Monday, May 10, 2010

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks Review

Age: Young Adult/Adult
Release date: September 8, 2009
Pages: 390
Source: Bought
Summary:
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 Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, particularly her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she and her younger brother spent the summer with him in North Carolina.

Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will be the centerpiece of a local church. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects all of his attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summer's end. But soon Ronnie meets Will, the town's local heartthrob, and the last person she thought she'd ever be attracted to. As Ronnie slowly lets her guard down, she finds herself falling deeply in love, opening herself up to the greatest happiness--and pain--that she has ever known.
Review: This is my first time reading a Nicholas Sparks novel, and I definitely was not disappointed.

The novel is told in third person, with four different narration changes. Ronnie, Steve (Ronnie's father), Will (the love interest), and Marcus (the creeper, to put it bluntly).

Ronnie first comes across as a sullen teenager, itching to have some freedom now that's she done with school. Instead, she's stuck with her little brother Jonah and her father Steve for the summer. Barely even a few minutes after she arrives, she wanders off to the festival in town. It's there that she meets Will, Blaze, and Marcus.

From there, the summer really begins. Drama, betrayal, friendship and heartbreak all follow. This is one of those novels that tugs softly at your heartstrings.

Highlights: The change in narration helped keep the story moving, and helped to really give me a feel for everything that was happening. Also, and more importantly, the message of honesty. So many relationships in this story had been hindered because the characters hadn't been honest, and I was especially upset with one in particular. The characters were also very realistic, which I enjoyed.

Lowlights: At times, it all felt like a bit too much was happening. Also, I really seemed to grow bored of Steve's narration, and actually would have preferred more of Marcus. I was also very upset with Ronnie's mother, for reasons known later in the story, and the consequences of her actions.

Movie comments: Great movie, Miley Cyrus did better as Ronnie than I expected. A few characters weren't portrayed well, though (like Marcus-who always looked wasted, Scott was horrible, and same with Blaze). Liam Hemsworth did well, and I was pleasantly surprised because I thought he really captured Will perfectly. But Bobby Coleman (Jonah) and Greg Kinnear (Steve) stole the show. Some bits here and there are different, but the movie is still, overall, enjoyable.

Rating:    






7 comments:

  1. Awesome review and movie highlights. I really can't wait for the movie.

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  2. I adored the movie. I know a lot of people don't like Miley Cyrus but I thought she did a great job even though I didn't read the book. I plan on getting the book sometime this summer.

    -Briana

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  3. Awesome review! I need to read this soon, as I loved the movie. I really wish I'd read this first :P So glad you enjoyed it!

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  4. Wow lovely review! This was my first Nicholas Sparks novel too. I love how you included movie highlights- I definitely agree that Jonah stole the show, he was one of my favorites :D

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  5. I will have to go out and witness for myself this Miley-not-being-so-bad, haha. And I definitly have to go read this book, especially after you gave it such a great rating. Thanks for the great review, as always! :D

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  6. Awesome review!! I have this one, but so far haven't made it past the prologue...there was so much going on!! LOL, i need to give it another try.

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  7. I saw the movie and haattteddd Miley Cyrus in it because I found myself giggling at her the entire time. But I really want to read the book because I did like the movie the story told.

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