The Last Song

by Nicholas Sparks
For the record, I have never read a Nicholas Sparks novel and do not necessarily plan on reading another one. However, after reading The Hunger Games I needed something that would have a real love story to it and the same friend who let me borrow The Hunger Games left The Last Song sitting on my night stand as though anticipating my need before I ever knew it, so as I closed Mockingjay (the 3rd book), I picked up The Last Song in hopes of something mushy. Nicholas Sparks did not disappoint. Although not what I would consider, great literature, it was a good read and I even learned a little about sea turtles. There were a few parts that were questionable in content, namely the chapters that are from Marcus' point of view, but as his personality was so horrific, I quickly forgot about those chapters. In the end, The Last Song is the story of a mad-at-the-world-teen who is sent to live with her Dad for the summer and ends up falling in love with the local rich jock (totally not her type). The underlying story is of family love and hardship and ultimately, a real tear-jerker (not that it takes much for me).