My first reaction after finishing the book was that of absolute happiness.
This book represents more than just love. It represents what love is and how deeply it manifests itself to a person once it's felt. It shows that love penetrates into the deepest parts of a person and true love never fades. True love, the most cliché of all, is portrayed as never ending, a theme that strongly parallels with Ira, the Jewish store boy who grows into a very old man with Ruth, the love of his life.
The story itself is an unusual craft. Three different perspectives that all collide into the same story. It's heart breaking recollection of Ira's life as he sits in his car that slipped off the highway. He stayed in his car, weak and only growing weaker. But he held on with the help of his imagination as Ruth appeared next to him to distract from the bitter cold as it threatened to freeze Ira to his core.
The second view is that of Sophia. She is a young college student who had bad luck with a previous relationship. Brian, her ex, had cheated on her multiple times, sending the relationship into a spiral and a bitter end. After Marcia, her room mate, persuaded her to go to a rodeo, Brian showed up to remind Sophia of the good times they shared. Things got heated and here is where Luke, the country boy steps in.
The third view is that of Luke, the bull rider. He's every girls dream, down to the hunky way he carries himself. He's a bit too stereotypical for my particular reading tastes, but as he develops into a character who has regrets and passion as well as a deep rooted anger and resentment, he blossoms on the pages. We find out his fears of Big Ugly Critter, the bull that nearly killed him and his gilt that plagues him, costing his mother a fortune in doctor bills that has caused her farm to struggle from then on. He does stupid things, allowing me to grow to love him as a character. Luke, become more than his stereotype. More than just a country boy who saves a girl from a drunk ex-boyfriend.
Sophia and Luke's love blossoms rapidly. Both of them quickly falling for each other. They enjoy the silence as the ride horses together. But also enjoying the fact that they come from different worlds.
Cliché theme number two: Opposites attract
Sophia had been raised in New Jersey and Luke, North Carolina. Their lives couldn't have been more different. Luke was a down home country boy who rode bulls just like his father. He worked on a ranch to help his mother. Sophia moved to North Carolina to go to college for Art. She lives at a sorority house and has a large family back home. Her parents work white collar jobs while Luke's mother works from duck until down doing physical labor.
Nonetheless, Sparks shows that opposites attract and when they meet it's nearly love at first sight.
This is also shown with Ira and Ruth. Ira, a Jewish man falls for a girl who he never would have imagined he would be with. He was quiet and respectful, while she had just moved to America from Germany. Their background and roots are far away from each other, but Sparks shows that just because two people are very different, it doesn't mean they can't be right for each other.
Characterization:
The book did a fair job putting a face to actions. In the movie it will be essential that the characters prove they are from different worlds. As an overwhelming theme of what love is and where is can come from, the movie needs to show the same birth of love that the book does. Though, I think the movie will fall short to capturing Ira and Ruth and will focus more on Sophia and Luke.
Extra examination:
Ira's story gradually plays out through the book. Only at the end does the reader see them collide with Luke and Sophia finding his on the side of the road. The characterization of Ira was far more present than the characterization of either Sophia or Luke. Ira was by far my favorite character. I felt numerous emotions from anger to heart break as I learned his story. I'm nervous for the movies ability to capture this in Ira's character, as well as the emotions he feels for his wife. The stories he recollects brings an important meaning to the way the book ends with Luke buying the one painting that meant the most to Ira. The other buyers at the auction couldn't fathom why Ira would give away his selection to the one who bought only this one painting. With this purchase, Luke finally understands what Ira wished someone would; the person you have in your life should always be treasured and loved. This message, is the most important of them all.
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