Before Ever After

By Samantha Sotto

1. Write down your thoughts--after reading the opening chapter(s) of the book. How do your impressions change (or do they) after reading half the book? Do you feel any differently after finishing the book? Would you read the book again? The story invokes feeling of sadness during the first chapters of the story when it revolves round the death of Shelleys husband, Max Gallus. It manifests the hardships brought by the startling demise of her loved one. Then, abruptly a burst of anonymity welded through the progress of the story plot when Paolo, Maxs alleged grandson who is with great resemblance, knocked at Shelleys door. As secrets of Maxs true identity unfold, the mystery just heightens as to where it all started. Mixed with the alert of excitement, emotions like sadness and joy still lingers the story. As the account reaches its pinnacle, outbreak of compassion seeps through in the bones with Max because of the obstacles he has been through and the events that pushed his human emotions to its confines. And it goes along, still pity (of Maxs situation), curiosity, and joy now are the foremost emotions brought by the story as the story ends. I would most certainly read the story again because of the catch it gives to the readers. The readers would really be enticed on how the story is narrated, added by the excitement brought by the characters and the plot itself. Also, it gives me interest because along the story, egg dishes are made and described; I love eggs, which is also a reason why my interest is lofty. And this novel is an article you would not be bored even though after reading it twice or more because of the storys interest never goes down.

2. What emotions did the book invoke: laughter, tears, smiles, anger? Or, was the book just boring and meaningless? Record some of your reactions. The story is full of emotions. Joy, sorrow, thrill, and pity are the major emotions just to name some. Joy is felt when the main characters, Max and Shelley are with each other again. Never to be out of each others touch forevermore. Love wins at the end. Sadness and sorrow is felt mostly when a character named Jonathan, the husband of Rose, met his unprecedented death during the tour because of heart attack. Also, grief can be felt when the story came to the scenarios of Maxs relatives death. Max saw the death of his loved ones with his own eyes. And no other thing is sorrowful enough than seeing your loved ones die in front you, adding the fact that he had to bear the mourning all throughout his existence (not life, because of its more profound meaning). Thats why Max had been so lonely for so long. When he found love, although there would be times that happiness would surely come in their way, there would always be the recoil that they would not stay long as forever, he would always be the one left behind. Thats worse than death itself. It has been torturing him for two millennia already, thats why as a reader you would feel pity and sorrow for him. Thrill is attached in the story as its cover is fastened in the book itself. Because the reader would be insatiable to the unraveling of the fact how a person became immortal like Max himself. Another point would be the enthusiasm brought by Max and Shelleys love life, and on how the story would really end because of the endless possibilities it would pose.

3. Sometimes books touch you, reminding you of your own life, as part of the larger human experience. Are there connections between the book and your own life? Or, does the book remind you of an event (or events) that happened to someone you know? Does the book remind you of what happened in another book you've read? Somehow the book reminds me of the mornings I wake up with egg and bread on the table, as the book always state that Max's forte is egg and chichen dishes. I also remember that the book "Before Ever After" is somehow related to the novel series "The Twilight Saga" wherein there is also a story of lovers who are separated, at the same time bound by Death. Same with the story, the guy is the one who acquired the gift of immortality. With that fact, the woman who's irrevocably in love with the man of his dreams who in turn fled away because of the fear from himself is now searching for possible ways in this magical word to be with her love. Sounds crazy, but still it uplifts my interest with these kinds of fictional, adventure, and romantic novels. Stereotypical as it may seem with other novels, but these novels have the characteristic of interest which is greatly tackling the hearts and souls of its readers.

4. Would you like to be one of the characters (acquire a personality trait)? Which of the characters would you become, if you could? Why? If there's something about the character that you'd want to change, what is it? I would like to be Jonathan, the husband of Rose who died in the middle of the story because of heart attack. He is a very gentle man, a very sweet husband, and a very broadminded person. I wanted more to be like him because of how he sees through things. Yes we all look at things differently as nature of people, but he sees the events of life or the things happening in this world in a deeper perspective. He sees through things in a more positive and likeable way more than any other people do. Maybe the only thing I want to change about Jonathan in the story would be his untimely loss because I want to learn more of him and his concepts of life, for me to apply it on my own.

5. If you were the author, would you have changed the name of a character, or altered the location of a scene? What does the name mean to you? Do you have a negative connotation associated with the name (or the place)? What would you name the character instead? What would you use as a setting? I guess the author did a great job on making fictional names all throughout the story. She contrived names which suit the characters, also with their time of appearance. The names would sound as timely and perfect as they would be. The settings are just fine, although I havent had a European tour before. The details relayed in the story seemed to fit in really well along with the settings and actions, also the character. With the author using Boracay Beach as a setting, it had somehow promoted tourism in the Philippines by describing its endearing and promising glamour, and enticing atmosphere. The Filipina author did really a perfect effort on doing this novel all in all.

6. Does the book leave you with questions you would like to ask? What are they? Would you like to direct your questions at a particular character? What questions would you like to ask the author of the book? Are they questions that you may be able to answer by reading more about the author's life and/or works? I actually had a dozen of eggs in my tub looking for light. Firstly would be, how has immortality been given to Max? The same time with Gestrin (also called the River Man)? It just looks really confusing with the story line itself. Immortality has dawned to Max and Gestrin by dying, but during the times within their dead state it was implied that their will to live had brought them back to life. It just made my mind blow-up how such occurrences were even possible even in fictional literaries. Another would be, if Max would really love to die and tired of his life why had he not beheaded himself or let others do the job. Or why would he not soak himself in a drum full of acids or bases, much better jump in a volcanic mouth?

7. Are you confused about what happened (or didn't happen) in the book? What events or characters do you not understand? Does the use of language in the book confuse you? How did your confusion affect how you liked the book? Is there anything that the author could have done to make what happened (or didn't happen) more clear? As I have pinpointed in the earlier question, it was a bit of confusion to the part of the story when immortality was highlighted and discussed thoroughly. But as that confusion heightens, the level of excitement also grows spaciously as long as there is an open room for it. I would suggest the author to use a more vivid description of events during the whole story line for it to be more reader-friendly.

8. Is there an idea in the book that makes you stop and think, or prompts questions? Identify the idea and explain your responses. Other than the authors concept of acquiring fictional immortality, the book had explained more than enough of the characters and events relayed in the story. As said in the story, Max is just looking on how death would consume him as the molten lava is eating his body in an instant, and then there was a sudden silence. After the long fight of the volcano, and its effect on Venice, he had risen from the ashes like a Phoenix. His body as whole as ever, his soul halved. But then, time has started his endless pain and sorrow of not having natures rest. Maxs never-ending struggle for the throbbing and regret seeing his family, his beloved ones to die in front of him. And theres nothing he could do against the law of nature. He will always be the last one to stand til the end.

9. What are your favorite lines/quotes? Copy them into your reading log/journal and explain why these passages caught your attention. Growing old is to be set free. It is slow and long-simmering process that extracts from you what you are really made of. But it requires acceptance. You cannot put a flailing chicken in a boiling pot. You must accept the heat and the pain with serenity so that the full flavors of your life may be released. This quotation is said by Abbot Thomas in the book. These lines grabbed attention, because even though its not as it seems, I am aware of maturity. People mature as they learn on how to accept the events this world shows, even though they are the most terrible events to be. Just like breathing, people mature at the time they learn on how to accept. As said in the lines that an old poultry, people are on a long-simmering process of learning and experiencing lifes most joyful and dreadful experiences. After then, only would people truly accept on how life is as it is. When you get to be my age, you would hope that there wouldnt be much left to cross off. And thats exactly how it was before I met Rose, to be honest. I was nearly done with my short but respectable list. But now, my list has grown quite long. Afternoon tea, quiet walks, rainy mornings nothing I havent done before, but everything I need to do now with my Rose as many times as I can, while I can. Quoted from Jonathan, the old man who died after some pages this line has been written. A very heart-melting line from an old man in the story. Related to the previous quotation, this quote also denotes another famous quotation, Live life to the fullest. It has been said that after our long years of doing great adventure, finishing some of our goals, and feeling fulfillment on our status, there would surely come a time that we would be tired of doing all the crazy stuff we have done before. Rather, we would be content on how life is at it is. We would want to end our last days of life to be with our most loved one, enriching everyday with sweet nothings and love that even death could not defy.

10. How have you changed after reading the book? What did you learn that you never knew before? I learned how to appreciate life more. I have learned how to give importance even to the tiniest things I have around me. As Maxs story has been disclosed, I never want to grab a chance of being an immortal anymore (in a fictional situation) because of the greater consequences it would give to anyone. I accepted how life goes on its never ending cycle of survival and death. There are other ways of being immortal as Dex had shown in the story, leaving a legacy to lifetimes as many as possible. By saving memories through pictures could be a good substitute. Also exposed by Max there is the timeliness of paintings and other works of art as eternal as ever.

11. Who else should read this book? Should anyone not be encouraged to read this book? Why? Would you recommend the book to a friend or fellow classmate? I am encouraging all to read this book. This book is reader-friendly, does not need a very wide scope of knowledge to understand its content. Endearingly, I would urge my classmates and other friends to read this book. Surely, there would be no boring moments in this book. Reading this book would surely be a one-sitting reading because you cannot even afford to walk and take a break at the bathroom when you started reading this book.

12. Would you like to read more books by this author? Have you already read other books by the author? Why or why not? I would love to read more books of this author because of her entangling sense of curiosity and a mild sense of humor good for reading. Adding the reason that the author widens my imagination and reason on the world that revolves around me, I would truly be encouraged buying another book by this author not looking at the tag price behind the book cover cause it is really worth the price. Having such great works are timeless. Indeed be endorsed to the public for more people appreciate on how life must really be.

13. Write a brief summary or review of the book. What happened? What didn't happen? Capture what it is about the book that stands out (or doesn't stand out). The story is entirely a flashback. It was narrated in a backward manner, it started from the end, and as it progresses the story goes back some centuries and millennia before the current times. It started when Shelley had a visit from a friend named Brad. After some chit chats, they had a phone conversation with Max and Simon (Brads couple). All of a sudden there had been an explosion and everything went dead silent. Max and Simon were both dead. But Max had no body left for the funeral. Three dreadful years has passed from Shelley, feeling so down then one morning an unknown guy knocked on her door. She was stunned at the sight of the man in front of him. She didnt believe in ghosts but at that moment, she knew they were true. Until the man spoke to him, clearing out things and explaining her everything he had known. The man was Maxs grandson. The resemblance between them could not cheat it. Taken aback, she was shocked of all happenings now. Its a lot to take it all in a day. So to find answers, they need to go to The Shell, the restaurant Max was currently into based from a blog in the internet. Also, to know the truth, they needed to go back in time. Shelley had narrated the stories told by Max during the European tour they had once before. It was also the time when they first met. Give credit to the resignation of Shelley on her company in Ohio, so she flew back to her home place, London. There she met Max, and had a long tour with some other newly found friends. The plot of the book revolves around the stories told by Max during their historical trip to Europe. He narrated all his most touching and memorable experiences during his almost two millennium of stay here in this mortal world. After hearing of Shelleys story along their trip from London to Boracay, they had finally concluded that Max had really something magical within his sleeves. So they went to the place but no Max Gallus had appeared, it was just Shelleys old friend Dex and his wife, Sari. Then the truth dawned to them that Paolo and Max had already met even before Shelley and Paolo met. Max and Paolo had just a trade thats why he brought Shelley with him back. And then Max left two letters to Paolo, one from him (stating his reasons why he had not told Paolo all about him, and why had he escaped again) and another from Paolos grandmother, Maxs wife (stating how she loved Max so much that she even killed herself on the belief that the will to live will save her from death and give her life, which in sadness had not happened). Max also left a

letter to Shelley. After forgiving Max and some chit chat with her friend Dex, she went back to London. Two months have passed, she found Max in his sanctuary at Venice, Italy. At the end of the story, after drinking the potion made by Maxs old friend, Shelley drank it and went out after some time. It can be implied that Shelley and Max had become eternal loving couples.

14. Write about the characters? Which one is your favorite? Is there a character you hate/detest/despise? Why? What traits could you change about the characters that would change how you think about them? Do you think that any of the characters represent real people? Does anything about a particular character seem to be related to the author's true personality--who the writer is? Max is my favorite character because of the great mysteries behind his true identities. You would not fully understand a person until you sink into his soul. And that was what Maxs character implies. During the first chapters when I have read that Max has just faked his death, it seemed to me that he is a very irresponsible and wicked person. But then as the truth is revealed in the wake of his true nature, then only the readers would fully understand why he had done such things to his beloved ones. To protect them, as always as ever. Thats how much hed sacrifice for his loved ones even to be away from them, he would only come back in his own way when his beloved ones are in deep sorrow and need of him. I think that the character of Max is the fictional counterpart of the authors husband. Max is an immortal in the story. The personality of Max might be like his husbands when they toured all throughout Europe. Also stated is that her husband loves to cook egg and chicken dishes thats why his fictional counterpart in the story would perfectly fit Max.