Adult Living

Title: The Notebook
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher:  Random House
ISBN: 0-446-60523-9

Review: The story begins in a modern day nursing home and is told from the view point of Noah. It begins with an elderly man (Noah) reading to an elderly woman (Allie) from a faded notebook. The notebook contains a love story written by Allie when she first began having symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Allie asked Noah to read her the story daily to help her memory return. It is about two people from different backgrounds who meet one summer when they are teenagers. The setting is a small southern town in North Carolina in the 1940’s.  They are separated by WWII and Allie’s parents. Ten years later they meet again and only to find they are still deeply in love. The chapters are very short and easy to read. The chapter entitled Swans and Storms contain a brief section at the end where the characters make love. Allie and Noah are 29 and 31 at the time. The description is not graphic and written tastefully. If read orally as a class project, this section could be left out.  The Notebook is an excellent story of enduring love and devotion.

Suggested Questions and Discussion Points:

1. Analyze personal readiness and criteria for mate selection. Identify significant factors that contributed to the satisfying martial relationship between Noah and Allie.
2. Describe the relationship Allie had with her parents. Why were they against the relationship between Allie and Noah?
3. Compare and contrast the qualities of Lon and Noah.
4. Identify the type of love represented in this story. Define true love.
5. Have the student identify issues facing the aging population.
6. Research Alzheimer’s disease. How does Alzheimer’s impact the family?
7. Identify and analyze the multiple adult roles and responsibilities of Noah and Allie in the marital relationship. How did it change when Allie developed Alzheimer’s disease?
8. Relate personal values, beliefs and pressure regarding sexuality.
9. Visit a local senior center, assisted living or nursing home and spend time with the individuals who live there.
10. Develop a project for FCCLA on supports for families who have individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Follow-Up:
After reading the novel, view the movie The Notebook, rated P-13. Compare and contrast the plot and characters.