Summary
Landon begins practicing for the role of Tom Thornton in the play. However, he is yet to master his lines and he has all but three weeks to do so. He then starts to spend more and more time with Jamie which leads to his frustration because his friends bully him when they catch him with her. One day when Eric sees Landon with Jamie, he starts making comments about her being his girlfriend and being overall a sarcastic idiot. Eric then suggests in a sarcastic tone that they should perform in front of the orphans at the orphanage. Jamie doesn't catch the sarcasm and rather sees it as a brilliant idea.
The next day, she goes to Landon's house so they can go to the orphanage to ask the director about their plan. When Jamie walks into Landon's house, she is amazed at the huge size of it and the beauty within it. Landon doesn't really see anything special with his house but acknowledges that it is one of the biggest houses in town. In the car, they discuss what they aspire to be in life. Landon says he's not sure yet but he wants to go to University of North Carolina then pick it up from there. Jamie then says her goal is to be a wife and have lots of people in the town attend her wedding. Seeing that the is an honours student, Landon is surprised that she doesn't have bigger plans for herself. She and Landon then go to the orphanage to discuss their plans but the director of the orphanage doesn't agree with them performing because of the plot of the play. He doesn't think that the plot of the play would make the orphans very happy. Jamie then realizes her mistake and becomes a bit saddened. The two of them then decide to just go visit the orphans. When they do, the orphans all surround Jamie because of their appreciation for her.
As the anticipation for the play increases, Landon starts to feel more stressed because he has to study for his exams before Christmas and fill out his college application. At the same time, his friends continue to poke fun at him for hanging out with Jamie. His anger then builds up and it causes him to yell at Jamie, an innocent girl. He then says he doesn't know why he agreed to do the play with her and it annoys the heck out of him that he has to walk a mile out of his way just to walk her home then walk the opposite side of town to his own house. The rest of the way, he does walk her home without talking to her but he walked about five feet in front of her. When they reached to his house, she gave thanked him for walking her home. At that point, Landon sees her as unusual because he doesn't know anyone else who would have thanked him after he blasts off at them.
At the day of the play, Jamie looks completely different. Her hair is down instead of in a bun and she is wearing a dress which almost makes her look, beautiful. During the rehearsals, Landon hasn't been able to deliver the line, "You are beautiful" believably because of the plain way Jamie always looks. However, during the play and seeing the way that she talked and acted, he delivered the line and said it with meaning. After the play, everyone was happy and even Eric tells Landon that he really has grown up. Afterwards, everyone is shocked at how Jamie transformed in terms of looks and personality.
The next day in school, everything goes back to normal in terms of Jamie's personality and people's hostility towards her. At school, she asks Landon to help her with something because she put up cans at stores to raise money for a charity. She asks him to collect all the cans and count the money people donated. At the end of the day, Landon counts up $55 but feels that it's too small after all the hard work Jamie has done. He then puts in $200 of his own money and when Jamie sees that people "donated" over $200, she is ecstatic. Jamie then gives Landon the gift of her Bible that she always carries around. The Bible was her late mother's. Seeing her happy puts a smile on his face and he then realizes that he has falling in love with Jamie. Then he has his first kiss with Jamie and he realizes that Jamie Sullivan has made him a better person. Thus his life changes forever...
Quote
"Being in love with a girl like Jamie Sullivan was without a doubt the strangest thing I'd ever been through. Not only was she a girl that I'd never thought about before this year-even though we'd grown up together-but there was something different in the whole way my feelings for her hand unfolded. This wasn't like being with Angela, whom I'd kissed the first I was ever alone with her. I still hadn't kissed Jamie. I hadn't even hugged her or taken her to Cecil's Diner or even to a movie. I hadn't done any of the things I normally did with girls, yet somehow I'd fallen in love." (Sparks 166)
Reaction
At this point in time, the readers see and even feel a new Landon. This Landon does not care about the jokes his friends make about him or the materialistic things he use to care about. This Landon realizes why he just impetuously do things that would make Jamie happy even if it's a difficult task. With this quote, I realized that this is a turning point in the life of Landon Carter. He's not the same guy he was a few days ago. He falls in love with Jamie for her inner personality which eliminates the outward appearance and that is something that makes him grow up. One time when I was chatting with a Jehovah's Witness woman who is about 24-years-old and she told me that when people get older/more mature, they start caring more about the inner personality. She also said that appearance can only serve one so far. This quote reminded me of that encounter I had with the Jehovah's Witness woman. Basically, the superficial things like kissing/hugging a person before you love them is not important. Jamie clearly means a lot to him and he doesn't need to treat her like he treats the other girl to know that she's the one for him.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A Walk to Remember (1-80)
Summary
A Walk to Remember is written in the retrospect of a 57-year-old man, Landon Carter, who is remembering the biggest events that occurred in his life when he was 17 years of age. The events that happened in his life were very eye opening which resulted in his life changing forever. Prior to reading the actual first chapter of the book, the readers are warned that in some parts of the book, we will smile. However, in other parts, we will cry. Thus the first chapter of the book commences.
Landon is a 17-year-old senior in high school in a small town in North Carolina known as Beaufort. His family and he attend a church called the Southern Baptist church, which produces a play each year. The plays are always written by the pastor of the church, Hegbert Sullivan. The play which he writes this year is called "The Christmas Angel". The play is basically an autobiographical play of his life because it features a minister whose wife dies while giving birth to their first child. Mr. Sullivan's wife died while giving birth to their daughter, Jamie Sullivan. Landon then goes on to talk about his father, Worth Carter, who is a Congressman. Landon doesn't get to see his father often because the father lives in Washington, D.C. for nine months of the year. Both his father and Mr. Sullivan dislike each other because of an archaic terrible history Mr. Sullivan had with Mr. Carter's father during the Great Depression.
While Landon goes on to narrate the story, he brings up Jamie Sullivan who is the daughter of minister Hegbert Sullivan. Jamie, like himself, is also a senior in high school. Because the town is such a small town, everyone in the high school has pretty much known each other since kindergarten. Likewise, Landon has known Jamie almost his entire life and he never paid any particular attention to her. She is a sweet, loving, enthusiastic, devoted Christian with morals and she's not exactly within his "clique". All the adults in the town love her because she tries as much as possible to aid everyone around her in the best way she can. In addition, Jamie is cast in the play to play the lead role of the angel.
Since Landon is a senior in high school, he is thinking about college. His family wishes for him to attend an ivy league university. However, he doesn't think he has the grades for it so he hopes on getting an admission into the University of North Carolina, which was where his father attended. His father then tries to boost up his college resume by ensuring that Landon runs for school body president. Landon is best friends with Eric who is not only a football player but also the most popular guy in school. With all his back ups and popular votes, he is able to win the election. Now that he is the school president, there is a homecoming dance very soon which he is mandated to attend. Recently, his girlfriend broke up with him for an older guy so he begins panicking because he has no one to go with. He begins reviewing all his options but everyone else is already taken. He then searches the yearbook for the girls that are left. He doesn't find any of the ones left very attractive but his dateless position results to "desperate times calls for desperate measures". He takes interest in asking Jamie Sullivan to the dance, which she accepts after consulting her father first.
At the dance, Jamie ditches her usual, a long dress/skirt with a sweater. She wears a nice blue dress although it doesn't compare still to the other chicks. Landon and Jamie dance at the dance which Landon is surprised because he never knew she could dance...decently. His ex-girlfriend Angela is also at the dance with her 20-year-old boyfriend. Her boyfriend Lew and Landon become involved in a little dispute which Jamie ended with her gentle personality. Later on in the dance, Angela becomes drunk and throws up in the ladies' washroom. Jamie helps her get cleaned up which is a bit unusual because it's not necessarily something most girls at a school dance would do. Landon and she then take Angela home and Landon is grateful that Jamie did him the favour of taking her to the dance and cleaning up Angela.
A few days after the dance, Landon return to his usual habits of leaving the house late at night and getting into trouble with his friends. Surprisingly, a few days after the dance, Landon receives a call. Initially, he cannot perceive whose voice it is but assumes that it is Angela thanking him for all he did. Soon he discovers that it is only Jamie and becomes a bit disappointed. Jamie calls him to request for a favour. Landon fabricates excuses but knows that he cannot escape from it especially since she did a nice thing for him. She requests for him to star in the play as the male lead. He accepts and their journey together begins.
Quote
"You have to promise that you won't fall in love with me." (Sparks 48)
Reaction
Jamie says the above quote after Landon asks her to the dance and she accepts on the condition of him not falling in love with her. I feel like it's interesting because most people in the world would not give that condition...they would either accept or deny. Therefore, I feel like maybe Nicholas Sparks put that quote in as foreshadowing sort-of, or at least hinting to the readers although Landon says it won't be so, it will happen anyways. Although the quote is not necessarily a powerful one, it does strike out and builds up the momentum. In addition, it also builds up the character of Jamie because she's kind of an odd girl who is not popular, dresses archaic-like compared to her peers and very innocent. That being said, why would she just randomly give that condition? It's not everyday that a popular boy falls in love with a girl who is not so popular. It just goes to add that not only is she sweet and kind but she also is very blunt and daring when it comes to her limits and her morals.
-Did Jamie say that because she doesn't want a guy like Landon to fall in love with her or she never wants anyone to fall in love with her?
-Does she know that you can't prevent yourself from falling in love...it's simply something that just happens?
-By saying that, is Jamie protecting herself from Landon or protecting Landon from herself?
A Walk to Remember is written in the retrospect of a 57-year-old man, Landon Carter, who is remembering the biggest events that occurred in his life when he was 17 years of age. The events that happened in his life were very eye opening which resulted in his life changing forever. Prior to reading the actual first chapter of the book, the readers are warned that in some parts of the book, we will smile. However, in other parts, we will cry. Thus the first chapter of the book commences.
Landon is a 17-year-old senior in high school in a small town in North Carolina known as Beaufort. His family and he attend a church called the Southern Baptist church, which produces a play each year. The plays are always written by the pastor of the church, Hegbert Sullivan. The play which he writes this year is called "The Christmas Angel". The play is basically an autobiographical play of his life because it features a minister whose wife dies while giving birth to their first child. Mr. Sullivan's wife died while giving birth to their daughter, Jamie Sullivan. Landon then goes on to talk about his father, Worth Carter, who is a Congressman. Landon doesn't get to see his father often because the father lives in Washington, D.C. for nine months of the year. Both his father and Mr. Sullivan dislike each other because of an archaic terrible history Mr. Sullivan had with Mr. Carter's father during the Great Depression.
While Landon goes on to narrate the story, he brings up Jamie Sullivan who is the daughter of minister Hegbert Sullivan. Jamie, like himself, is also a senior in high school. Because the town is such a small town, everyone in the high school has pretty much known each other since kindergarten. Likewise, Landon has known Jamie almost his entire life and he never paid any particular attention to her. She is a sweet, loving, enthusiastic, devoted Christian with morals and she's not exactly within his "clique". All the adults in the town love her because she tries as much as possible to aid everyone around her in the best way she can. In addition, Jamie is cast in the play to play the lead role of the angel.
Since Landon is a senior in high school, he is thinking about college. His family wishes for him to attend an ivy league university. However, he doesn't think he has the grades for it so he hopes on getting an admission into the University of North Carolina, which was where his father attended. His father then tries to boost up his college resume by ensuring that Landon runs for school body president. Landon is best friends with Eric who is not only a football player but also the most popular guy in school. With all his back ups and popular votes, he is able to win the election. Now that he is the school president, there is a homecoming dance very soon which he is mandated to attend. Recently, his girlfriend broke up with him for an older guy so he begins panicking because he has no one to go with. He begins reviewing all his options but everyone else is already taken. He then searches the yearbook for the girls that are left. He doesn't find any of the ones left very attractive but his dateless position results to "desperate times calls for desperate measures". He takes interest in asking Jamie Sullivan to the dance, which she accepts after consulting her father first.
At the dance, Jamie ditches her usual, a long dress/skirt with a sweater. She wears a nice blue dress although it doesn't compare still to the other chicks. Landon and Jamie dance at the dance which Landon is surprised because he never knew she could dance...decently. His ex-girlfriend Angela is also at the dance with her 20-year-old boyfriend. Her boyfriend Lew and Landon become involved in a little dispute which Jamie ended with her gentle personality. Later on in the dance, Angela becomes drunk and throws up in the ladies' washroom. Jamie helps her get cleaned up which is a bit unusual because it's not necessarily something most girls at a school dance would do. Landon and she then take Angela home and Landon is grateful that Jamie did him the favour of taking her to the dance and cleaning up Angela.
A few days after the dance, Landon return to his usual habits of leaving the house late at night and getting into trouble with his friends. Surprisingly, a few days after the dance, Landon receives a call. Initially, he cannot perceive whose voice it is but assumes that it is Angela thanking him for all he did. Soon he discovers that it is only Jamie and becomes a bit disappointed. Jamie calls him to request for a favour. Landon fabricates excuses but knows that he cannot escape from it especially since she did a nice thing for him. She requests for him to star in the play as the male lead. He accepts and their journey together begins.
Quote
"You have to promise that you won't fall in love with me." (Sparks 48)
Reaction
Jamie says the above quote after Landon asks her to the dance and she accepts on the condition of him not falling in love with her. I feel like it's interesting because most people in the world would not give that condition...they would either accept or deny. Therefore, I feel like maybe Nicholas Sparks put that quote in as foreshadowing sort-of, or at least hinting to the readers although Landon says it won't be so, it will happen anyways. Although the quote is not necessarily a powerful one, it does strike out and builds up the momentum. In addition, it also builds up the character of Jamie because she's kind of an odd girl who is not popular, dresses archaic-like compared to her peers and very innocent. That being said, why would she just randomly give that condition? It's not everyday that a popular boy falls in love with a girl who is not so popular. It just goes to add that not only is she sweet and kind but she also is very blunt and daring when it comes to her limits and her morals.
-Did Jamie say that because she doesn't want a guy like Landon to fall in love with her or she never wants anyone to fall in love with her?
-Does she know that you can't prevent yourself from falling in love...it's simply something that just happens?
-By saying that, is Jamie protecting herself from Landon or protecting Landon from herself?
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