Review: THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks

Book and Move Review


TITLE: The Last Song
AUTHOR: Nicholas Sparks
AUTHOR WEBSITE: NicholasSparks.com 
GENRE: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit
PUBLISHED: September 8, 2008 - Grand Central Publishing
MY RATING: 3


SYNOPSIS:


(Courtesy of Goodreads-No Spoilers!)

Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him.

Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them. 

REVIEW:


THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks is a story about a 17 year old girl’s summer at her father’s house. Her parents had been divorced for three years and Ronnie was still angry that he left. She hardly says anything to her dad for the first part of the book. She meets a boy who steals her heart. Her father attempts to make peace by catering to her dietary needs, and not telling her what to do and (my favorite) hiding the piano from sight. It was sweet. Her father enjoys watching her fall in love as their relationship heals.

The father’s house was right on the beach and I could almost smell the salt air as I read about her sleeping on the beach watching over a sea turtle nest. Teens and their anger can get pretty tiresome but Ronnie had a softer side too. She protected the nest from raccoons for several nights until it could be properly sheltered.

One major thing I liked about this story was the mass of layers. There were many storylines folded together to make this charming novel. Ronnie’s estrangement from her parents, the smart and funny little brother, the bad crowd and all their own quirks and downfalls, the hot guy and his weirdo family, and of course the dad’s storyline.

Oh, and talk about a tear jerker! I loved the love story, and the coming of age elements. I like reading stories about people who do the right thing. There were several instances where the characters spent time keeping secrets to protect themselves or someone else, but in the end they didn’t let me down.

RATING:


I enjoyed this book, partly because I love young adult novels and it was a good story. I’d give the book a 3 because it was a Pretty Good Read. No regrets. 


 RECOMMENDATIONS:


I’d rate it PG for this teen romance and would let my teen read it. I’d recommend my teen read the book rather than see the movie. 








MOVIE TITLE: The Last Song
MOVIE RATING: PG
MOVIE WEBSITE: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294226/
GENRE: Young Adult,
RELEASE DATE:  March 31, 2010
STARING: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear
MY RATING: 1


REVIEW:


Heading to the movie theater with low expectations I wasn’t too disappointed. I had read a few reviews to see if it was any good. (Because I’m cheep, gosh darn-it, I don’t want to spend my money on a movie that is lame.) Regardless of its bad reviews, I went to see Miley Cyrus in her first movie role outside of Hannah Montana.

About the Movie itself: It was a great story to begin with. They didn’t change a whole lot. It was the entire book in a two hour experience. Steve, the dad, played by Greg Kinnear, was a superb and layered character. He did the role justice. He was funny, sincere, touching and, of course, heartbreaking throughout the movie. The little brother was cute and did a great acting job too.

As for Miley Cyrus, I’m sure you’ve already heard that she cannot act. It was disappointing to watch. She didn’t make the right faces at the right time. It was difficult to bear because I liked the story. I believe, like anyone else, actors should know their limits.

One other thing I was disappointed with was the scene with the flame throwers. I was hoping that it would look cool and they’d work it up into a big act (like a circus act!) But they didn’t and it was like, “Oh, that was the fire part.”

RATING:


I guess after it was all said and done, it’s a pretty good story, played by a bad actress. I’d give it a 1: Poor: A waste of Time. I should have waited till it came out on DVD.




RECOMMENDATIONS:

The movie is Rated PG and rightly so but I'd choose to read the book over the movie any day.