Reading Response #2

As I continued to read Sarah's Dessen's book, This Summer, I realized that this book was not what I was expecting it to be. While reading it, I felt as if it was repetitive and the main character, Haven, was completely draining for me. She complains about her sister's past boyfriend, Sumner, and that seems that it is the only thing she ever will live with. He did play a large part in her life, even if she wasn't her own boyfriend and she holds on to that. As she feels overwhelmed, she goes back to the thoughts of the man and it simply keeps her sane. I feel like there was a message that was definitely sent through Haven and her life in this book, and she was very relatable. She does elaborate on her parent's divorce, and her father's recent marriage, but other than that there was not much to this book at this point. I have decided to stop reading this book as of now because it simply seems like nothing else important will end up happening to Haven.
I do know that Sarah Dessen has many great books that have made an impact on many people, and are top-sellers. I researched this book and found that it was one of her very first novels. I am now going to look into some of her other "more popular" books and see if those would be more interesting, and not as dull as this book was. I know Sarah Dessen is a great author and I'm excited to possibly begin reading more of her!

 This photo resembled Haven in a way of showing how she captured every minute of her past, and is still holding on to those memories such as this girl captured a memory on camera.  She is holding onto those "pictures" and better times that she had back with her sister's boyfriend, who was a guy that changed her life and is keeping her going to this day.

“It’s funny how one summer can change everything.” is one quote that stuck out to me in this book. The summer that Haven had once lived through, was one she will never forget and that she will hold on to for the rest of her life. 

Inspiration

Thinking about things that inspire me, music is the one that immediately comes to mind. I am very open-minded when it comes to music, and listening to new things. Music helps me when I need a boost, writing a paper or even simply driving down the road. It makes you feel things that you can't always comprehend while living a normal day, it gives me a sense of comfort while listening to my favorites. My taste in music is not like many others, but when I tell people of what I listen to, they say that it's unexpected and surprising. I will listen to any type of music except country, but I do have my favorites just like anyone else would.
As I very proudly publicize my love for the boy band, One Direction, they are one type of music that can always put me in a good mood. I think about the day I waited a whole year for, when I saw them in concert from the third row, which was basically the best day of my life! Obsessing over those five boys is just something I enjoy because I'm a total fan girl and I'm not ashamed of it :)

On another note, my favorite bands are actually Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Hawk Nelson,Relient K, and many more like those. My parents are the cause for my love for these bands and I am glad for that! Their music strengthens me when I need it most, it can be a very good release of different feelings, as well as giving me inspiration and hope. I have got the chance to see both of those bands more than once, along with at least 30 others close to that type. I have met each one of them and had the opportunity to travel to see concerts. I believe I am blessed with the opportunity to further get into that music, and to feel those happy and exciting feelings when listening to it, and remembering seeing it live. Not many people are able to experience seeing their favorite musicians in person, but it is a very fun, exciting experience and I love it! My favorite feeling is getting to sing along at concerts, and it's something I won't ever get tired of.

There are lyrics that particularly stick out me in many of my favorite songs by those artists: "I still believe the best is yet to come," which is my favorite quote, by the band Red. "I'm awake and alive, now I know what I believe inside. I've done what I want, cause this is my life." That song is one of my favorites and gives you reasoning to live your own life, while not going off what others say you should or should not believe. Different types of music makes every person feel a different way, and that's why I believe its so unique in the way it works. Music is my biggest inspiration.

This Summer by Sarah Dessen

This book begins with introducing a fifteen year old girl named Haven. She is the youngest of two and has just started a new chapter of her life. Her father fell in love with another woman, one of his co-workers that Haven had seen coming for awhile. Haven is a very awkward girl who is almost six feet tall, and will never forget it, for she is constantly reminded of it. Her sister Ashley, is the much older one, the popular one in high school, leader of every club and sport, basically the opposite of herself. Haven doesn't quite understand her sister, or her recent marriage proposal, because she's simply a normal high school student just trying to get through the day. At this point in the book, she is beginning her new life with a new stepmother, the "Weather Pet," a woman who she would soon get to know very well.
This Summer is a very relatable book to many teens, and relates to my life in some ways such as her height. It is a "girly" book, which always interests me and with many things to connect with, always helps too.