A Walk to Remember-Nicholas Sparks

Symbolism is a great way to describe something or someone in a novel, especially when the author does not want to give away what they're trying to say directly. I think symbolism is like a curtain, readers must unveil it to reveal what the author meant.

In the Nicholas Sparks' novel, A Walk to Remember one symbol I found was the music box mentioned in the first few chapters of the book. Before I continue further, I want to let everyone know that the book is very different than the movie.

Continuing to the music box, I think that's a symbol that Nicholas Sparks used because it shows that that even though you lose something in life, it doesn't mean all of the music in your life has met its end. Mr. Sullivan, who is Jamie's [the main character's] father lost his wife when Jamie was born. She died at childbirth. Since then, he felt as if he lost everything his life stood for. But one Christmas, his daughter asks for a music box. So one evening before Christmas, Mr. Sullivan searches for that music box. There he came across a woman, who he never ever saw in the small town that everyone knew each other. The lady asks him what he was looking for, and he tells her. They chat for a while and experiences how it feels to help others who are unfortunate during the holidays.

At the end of the night, the woman tells him to look in the well, he'll see what he wants for Christmas. In the water, where he expected to see his reflection, he saw his daughter's. He realized his wife might be gone but there's still a part of his wife in Jamie. The music box appears under the tree on Christmas morning, and engraved on the tops of the box was a picture of that lady she saw a few night before. He didn't see her back after then.

Mr. Sullivan writes a story of that night, when he realized that having a small music box shows that he still has his daughter even if he doesn't have a stereo...his wife.
Although in the movie, it wasn't Mr. Sullivan that wrote the play performed in the video below, Jaime did have the lead part of both plays. In the movie, the "other woman" and in the novel, "the angel" also known as the lady Mr. Sullivan meets while shopping for the music box.

Finished with The Lovely Bones.

Wow, I am really like stunned with the ending of the book. I mean The Lovely Bones was a terrific book but the ending was not what I expected. It was better in some cases and not impressing in others. Take for example, the incident that occurred between Susie and Ray. I didn't know that would happen...it was like a bullet through the heart, as I was reading. I wanted to continue reading because it was so gripping and exciting but I didn't want whatever I was reading to happen. It was unreal to me and too supernatural. I don't want to spoil the ending for many of you that I know that are reading this book, so I won't continue to state what happened between the two, who shared so much love for one another.

I loved the fact that Samuel and Lindsey got married and had a daughter who carried Susie's name, Suzanne. That was just like a fairy tale ending. But on the other hand, Mr. Harvey got away with all that he did, of course he left the place that he raped and murdered Susie but he visited once in a while, and remembered a long list of woman that were his victims, from his first to his last. I HATED the fact that he would probably keep on doing what he did to Susie to other people. But hey, that's life who ever said it was fair? It isn't like they found Susie's body either, but her family and friends know she isn't coming back.

Although Susie's death caused her family to some what deteriorated within 8 long years, they came together hearing the news of Mr. Salmon's heart attack. Whether the characters liked it or not, they all had to deal with the death of Susie one way or another. Overall, I give this book (4) **** out of 5. It was great but I would have changed many things that happened if I could rewrite it. For those of you that are continuing to read it, have fun because you are in for a surprise.


I know this song doesn't go perfectly with what happens in this book, but some parts of it goes with what Susie feels, left out...as everyone continues to live life 8 years after her death, all trying to find closure.

Lindsey: in the shadow of Susie.

I was six years old
When my parents ran away
I was stuck inside a broken life
I couldn't wish away
She was beautiful
She had everything and more
And my escape was hiding out and running for the door

Somebody listen please
It used to be so hard being me
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
My chains are finally free
Don't feel sorry for me

All the days collided
One less perfect than the next
I was stuck inside someone else's life and always second best
Oh, I love you now 'cause now I realize
That it's safe outside to come alive in my identity

So if you're listening
There's so much more to me you haven't seen
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally see
Don't feel sorry-

Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Oh, my life is good
I've got more than anyone should
Oh, my life is good
And the past in the past

I was living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
I'm living in a new day
I'm living it for me
And now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally be
Don't feel sorry for me
Don't feel sorry, don't feel sorry for me(2x)

Living in, living in, living in the shadow
Living in, living in, living in a new day


*************************************************************************************


The video of the song "Shadow: by Ashlee Simpson was supposedly rumored to be about Ashlee being stuck in the shadow of her elder sister, the successful and well reconized Jessica Simpson. I think this song represents exactly the relationship between Susie and her sister Lindsey. While Susie was alive, Lindsey was constantly compared to her older sister, in my opinion, based on the impression the author Alice Sebold provides. Even after Susie's death, people are constantly saying "oh Lindsey, you look like Susie when..." or "Susie and you practically are twins", some comment of that sort.

With being compared to her sister often, Lindsey is changing her hair style and starting to wear make up. Although Lindsey loves her sister Susie, she just wants people to stop saying she looks like Susie. I don't say I blame her, Lindsey may appear to be a very strong person but inside it hurts to lose a sister. She tries to block it out, but with people are constantly reminding you how much you look like your sister, who was murdered, it does take a toll on one's mind.


NEWSFLASH: no matter how much you try to hide under make-up and clothes, you can't hide the pain and suffering the eye shows.

Ray Singh's journal.

In mind set of the Character Ray Singh.



Background information:

Ray Singh was the boy in Susie's class who had a massive crush on her. Susie shared the same feeling as Ray did but was not as open as he was. Police officers have found a note in the field, where Susie was murdered. It was a love note that Ray had placed in Susie's notebook without her knowledge. Now that the note was found, Ray is a suspect in Susie Salmon's murder case.





Dear Journal,

The last few days of my life has been hell. I literally feel like my whole world, the one that I have known and loved all my life is falling apart. The love of my life Susie Salmon, who I secretly call Susie Singh because I hoped so much for her to one day share my last name, has been announced dead. When I first heard the news I thought I was in a horrible dream that I would soon be awaken from. However, a couple of days past and I realized that this nightmare was in fact reality. How I miss seeing her walk through the hall way, with her dark blond hair trailing along. Her hair is so dark that it no longer appears blond.



What makes this nightmare worst that anything one could ever imagine is the fact that the police suspects me. They think I have something to do with the disappearance and murder of my sweet Susie. Oh, how dreadful that is, to think I, of all people would do such a heart wrenching act to the girl of my dreams. My mother told me to not bother to the things the police are saying, that she knows her son would never do such a thing, especially to a sweet, innocent girl like Susie. Mommy also lied to the police and said I was not well when they came to our house. A part of me still hopes and prays that this endless nightmare would come to an end, and for my Susie to return, for her never to gone missing...pray, that's all I can do now, I could not picture what the Salmons must be going through. I know it must be way worst than what I'm experiencing but to imagine it would stop the beating of my heart, which is slowly but surely is happening.



-Heartbroken yet Hopeful,

Ray Singh

The book I choose and my reasoning.

The book I chose as my independent reading book is titled Lovely Bones and its author is Alice Sebold. The reason why I chose this book as my independent reading book is because as soon as I started to read the summary given about the book, my attention was fully grabbed. It filled with gripping suspense and thrill. I expect to get a great sense of suspense when reading Lovely Bones and to be be shocked with the twists and turns the author might throw in to make the reader wanting to read on. I want the feeling of wanting to continue reading this book instead of being assigned to, and having to read it. Alice Sebold was raped at the age of 18, and was a user of drugs that is harmful to one's body. She wrote this book, with inspiration of her real life experience. So, I guess I chose this book because I want to read something that is real yet may be fictional. I want to draw my own opinion, and I think this book will allow me to do so.