Reading Response #4

Wow! I enjoyed this book! I loved the way the author pieced all the parts of Kate's story together so perfectly. I also loved that it was Daniel who figured out Kate's problem, because he understands her so perfectly. I think that the reason she doesn't like what he has to say, is because it is absolutely true! From what Kate had wrote about Matt, I did not expect him to be happy. Clearly I was wrong. It makes since that Kate portrayed Matt in this way though because she really did believe he was miserable. The great thing about Matt though is that he is happiest when he can keep those around him happy. I am very glad that Marie said something to Kate about it. I think Kate has always been under the assumption that Matt's opinion was everything to her, but I don't think it ever really occurred to her that her opinion was just as important to him. I see how she feels, in true Morrison form, that he has thrown his life away when he didn't go to school. That is what Matt taught her. I am very impressed that Luke managed to forgive him. Matt and Luke were both placed in a situation to hurt their family; Matt took it, and Luke didn't. It must have been very painful for Luke to have given up his life for Matt, only to have him "ruin it". I imagine Luke didn't let it get to him though. I am sure that both Matt and Luke had a very hard time bringing up their families alone, but they did it. The great success in the Morrison house is that Kate went to university. After everything that happened in her young life, it would have been easy for this multi-generation dream to slip right through her fingers. What is so amazing about Kate, is that she got a scholarship to university without being a genius. She holds onto Matt's dream, even though she is the only one who does. Kate and Bo grew up in the same environment outside of Matt, so I think it is a testament to Matt that Kate wanted to learn and go to university.
I don't think it ever occurred to Kate that Matt was happy, she was too busy feeling bad for him, and being mad at him. I hope that Kate and Matt can fix their relationship, there is a lot of reasons to. I like that the book ends with Kate and Matt showing Daniel the ponds. The ponds are a large part of who they both are, and Daniel should understand why. I think that that is Matt's way of accepting Daniel as a part of Kate's life. I think Kate can go on with her life happily now. I am glad that she faced her problems head on, and tried her best to resolve them. I think in time it will get easier. I think she does need to learn to forgive Matt though. She also needs to find a way to let him know.
Kate's return to Crow Lake shows her that nothing has changed. Her family is still there, supporting each other and carrying out their lives the best they can. I think our family can remind us of who we really are, because your family is the people who you can be nothing but your self around. I don't think Kate knew how to be completely herself around Daniel, and that that is what he sensed. I think Daniel knows how hard Kate has tried for him, and I think Kate forgives Daniel for telling her the truth; she needed to hear it. I don't think anyone wants to hear that the problem is, well, them.
I loved the characters in this book, and I loved how carefully the plot was revealed. You always felt suspense building, and it felt almost as if you were putting together a giant puzzle well reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a true, human story.