College of Education PHINMA-Cagayan De Oro College

Locop,Konzor Sam S. Section: A

Faculty: Gabasa, Cheramae LIT 008 (English-American)

Book Report Project about

True Believer
1.) The book Details

True Believer is another masterpiece written by Nicholas Sparks, a great American novelist,
screenwriter and producer. I chose to read this fascinating book in the reason that it sounds
interesting and I know how good the author twists his stories. The title, “True Believer” spark up
my interest because it sounded simple yet had a mysterious appearance. I have known this author
for writing remarkable stories with twists that no reader expects. Most of his stories turned out into
movies and they are good storyline so I decided to read one of his works.

2.) Settings

The story took place nearly year 2000s or modern years. The period of the story is aligned
when the author wrote it. It started with the protagonist, Mr. Jeremy Marsh in New York working for his
career. He then got an invitation to labor or investigate at Boone Creek, North Carolina where the
highlight of the story took place. It has its own Pamlico River with brackish water. The town is
surrounded with barren winter fields, denser thickets of trees and occasional farm house. It is a small
community with friendly neighbors caring for each other. It has a big library with old yet fascinating
structure. The most famous place in town where tourists and researchers come is the Cedar Creek
cemetery. It is famous because of visible lights that can only be seen when foggy. It is believed to be
sinking due to the curse of a woman. It has damaged crypts and broken monuments.

3.) The characters

The story focuses on the life of Mr. Jeremy Marsh, a successful scientific journalist and how
his life got the twist of fate by meeting this girl named Lexie.

CHARACTERS DESCRIPTION
Jeremy Marsh Charming, divorced from his wife and a rising star. As a
dashing, successful 37-year-old Manhattan science journalist,
his skeptical scrutiny of ineffective antidepressants, cults and
television clairvoyants is rising.
Doris McClellan Invites Jeremy to bucolic Boone Creek to scoop the story of
eerie mystery lights appearing in an ancient cemetery. She
can predict the sex of the baby during pregnancy.
Lexie Darnell Beautiful and stunning librarian; she is the granddaughter of
Doris. She became the tour guide for Jeremy as he
conducted his research.
Rodney Hopper The local deputy of the town who wants Lexie for himself. He
doesn’t like the presence of Jeremy in their town.
Nate Johnson Jeremy’s friend and agent.
Alvin Bernstein A freelance cameraman and Jeremy’s best friend.
Tully The gray-haired proprietor who wore dingy coveralls and a
College of Education PHINMA-Cagayan De Oro College

Dale Earnhardt cap when Jeremy first saw him. He is the

town’s talker with an approachable spirit.
Mayor Tom Gherkin The Boone Creek mayor; an overweight, balding man and
looking frantic.
Rachel A waitress at Herbs that Doris owned. She is Lexie’s friend
and the first waitress to approach Jeremy.
Jed A huge, heavily bearded man and at least seven feet tall. He
is the caretaker of the Greenleaf Cottages.

4.) The story

The story begins with Jeremy Marsh viewing himself at the television being interviewed. He
got another success concerning his career. Being a scientific journalist, he busted Timothy
Clausen’s fake works on talking to spirits. Jeremy is good and his agent is trying to get him on TV
more often.

After that, Jeremy had to travel to North Carolina after receiving a letter from Dorris, a resident
in Boone Creek, telling about the local cemetery where mysterious lights are appearing from the
tombstones wherein the townspeople are convinced these lights are ghosts.

Jeremy met Tully after entering the town and got directions heading to Cedar Creek cemetery,
where he took pictures and met a mysterious and fascinating lady. He then went to a restaurant to
see Dorris, the letter sender. They had a little conversation with a meal and introduced
themselves. Dorris explains to Jeremy about a legend of the graveyard, how a curse was placed
on it and the ghosts of former slaves buried there are haunting it.

Jeremy must research more so Dorris recommended him to go to the library. Upon arrival, he
then looked for Lexie, the lady that Rachel recommended to him. Lexie turned – out to be Dorris’
granddaughter and the lady he met earlier at the cemetery. As Jeremy does his investigating, with
Lexie's assistance, they acquire some information about each other’s past - the most important
being that Jeremy was very happily married years earlier. His wife was perfect but they got
divorced.

After few days of staying in the town, the mayor decided to throw a party for Jeremy. They
want to give recognition to the famous journalist for accepting the invitation in covering the issue in
the Cedar Creek, where they believed would help their town’s economy.

The town is known for its “Tour of Homes” and has just recently added the ghosts at the
cemetery to the tour. It's a huge financial recompense for the town. Now that Jeremy is a celebrity,
the mayor believed that when he doesn't figure out what is causing the lights, it will only add to the
Ghost theory making it an even bigger attraction.

Now, Lexie is worried that she is falling for Jeremy so she left the town without prior notice.
Jeremy had known places that she might go so he went to the place where her parents got
married – the old beach house. And he was right, Lexie is there and she then realize that she is
falling for him. They made love and spaghetti.

Jeremy is convinced that the lights is not cause by the ghosts and he is also persuaded that
Lexie and Dorris already knew about it. He then discovers, after reading journals and diaries that
the diary of the Mayor's father revealed exactly what he thought. The reflection of an incoming
train on the local factory, coupled with the extremely thick fog caused by the slow sinking of the
College of Education PHINMA-Cagayan De Oro College

graveyard results in the lights appearing on the tombstones. He then confirmed that the mayor is
making fraud to sell this ghost story.

Eventually, the two sweet lovers landed into an argument for Lexie is thinking that Jeremy
looks down on them and their small-town ways. She also thinks that the only way for them to be
together is for her to move to New York and not the other way around. Sadly, Jeremy needs to
head back to New York to write the article, still not sure of what his angle will be. Either about the
Mayor scamming the town or simply a theory as to what is triggering the mysterious lights. While
being confused about his work, another thing bothered his mind – Lexie. He loves him and he
keeps thinking about him.

After that, he got a visitor – Dorris. She told him how exactly Lexie felt the same way for
Jeremy. She does love him. After hearing the news, he rushes back down to Boones Creek and
meets up with Lexie at the cemetery. She's there visiting her parents’ grave. He then had another
meeting with the mayor about the condition of his article, that the word “ghosts” can never be
used, and that he stop selling ghost hats and shirts; then Jeremy will simply explain what's
causing the lights and not depict the Mayor for the fraud that he is. Both party agreed positively.

For the next few nights, she spends it in the small town of Boone Creek with his love, Lexie.
After some realizations, he then decided to move in the town. He can always write his articles
there with Lexie and he doesn’t have to be in New York.

Lexie finally asks him if he can ever believe in miracles. Puzzled Jeremy asks her why. She
tells him that she had lunch with Doris today - It's a girl!

The romantic and kind of mysterious story of Jeremy and Lexie ended with them embracing,
him holding her stomach.

5.) The Theme

The story is a romantic fiction with the twist of mystery.

6.) Your thoughts

“Sparks has perfected the technique of writing intelligent romantic fiction.” – Toronto Sun

I agree with the Toronto Sun, an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada as I read the last sentence and closed the book. I think the beginning
of the story has a slow pace, making it a little bit boring. As you go along, it lights up your interest
and it feels like I’m with the protagonist, finding the answer of this mysterious case. I feel
contented after finding out the answer why are those lights only seen when foggy and how come
the cemetery is sinking. My interest got lit up again after finding out about another book inspired
from this story or its second book entitled “At First Sight.”

I would probably invite my friends to read this book during their spare time because they will
not only enjoy the romantic ways of Jeremy and Lexie but they would learn a lot in different
aspects of life. I’ll also endorse this book to my friends that I knew who loved the stories of
Nicholas Sparks.