Emily Spence

The Guardian

Nicholas Sparks

Fiction

Just Right

190

1. Julie Barenson had had a hard life. She grew up alone and then lost her best friend, who was also her husband. She went through very sad times but she was strong and got on with her life. Before Jim died he made sure that a dog would be delivered to Julie after his death. He knew that she would be alone and that she would need a true friend. Julie loves the dog and she named it Singer. Singer literally acts like a human and is always there for Julie. He has an attitude when it comes to the men Julie dates though. Right now Julie is dating a man names Richard who she really likes. Richard also has gone through many losses in his life and he adores Julie. But Singer only likes one man, Mike. Mike Harris was Jim's best friend and he is now deeply in love in with Julie. Julie and the whole town knows this, but Julie doesn't want to go out with him. She knows that they would possibly be a great couple but she would always think of Jim when she was with Mike. She would also feel a sense of betrayal. So right now Julie had just been on her second date with Richard whom she really likes. Mike is extremely jealous of Richard and upset about the whole dating situation..

2. This book has been different than the other books by Nicholas Sparks I have recently read. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing yet. The plot is much different and someone has already died in the main character's life. There also isn't a big fascinating romance that intrigues me. But I have a feeling once the book gets going more exciting things will happen. Nicholas Sparks has never let me down with any of his books so I'm sure in the end I will love this book.

3. A theme I have noticed so far is loneliness. Julie had lost many important people in her life. Julie didn't know who her father was which was a real bummer. Julie's mom was a drunk who kicked Julie out onto the streets during one of her drunk teary rages. Julie had to find a way to live her life and when she did she was always lonely. But thankfully she found the love of her her life Jim, and she was happy and comfortable. Unfortunately Jim fatefully died and Julie was left alone alone again, sad and depressed. A few years later when Julie started dating again she met a man named Richard who had a very similar story. He didn't have a family and he got divorced which left him alone. He had a good job but he just traveled around the world with himself and his job. In conclusion, loneliness appears many times in this book.

4. My favorite character is Julie. I think that she is a great role model. Her life has been very upsetting and she has gone through some extremely tough times. Her life had been hard, and most people would have been marked by bitterness or anger, but she shows no traces of that. She is a strong woman who knows that being depressed will do no good and that she has to get on with her life. It takes a true hero to be able to do that.

5. My least favorite character is Julie's co -worker in the barber shop, Andrea. Andrea is a fake blonde who thinks she is Barbie and that everyone likes her. She is also alway jealous of Julie, and can't ever just be happy that Julie got over the loss of Jim and started dating again. Anyone who is always flirting and is always jealous is not a secure person. Andrea should learn a new way to live her life and stop being so selfish. She could probably becomes friends with Julie if she changed her ways and her personality.

6. I predict that Mike is going to try really hard to get Julie to like him. He loves her and he is very jealous when she goes on dates with Richard and other men. He and mostly everyone in town thinks that he and Julie are soul mates, and I don't think he's going to stop until he gets her.