The Last Song
By Nicholas Sparks
Rating;
Pub. Date: September 2009 Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages Source: Bought
Synopsis - Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside?down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.
The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels? first love, love between parents and children ? that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.
My Thoughts - Jonah and Ronnie are on their way to live with their father for the summer, whilst Jonah is filled with joy Ronnie couldn't be more unhappy. The mere thought of her father makes her vent. She hates him for abandoning them and for being a coward, for not making the effort to stay in touch.
Soon after moving in Ronnie discovers that life is different here from the city, and Ronnie is finding it hard to adjust, she can't comprehend how she will be able to stay here for the whole summer.
That changes momentarily when she first comes across a girl called Blaze. They instantly connect or so she thinks. Marcus - Blaze' boyfriend shows interest in her gives her but also gives of a bad vibe and he should, not only is he a jerk, but he has a dark and dangerous side to him.
This was something quite new for me in a Nicholas spark novel. This dark edginess that I sensed from Marcus was something I didn't expect from the novel, and it threw me of. I found myself weary, and even slightly afraid of him. He treats Blaze horribly and Ronnie can't understand why she stays with him. More-so what could he possibly want from her?
What unnerved me about Ronnie was her attitude, I understood that she felt betrayed by her father and for a time period I felt angry at him with her to, but her attitude and the extent to which she disrespected him went way to far *which I noticed was very toned down in the movie*. The fact that her father took her crap without a word also annoyed me. Ronnie seems like a very bitter girl, and on the rebellious side, so when she watches a volleyball tournament from afar and in result gets a drink thrown all over her, the cute lean boy under the name Will apologises but of course, Ronnie being the angry girl she is will take none of it and gives him a piece of her mind.
There's a steady connection and attraction there and it shows. What I liked about them was how things didn't progress until later. Instead they took their time getting to know and trying to figure each other out. He also seemed to bring out the best in her and softened her up. Like her father she is exceptional if not more talented in playing the piano.
There are things Ronnie does not know, a secret her father and Will are hiding, what her father tells her will change everything, it will make her hate herself for ever doubting him and make her realise she couldn't have gotten things more wrong. What I also wasn't expecting was the twist near the end, it turned everything completely upside down and when the moment came I was a mess.
Like I mentioned before I have read my fair share of Nicholas Sparks novels and I don't think I have ever comes across a character quite like Marcus. I think what attracts Marcus to Ronnie in his own twisted way is not only the challenge itself, but the determination and adventure he sees in her, and her spirit which is so strong and fearless.
Will couldn't be more opposite as he is a complete gentleman and perhaps even to nice for Ronnie, but as we see throughout the novel maybe it's a goody to shoes and someone grounded that she needs most of all. THE LAST SONG completely exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to all Romance lovers!.
Love is fragile. And we're not always its best caretakers. We just muddle through and do the best we can. And hope this fragile thing survives against all odds.
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