Review Of Where The Heart Is - Bapalapa2 (Galesburg, VA)

I picked up this book one quiet Friday evening and couldn't put it down until 350 pages later as I read the author's endnotes early Sunday morning, breaking only to eat and sleep. Never have I been so mesmerized by a book. It isn't easy to load a single novel with so much love, philosophy, sadness, wit and amazing character development, and then tie it all together into a solid story that grabs you and doesn't let go, but Where the Heart Is does just that.

Novalee Nation is 17 and seven months pregnant but she and her boyfriend, Willy Jack, are sure they'll find their fortune in California. On the way they stop at an Oklahoma Wal-Mart to use the restroom, where Willy Jack leaves her with no money, no place to live, no friends, and in this unfamiliar area. Novalee actually manages to live in the Wal-Mart unnoticed until the fateful day she gives birth to her baby in the store.

At first it doesn't look good for Novalee, but she quickly meets several friends in this small town who help her in any way they can. Together they unwittingly show Novalee that home is where the heart is.

Where the Heart Is is a truly magnificent book that everyone can read with complete satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend this novel. Trust me, you'll love it.

http://teenink.com/reviews/book_reviews/article/1365/Where-the-Heart-Is/

ClubFaundez's Journal #4

                We reach the end of this exciting book. Filled with drama, heartbreak, anger and joy! We start from chapter 28 ending with chapter 38. Chapter 28 begins with an intense situation already. Novalee gets a call from Brumett with a sound of urgency. She knows something’s wrong therefore she hurry’s over to see what’s taking place at their house. She get’s there and almost all the member’s of Lexie’s family are hurt and beaten. Who caused this? Roger. The man I thought was caring, loving and definitely sweet. Lexie’s love that I thought was going to be with her forever. It shows that people aren’t always who they seem. Reading this got me disappointed and sad. It happened’s all over the world as well, each day, abusive relationships that are reported and it frustrates me that I can’t do anything about it.

               As we move on, things with Novalee and Forney get heated. The moment I have been WAITING FOR, since I started reading about them two finally came. Forney finally confessed to Novalee how he felt about her. Saying how much he was in love with her and how he wants to spend the rest of his life with her and Americus. Novalee felt the same way but didn’t want to express how she felt because she thought she wasn’t good enough. She thought she needed to let him be with someone who was equally yoked with him. Forney was obviously hurt by that, he left the country to get away from her. He wrote letters everyday to Americus but never Novalee. She was torn. This got me so frustrated, like I understand she wants the best for him and all but if she’s the one he wants, then just let that happen. It would have saved them both from feeling hurt. This girl doesn’t think sometimes. But in the end, she was finally honest, and it all worked out for them thankfully.

              
                    As for Willy Jack, things are never looking good for him. Serves him right. Things never did work out for him in the music industry. As we carry on with him he gets into an accident and has to go to the hospital. This hospital is near where Novalee lives, so she decides to face him, so see him and talk to him. When she went to see him she was actually pretty calm. I mean, if I was her I would obviously keep my patience but he deserved to be yelled at at least. But I applaud her on the control she had. The terms they left on were kin dove awkward but not awful.

                  Novalee’s life is a blessing. She has a stable home, a beautiful family, friends and Forney. Lexie has finally found the one and Willy Jack is…well…just no. Throughout the book Novalee changes but in a great way. She’s met some awesome people and matured into a great women. Overall this book was awesome. It showed me what can truly happen in the real world. How much bad situations can affect your life. Some parts made me laugh, some parts made me angry and some parts made me cry. I’m proud of Novalee and happy the way everything turned out.

ClubTucker's Journal #4

Journal Entry #4

As I expected, the novel ended with lots of action. Feelings were revealed, hearts were broken and put back together and Willy Jack returned. For the most part I really enjoyed the final part of Billie Lett's Where the Heart Is. I was pleased when Novalee stood up to Willy Jack, and I was also happy that she was still understanding after all he had done to her, because I think that goes along with the character the readers were following throughout the story, which is a bighearted, kind young woman. I was happy that Novalee and Forney finally confessed their love for one another. I think that Forney was the best man for Novalee because he genuinely cared about not only her, but also her daughter, Americus. He showed this throughout the novel by being there for the two of them when they needed him (like when Americus was kidnapped, for example) and by always making time for them (like when he came over everyday to read to Americus). I find the author used an interesting strategy by only revealing Forney's age near the end of the novel. I think she did this on purpose, because she wanted the readers to support and encourage Novalee and Forney's relationship, rather than judging it due to the almost ten year age difference. I was also happy that Lexie found somebody who she truly loved and who loved her and her children and treated them well. However, I felt like this new relationship seemed to develop pretty quickly, and I felt a little nervous for her while reading about her new relationship with Leon. I was afraid that after going through such a traumatic experience with Roger Briscoe, her and her children would not be able to handle any more rejection or disappointment. I was also afraid that he too would end up being a bad man, but luckily, I was wrong. In my opinion, the author did a good job resolving the story by mentioning how much Novalee had overcome throughout the novel and how much she had changed for the better. I believe this story could be considered a bildungsroman because throughout the story you really do see Novalee transition from a timid teenage girl who relied on other people to make her dreams a reality, to an independent women and mother, who is working to make something out of her life. I felt proud of Novalee, and I was happy to end the book with that sentiment.

Forney and Americus

ClubPatel's Journal #4

Dear Readers,

HII THERE, the day has come for my last journal on this amazing book Where the Heart is. Honestly this book right here is the most intense book I have ever read; then again I do not read much. Anyways, trust me I got addicted to this book, I physically cannot let go of this book because it is just so intense. Through chapters 29 through 38, there were many horrible situations and many happy situations, but overall everything was surprising.

The fourth part of the book started off with Novalee getting a call from Brownie. Out of all the crazy and intense moments in the book, I found that this one was just sad and depressing. Roger the guy that Lexie thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with had beaten Lexie and raped her child. What a sick man this man is, a nasty guy that should be sent to prison for life or even killed. When we had met this character Roger Briscoe at first, he loved the children and loved spending time with Lexie herself and her children. So, when I had read this, my mouth had dropped to the floor. I was just disgusted that there were actual men in the world like that. This just shows that there are many people in the world that may look sweet, kind and loving, but under that fake personality there is that evil figure inside, and we might not know it.

I find it so sad that Lexie, Pauline and Brummett (Brownie) were so depressed after the incident. They were just traumatized. I can relate very well to the fact that an elephant with raised trunks brings good luck because that is one of our beliefs in my Hindu religion.

It is honestly the cutest thing that Lexie had finally found a husband. Lexie and her new husband to be, Leon Yoder, met when Lexie had gone back to work at the hospital. Now they are getting married in a beautiful chapel with Novalee taking their photographs. To incorporate both their children in the wedding is really breath taking. Lexie is wearing a corsage that has seven with roses on it that represents two of Leon’s kids and the five of Lexie’s.

Novalee has really changed throughout the book, especially when it comes to Willy Jack. She had read in the newspaper that someone had stolen a man’s wheelchair. She realizes that the man in the paper was Willy Jack. Willy Jack and Novalee had a complicated relationship at the beginning of the book but Novalee stood up in what she believed in and changed that relationship. I knew that Novalee was a sweet girl and can never be mean, so I knew that she was going to help Willy Jack instead of letting him suffer. This characteristic in her reminds me of myself, because there is no room in the world to be mean.  

After not being able to sleep and crying all day for no reason, Novalee realizes (FINALLY) that she is deeply in love with Forney. Forney always sends letters to Americus and nothing to Novalee… We can still tell that he is also madly in love with Novalee. This is also one part of the book that I really love just because I have been waiting the longest time for Novalee to profess her love to Forney. Forney will make the best husband for Novalee and will also make the best fatherly figure for Americus. They would make the perfect family, loving each other through thick and thin.

ANYWAYS, I strongly recommend, to the people who have not yet read this book, to read it! It is one book that you have no idea what is coming next and what emotion you are going to let go. As you can tell from my previous journals, I had MANY emotions. All I can say is that this book had an amazing ending, a very happy one indeed. When I first started reading the book I wasn’t quite sure that this book would adapt to me, but after reading non-stop, I got really attached to it. Well to the readers whom this may concern, I hope you had fun reading my journals and reading our blog, make sure to vote on the survey and have fun reading Where the Heart is by Billie Letts. BYE J

ClubFaundez's Journal #3

Reading this section of Where The Heart Is gave me mixed feelings. Happiness, sadness, laughter. At the end of chapter 18 we find out Americus has gone missing. After Novalee’s search around town she finally finds her at the church, safe and sound. This scared me a lot because Americus is Novalee’s pride and joy and it clearly showed that Novalee was devastated when she was missing so thankfully she is now found.

Throughout these chapters I could not put the book down. The part that stood out most to me was when the Tornado struck the town. Novalee, sister husband, Forney and the Ortiz family were absolutely terrified. When Novalee and the others go to the cellar to find safety, Sister Husband was left behind but coming soon. Novalee starts to get worried so she goes to check up on her, but the storm was just too strong Novalee rushed back into the cellar. As I kept on going I could not believe what I was reading. After the storm was finished the news was announcing who has been injured from the storm, what has been destroyed and who has even faced death. When they announced the death of sister husband I could not believe it. I was in total shock. Sister husband was one of  my favourite characters in the story. She helped Novalee the most when she needed it. While I was reading this it made me think of how on a regular basis there is always natural disasters happening all around the world. Always reports on the news of  people dying and city’s being torn down. Sister husband’s death reminded me of my grandfathers death a couple of years back. It reminded me of it because Sister husband’s personality reminds me of his, kind, caring, funny. It was a huge surprise when sister husband died, always appreciate the people in your life.

As we follow Willy Jack’s Journey he finally is released from jail. He’s been In there for a bit over a year. He seems to be doing pretty well so far. Pursuing his dreams in becoming famous and being a musician. Plays at different areas, making good money. He comes in contact with a lady who goes by the name of Ruth Meyers who really helps him with his career, but things hit a bumpy road. Always does with Willy Jack.

Novalee always seems to be doing better and better as I keep reading on. She even has a new place for her and Americus. Never thought she would see the day where that would happen but she made it happen with the help of her good friends around town. This makes me happy for her, especially because of how awful her situation was at the beginning. Things can always turn around for you, never give up hope.

ClubBaldo's Journal #4

              Chapters 29 to 38 of this book were so intense and I could not put this book down for the life of me. Things in the book got so crazy that it kept me hooked and left me wanting more and more. These chapters made me cry at times because there were so many horrible and disturbing situations, but at other times it made me smile. Just when I started to lose hope in things ever getting better, the book had other plans to surprise me.

            To be honest, the most insane part in this whole book is when Roger did what he did to Lexie and her kids. Roger was a man she met at a Texaco station, he seemed really nice and seemed to love kids. First he took Lexie on a couple of dates and even spent time with her kids to earn her trust. Then the unthinkable happened. He turned out to be the most repulsive and messed up man ever, which was so surprising to me. I really thought Roger and Lexie were going to last.

             He attempted to rape Pauline and succeeded at raping Brumett. When Lexie attempted to pull Roger off of her son, he beat her, almost to death. I honestly could not breathe when I was reading this part of the book. I've never been so disgusted in my life. He is such a sick man and he deserves to die or to at least be found and put behind bars until he dies. I felt so bad for Brumett because of how traumatized and depressed he was. He didnt even talk to his mom anymore and wanted to be alone all the time. This was probably one of my favourite parts of the book though. I love how the author didn't tell us what happened until a few chapters later. She kept the emotions rolling and left me to wonder what happened. I found that affect very useful because I couldn't stop reading until I knew what happened.

            Another amazing part of this book is when Novalee finally confesses her love to Forney. At first she lied to him and told him she didnt love him. She felt like she was holding him back from moving on with his life and she never thought she was good enough for him. When she told him she did not love him, he left and moved away. She cried every day even at the most random times. Although he still kept in touch with Americus by sending her letters, he never really mentioned anything about Novalee. When Novalee found out that this lie was eating her alive, she told Forney the truth. She confessed her true feelings for him finally. This made me so happy, I had been waiting for this through the whole entire book. They are so perfect together and Forney is such an amazing father figure to Americus.

            In the end of the book Novalee and Forney were happy together and even Lexie ends up getting married to the most wonderful man. His name was Leon. He has kids of his own and loved Lexie's kids.

           This was such an awesome ending. I love how everything worked out just like I wanted it to. When I first started reading this book I thought it would be so bad and it doesn't help that I also hate to read. I really got proved wrong. To be honest, this turned out to be such a good book, maybe even one of my favourites I've ever read.