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THE NOTEBOOK BY NICHOLAS SPARKS
Book Summary
The Notebook is a contemporary love story set in the pre- and post-World War II era.
Noah and Allie spend a wonderful summer together, but her family and the socio- economic realities of the time prevent them from being together. Although Noah attempts to keep in contact with Allie after they are forced to separate, his letters go unanswered. Eventually, Noah professes his undying and eternal love in one final letter. Noah travels north to find gainful employment and to escape the ghost of Allie, and eventually he goes off to war. After serving his country, he returns home to restore an old farmhouse. A newspaper article about his endeavor catches Allie's eye, and 14 years after she last saw Noah, Allie returns to him. The only problem is she is engaged to another man. After spending two wonderful reunion days together, Allie must decide between the two men that she loves. This story is framed by a contemporary man who is reading to a woman who suffers from Alzheimer's. The woman is understood to be Allie... but which of her two loves is the man reading to her?
Character List
Noah Calhoun Initial narrator and protagonist; Noah falls in love with Allie the summer after graduating from high school, and even though they go their separate ways, he never stops loving her. When she unexpectedly re-enters his life, he discovers she is engaged. Although he longs for Allie to stay and tells her that, he knows that loving someone sometimes means letting them go. Allison Nelson (Allie) As a young woman she falls in love with Noah, a boy beneath her family's social class; when Allie per chance sees a newspaper article about Noah restoring a house, she needs to return to see her summer love, even though she is engaged to another. Allie falls in love all over again and then must make a decision between the two men that she loves, and although she does not want to hurt either one, inevitably, she will. Lon Hammond, Jr. Allie's fiancé; Lon is a good lawyer from a good family who will provide a good life for Allie. When he realizes that Allie is seeking out Noah, he drops everything to be with her, demonstrating for the first time that he is able to put her ahead of his career. Fin and Sarah High school friends of Noah; they introduce Noah and Allie the summer after Noah graduates from high school. Morris Goldman Noah's boss at the scrap yard; it's Morris's gift to Noah that enables Noah to purchase the house that he is restoring. Gus Noah's best friend and neighbor in 1946 New Bern. Gus is the one who identifies Allie as the "ghost" of Noah's past. Anne Nelson Allie's mother; she does not approve of Allie's relationship with Noah. She is also the one who keeps Noah's letters to her daughter a secret when they arrive; she neither reads nor destroys them, but she eventually gives them to Allie when she arrives to inform Allie that Lon is on his way to New Bern. Dr. Barnwell The doctor at the Creekside Extended Care Facility Janice The night on-duty nurse at Creekside; Janice enables Noah to slip into Allie's room, even though she is not supposed to permit it, on the day of their 49th wedding anniversary.
Themes
The Notebook is a love story between Noah and Allie, characters built upon Nicholas Sparks’ wife’s grandparents who were in their eighties and still in love. As the character Noah explains in the beginning of TheNotebook, this is a tragic love story. The tragedy comes in the later years of the characters’ lives, as Allie can no longer remember who Noah is. This is painful for Noah and frightening for Allie. However, the expression of their love is so powerful that even the effects of Alzheimer’s cannot keep every memory of love submerged in the depths of forgetfulness. Doctors cannot explain how every once in a while, Allie suddenly recognizes Noah, even in the later stages of the disease. The nurses at the home, however, are fully aware of how this is so. They see the love in Noah’s eyes, in the way he patiently tends to his wife, even though she sometimes screams at him to leave her alone because he frightens her. She believes Noah is a stranger, at times, and the doctors make Noah leave the room. The author paints a beautiful picture of the passion that these two characters share as they face the challenges that try to keep them apart. Readers witness Allie and Noah’s wild emotions as they first taste their love as well as the quieter moments in later years when all they have to do is gently grasp one another’s hands to express how deeply they feel about one another. Another theme in this novel is that of growing old. In the process of aging, great transformations are made. Noah, who was once an athlete with a very strong build, is suffering with old age. His hands are gnarled so badly he can barely turn the pages of the books he reads. He is constantly cold no matter how many clothes he wears and how much heat is pouring into his room. He also has a stroke, so by the end of the novel, he struggles to walk from his room to that of Allie’s. Allie suffers even more. As time passes, she remembers less...
THEMES - THEME ANALYSIS
The first and most important theme is: Love conquers all. Although this idea is sometimes overworked, in this particular work, it is the most prevalent theme of all. No matter how many setbacks Allie and Noah faced, their love always brought them together again. First, they must face the pressures of her parents and their social position. Her mother hid his letters to her and even pressured her to give up painting, a talent that Noah had encouraged. Second, they face a separation of fourteen years in which Noah is shaped by his father, WWII, and his desire to escape his loss of her. Third, they face her engagement to Lon Hamilton who comes from an influential and important family. It’s only when Allie reads Noah’s last letter to her written twelve years before that she knows where her heart lies. Even though they marry and raise a family in the wonderful plantation home, their lives are not without tragedy when their four year old son dies. Finally, Allie’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is the final setback. However, not even it can separate the two of them as Allie’s promise that she will return to him comes true. The second theme is: Follow your heart. Allie had spent fourteen years in fear of hurting her family and friends if she deviated from the standard way of living for her social class. It was only when she realized that she and Noah were meant to be together that she made the right decision and followed her heart. Noah was convinced that they were soul mates who had lived many lives looking for each other, sometimes finding each other and sometimes not. In this version of fate, Allie would always make a mistake if she failed to recognize Noah as the one she was meant to be with for eternity. A final theme tells us that you cannot live your life in fear of hurting others. Allie nearly learned this hard way when she almost gave in to her fear of hurting her family and friends by choosing Noah. Her parents had done everything they could to keep her
The conversational tone established by the narrator reveals the personal nature of the narrative and serves to pull in the reader by creating a sense of intimacy. This informal tone enables readers to connect with the narrator, becoming emotionally invested in the story. The informal tone and easy-to-read narrative are deceptive because the ideas
and characters in The Notebook are not as simplistic. Sparks' style enables him to both
reach and connect with a wide audience. The narrator repeats the word "common," referring both to himself as a man and his thoughts. This word usually has a neutral if not negative connotation; however, in this chapter, the word occurs immediately after the narrator compares his relationship to a blue-chip stock, a stock whose success is virtually guaranteed over time. The word "common" is also an investment term (blue chip stocks are actually well-regarded shares of common stock). Therefore, Sparks not only continues his metaphor, he develops the character of the narrator, demonstrating a degree of modesty as well as insight. The narrator is one who "loved another with all my heart and soul" and for him "that has always been enough."
Clearly, love is not common at all. And The Notebook explores the nature of an
uncommon love. At this time, the narrator does not say all of this, yet readers are able to
infer this information. The Notebook is an exploration of enduring, committed love.
By the narrator's own admission, his story is both a love story and a tragedy — in fact, it is better to identify it as a tragic love story, one along the lines of Romeo and Juliet. And although similarities exist, the parallels are neither perfect nor identical. Yet, texts do not have to be identical to influence one another. Another important repetition is the narrator's use of the word path. Not only does it emphasize the walk of life that everyone takes, it establishes the mood, or atmosphere, of the text. A sense of acceptance and strong sense of faith permeate the opening
pages of The Notebook and continue throughout the novel.
A number of important images take place in this opening chapter. The narrator compares himself to an "old party balloon." This image works on two levels, indicating both the physical as well as the emotional and spiritual well being of the narrator. He is currently only a shell of his former self. The chair that has "come to be shaped like me" indicates the amount of time that he has spent sitting in the chair, presumably reading
The Notebook, the one that has been read "a hundred times." This detail appears to be a
statement of fact and not of hyperbole. Another indication of the amount of time that he has spent here is the familiarity the narrator has with the nurses.
The attitude of narrator reveals an important thematic statement of The Notebook. The
narrator states, "A person can get used to anything, if given enough time." On the surface, this sentence could have both positive and negative connotations; however, based on the context of the chapter, this indication is definitely a positive one. The narrator is a character who is clearly making the best of a bad situation. He seems to have accepted the conditions of his life. Just as the nurses "say nothing directly to me," the narrator is not saying many things directly to the readers. The indirection is a stylistic technique used by Nicholas Sparks to build suspense. One of the most important things that is not stated directly but is easily inferred is the fact that the patient to whom the narrator is reading is suffering from Alzheimer's. But the narrator has already revealed himself to be a man of faith and then states that he believes "anything is possible" and that "science is not the total answer," reinforcing the idea of fate, free will, and miracles. The repetition of the word miracle echoes the title of the chapter while simultaneously emphasizing its importance. Miracle as a word also has religious connotations, another important motif used to develop both character and theme.
The single sentence used to end the chapter focuses readers on the hope that the narrator has, connecting readers to the desire he has for yet another miracle associated with the notebook. This first chapter has two primary purposes: to establish the frame narrative and to build both suspense and mystery. This chapter introduces an 80-year-old narrator whose story is in the present. This narrative surrounds the flashback story that is told in subsequent chapters. Suspense and mystery is created through a variety of means — the nameless narrator (who is he?), the unknown person to whom he is reading, the mentioning (without identifying) of a problem, and the notebook itself. Clearly, this introductory chapter raises more questions than it answers. Readers are not immediately aware of what is thematically and symbolically significant and cannot possibly fully understand and appreciate their inclusion in the first chapter until rereading the chapter after completing the entire novel. Glossary blue-chip stock stocks of high-quality, financially-sound corporations; the term suggests a safe investment listless indifferent, spiritless
Summary and Analysis Ghosts
Summary
The narrative flashes back to October 1946 and a character named Noah Calhoun. Noah enjoys thinking about nothing in particular in the evenings after a hard day at work repairing the house he purchased in New Bern, North Carolina. The house was originally built in 1772, and Noah has spent the past eleven months fixing it up. Both his guitar and his memories of his father occupy Noah's time. Noah does not currently have a job, but he is not particularly concerned with finding one because he still has a few months worth of savings left. Noah has a hound dog, Clem — short for Clementine — and at 31 years old, he is beginning to feel lonely. He has not dated since he returned to New Bern. Memories of his father include the mention of "God's music," a reference to the sounds of nature, the sounds that enabled Noah to help keep his sanity during the chaos and confusion during the time he spent fighting in a war. After drinking his tea, Noah gets his copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and quotes an entire poem.
Analysis
The opening sentence of the second chapter provides the setting of the inner-story of the frame narrative. Although it is not stated directly, readers have a sense that this story is the one that is recorded in the pages of the notebook. The narrative point of view shifts from a first person to a third person perspective. An omniscient narrator begins telling the love story of Noah and Allie. This choice of narrator is significant, for it enables readers to know what is happening in the minds of both main characters. At the beginning, the text does not directly state that Noah's father is dead, nor does it state that Noah served in the war, though astute readers will infer both of these things. These examples illustrate Sparks' style of narrative being used to support the development of both character and theme. Noah's attitude, as stated in this chapter, is significant: "It would work out for him... it always did." The attitude is particularly revealing in regards to Noah's character
understand the actions of others. Gus' comments are another aspect of the universality
of The Notebook.
In another seemingly throw-away line, the narrator mentions that Noah writes in his journal before going to bed at night. Not only does this develop Noah's character, but also the writing provides another bit of foreshadowing. Readers instinctively know that Allison Nelson the 29-year-old woman is also the girl from Noah's past. The circular narration enables Sparks to build suspense, as intuitive readers recognize the particular details and are able to connect the dots before the picture is fully drawn for them. Another connection that is fully drawn but not fully identified is the similarities that Noah and Allie share. For example, both bathe at the end of the day. Water symbolizes rebirth, cleansing, and refreshing. The newspaper clipping in Allie's purse is the event that is either coincidence or fate, but regardless of which of these the reader chooses to believe, the clipping is nonetheless the spark that reconnects the separated lovers. Once again, Noah is connected with poets and poetry. In fact, the narrator specifically states that "isolation... was good for the soul," an idea that poets understood, as did Noah. The continued comparison of Noah to a poet is the most important and sustained
bit of character development in The Notebook. A poet is an artist and a dreamer and a
person connected with nature and spirituality. And the poets with whom Noah is connected further develop his character as they reveal information about his attitudes and beliefs. The mention of Tennyson immediately brings to mind such poems as "Break Break Break," a poem inspired by the British Romantic period and "Ulysses," a dramatic monologue from the hero of The Odyssey longing for something more before his death. The reference to Dylan Thomas immediately connects Noah to Thomas' most famous poem, "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night." The poem, a villanelle, is essentially an argument for fighting death, primarily to give closure to life by living life to the fullest
until it is over. In the context of The Notebook, the life to which "Do Not Go Gentle" refers
is the love between Noah and Allie. The poem is a symbolic imperative that commands Noah and Allie to fight for their love before they die, a command that foreshadows
important events in the final chapter of The Notebook.
Nicholas Sparks transcends the form of a typical romance novel through his use of literary allusions. He develops characters and themes about the universality of the human experience of love and loss and fate and free will, rather than writes a story about reunited lovers and their hopes to rekindle past romantic flames. Although readers do not need to understand the allusions to understand the basic plot and
themes of The Notebook, an appreciation of the seemingly insignificant references
provides another layer of understanding of the sophistication of the text. Another seemingly insignificant but actually quite important detail is how Noah refers to his beloved. To Noah, his love is "Allie" and not "Allison." This nomenclature is significant because the diminutive is a term of endearment. The importance of names is directly related to social class and social standing, which introduces the thematic topic of social inequality and the effects of social class on standing and advancement and
judging others. The Notebook suggests that true love transcends the boundaries of time
and socio-economic conditions. Allie remembers lines from "Song of Myself," one of the poems Noah reads to her during their summer of love. "Song of Myself," one of the poems from Leaves of Grass, explores notions of the self and the relationship that oneself has with nature. "Song of Myself" states, paradoxically, that the self is both individual as well as universal. The poem is about sexual and spiritual union, obviously symbolizing the nature of the relationship
between Noah and Allie, reiterating that their summer romance was not one of teenage lust but rather one of young adults falling deeply in love. The chapter ends with the narrator echoing Gus' earlier sentiments that Allison is the ghost that has been haunting Noah, yet the title of the chapter is "ghosts," indicating that Noah is also a ghost for Allison. The narrative not only switches from Allie's day to Noah's day (and back again), until the moment when their two separate stories once again combine, it also toggles between past and present, creating for the reader a sense of memory and re-memory. Sparks uses this technique to fulfill the four equally important purposes of the chapter: to provide exposition, to build suspense, to introduce the main characters, to introduce the primary conflict. Glossary Orion, Big Dipper, Gemini constellations, or various groups of stars, that are identified by the shape of their grouping Pole Star the brightest star and handle of the Little Dipper constellation Walt Whitman American poet noted for his unconventional use of meter and rhyme Leaves of Grass a famous collection of poems by Walt Whitman Caste system social structure where class is determined by heredity Tennyson Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Famous British poet of the Victorian era Liquidated converted into cash Dylan Thomas British poet of the early modern period
Summary and Analysis Reunion
Summary
Noah and Allie stand in silence, each lost in his and her own thoughts and memories and feelings. Finally, Allie breaks the silence, greeting Noah. Awkward silence is followed by awkward, stilted conversations. Allie asks and Noah confirms that no significant other exists in his life, yet then she admits that she is not only engaged to be married, but that the wedding is in three weeks. Noah asks all the right questions about the nature of her relationship, and Allie provides all the right answers; still Noah cannot help but wonder if Allie truly loves Lon or if she is merely trying to convince herself that she does. He then invites her to stay for a crab dinner. Allie follows Noah to the dock. While he inspects the crab cages, she inspects the dock and finds the inscription "Noah loves Allie," which was carved in the dock just days before she left, 14 years prior. Allie admires the house as Noah prepares dinner. During their conversation, Allie reveals her mother's attitude toward social class, and Noah questions her as to why she never responded to any of his letters. Allie reveals that she never received any of them. Allie almost admits that she felt compelled to come after she saw the newspaper clipping about Noah's restoration of the old house. During the course of their continued conversation, Noah is shocked to learn that Allie no longer paints; she is just as shocked to realize he not only remembered but also a painting of hers hangs in his living room. Allie wonders if she still loves Noah. When talking about Fin and Sarah, Noah tells both Allie and readers that Fin was killed in the war. By the end of dinner, Noah is sure that he has fallen in love with the new Allie and not just the memory of the Allie of his summer love. He states that loving Allie is "his destiny."
Summary and Analysis Phone Calls
Summary
Lon attempts to contact Allie, but he is unsuccessful. His first attempt was at 7:00 p.m., and almost three hours later, she still is not back in her hotel room. Something is bothering him, although he is unable to initially quite recall what it is. Lon remembers the rocky start their relationship had as well as the honest assessment of his life that Allie gave him after their first date. Now, four years later, he is somewhat panicked, especially when he remembers that Allie had spent a summer in the town she was going antiquing in. Her mother made fun of Allie's summer romance, but Allie had taken the romance seriously. Lon's last attempt to reach Allie is also unsuccessful.
Analysis
Lon calls from his office because staying late is standard for him, which reveals how important his career is to him, but it also offers a partial explanation for Allie's actions. If Lon puts his career ahead of his fiancé, then Allie has time to ponder her past and rethink her commitment to the relationship. Lon focuses on himself and his own needs, but his willingness to call Allie multiple times indicates that he is both concerned for her wellbeing as well as concerned about the implications this trip may have on their relationship. Although he may have been taking her for granted, Lon loves Allie. Lon is obviously scared about what he might lose, but the more important question must be, "Is Lon more scared of losing Allie or more scared about what might happen to him?" The difference between these two extremes is immense — one focuses on Allie and the other on Lon. Readers are not currently privy to Lon's thoughts and motivations, yet the two possible interpretations of his state of mind illustrate the difference between being
loved and loving another, two important thematic topics in The Notebook. Although this
chapter is a short one, it is significant because it provides a contrast to the romantic reunion of the previous chapter as well as foreshadows the conflict yet to come.
Summary and Analysis Kayaks and Forgotten Dreams
Summary
This chapter begins by alternating the perspectives of the former lovers during the next morning. It begins with Allie, who had slept in Noah's shirt, and after a restless night, spent the early morning remembering special times from their summer together. Her thoughts turn to Noah and the present, wondering if he too was enjoying the coming of dawn. And he is. Noah wakes early and takes a kayak up the river, allowing his time on the river to refresh both his body and his mind. He spends most of his time on the river contemplating why Allie had come to visit him. Noah returns home after spending two hours on the river, chops wood, and gets ready for Allie's arrival. Switching back to Allie, the narration returns to her morning. She spends her time wandering downtown and thinking about Lon. She finds an art gallery, though she is unimpressed with most of the work. After leaving the gallery, she goes to a department store to purchase some art supplies — paper, chalk, and pencils — and spends the remainder of the morning rediscovering her talent. On her way out of the hotel, the manager stops Allie to tell her that Lon had called four times the previous evening. Allie is momentarily concerned about the importance of the repeated calls but rationalizes that she cannot reach him now because he is in court and leaves to meet Noah, entirely dismissing the missed calls, and not knowing or caring that two minutes after she leaves Lon attempts once again to reach her.
Analysis
The morning parallels their innate connection — both spend time doing something they love and are somewhat pleasantly surprised to find they had spent two hours doing it. This indicates the old cliché that "time flies when you're having fun." It also indicates the maturity of the relationship, for both Allie and Noah are doing things independently of one another, indicating that their relationship is not co-dependent but rather co- enriching. The mention of forthcoming rain literally refers to the incoming weather pattern. But the rain also has metaphorical significance. The wonderful reunion that Noah and Allie are having is akin to a bright, sunny day; however, before they know it and sooner than they could imagine, the heavens are going to open up, and into their reunion a major rain storm is going to take place. Allie considers the possibility that Lon found out the truth about her trip, but she immediately dismisses that idea — which is incorrect — and she also thinks she cannot contact him because he is in court, which is also incorrect. Both of these incorrect assumptions illustrate that she is not as connected with Lon as much as she would like to be. Not only does Allie lie to the manager, but also she instructs him to lie to Lon, if indeed Lon even were to call. This instance is the second time that Allie has been untruthful to her fiancé, which is further indication that everything in their relationship is not as idealistic as she would like or need it to be. Glossary Elayn perhaps a reference to artist Elayn Kuehler, a Romantic Realist, or perhaps an amalgam of artists
Summary and Analysis Moving Water
Summary
Allie arrives around noon and greets Noah with a kiss on the cheek. Eager for the surprise, Allie immediately demands to know where it is. Noah tells her that it is about a mile up the river but is concerned that with the impending rain she might get wet. Undaunted, Allie decides to risk getting wet in order to see the someplace special. While canoeing to the special place, Allie asks Noah what he most remembers from their summer together, and he replies "All of it." His explanation reveals that he is not being coy but rather that summer had such a profound impact on his life that there is no way to possibly favor one aspect over another. Allie is stunned and moved by the sincerity and depth of Noah's reply. She compares the relationship she has with Lon, realizing that she does love her fiancé, just not the same way that she loves Noah. Analysis The significance of the chapter title is that the words have both literal and metaphorical interpretations. The literal moving water refers to the creek water and the falling rain. The metaphorical water is the renewal of their relationship, water symbolizing rebirth, new life, and a cleansing. The rain also foreshadows the storm their relationship is going to face. When explaining his answer to Allie's question about his summer memories, Noah describes love "as an emotion that we can't control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense." For him, this describes both their summer of love and the nature of their relationship. The mentioning of T.S. Eliot reveals yet another side of Noah's character. As a poet, Eliot is more abstract and intellectual than Whitman. Eliot's most famous poem is the epic The Waste Land, which could be a veiled reference to the state of Noah's emotional well
bit of foreshadowing. And the penultimate paragraph of the chapter not only foreshadows the rest of the book, it contains Noah's profession of love, one of the most
direct statements of feelings in The Notebook.
Noah tells Allie, "You are the answer to every prayer I've offered... I don't know how I could have lived without you for as long as I have. I love you, Allie... I always have, and I always will." These lines connect the thematic topics of religion, faith, fate, free will, and spirituality, leaving both Allie and readers speechless. Glossary Bourbon whiskey distilled from a mash of primarily corn but also malt, and rye
Summary and Analysis Courtrooms
Summary
Lon makes an unusual request to suspend the current trial until Monday. His request is agreed on by opposing counsel, and reluctantly the judge grants it. After receiving the postponement, Lon leaves for New Bern.
Analysis
This chapter is the shortest in the novel, and the pace of the chapter matches the brevity of its length. Lon's shaking hands indicate his nervousness and apprehension; they are a physical representation of his fear of the unknown. But, by leaving a trial for the first time, Lon is demonstrating his love for Allie as well as his fear of losing her. Finally, he is putting his relationship ahead of his career. In addition to developing the character of Lon, this chapter is needed for the conflict of the main story line — although Allie loves the moment she is currently sharing with Noah, she needs to see Lon and figure out in person what she is going to do. Like the cliché statement, Lon is currently "out of sight, out of mind." But when he is back in sight, in person, Allie faces a much tougher decision. She is caught up in the moment of love and passion and romance, but she also has to take a logical look at the status of her life and make a well-thought-out assessment as to what will really make her happy and what is truly the right thing to do.
Summary and Analysis An Unexpected Visitor
Summary
After spending the night together, Noah and Allie also share the next morning. The morning is spent eating breakfast, making love, doing chores, talking, and even staring at one another. After lunch there is knock on the door, and Noah is shocked to see Allie's mother, Anne. Allie's mother says "I came because I had to" — the same reason she assumes that Allie came to New Bern. Allie's mother reveals that Lon called her last night to ask about Noah and tells Allie that he is also on his way to New Bern. In addition, Anne delivers Noah's letters, which she has never read, to Allie. After Allie and her mother share statements of love for one another, Anne departs.
Analysis
Based on the title of the chapter, readers are expecting the confrontation between Allie and Lon; however, that is momentarily on hold as the lovers must first confront the person who actively worked to keep them apart. While explaining why she has come, Anne treats Allie as an adult and a friend and not as a child. This moment is important, for otherwise Anne would be a stereotypical, stuck up, Southern aristocrat. Rather than make excuses for her actions, Anne attempts to
explain that she thought she was protecting her daughter from an unsuitable match. When Anne asks Allie if she should stay in town, she is offering what help and assistance Allie may want or need while simultaneously giving her daughter the space, room, and support she needs to make this very important decision. The ambiguous ending to the chapter, the uncertainty of Allie hearing her mother whispering "Follow your heart" may just be Allie's projection of what she wanted her mother to say, or it may be her mother's attempt at atoning for the mistakes of her past. The shorter chapters — this one and the previous one — increase the pace and suspense of the narrative, contrasting with the leisurely pace of the time Allie and Noah spend together alone. When they are by themselves, Noah and Allie are lost in time, but when others are around and involved, they are cognizant of their surroundings and are caught up in the hustle and bustle of real-world life.
Summary and Analysis Crossroads
Summary
After Anne leaves, Allie is torn, claiming to want "a happy ending without hurting anyone." Not wanting to lose her again, Noah asks Allie to stay with him. Though she wants to stay with Noah, Allie is not sure she can. Allie gives Noah the sketch she drew earlier in the morning, a sketch composed of Noah's face and the current state of his house. They embrace and kiss and admit their love for one another. Noah watches Allie drive off, believing that she is driving out of his life forever. And as she exits, he likens Allie to her mother — remarking that both women make decisions and then never look back. Analysis The significance of this title is both metaphorical and symbolic — in their lives and in their relationship. They truly are at a vital intersection where important decisions need to be made. Noah recognizes that they are adults and can't live their lives for others; Allie is torn between the life she was making and the life she wants to have with Noah. She does love both men in her life, just differently. Not revealing the subject of the sketch that Allie was working on for two hours in the morning until after Allie collects her belongings suggests finality in their relationship. The sketch — a current likeness of Noah and the current state of his remodeled house — captures the reunion and simultaneously serves as a goodbye gift, something by which Noah can remember her and the past 48 hours.
Summary and Analysis A Letter from Yesterday
Summary
Allie gets her crying under control as she drives back to the inn, and by the time she arrives she notices that Lon's car is parked in the lot. Instead of getting out and going to Lon, Allie reaches for the stack of unread letters from Noah. And instead of reading the first one, Allie decides to read the last one, the goodbye letter. Noah's letter was a heartfelt statement of love that expressed the finality of their situation without diluting or sacrificing the significance of their summer together. Noah wrote about the nature of their love and the fond memories that he will always cherish. Allie reads the letter three times before she gets up the courage to go and speak to Lon.
Analysis
This chapter ends the inner story of the frame narrative. It leaves readers in suspense, for they do not know if Allie is either getting her courage up to break up with Lon or using Noah's own words against him as a means for her to again walk away.
demonstrating to and for Allie by reading to her daily is a type of poetry in motion, a gesture that does a lot of good for both partners. The Whitman excerpt is followed by Noah's admission that he reads in order to "know who I am." This is a clear indication that an analysis of the poems will aid in an understanding of Noah and Allie. He is a poet. A man in search of himself. A man longing to see his one true love again (in her moments of mental clarity). And a man who is willing to wait patiently and sacrifice selflessly for the woman he loves. An analysis of the next quoted poem makes Noah's character abundantly clear. Although it is not identified by name or by poet, Walt Whitman's "The Sleepers," another selection from Leaves of Grass, is quoted. And not only does it provide insight into the
nature of Noah and Allie's relationship, it foreshadows the ending of The Notebook.
The dominant symbolism of "The Sleepers" is night, which is a rather common symbol for death; sleep implies death and, at the same time, the release of the soul through death. The poet identifies himself as merging with other beings and multitudes of beings and thus establishes a spiritual and psychological kinship with them. The poet's vision or dream motif is the core of the structure and the apparent lack of organization reflects the quality of the dream itself. Thus the poem's structure, theme, and symbolism are brought into a cohesive and
meaningful pattern, just as Sparks achieves in The Notebook. Throughout "The
Sleepers" men and women become beautiful in sleep. Beauty, associated with darkness, attains a spiritual quality which is the essential element in the poet's mystical
experience. The structure, themes, and symbolism of The Notebookall address a need
and desire for beautiful, mystical, love experiences. It is extremely significant that Noah lies to Allie and says his name is Duke and hers is Hannah. Many people believe that perception is reality. And Noah needs Allie to be as calm as possible. He knows that reading to her sometimes — not often but sometimes — enables her to remember who she is, who he is, and remember their life together. But those times are few and far between. And because Noah is not initially certain whether she is going to have a good day, a miracle, he plays the part of a man who loves and cares for her, even if he cannot tell her his real name. This illustrates an interesting concept — that actions are neither right nor wrong — they merely are, and it is the context in which an action takes place determines the appropriateness or inappropriateness of it. Noah's lie to Allie is a lie told out of love and respect and thus cannot be considered wrong. The next poem that is mentioned by author but not by title is "Continuities" by Walt
Whitman. This poem, also included in Whitman's Leaves of Grass, seems to explicitly
address Allie's Alzheimer's, especially the line "appearance must not foil, nor shifted sphere confuse thy brain." Noah simultaneously reassures Allies, readers, and himself that the little white lie he is telling is not problematic, for the sense of resurrection and rebirth mentioned in the poem symbolize the occasional good days that Allie has. And those few good days are enough to survive the difficult other days. The next poem that Noah recites to Allie is credited solely to a "wise poet," and that poet is non-other than Nicholas Sparks, illustrating that he has success as a poet as well as a
novelist. In fact, the final three poems cited in The Notebook are actually written by
Sparks himself. And it is this combination of roles that is responsible Noah's next insightful observation. Noah compares his relationship with Allie to dusk, the time of day when day becomes night. He states that "there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time... always together, forever apart." This is the struggle Noah has reading daily to Allie, not knowing if that day will be a miracle day or not. Noah recounts that he first wrote this to Allie in the last letter he wrote to her, and
she was reading it at twilight. That same later reveals how the love that Noah and Allie shared together lead to being incredible parents to their children, as Noah revealed to his adult children (in addition to readers) the story of Allie's goodbye to Lon and the difficulty she and he both had saying goodbye to one another. Noah's statement, "I am who I am because of you," takes into account their first summer, their years apart, as well as their years together. It is rather coy that Noah constantly mentions and recites lines of poetry. Many critics see these references as indirect critiques of Lon's question regarding Allie's painting, asking her what it was supposed to be, when it was an abstract painting whose purpose
was to elicit thought. The lines of quoted poetry fit specifically to the plot of The
Notebook at the time they are being used. However, they provide a deeper
understanding of character and thematic development when readers understand the original source material.
Two important statements in this chapter serve as direct statements of theme for The
Notebook. The first is when Noah says that "life is simply a collection of little lives, each
lived one day at a time. That each day should be spent finding beauty in flowers and poetry and talking to animals." The second is "a day spent with dreaming and sunsets and refreshing breezes cannot be bettered" for life exists "for falling in love." The use of polysyndeton (the deliberate use of unnecessary conjunctions) slows down the rhythm of the sentence in order to emphasize the little things in daily life that are actually important in living a meaningful life. The syntax of the sentence parallels the message of the statement — to slow down, live one day at a time while making the most out of that day. Enjoy nature. Appreciate one another. Fall in love. These commands are seemingly simple but extremely difficult to follow. Another important thematic statement from this chapter is "Romance and passion are possible at any age." This speaks to the importance of maintaining relationships, especially as we age. Young adults do not have a monopoly on romance. Successful love relationships are the result of hard work, dedication, and commitment. Yet, we are never too old to stop romancing and wooing our loved ones, for everyone wants to feel special and needs to feel special. Loving another is more important than being loved.
The narrative of The Notebook then takes the reader through the exact experience that
Noah has — just as readers are enjoying the reunion between Allie and Noah, for her mind and memories have returned, and Allie and Noah experience a day of being in love with one another, and it is a reunion for readers, too. Readers already have experienced the beautiful love relationship once and enjoy being a part of another miracle. Yet, as quickly as Noah and Allie are reunited, it is taken away — from them and from the readers. Instead of an ideal reunion, readers experience the image of two people who need consoling — "A woman shaking in fear from demons in her own mind, and the old man who loves her more deeply than life itself, crying softly in the corner." This powerful scene evokes empathy for Noah in all readers, as we feel the anguish he feels, and we understand why Noah feels so alone. Not only does Noah spend the rest of the day alone in his room, but also he introduces the reader to another character who is alone — Dr. Barnwell. The doctor's desire to be completely devoted to career and family is situation that parallels Noah's, and Noah realizes this as he tells Dr. Barnwell that both of them are alone. Dr. Barnwell represents all people — like Lon — who put their career or something else ahead of the people they love. Ironically, it is Dr. Barnwell who tells Noah that "no one is alone,"for he does not realize the contradiction that he himself is living, and although Noah attempts to explain the harsh reality to him, Noah is unable to get through to the doctor. After the miracle day, Noah is begrudgingly optimistic, realizing that the four hours he had with Allie were indeed a miracle, a gift from God, and he slowly returns to his typical
