Open Notebook, A Thousand Stories

Hi! During this summer I will be summarizing, responding to quotes and sharing my thoughts about the book “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks.


Summary

Noah Calhoun is sitting in a chair besides a bed where an old woman is laying, he slowly takes out a notebook and begins to read from its pages. The story begins in a big house in North California, where Noah is working and thinking about the best summer of his life he spent with the most amazing girl he’d ever met. Many miles away, Allison Nelson reads an article in the newspaper about Noah’s house and she feels the need to go back there, the place she’d spent an unforgettable summer as a teenager. She has something very important to tell Noah, so she decides to go. When Allie arrives unannounced and approaches Noah, memories of the time they spent together replay in their minds and reminds them how much they’d love each other. But Allie had to share the news she’s come to tell: she is engaged.


Quote 1

“Costal clouds slowly began to role across the evening sky, turning silver with the reflection of the moon. As they thickened, he leaned his head back and rested it against the rocking chair.” (p. 11)


What caught my attention about this quotes is the form of writing that the author uses. When he talks about the clouds, he uses imagery to create an image in the readers mind about what he’s explaining; Sparks describes the clouds and it actions very in detail by using adjectives such as thick and silver.

Quote 2

 

“Suddenly she felt guilty about showing up this way, without warning, and this made it harder. She had thought it would be easier somehow, that she would know what to say. But she didn’t. Everything that came into her head seemed inappropriate, somehow lacking.” (p. 37)

Not so long ago, and in many occasions, I’ve felt the same way Allie does at this part of the story. I thought about everything I wanted to and somehow rehearsed it in my mind. But when the moment came, I didn´t say it completely, how I wanted to say it, or didn´t say it at all. However, I realized that it’s important to tell people what you want to tell them because if you don’t, there can be misunderstandings or arguments.

Conclusion

So far, I really enjoy reading this book because the author has a very beautiful form of writing, it’s interesting, and entertaining. It’s a love story full of twists and adventures which is just starting that I believe other girls will like. My predictions for the next chapters is that Allie will stay with Noah to spend time with him. I think they will fall in love again and have new amazing experiences. If you want to know if my predictions were right, don’t miss my next blogposts! 

A New Version of the Story

During the last couple of weeks, I’ve been reading the book “Saving Juliet” by Suzanne Selfors. Here is a summary of what it’s about:

Mimi Wallingford is a sixteen year old girl whose life revolve around her mother’s dream of her becoming an actress. But after deciding that she is tired of learning lines and performing in a stage, Mimi and a famous star named Troy, are magically transported to William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Verona, thanks to a special quill she got from her aunt. The two teenagers meet Romeo, Juliet, Benvolio, Friar Francis and many other characters from the play, but start to change the story that was originally written. Mimi and Troy realize that they are the ones writing the play since their arrival, and to get back home, they must reach the end. After an elaborated plan and major events, the actors return to Manhattan and decide they are going to choose their own destiny.

Quote 1

“Two daughters, both alike in dignity, forced down paths of their mothers’ choosing. I had never realized the similarity between Juliet’s and my plight. It made perfect sense that my subconscious had selected this story for my dreamworld.” (Selfors, 82)

After acting as Juliet for such a long time, Mimi becomes tired of “Romeo and Juliet” and the character she plays. But when she arrives to Verona, enters the Capulet house and meets Juliet in person, she realizes she underestimated the girl she, at the beginning, only saw as desperate and lovesick. This quote shows how Mimi discovers that Juliet shares the same problem as her: a controlling mother. They both want to be the ones to decide what to do in their life. I think this scene is very valuable because it teaches us that we can’t judge other people before we meet them; they can end up being the person we didn’t expected. Things always happen for a reason, and in Mimi’s case, she ends up in fictional world to understand that she must be the one to decide her future.

Quote 2

“Every person has a right to be unhappy, to suffer in peace without someone else telling her that she is acting like a spoiled brat. Without a certain someone telling her constantly that her life is the stuff that everyone else dreams about. Happiness is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.” (117)

When I read this quote, I realized that it has a very deep message. My first thought was what that the statement Mimi makes is true: everyone has the right to be unhappy without anyone questioning him or her. I think that the lesson the author tries to teach with this is that people have to be left to decide on their own if they want to be sad. In some occasions, it’s hard for people to think positively and have a simile on their face. That’s why others shouldn’t intervene negatively in that people’s feelings; they should try to help them and make them feel better, not worse.

Conclusion

I have really enjoyed to read “Saving Juliet” by Suzanne Selfors over the past few weeks. I would definitely recommend it for girls ages 12 and up because it’s a book full with adventure, suspense and love (which I guess some boys wouldn’t like)! The author uses a good language, includes elements from our modern world, achieves her book to make sense, and shares many valuable messages in her writing. In my point of view, it’s important for writers to have these elements to create a great book. It’s always fun to read a book like this one! I hope you liked my blog about this crazy adventure as much as I liked to read it.

 To conclude this blog post, I would like to share this quote that I learned while watching a movie. Throughout the book, I've thought about this quote and connected it to the parts when the characters aren't thinking positively about their life but then look forward.

  

The Admirer Revealed

Summary

Some days after Maggie’s memorial, Sawyer is at regular school again because her suspension is dismissed. There, she discovers that the police is behind her because they find “evidence” in her locker that frames her as Kevin’s, Mr. Hanson’s and Maggie´s killer (Maggie didn’t commit suicide, she was murdered). Sawyer heads home rapidly and finds Tara, her stepmom, laying in the bathroom floor unconscious. Chloe later apppears and confesses that it was her that had been sending Sawyer notes and had killed her boyfriend, their Spanish teacher and Maggie, because she love her. After some intense events, the police arrives to punish Chloe and find her some help, and an ambulance takes Tara to the hospital.

Quote 1

“She saw the hurt look in Chloe’s eyes and sighed. “She wasn’t very nice, but she didn’t deserve to die.”

A throng of kids pushed through the open door then, separating Logan and Sawyer by a few arm length. Just before the crush Sawyer was sure she had heard Logan mumble the words, “like Kevin.”

She couldn’t shake the chill that rolled through her.” (p. 221)

 

Sawyer’s last suspect of the admirer was Logan because he had sent her flowers, said some strange comments, and his brother stated that Logan had a crush on her. As shown in this quote, Logan didn’t like Kevin so it’s a reason for the reader and Sawyer to believe that he had something to do with his murder. But without enough evidence or proof, Sawyer couldn’t accuse Logan and, at the end, her admirer was Chloe. People shouldn’t blame other people without knowing for sure if he or she was guilty, as Sawyer did; she tried to talk to Logan as she normally did when she saw him.  

Quote 2

“I protect you. But do you see it? No,” she dragged out the word. “Of course not. You never see it because it’s all about Sawyer. Sawyer’s boyfriend. Sawyer’s teacher making a pass at her. Sawyer’s new family. Sawyer, Sawyer, Sawyer.” Chloe stood, “But what about Chloe?” she pointed the knife at herself.” (p. 250)  

When I found out that Chloe was Sawyer’s admirer, I was very surprised because I never thought of her as a suspect. But when I discovered the reason why she was sending Sawyer notes and killing people, I was even more surprised. Chloe said that she was “protecting” her because she loved her, but it was totally the opposite because Sawyer suffered a lot with the notes and the people that were missing in her life. I think Chloe was jealous of Sawyer and misinterpreted what she did, but she definitely took the wrong decisions and turned out to hurt her best friend more than protecting her.

I found this quote which I think is related to this part of the book because Sawyer’s best friend, who she truly trusted, resulted to be the one who betrayed her just to get attention. 

 

 

 

Concusion

I have really enjoyed reading this book because it’s full of mysteries and with an ending I didn’t see coming! I like the author’s form of writing because she doesn’t make you feel bored and when you finish a chapter, she makes you want to read the next one. I would definitely recommend this book for adults and kids 12 years and up. I really hope you liked my summary and text responses for the book “TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY” by Hannah Jayne. Don’t forget to read the blogs for my next book!  

The Consequences of a Fight

Summary

After going to the police office, Sawyer heads to school feeling somehow happy and relieved. As she is taking her things from her locker, Maggie appears and accuses Sawyer of sending her a note were she insulted her. They get into a fight and then are caught by the Principal who decides to suspend both of them. Later on, Sawyer´s father blames her of destroying her future half-sister´s bedroom, and with the news of the suspension, he sends her daughter to the psychologist. At midnight that day, Chloe calls Sawyer and tells her that Maggie committed suicide.

Quote 1

“How do you know what the note said?”

 

Dr. Johnson looked surprised. “Your principal sent me a picture of it.”

 

Sawyer frowned. “May I see it?”

 

The doctor handed over his phone. “Is that the note you sent to Maggie?”

Sawyer read over the note pictured on the screen. The text was the same, but the paper was slightly different. “Principal Chappie had this?” (p. 176)

 

 

 

When Maggie and Sawyer were done fighting and Principal Chappie called Sawyer to his office, she took the note Maggie had shown her from beneath the lockers. This is very strange because if Sawyer was supposed to have the note, then: how did Maggie give the principal a note she didn´t have? Maybe, the “admirer” that sends notes to Sawyer is not only one person, but a group of people that want revenge.

Quote 2

“Olivia swallowed and shook her head slowly. “No, nothing. And the weird thing is, she seemed fine –totally fine that day, that week.” The girl shrugged, a fresh torrent of tears wobbling over her pink cheeks. “She never seemed like anything was bothering her.” (p. 198)

With this being said by Maggie´s sister, Olivia, I infer that Maggie was killed and didn’t commit suicide. For Sawyer, all that is going on continues to not look like a coincidence or just a bad taste prank; things are getting more serious.

Conclusion

 Almost all the people I thought was Kevin´s killer has died or proved to be innocent. The last suspect I have is Logan, a boy that is in love with Sawyer and that was bullied by Kevin. I am enthusiastic to know the real stories about Kevin, Maggie, and Mr. Hanson’s death and to discover their killers. I think that all the events are connected to each other because all these people were related to Sawyer. This story began with just a simple note, and turned out to be more than that…

More than Just a Prank

Summary

After the incident with the peanut oil label, Sawyer decides to go home and relax. The next day after school, Sawyer stays on the track field with Cooper, a good friend, to train for some time. When they finish, Sawyer takes a bath in the girl’s locker room and once she gets out, she finds all her clothes shredded and her locker, spray-painted. Sawyer starts to believe that the bad “pranks” she is receiving, are going out of control so she decides to tell the police about the notes, clothes, peanut oil label and Chloe’s attack.

 

 

Quote 1

 

“Yeah, she convinced herself as she drove the distance to Hawthorne High, it’s just a prank. A stupid, bad-natured prank. I’m not responsible for anything.” (p. 160)

In my point of view, at the moment when Sawyer receives the notes or something bad happens, it seems very shocking, mysterious or dangerous. But after some time, these actions do seem like pranks and this is what Sawyer is realizing. In everyday life, this also happens. We think that something that has happened is very intense at the time but then we see that it’s not that bad. But despite all this, I believe that Sawyer is not just being pranked; something serious is going on.

Quote 2

“Just a prank… The words resonated in her head and seemed to fill her with a modicum of calm. But somewhere, deep down, Sawyer knew the calm wouldn’t last.” (p. 160)

In some point of my life, and I guess that in other people’s life, I have felt the same as Sawyer. We try to convince ourselves that something is ok or is going to be ok when we know it’s not. Maybe we feel calm because of something that has been resolved but then we start to wonder what can happen next.

Conclusion

My prediction for the next chapters is that Sawyer is going to receive new notes and that maybe Chloe is also going to receive them. I’m excited to know who the admirer is so the real story of Kevin’s accident can be revealed. I have noticed that the author in this book uses a lot of descriptive language. She illustrates and shows the characters feelings to better enhance the scene of the book she is writing. I hope you are enjoying my blogs and you look forward to discovering Sawyer’s secrete “admirer.”

The Next Move of the "Admirer"

Summary 

Sawyer and her best friend, Chloe, arrive to a party at night, and after being there for a while, Chloe is hit on the corner of the eye by someone who was trying to cut the brakes of her car. The next morning, after not sleeping during the night, Sawyer run around her neighborhood and feels as if someone is following her. She decides to forget what happened and she goes with Chloe to a football game. The day after that, at school, Sawyer is told that Mr. Hanson, her Spanish teacher, died of an allergic reaction to peanuts. She is called to the principal's office where a detective asked her some questions and when she is about to leave, she receives a bouquet of flowers with a note attached and a bag of 100% Cold-Pressed Gourmet Peanut Oil which she assumes is from the "admirer" that gave her the other note.  


Quote 1

"Well, when you're eleven, whatever makes you not the same as all the other girls is tragic. I told Chloe I didn't care, but she was so terrified someone would find out. They moved into this crappy trailer park, sold their car. Maggie found out from her gossipy mom or something, and she pronounced. Chloe's new status went viral overnight. People made fun of her, called her trailer trash or ghetto girl." Sawyer shook her head, remembering. "She was crushed."
"But you stood by your friend."
"Of course." Sawyer smiled faintly. "She's my best friend." (p.71) 


This tells us a big part of Sawyer´s personality: she's kind and never leaves her friends behind or make them feel bad. On my daily life, I always try to make my friends feel happy when they´re sad. I also have many friends that do the same for me and I really appreciate it.

 

 

Quote 2

"The slide show continued the whole length of the song, and Sawyer watched, strangely riveted, her emotions rising and crashing with every other picture. As the photos got closer to the end of Kevin's life, Sawyer felt her heart start to pound; she felt sticky and hot underneath her thin Hornets T-shirt." (p. 89)


When I read this, I noticed that even though a lot of time has passed, Sawyer is still sad because of Kevin's death and she misses him. She still tries to move on, but it´s hard for her.


Conclusion 

I think that the person that killed Kevin, Mr. Hanson and hurt Chloe is the same person and that he or she is the one sending notes to Sawyer. My prediction for the next chapters is that Sawyer is going to be questioned again because she found the missing shoe the detective was looking after. I also think that she is going to continue receiving notes and she is going to tell Chloe about them. To conclude, I hope that the "admirer" will give some clues to Sawyer about who he/she is.

You're Welcome

Hi! For my next blogs, I'm going to write about the book: “TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY" by Hannah Jayne.


Summary

The book begins in the Anderson's home, where Sawyer Dodd, a very intelligent and athletic high school student, and some other people, are saying goodbye to Kevin Anderson who died in a car accident. Sawyer, Kevin’s girlfriend, is devastated because of her loss but she decides to return to school, and once there, she finds a strange note in her locker that says:

 

The note puzzles her for the rest of the day and she thinks about possible meanings of the note and people that could have sent it. When she arrives home after school, she meets a detective who asks her some questions about the night Kevin died and wants to see a specific pair of shoes that were found on, what the detective explains as: the murder scene. Sawyer goes upstairs to her bedroom but can’t find the pair of shoes that the detective describes.

Quote 1

“Heat, like a wire, raced down Sawyer’s spine. The note was signed, “an admirer,” and that word, admire, clawed at her. Her fingers started to shake, and she flicked the note back into her locker and slammed the door shut, pressing her forehead against the cool metal.” (p. 15)

What this quote shows to me is that Sawyer is very scared of the note she received, not only because someone placed it in her locker, but also because maybe, that “admirer” is someone she knows and might have killed Kevin. She tries to avoid the note and forget it which I think is a good idea so she doesn’t panic, but in my opinion, she should tell somebody about the note so they can help her to find the person who sent the note. As it comes to the writing, the author uses a simile in this quote and also uses many details to show Sawyer’s emotions or reaction towards the note.

Quote 2

“Maggie paused, seeming to choke on the next name. “Sawyer Dodd.” She said it with a curled lip, no attempt to mask the disdain in her voice. “Two flowers.” (p. 36)

Maggie, who was Kevin’s girlfriend before Sawyer, shows to be somehow jealous of Sawyer in this quote. This puts her in the suspect list of Kevin’s killer because maybe Kevin left her to be with Sawyer and their relationship was much better, causing Maggie to want revenge.  

Conclusion

I think someone is trying to make Sawyer look guilty of Kevin's death because of the event with the shoes. This book reminds me of "Pretty Little Liars," because there is a murder and someone tries to make someone innocent look as the killer. Also because someone is sending strange notes to make the other person feel scared. I predict that in the next chapters, Sawyer is going to receive new notes that are going to make her close to finding Kevin’s killer. I’m very excited to keep reading and I look forward to discover who killed Sawyer’s boyfriend and why.