that the promise they made, would lead to a unbreakable relationship. As he more and more time with Jamie, Landon comes to the realization that he had fallen in love with her. Jamie wasn't just an innocent church girl... she was normal.
One day he shows up at her doorsteps and they share their first kiss. When he figures out that she feels the same way about him as he does, they begin their tough journey. A few weeks go by with their sweet dates. Getting frustrated with herself, Jamie finally tells Landon her secret. The secret that she was dying of leukemia. After hearing the heart-breaking news, Landon is at a loss of what he should do. Realizing that he has never loved anyone as much as he loves Jamie, he makes the decision of staying by her side. As Jamie gets weaker and ill, Landon struggles to figure out what he could do for her. While reading a passage in the Bible together, he realizes what he needs to do. He needed to help Jamie achieve her only goal in life. To get married. On the day of the wedding, as Jamie struggles to walk down the aisle, Landon describes it as a walk to remember. Even after Jamie's death, the love between them is everlasting.
One day he shows up at her doorsteps and they share their first kiss. When he figures out that she feels the same way about him as he does, they begin their tough journey. A few weeks go by with their sweet dates. Getting frustrated with herself, Jamie finally tells Landon her secret. The secret that she was dying of leukemia. After hearing the heart-breaking news, Landon is at a loss of what he should do. Realizing that he has never loved anyone as much as he loves Jamie, he makes the decision of staying by her side. As Jamie gets weaker and ill, Landon struggles to figure out what he could do for her. While reading a passage in the Bible together, he realizes what he needs to do. He needed to help Jamie achieve her only goal in life. To get married. On the day of the wedding, as Jamie struggles to walk down the aisle, Landon describes it as a walk to remember. Even after Jamie's death, the love between them is everlasting.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Character Analysis
Landon Carter: The fifty-seven-year-old protagonist of A Walk to Remember, narrates the novel. He tells the story through a flashback about his first love, Jamie Sullivan. Going back to when he was seventeen, he talks about how his life changed forever. He starts off being portrayed as a self-centered, teenage rebel, but is transformed by love. Knowing little about what he wants to do with his life, Landon is a teen that hides in the shadows of his best friend, and popular athlete, Eric Hunter. Caring more about what his friends think, Landon denies his growing feelings for Jamie. As he comes to the realization that he is in love with Jamie, he slowly begins to change. He learns to hope, to love, and to have faith. Doing all that he can for his love, he willingly becomes a devoted, self-assured man that Jamie can find stability in.
Jamie Sullivan: The first love of Landon Carter, who serves as the catalyst that transforms him into a better man. She is a seventeen-year-old girl who was raised by her father, Hegbert Sullivan. As a devoted Christian, Jamie is as religious as a girl can be. In every conversation, she brings up "the Lord's plan" and carries a bible with her wherever she goes. She is a kind-hearted, cheerful girl that is always ready to help those in need; albeit, she appears to have no friends. Her optimistic personality and abiding faith eventually gets to Landon, who begins to accept and adore her.
Jamie Sullivan: The first love of Landon Carter, who serves as the catalyst that transforms him into a better man. She is a seventeen-year-old girl who was raised by her father, Hegbert Sullivan. As a devoted Christian, Jamie is as religious as a girl can be. In every conversation, she brings up "the Lord's plan" and carries a bible with her wherever she goes. She is a kind-hearted, cheerful girl that is always ready to help those in need; albeit, she appears to have no friends. Her optimistic personality and abiding faith eventually gets to Landon, who begins to accept and adore her.
Important Quotes
“You have to promise that you won’t fall in love with me.” - Jamie Sullivan (P38)
This is the condition on which Landon had to agree to if he wanted to go to the homecoming dance with Jamie. Knowing that he would eventually come to love her, Jamie tells him to keep this promise. Taking it as a joke, Landon agrees, not thinking that it was even a possibility.
This is the condition on which Landon had to agree to if he wanted to go to the homecoming dance with Jamie. Knowing that he would eventually come to love her, Jamie tells him to keep this promise. Taking it as a joke, Landon agrees, not thinking that it was even a possibility.
“She smiled at me and I smiled at her and all I could do was wonder how I’d ever fallen in love with a girl like Jamie Sullivan.”- Landon Carter (P132)
Jamie and Landon spend Christmas together at the orphanage. Towards the end of the night, Landon realizes the depth of his feeling for Jamie.
“ Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.” - The Bible (P185)
On Valentine's Day, Jamie picks this passage to read with Landon. She says she would like to have it read at her wedding. This passage ties in with the theme of love and its pureness. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
“It was, I remembered thinking, the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. In every way, a walk to remember.” - Landon Carter (P205)
“It was, I remembered thinking, the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. In every way, a walk to remember.” - Landon Carter (P205)
This is the line that gave the title of this book. Landon writes about
what he thought as Jamie struggled to walk down the aisle on their
wedding day.
what he thought as Jamie struggled to walk down the aisle on their
wedding day.
“I smile slightly, looking toward the sky, knowing there’s one thing I still haven’t told you: I now believe, by the way, that miracles can happen.”- Landon Carter (P207)
As a fifty-seven-year-old man, Landon ends the book with finally admitting to believing in miracles. The love that he was able to have with Jamie was his miracle.
Vocabulary
Blare: to emit a loud, raucous sound
Demeanor: Outward behavior or bearing
Despondent: In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
Ethereal: Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
Feign: To give a false appearance of
Foray: A venture or an initial attempt, especially outside one's usual area
Oscillate: Move or swing back and forth at a regular speed
Pandemonium: A wild uproar; chaos
Rapt: Completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing
Sallow: Of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion
Stoic: A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
Trepidation: A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
Themes
Love: Love can be everlasting and can go beyond death. After forty years, Landon often reminisces about his first... and last true love. It was his love for Jamie that changed him for the better. Love conquers all, and without it, life would be meaningless.
Faith: Faith is believing. Jamie Sullivan never loses faith in God, always believing that he has a plan for her. As she starts to build faith in Landon, he starts wanting to change and break away from his rebellion.
Faith: Faith is believing. Jamie Sullivan never loses faith in God, always believing that he has a plan for her. As she starts to build faith in Landon, he starts wanting to change and break away from his rebellion.
Discussion Questions
1. What does the quote, "First you will smile, and then you will cry- don't say you haven't been warned" foreshadow?
It foreshadows that the book will start off with a blissful beginning, but it will not end in a "happily ever after."
2. What was the significance of the play, The Christmas Angel?
The play was written by Hegbert Sullivan, and was inspired by his struggle raising his daughter, Jamie, on his own after his wife's death. It is about a father who realizes the importance and his love for his daughter.
3. How does this novel relate to other love stories?
Love will change you and it will make you want to better yourself. It turns the characters away from their negative aspects and makes them strive for a better life.
3. What is faith?
Faith is believing and having complete trust in something or someone. It is looking at the goodness in someone and believing that they can do better.
4. Why does it take Landon a long time to realize his feelings for Jamie?
Worried about what his friends might think, Landon deceives himself by denying his true feelings for Jamie. He thinks that it is impossible to feel the way he does for a girl like her.
5. What was Jamie's miracle?
Thinking that Jamie never got her miracle, Landon is grief-stricken, when in reality, he was her miracle.
It foreshadows that the book will start off with a blissful beginning, but it will not end in a "happily ever after."
2. What was the significance of the play, The Christmas Angel?
The play was written by Hegbert Sullivan, and was inspired by his struggle raising his daughter, Jamie, on his own after his wife's death. It is about a father who realizes the importance and his love for his daughter.
3. How does this novel relate to other love stories?
Love will change you and it will make you want to better yourself. It turns the characters away from their negative aspects and makes them strive for a better life.
3. What is faith?
Faith is believing and having complete trust in something or someone. It is looking at the goodness in someone and believing that they can do better.
4. Why does it take Landon a long time to realize his feelings for Jamie?
Worried about what his friends might think, Landon deceives himself by denying his true feelings for Jamie. He thinks that it is impossible to feel the way he does for a girl like her.
5. What was Jamie's miracle?
Thinking that Jamie never got her miracle, Landon is grief-stricken, when in reality, he was her miracle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)