Zain's Blog

Valentine's Day
- Posted on 02.12.09
How is everyone out there? It's almost Valentine's Day isn't that great?! And you know what, since this IS the season of love I want to tell a story that I read recently, but first, I want to say I am finding my own way of celebrating Valentine's Day this saturday. Hopefully, city hall will be opened that night, so I hope to actually see other people either dancing away to romantic music or having dinner together. I swear, everytime I see something like that, or kids or anyone having fun, I can't help but smile and feel happy that there's still some good left in the world. It's like that one song I've heard many times before, what the world needs now is love. I honestly don't want to go out with anyone that night because I've decided I'd rather let anyone be more happy with someone else, except two people I have mentioned before, than have them be with me. Confused? Well, I'm just afraid that if I let any girl get close to me, then eventually, I'll do the same thing my father did. He used to hit my mom, make her work around the house constantly, they never celebrated their anniversaries, let alone wanted to sleep in the same room. He was so abusive! And I'm basically afraid of doing the same thing, or do something stupid that will cause us to break up and have whoever it is hate me.I don't want to end up hurting anyone, but that doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to be in love or see what it's like. Love is everywhere, how can anyone not see what it's like?

On with the story. Have any of you read A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks? It's a good book. It's about a 17 year old boy named Landon Carter, who at first believed he had no potential. He narrates the story as a 57 year old man and tells his story on how his first real love changed his life forever. You see, one day he wanted to go to this homecoming dance, and there was no one left but one girl: Jamie Sullivan. A girl he would see who was so beautiful, not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. Yet as of right now, to him, he didn't see her in that way. He didn't exactly think she was really beautiful in both ways, he found her strange, because she was the minister's daughter and her behaviour and everything about her seemed to be strange to him. So one day he decides to ask her to the dance, which she hesitates at first, but says yes. They have a good time, even though they help Landon's ex-girlfriend after she gets drunk at the dance. Afterwards, Jamie asks Landon to be apart of her father's Christmas play because he wants this play to be the best one done yet. He accepts, but only because he feels sorry for her. During the weeks they are rehearsing, Landon starts walking Jamie home, each time getting to know a little more about her. But one day he ends up shouting at her and revealing why he joined the play. They don't talk again until the first night of the play. He apologizes to her and tells her he'll do something for her for what he did. She forgives him and at one point in the play Landon is supposed to say to Jamie that she is really beautiful but has to say it like he means it. Before I continue, one of the things that made Landon not so fond of her was the fact that she always tied her hair up in a bun, and always wore a sweater. But on this night, he sees her hair down, with sparkles, and wearing a long white dress to resemble an angel, who she is playing as in this play. The play is a success and to make it up to her, he tries to collect alot of money for Christmas gifts for the children at the orphanage, where Jamie volunteers. On Christmas Eve, they're able to make all the children happy and once everyone is asleep, Landon gives her gift to Jamie which was a sweater, and learns that Jamie gave him a gift as well, which was her Bible. Landon realises by then that he is in love with Jamie. They start seeing each other more on Christmas, and I believe it is the day after that they kiss for the first time. They start dating, but one day, something happens that hurts anybody. Jamie revealed to Landon that she had leukemia and was dying. This takes place in the '50s, so as the book says, it would take a miracle to save her. Everyone in town is upset and thinks alot about her during this time. Each second you're reading the second last chapter, the more weaker she becomes until she can't even walk anymore. Landon meanwhile, can't think of what to do and after reading the Bible, he comes to the conclusion that he must marry Jamie, which she accepts. In the last chapter, many believe Jamie dies, while only some believe she lives. Why? Because Nicholas Sparks based Jamie off his sister, Danielle Lewis Sparks. She was dying too and her boyfriend decided to marry her too. During that time, he couldn't decide on whether or not he should let her live because fans of his books were already upset that he killed the main characters in his other books. When Jamie is being led down the aisle, she is able to get up and walk with her father to the front of the church and they get married. 57 year old Landon is narrating again about how Jamie has changed his life and he also says that he never removed his ring but believed that miracles can happen, which makes the ending even more confusing and debatable. I believe she lives because she was able to walk again when she was getting married. What do you think?

Well that's the end of the story. I hope you liked it and will want to actually read the book. It's better that you read it so you can enjoy it more. Also, when you're done, watch the movie. It stars Shane West and Mandy Moore.

Now I will be gone and I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!