Romance Annotation

The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Number of Pages: 390

Geographical Setting: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Time Period: Contemporary

Subject Headings: Teenage girls; divorced parents; North       Carolina; love stories




Plot Summary: Seventeen year-old Ronnie Miller is shocked when her mother insists she and her younger brother Jonah must spend the summer with their father in North Carolina.  Used to the New York club scene, it is culture shock to arrive to the sleepy tourist town and the quiet life her dad leads as a retired pianist, working in his spare time on a stained glass window for a reconstructed church.  Yet when her summer vacation takes a rocky start, Ronnie finds herself getting to know her dad after three years of separation.  And when she meets Will Blakelee while protecting a nest of sea turtle eggs behind her house, her summer definitely doesn't go as expected.  The months in North Carolina seem like the best of her life as she falls in love and rebuilds the relationships with her family, but sometimes the best and worst go hand-in-hand.

Librarian's Opinion: This is a light read for those who want to kick back and relax with a good book.  Sparks hits all the emotional high notes, creating a wholesome story featuring characters who seek to improve themselves throughout.  I particularly enjoyed how the relationships explored in this book were not only limited to romantic ones.

Elements of the Book

Simple, yet mature characters

As in many romances, Sparks' characters fit neatly in their roles--it is easy to tell who is the good and who is the bad.  A few characters are more ambiguous, yet each either face their own challenges or exist to present challenges to others that then causes that character to grow and mature.

Romantic, not steamy

Although some may worry since the main characters are teenagers, there is no sexual content in the books.  In fact, the topic is barely brushed upon at all.  Instead, it is the emotional and thoughtful side of Ronnie and Will's relationship that is explored.

Christian undertones

The story is built on Christian fundamentals, as to be expected early on when Ronnie finds out her father is constructing a stained glass window for a new church.  Later in the book, when the Miller family is at its lowest, there are many discussions revolving around God and the Bible.  Yet the religious aspects are not overwhelming should the reader not be so inclined.

Emotional

The author goes all out to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.  The reader may feel angry at Blaze's betrayal of Ronnie, fearful of what Marcus may do next, happy for Ronnie and Will as they fall in love, and sad for the children when Steve reveals his illness.  Sparks does a good job of mixing plot points together to keep the reader feeling one emotion to the next, but ultimately ends his story on a hopeful note.


Similar Reads

• One Summer, by David Baldacci--Known for his political thrillers, this book stands out among Baldacci's works.  In this novel, a father works to rebuild his family after tragedy strikes over the course of a summer.  Like The Last Song, this novel deals with family relationships and grief.
• The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd--An emotional coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who escapes to her mother's hometown to learn about her past.  While the mysteries of her past unfold, she learns about beekeeping from a trio of sisters that befriend her.  Similar to Sparks in characterization and in use of emotion.
• A Walk to Remember, by Nicholas Sparks--From the same author.  Main character Landon Carter reminisces about his high school romance with the minister's daughter.  A romance between young adults with Christian overtones, and an emotional twist at the end, sure to appeal to those who enjoyed The Last Song and want to read another Sparks.