My Book 4 Project: Theme Analysis

My reasoning behind choosing The Longest Ride for book 4 was to investigate all of the hype on it mainly from coming from girls, but also because it's a book I never would have read. Before I even began the book I started to vision a plot line forming in my head, imagining there would be a perfect ending to a perfect love story. And though at times it felt like I might be right, I was completely wrong. The Longest Ride isn't just about one love story, but two. While both are separate from each other in their own lives, the story manages to intertwine them and create a love story like none I have ever read or seen. I can most definitely understand why the book is so popular among the females side of the world. The novel contains all the aspects of a love story that every girl would die to live in, while also throwing in some situations that were completely unexpected. Though it is notable to mention that at times the plot is very predictable, an aspect I was expecting to run across. I feel the reason the book is not mentioned more among the male side of the spectrum is because it's seen as "girly" or any other kind of adjective that makes a man not feel like a man. I guarantee that if a random man picked up this book and read it, he would be able to relate to it in some way and would sincerely enjoy the time he spent reading it. If he were to say otherwise, then he's lying. Prior to finishing The Longest Ride, I thought more about the theme of the book. And though there are many themes to choose from, I feel the theme of love is the best to discuss, even if it is a little cliche.

This novel is a love story. Not only is it a love story about a young couple who find one another in the modern world, it is about a couple who chose one another above all else despite the complications that made their lives different from what they once thought they wanted. 

Ruth and Ira found one another when the world was not the modern one it is today. Ruth was running from the darkness of the Holocaust, trying to find herself in a world she did not understand. Ira was the shy son of a tailor, lacking confidence in his own worth. Together, however, they found a place where they could be themselves, where they could live a life filled with love and adventure. 

Sophia and Luke on the other hand, come together in a world filled with technology and danger. Sophia is stalked by an ex-boyfriend, while Luke faces the loss of the only home he knows. It may not seem like they're the best match for each other, but every situation changes that thought as they display how powerful they are when they're connected.

The main reason this novel differs from most romance novels is because instead of having just one relationship to focus on, the theme of love transitions into another completely separate relationship. They are two very different relationships in their own world, yet somehow they collide and make a bond that pulls the movie into a pleasing close. Most romance novels typically revolve around a certain couple, following all of their ups and downs. Though when talking about The Longest Ride, that aspect does not apply. I believe that is why some many people tend to enjoy this book over another love story. And not to mention the writing style of Nicolas Sparks, which I have to say is close to the best I've ever read.