BOOK REVIEWS Courtesy of Beaverdale Books
‘The Last Song’
By Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing
Pub Date: 9/1/09
$ 24.99
390 pp
The last thing 17-year-old New Yorker Ronnie Miller wants to do is spend her summer in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., with her dad and annoying little brother. Ronnie has not spoken to her dad since her parents’ divorce three years earlier and has no interest in developing a relationship with the man who abandoned her family.
Steve, Ronnie’s father, is a former concert pianist who has retreated to his hometown in search of meaning and inspiration as he crafts a beautiful stained glass window for a local church. He wants nothing more than to reconnect with his beloved daughter, despite her anger and rebellion.
Ronnie is surprised to find herself attracted to Will, a local boy who is definitely not her type. She experiences true happiness as her relationship with Will blossoms throughout the summer, but she must discover whether their love is more than just a summer fling. Meanwhile, a tragic revelation will test her devotion to what truly matters.
Once again, Nicholas Sparks has masterfully created a tender story of love, self-discovery, and taking responsibility for one’s choices. His portrayal of Ronnie’s tumultuous thoughts and emotions is both authentic and moving, and Steve’s unconditional love and respect for his children is poignant and inspiring. “The Last Song” is a touching story of a young woman’s struggle toward maturity and her father’s longing for restoration in their lives. It is a story of hope, faith and most importantly, the power of love. CV — Review by Erica Narwold
