Sunday, April 26, 2015

Book Review: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Title: THE LAST SONG
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
First media tie-in mass market edition, March 2010
Pages: 463
ISBN: 978-0-446-57096-1
Price: Rp 106.000 (Periplus Online)
Rating: 5/5 stars

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 Wrightsville Beach, 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 of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.
I think this is the first Sparks' book that I have ever read. How is it? GREAT! I can't think about anything wrong except I had to imagine Ronnie in my head as Miley Cyrus. Yes, I have watched the movie. But I hadn't finished yet. I'm sure I'm not the only one who falls in love with this book. But I dare to give this 5 out of 5 stars. I'll let you know why.


This is indeed just another Cinderella story. A poor girl dating a totally rich guy is a common thing in romance books. But, what makes this different is the center of the story. It's not about a young teenage love. It's way deeper. It's about love between daughter and father. As the only child in my family, it is a very sensitive topic. I admit that I love my mother more than my father. I often yell at him with sarcastic jokes and tell him verbally that I don't love him. But deep inside my heart, I do. And I always will. It's just not cool to admit that I love him. I'm not that kind of person. Sorry dad.

Back to the story...
Ronnie was so upset because she had to spend summer with her dad, Steve. She hated him because he left the family. She felt betrayed. That's why she acted so rebel and unpleasant toward him. She also somehow trapped in the naughty group. With that kind of attitude, it made Steve sad. But, Steve is described as a super understanding kind of dad. Maybe because he felt guilty so there was nothing he could do to make Ronnie forgave him. But slowly, trough simple things, Ronnie's heart started to change. She began to understand why her father left.

When the story started to feel happy and sweet and touching, suddenly, it's like Sparks dropped an atomic bomb there. Everything ruined. I found myself crying out loud. I couldn't stop sobbing, but I couldn't put the book down either. I really love how her father behaved towards Ronnie and her little brother, Jonah. Well, basically, I love everything about her dad. He became so religious and so strong. I don't feel anything for Ronnie tho. She's really stupid. HOW COULD SHE NOT KNOW HOW UNDERSTANDING AND TRUSTING HER DAD WAS?? Steve even stopped playing piano, the only thing that could make him feel better, just because Ronnie hated it and thought that her dad was trying to make her play again. But how that thing affected Jonas is very heartbreaking. He's the real victim here and I'm glad he had a good time with Steve.

So, I guess you might guess what that atomic bomb is. And if your guess is right, please don't think that's is cliche. Trust me, Sparks has his own way to make it way better than any other book with the same 'atomic bomb.' I can't wait to read another Sparks' books. But I want to buy the mass paperback with movie cover. So my collection would look great.


9 komentar:

  1. Baru tau kalo Last Song ini film adaptasi :D Udah nonton filmnya dan suka, tapi belum pernah liat bukunya hehe.
    Dan ternyata cover novelnya Nicholas Sparks itu mirip-mirip ya XD

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  2. I haven't read Nicholas Spark novels. But, Last Song seems romantic story by this review and book cover. Love and family topic. At first I thought Ronnie is a girl, but i completely missunderstood cause Ronnie is a boy's name =) Last Song such a sad story?? cause the title 'Last Song' such a last love message. Too bad, I haven't seen the film yet O.O Thanks very much for nice review ^.^

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  3. Really like every novels from Nicholas Spark. There is something special in every story that makes me cannot leave it. I think so many people love it too. The prove is many films made from Nicholas Spark novels. ^^ I really want to read Last Song.

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  4. Kalau sudah ngomongin Nicholas Spark, hanya ada satu kata, TOP! Beliau ahli dalam menciptakan novel2 best seller. Dan romancenya pun benar2 memikat. Baru saja kemarin membaca The Notebook dan jatuh cinta dgn ceritanya.
    Sekarang mau coba membaca The Last Song. Tampaknya bakal jatuh cinta lagi untuk kesekian kalinya.:)

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  5. Nicholas Sparks. Salah satu novelis romance favoritku ^_^ well, aku sebenarnya ada ketertarikan buat baca novel nya yang satu ini. Tapi, setelah membaca review nya di goodreads, aku jadi ragu ragu mau baca atau engga. Kenapa? Karena cerita cinta nya melibatkan ayah dengan anak >.< jujur, aku suka takut kalo baca novel atau nonton film yang kaya gitu. Karena jujur aja, aku lebih deket sama ayah ku daripada ibu. Bukan berarti aku lebih sayang ayah daripada ibu, tapi karena aku dan daddy punya kegemaran yang sama. Jadi kalo ngobrolin tentang sesuatu itu nyambung ^^ jadi otomatis aku akan lebih sering ngobrol sama daddy daripada sama mama. Dan sekarang ketemu lagi sama novel yang satu ini, The Last Song. Setelah sekian lama memendam rasa penasaran buat baca, sepertinya aku akan berhenti memendam hasrat itu hehe ^^ karena setelah baca review ini, aku (entah kenapa) jadi makin penasaran. Well, kakak berhasil menggoda aku buat baca novel ini :'D

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  6. Sumpah ini filmnya KEREN BANGET. Jadi terarik baca novelnya deh, pasti di dalem novel diceritain lebih detail ya daripada filmnya? Duuhh mbak kau membuatku penasaran dengan tulisan reviewmu ini apalagi dengan bintang lima yang tidak lupa kau sertakan juga, wah tambah makin penasaran deh jadinya, hahaha. btw, nice review mbak ;)))

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  7. Nicholas Sparks selalu jadi favorit saya, tapi saya belum berani baca yang satu ini. Wkwkkk~
    Takut kalau jadi kangen Papa dan menyesal atas segala yg berjalan salah. :(
    Tapi baca reviewnya jadi makin penasaran. I think I will love this book too :))

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  8. Baru sekali baca Nicholas Sparks yang The Best of Me dan jatuh cinta, jadi kepengen baca karya lainnya juga termasuk The Last Song :)

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