Blogging Reflection

I think that the words and phrases the really bring out my voice as a writer are all the words I use to describe what I am talking about, (introvert, puzzle, strives, etc.). Words like these really show how I feel about the book and what my opinions are. The symbols that I thought of didn’t come from the book; they came from me and my own voice. If I had just simply stated the traits of the characters of my book then the reader would be easily bored. I feel like as a write you must use things that people are able to connect to and different things that makes the reader understand more about what he is reading.

I used a good amount of concrete and abstract diction in my post. This is evident when I say things like “He goes where the wind blows him…” or “ Ira very well is the ‘Do not Disturb’ sign you hang on your door at a hotel.” These different sentences helped to showcase my point of view and perspective on the characters that I was writing about, which is the whole point of adding the abstract and concrete diction. It helps the reader feel like he knows the characters that I am writing about through my own representation. For syntax I use a mixture of short and long sentences. I will start off with a short sentence like, “Sophia reminds me of a puzzle.” And then I go more into depth with longer sentences after this as you can see when I say “Sophia reminds me of a puzzle. You know the final picture, but she reveals little bits and pieces about herself that help you to realize who she is and what she believes in.” The short sentences ties the reader in and just flat out tells the reader what I think and then the longer sentences show my explanation for my thinking.

"The Longest Ride" Overview

As you can probably tell this is a typical "Nicholas Sparks love story", boy meets troubled girl they fall in love and conquer the world together. Well, more or less. Although this is true, Nicholas tells this story in a different way. He tells it from three different perspectives. Very different perspectives. Ira, an old man stuck in the past, and of course Luke and Sophia. Luke and Sophia. Cowboy and Jersey girl. Hot and cold. I guess what they say is true, opposites attract. Yeah yeah its predictable but it keeps the readers reading, you can't argue with that. The scenarios aren't very realistic but that doesn't mean that they aren't relatable, because they are. You can relate to the emotions of the characters. They are "normal" people in a "normal" world,  just like we are. So yes, this book follows the status quo of a sappy love story, but isn't that what we like? We like to know the endings to the book, you'd be lying if you said you've never read the last page of the book before you even started it. As readers we like to know what we are in for because who likes to read a book that doesn't end well. Nobody.

Symblols "The Longest Ride" Characters

Ira: A symbol that I believe represents Ira very well is the "Do Not Disturb" sign you hang on your door at a hotel. This showcases how Ira is a introvert who would rather keep his thoughts to himself then go around sharing them with people. He isn't, and never was, someone who goes out with friends a lot to party or hang out, he would rather stay home and do a crossword puzzle. He likes to be alone with his thoughts and has trouble letting people into his life. The one person that he actually talked to and shared things with was his wife but unfortunately she died so he now feels as if he is alone in the world. I like how Nicholas Sparks represents Ira because I feel like you can connect with Ira on many things. I also like how he uses the "reappearance" of his wife helps the reader to realize all these traits.

Luke: I think that flag represents Luke in many different ways. Luke is never shy about what he stands for and what he beleives in. Although he may not surrond himself with people with the same beliefs as him, he will never let anyone change him into something he wouldn't want to be. He goes where the wind blows him but he knows where his home is and he will always come back, it's where he loves to be. Luke stands out from all the other guys because he is very comfortable with who he is and doesn't feel the need to be like everyone else and do what everyone else does. He is his own person, one of a kind. The way Sparks portryas Luke throughout this book is very ditinct and unique. I feel as if he is real person that I would want to be friends with.

Sophia: Sophia reminds me of a puzzle. You know the final picture, but she reveals little bits and peices about herself that help you to realize who she is and what she believes in. Although she seems like an open book, there are things she doesn't tell people until the right moment. She strives to one big idea and does what she can to get there, no matter what it takes to get there. Sophia can be hard to figure out at times but she will give you a glimpse of the real her but only to the people she trusts. Although she trusts a good amount of people, she has a hard time trusting herselsf in the desicions she makes to get herself to the final picture.

The Best Thing About My Book

I think that the best thing about my book is the different perspectives that are portrayed throughout. Each chapter is a new characters point of view and is all about their thoughts on the situation they are in and doesn't focus on anybody elses at the time. This ensures that you are never confused on who is thinking what at which time. It makes the story more understandable which is good for any book. Each chapter begins with a new perspective, whether on the same topic as last chapter or not. It rotates through the 3 main characters, Ira, Luke and Sophia although it doesn't go in a specific order. I find this intriguing because it can go back and forth from character to character so you always have a new perspective to view the book from.

The other thing I really like about my book is that there are only 3 main characters. This makes the book easy to keep up with and you are never confused or mixed up with the characters.

"The Longest Ride" Setting

The setting in this book is very evident. There are two different settings in this book because of the different characters and their point of views. Both are described well with direct diction.

Ira: Ira is trapped in a car after being in a car accident and stranded without anyone to help him. He describes his surroundings as snowy and out in the middle of nowhere. Sparks does a great job of describing Ira's surroundings and whats happening around him. He does this on page 7 when he says, "It was dark and it began to snow, then snow even harder, and all at once, the road simply vanished. I assume I entered a curve-I say assume, because I obviously didn't see a curve- and the next thing I knew, I crashed through the guardrail and began to careen don the embankment." Ira is stranded on the side of the road in North Carolina.

Luke and Sophia: Both Luke and Sophia are at a rodeo out int he country where there is bull riding and a big party at a barn. They are surrounded by "country"people and "cowboys" who are all partying and dancing. They are in North Carolina as well.

I really like the way Sparks describes the setting and i can't wait to keep reading. I want to find out how all the different characters connect.

The Longest Ride Predictions

After finishing The Lucky One, I decided to read The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, his latest book. I am not very far into this book but I already know that it will be a good one. I already have lots of questions and predictions floating around in my head.

Ira- He is curently sitting in his torn up car, unable to move, freezing, and with many of his ones broken after a bad accident. He is 91 and on the verge of death as he waits for somebody to find him and take him to the hospital. He is bewildered by the fact that his wife that has passed away is with him at this time. He is sure that he is dying and he starts to reminise on the biggest events of his life. At this point, he is not ready to die but as soon as he remebers all the great things he has been through in his life he will realize that there is nothing he hasn't done and he is preparded to die.

Sophia- As Ira struggles with life threatening things, Sophia is struggling with her ex boyfriend who was basically stalking her and wont leave her alone. She wants nothing to do with him but he doesnt feel the same way. Of all things, he follows her to a rodeo and tries to make things good between them but when Sophia doesnt agree with him, he gets very angry and won't let go of her. This is when a "cowboy", significantly smaller than Brian, steps in and gets him away from her. I think that this will be the start of a new relationship for Sophia and the cowboy. After everything that has happened with her i believe she will tell the cowboy everythinfg and they will somehow find themselves spending a lot of time together.

Characters

I finally finished The Lucky One. Overall this was just a well written intriguing book for many reasons. One of those reasons is the characters. The characters were very well developed and relatable.

Logan Thibault- Logan is a veteran who suffers from PTSD. His PTSD and the passing of his best friend, is what i believe pushed him to find the girl in the picture he found during war that was supposedly his "good luck charm". He went on a very long journey, on foot, to find this woman. This tells you how determined Logan is. He is also very strong willed and he perseveres through many things.

Keith- Keith is the main antagonist is this book. He is very manipulative and he has many secrets that he would do anything to keep. He is also very self centred and feels as if he always needs to be in control. In the end these characteristics do him no justice and he ends up in a bad place.

Beth- Beth is overall a  very caring person. Having said this, she has troubles forgiving people and moving on from her past. When she finds out that Logan came to look for her because of the picture and his suspicions that it was the reason he is stayed alive during war, she becomes very angry and wants nothing more to do with him. This is because that picture was her brothers and was meant to keep him alive during war, not Logan, and it failed. From this she has a hard time deciding if she should continue to let Logan into her life.

Overall the characters in this book become very developed by the end and it feels as if you really know them.