25 Years Later

The genius, Nicholas Sparks, wrote this outstanding novel from scratch and the only thing I can do is recommend The Best of Me to everyone.

After 25 years without each other, Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole find themselves involved in the same mess-Tuck Hostetler. Well, he is not the problem; the problem is that he is dead. And in high school, Tuck was the only one that supported their forbidden love; he was their mentor and best friend. Decades ago, these two names were one. They fell deeply, irrevocably and stupidly in love, no one could separate them. Even though, these lovers were each other’s soul mates, they never seemed to fit perfectly. Their last names were the flaw in that incredible love story. Dawson came from a family of criminals and troublemakers. The sheriff knew every single member of the family, even before they were born. The jail loved the Coles. On the other hand, Amanda was the princess of Oriental.  In a town so small, her family was almost royalty.  Everyone loved the Colliers. After senior year, the young couple took different paths; Amanda went to College and got married, while Dawson ended up in jail. Years later, one phone call from Tuck’s attorney changed their lives in every way possible.

Summer before College.

Junior and Senior year.

Every family member is supposed to love and respect each relative, but, not the Coles. They HATE each other. Dawson’s father hates his son with everything he was and owns. Dawson’s mother escaped, he is on his own. Unlike his cousins, uncles, aunts, and basically the rest of his family, Dawson wants a future that doesn’t involve the police. That is why after his father used to beat the hell out of him, Dawson reflected,

“As violent as his father was, he was also a bully, and Dawson knew instinctively that bullies fought only battles they knew they could win” (11).

I honestly feel bad for Dawson, he can`t do anything. Ever since he was little, society hijacked his mind into believing a certain way, in this case, that his father has major authority over him. This thought can create a lot of controversy, but one thing is for sure, Dawson`s father cannot abuse the power society, over the years, has given him. This may be a thing in their blood, but is child abuse, which is wrong in every way. Also, his father does what he does because his son is vulnerable against him and his power. The bully knows his victim will not do or say anything. 

Dawson fell in love with Amanda; he was a complete head over heels idiot for her, even after they broke up. She was all he could think about. Including, that twilight of September 18, 1985. Dawson went to jail because of an honest accident in a highway late at night. He killed Dr. David Bonner, the only doctor in town, a father, and a husband. As soon as he got out, Dawson felt terrible but still he kept thinking of his one and only, his love, his Amanda.

“The past can be escaped only by embracing something better, and he figured that was what she’d done. It seemed as though everyone else was able to, after all” (41).

Yes, the past can be bad, but we cannot keep re-living it, we just have to accept it nd move on. Time will cure all pain, and eventually, memories will be erased, even the good ones. It is a part of life. We just have forget it and leave it behind.