The+Last+Summer+of+Your+and+Me

 **DIRECTIONS: Each student in the group is responsible for inventing one discussion question. This discussion question must e posted on the Monday of each week, ensuring time for discussion of each question. Each member of the group, including the person who invented the question, MUST respond to the discussion AT LEAST twice EACH week. Your participation in these online discussions, along with the amount of effort and reflection put into your responses, will account for a portion of your Literature Circle final grade. Each time you post a discussion question or a response,you MUST skip a space from what was written above, and you MUST begin your writing with your last name and first initial so I can mark your participation. It would also be helpful if you choose a specific colour and stick to that colour each week to identify yourself with also.

Week 4 Discussion Question: CainA : how do you find the ending of the book makes you feel. Would you change it if you could, do you think the story ends on a positive note?  SmithM : As horiable as it is to say, im SOOOOOOO happy that Riley is not in the novel anymore.. as in to say she died. I thought she did not any have any place in the novel all see did was break Alice and Paul up. Im glad to see that Alice and Paul are back togethor i was in a dinal stage when they stoped seeing each other. I think in the end Paul and Alice will get married have three childern and will vist Fire Island every summer with their childern. I would change the endding by telling more about their future together because i would really like to know forsure what happens.

MenardM:I wouldn't change the ending at all, the ended on a postive note and Alice and Pual are going to be able to pass on there tradtions to futur generation, which i am happy to see. The only thing it could be improved on is they could have written a few pages about them growing old together, so you wouldn't have to guess how they ended up.

SmithM: Yea know that i think about it i agree as well. Im GUESSING, they live happily ever after but who knows because she didn't write about it! it just ENDED! MenardM:When i think about the name of the bokk "The last Summer of me and you", i have come to the sudden reliasation that the book wasn't about paul's and Alice's love for one another, but that of the bond of her and her sister growing over time. It is a pitty the way they ended though, her sister left her when they finally started to see eye to eye.

LemmonA: I agree with you you too, MernardM. I was also looking at the book cover the other day and was trying to figure exactly why she chose that. The book ended pretty well, except i didn't like the way the author continued the time in new york so much. In the book, in the summer time, the plot carrys on fairly fast, where the plot in new york, is slow and tiring. She described each day by day of Alice's depressing life, rather than describing Paul's because i think she wanted us to beleive he was going on with his life, and moved on from the last summer.

 CainA: I find that the novel ended in such amazement and relief that everything was finally going to be okay and that they didnt have to worry about anything anymore. I mean that Alice didn't have to worry about hidding her feelings towards Paul and that they could finally be together. I love that when everything works out for the best! I know that if my sister was dying i would want her to die at peace and i feel that Riley did die at peace. I agree with you LemmonA the New York was far to long but overall i loved the book! :) 

LemmonA: As my last post i wanted to focus on Alice as a person throughout the book. She was my favorite character as she had alot in common with me. I find at the beginning of the novel she was a very kept-to-herself girl who didn't really know who she was as a person. I don't think she knew what place she was in and how to react to Paul coming home to reunite their childhood summer's. When Paul started giving her mixed hints, I think she finally became more independant and was finding herself peice by peice. When Paul finally admited his love for her, I think she moved from her little girl world to being a grown-up. I think the two ignored the fact they were getting old enough to change as a adolecence-into a grown-up, and what they didn't realise is that they soon had to face it. At the end of the book I think Alice was a completely different person from at the start, but in a good way.. She became herself, found out who "herself" was, and accepted life.

Week 3 Discussion Question: MenardM:Is the novel unfolding as you had expected at the first of the novel?

SmithM : Us as a group disscussed what we thought might happen in the future of the book.We guessed a few things like Riley's sexuaitly, and a sudden death, but thats all. Nothing more then. Im finding it very interasting to see the things that start to unfold as we read on. **  MenardM: I predicted that Reliy would become very sick, as she does in the book so far. Also i predicted that Paul and Alice would become a couple, but i didn't predict that they would spilt up, and Alice would end up fixing up grandens for a living. I also didn't predict that Paul would move on from Alice. 

LemmonA: The novel has taken many unexpected and expected turns so far. As i've read on, some of my predictions have come true, aswell as some of yours, and then on the other hand, some of my predictions ended up being completely different! For example, in the book we just found out about Riley's heart disease, which for me, was very surprising. I personally though Riley would die in a tragic surfing accident or something situated to the water (as she loves the ocean so much). Also, I've found myself getting so angry at the book when Riley was so selfish to ruin Alice and Paul's relationship. Altogether, I think the book was going as i expected until Riley's heart came into the issue, and from here on in I suspect it will just get even more surprising than before.

MenardM: I agree with you Lemon A, the book has taken some expected turns and some very UNEXPECTED turns. For example, Alice questioned Reliy's sexuality which we descussed and had supected. Another Example is Paul and Alice breaking up i didn't think they would, for a reason like that.

CainA: I find the novel was a very easy story to unfold. From the characters to the story line i felt like i knew what was destined to happen. Some other things that were rather surprising was how Alice and Paul kept their relationship so secretive and away from everyone. I felt that they should have uncuded Riley more often so she wouldnt' have felt so left out.

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,72);">LemmonA: I can relate to CainA aswell because i disagree with the fact that Alice and Paul kept their relaitonship hidden. If they had told Riley, included her and didn't change the way the reacted to eachother, than Paul and Alice might not have been put in that situation in the end. The guilt that Alice felt wouldnt't have been such a huge boulder in their relationship if Riley didn't tell Alice to tell Paul in the first place aswell. I find that section of the book was very troubling but realistic at the same time. It shows everything isnt perfect, and even a moment of perfect, can be ruined in a second, if you do not focus.

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">CainA: I agree, it annoys me that Riley would be so self centered about just the feeling of being left out. I found it kind of childish for her to not let Alice tell Paul, even when she knew that they were together. She must have known the conswquences it would do to their relationship and she still went ahead and did it. Not only did she ruin it for the summer, she kept it off telling Paul for over a year, which was again, self centered. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,72);">

Week 2 Discussion Question: <span style="color: rgb(255,0,72);">**LemmonA: Do you think if Alice and Paul end up being a couple, that some drama could arise, like a love triangle between Riley, Alice and Paul? Give examples to support your reason.**

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(255,0,255);">CainA: Personally i know from reading the chapters that their is a love triangle between the three of them, but also i mean if Paul feels happy with one of the girls more then another then let them be. Of course drama is going to arise it happens to everyone that comes to that situation i mean its hard of course for the girl whom is left behind but you can't change the feelings of someone else. It shall be interesting to see how the friendship between the two sister's changes in the next few chapters. I've never gone through something like that so i dont know how i would react to this situation. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);"> <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(255,0,72);">LemmonA: I actually feel that there will be a confusion with Riley secretly having feelings for Paul. I think she has hidden this for years as it would create a awkward tension between the friendship. Also, i think Riley does like male's, she is just a very shy person. I feel as though she is jealous and feels hidden by Alice's good looks. I think it would be very hard to feel that your not as pretty as your own sister. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,27);">

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(133,0,255);">SmithM : I agree with LemmonA competely, with Riley havin feelings for Paul Secretly. ** <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0,255,0);"> MenardM: I think that there isn't going to be a love triangle, but Riley will be extremly jealous. i mean who wouldn't be you childhood friend is hooking up with your sister. I think the treo of friends will be hurt from Paul and Alices love but i don't think that Reliy has any feelings other than friendship for Paul. <span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(255,0,72);">LemmonA; I agree with you too MernardM, I also think Riley will be jealous or confused when or if she finds out they are together. I think she will feel lost and forgotton with them moving on with life without her. As i've read the chapters so far, Riley is not the girly type that has had many boyfriends, in fact, she has never had one. We don't hear much about if she has feelings for guys anyways, so it still remains a mystery. I have predictions that Riley will in fact learn to accept Alice and Paul's relationship and become "a happy family".

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0,255,0);">MenardM: I don't agree with the fact that Riley will allow Pual and Alice to be happy, i believe quite the opposite i think she will cause many problems from them, and be the cause off great stress on there relationship. If i were Alice i would just keep mine and Pauls relationship away from Riley in fear she would create more damnage then anything. <span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(255,0,255);">CainA: As i see we all have different opinions on this love triangle/relationship between the three of them. Although i still feel Riley still has secret feelings for Paul it just hasn't been said of yet, as she is a very quiet girl. I think she is afraid of telling her feelings after what happened between Paul and Alice. <span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">

<span style="color: rgb(133,0,255);">SmithM : I feel that Alice and Paul are going to be the only ones in love, i feel like Riley isn't really into Paul's "type"even if she has secret feelings for Paul she'd never do anything .Also if alice and Paul do end up being in love they should be free to do whatever they please, even if Riley is friend with Paul.She shouldn't be jealouse or anything like that. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,27);">

<span style="color: rgb(133,0,255);">


 * Week 1 Discussion Question: <span style="color: rgb(133,0,255);">SmithM: How would you deal with your best friend moving away and not seeing him/her for three years?

<span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(255,0,72);">LemmonA: I have been through this experience and personally I found it very awkward and uncomfortable. A couple years ago I visited my old childhood friend who I had not seen for many years. We had both missed out on the events that made us who we are today; the decisions we make going from a child to teenager, and it was hard to adjust to each other the way we used to. Personally I know if I were Alice in her situation I would feel very heartbroken and helpless. Losing a friend is hard, but losing a best friend is devastating. They're the person you share everything and experience the highlights of your life with, and for Alice, loving this person and losing it is so much worse. I can see how she is scared to let her feelings for him grow because he could leave her again in a second. **

<span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">MenardM: I agree with your post LemmonA, i have recentally moved here to Fredericton and find that when i go home to vist friends and even family it is hard and awkawrd to converse as we once did. I have changed so much since i have been in Fredericton that when i go home i am like a stranger to people i have know for my whole life, and they are strangers to me as well. However if i was in Alice's place i wouldn't have welcomed Paul back with such open arms, i would have stayed on the cousious side for a little while.

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">CainA: I believe that this conversation is 100 percent true. My best friend has moved away and then came back home to Fredericton and we dont even talk or have had a conversation for months now. Everyone always expects someone to stay the same when they move away and we all know that that is humanly impossible. Letting Paul in so quickly after his arrival back to the beach was almost so easy for alice to do it was almost not real, that was something that made me upset!

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,72);">LemmonA: I agree with you Abbey, with your past expieriences with friends, and Paul coming back. I feel the book was very realistic in that way because Anne Brashares explained tension in the air when Paul returned, and as we said, that is what really happens. Alice is a strong person to hold in her feelings for him after everything they have shared together during their summers on Fire Island. I also feel that something will soon happen in the book constructing a love triangle between the three of them. As we can already tell, Riley and Alice are very close, and with Paul taking a bigger part then friendship in Alice's life, then Riley would feel threaghtened of being forgotton or left out. <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">

CainA: Personally I find myself predicting the same thing as i read on in the book. Also, I am proud of someone like Alice to allow him to come right back into her life. That is something very hard to do and i wish i could have followed my best friend away when she left five years ago. I'd do anything to have a friendship back to the way it was before with her. I would only hope that it will never happen again to me, because i can't lose another friend it hurts way too much.

<span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">MenardM: I am about to go threw this with my best friend; he is moving at the end of the summer, and i don't know what i would do or how i would react if he came back three yaers later. i commend Alice for being able to welcome Pual back into her life, but i also frown apon it because what if he leaves again. I personally don't know if i would do the same thing because after three years i would feel discontected to my best friend <span style="color: rgb(209,0,255);">