Book #6: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

I'm not lying to you when I say that reading the last few pages of this book actually ticked me off!! I was reading through it thinking, "well, that was a good one!" Until I read the last two pages. To be honest, it's pretty easy to predict how Sparks' writings will end, but I was a little shocked with this one! It was very good!

Typical Sparks trait: this book was very spiritual. The reasons for Thibault's journey across the country, the endeavors in Iraq, his best friend Victor, etc. Everything had a very spiritual meaning--nothing was quite just as it seemed. There were a lot of symbolic representations.

I want to say that fate played a large role in this novel... 

I feel like this may be a very touchy/deep subject, but I'm going to go for it anyway...

Here's Logan Thibault, ex-marine that had been to Iraq three times before being discharged. He finds a special pendant that supposedly saves his life through many of the Iraq bombings, attacks, etc. Even though Thibault does not notice these benefits to the pendent, his friend Victor does. Victor constantly brings it to his attention, but Thibault just brushes it off and refuses to believe that the pendant has any supernatural qualities. Until some event in the novel intrigues him to change his mind (I don't wanna ruin the book for anyone, but here's my point...)

My point is that sometimes in faith, individuals can be reluctant to see past the object as just an object. Considering that I'm speaking from a very strong faithful background, I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and that there is a sacred person that lines things up for us. Now that doesn't mean, necessarily, that everyone has a pre-destination. I truly believe that everyone has a goal in life that a sacred being leads you to. That doesn't mean that a person will always do what they are supposed to, but there are signs out there that direct him/her in the "right" direction. The one thing I want to say is that, if a person makes the "wrong" decision, there is always another chance to make it "right." So that's where I want to make it clear that I don't necessarily believe in predestination. I believe that there are signs. People can interpret signs in any way they want to, but they're out there...

In Thibault's case, he refused to see the sign until his friend Victor made it very clear that the pendant was no normal pendant. Reluctant to believe, Thibault took his friend's advice and clearly thought, "there is a reason I have this. There is a reason I am here, but what it is I'm not quite sure yet..."

This novel had a lot of hidden messages, I think. In my opinion, I think that everyone asks themselves the same exact question... "I'm here, but why am I here?" The "signs" are only little guides that one can choose to take or not. 

On a lighter note!! This book was a great romantic drama. I truly enjoyed it all the way to the last two pages :)