Review of The Notebook - Book Report/Review Example

?The book Synopsis of the Plot The novel parts the story in two, first part describes an old age couple Noah and Allie who live in a nursing homeas husband and wife, here the author used first person noun. The second part of the novel provides details about the notebook that Allie had kept. Just like a puzzle, the bonding between Noah and Allie is just the beginning of a wonderful lover adventure. Contrary to predictions, their tale takes a unique turn and turns into something else where odds for Noah become very high. The story takes place in the serene beauty of North Carolina in 1946, Noah return from the World War II, and is constantly reminded of a girl, Allie, he met 14 years ago. He is fixing plantation home and constantly gets lost in his old memories of this girl. But instead of seeking her out, he suffices to recalling the memories. But as fate has it, the girl comes to his town to see him. But Allie is now engaged to another man but she too can’t rid the thought of Noah, but things are difficult for them as always. Their worlds are completely different and it is very hard to bridge the gap between the two lives. Allie gets caught in a strange situation where she is weeks away from her marriage and she has to decide what she wants to do with her life; ignore Noah and marry the other person or pursue her dream of romance with her first love. The notebook gives a description of love, passion, trust, sensuality, faith, anger, desperation, desolateness, tragedy and eternity. Noah reads the notebook, which explains how he and Allie had met, fell in love, were separated and then re-united after 14 years. At the end of the story there is a twist, in which the author tragically alters the plot with Allie being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Character Analysis Noah Taylor Calhoun Noah is the main character of the novel; his character is of someone who couldn’t care less about life. He is a laborer who spends most of his youth in lumberjack and fishing. A World War II veteran who returned to his hometown New Bern, North Carolina and bought a plantation-style home out of an unexpected inheritance. He is an avid lover of nature and poetry and nothing could ever keep him away from them. Allie Nelson She is a young and beautiful lady, her character is the one who wishes to defy the norms and traditions set by the society, one who wants to follow the path of her emotions not social principles. Lon Hamilton He is the fiance of Allie a successful, handsome and career oriented law practitioner who always keeps his career ahead of anything or anyone. He loves Allie but not more than his career. Although he is a decent man but sees Allie as a second priority in his life, but at the same time admits the better qualities and inevitability of Allie in his life. Morris Goldman Morris is Jewish; whose scrap yard is where Noah had worked prior to volunteering into the army. It is his inheritance which allowed Noah to buy and restore the plantation house of his childhood dreams. Gus A black man who lives nearby Noah’s house, he is the only family Noah had until Allie returns. Anne Nelson She is the mother of Allie who strongly disapproves her relation with Noah, and due to it she never lets Allie know about the letter Noah keeps writing for the past 14 years. She warns Allie about the arrival of Lon and that he might have figured it out. On her way back from Noah’s house she hands over his letters to her daughter. She somewhat seems to be on terms with her daughter at a later phase as she whispers to Allie to listen to her heart while leaving. Themes The most important and overall theme of the novel is that “Love Conquers All”, almost all of the novel revolves around this very theme. No matter through what Allie and Noah had to pass the love between them never fades away or diminished. Even when Allie had lost her memory and could not recognize Noah, she still feels some emotional attachment towards him. And on the other hand Noah predicts to be his husband in order to preserve her pride and integrity. From the story what I have learnt is that aging gives one the wisdom that no book or experience can. Aging affects the human body, makes it full of wrinkles but it cannot tarnish true love. On the other hand, a little aging makes Anne realize that following one’s heart should be the only purpose of one’s life. Aging does make people look at things from different perspectives. As in the case of Noah and Allie, they both analyze their situation and test it against time, however they conclude that they need to be together. That is why the other important theme is “Listen to your Heart”, this theme focus on the 14 years Allie had wasted in order to maintain the pride of her family while she was suffering from every bit of it. Her life would be altogether different is she had chosen the different path. She had opted a man whom she does not approve to be her soul mate only because it was right to for a lady of her stature and society. And if she had not done it her parents would be much embarrassed. Central Idea The first and foremost idea of the novel is that “Miracles” do happen and it is this idea which had kept the emotional feeling alive among Allie and Noah. Another idea of the plot of this novel is that past of person keeps on following him/her until he/her keeps peace with the past. The most beautiful idea is that those who are emotionally attached will be reunited by the nature no matter what may happen. Adult Development in the Story-line The story-line is somewhat complex, when considering it with the adulthood of two emotionally intrigued individuals. Although the relationship between Allie and Noah had emerged when both of them were minors, but this emotional longing is not reduced or overcome as they mature. Instead it grew deeper and deeper among the two. A strange relationship had emerged between the 14 years in which Allie and Noah kept on with their life, where there were no communication between the two but still both of them were in love with each other. Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction As first love cannot be forgotten, it somehow sticks in the memory of person. It is what this novel is all about. Two children in their teen-age fall in love, some would say that a teen fantasy would soon be over. This love lasts till the death of both major characters. And both of them could not find satisfaction wherever they go until they are re-united. And this reunion proves to be the rebirth of their childhood memories. This state of mind is completely justified, when one is such an emotional attachment which, to them, seems to be eternal. "I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough." (The Notebook) Works Cited Sparks, Nicholas. The Notebook. N.p.: Little, Brown Book Group, 2011. Print. Read More