Just Listen Just Listen discussion


246 views
The book teaches you a lesson but what do you learn from it?

Comments Showing 1-50 of 53 (53 new)    post a comment »
« previous 1

message 1: by Manisha (last edited Sep 07, 2009 05:03PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Manisha the book teaches you to move on, the past is the past and the future is the future. It shows that you need to move on in order to change your life. In the story Owen helps annabel go through the tough life of losing her friend and helps teach her its okay to move on.


message 2: by [deleted user] (new)

i agree manisha, the book teaches you that you should stand up for yourself and not let the jerks get the best of you


message 3: by [deleted user] (new)

yeah whatever


Juliet I love this book


Carita I think it was the first Dessen book I read, and I've read them all so I guess it was pretty good.


ضحى الحداد "the book teaches you to move on, the past is the past and the future is the future. It shows that you need to move on in order to change your life. In the story Owen helps annabel go through the tough life of losing her friend and helps teach her its okay to move on. "

Totally agree


message 7: by Kay (new) - added it

Kay I agree with Doha, Clovergirl and Manisha, however I also believe it teaches you that you should not judge a book by its cover (ironic?). For example, Annabel would probably never had even taken a second glance at Owen if it wasn't for her loosing all her friends due to the fact he is described as a tough looking kid who you do not want to mess with. However, he turns out to be a lovely, kind person.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!


Alyssa If that happened to me, I don't think I would be able to keep it a secret!!


Delaney this book told you to speak up. and i liked that whole idea of Annabel can't seemingly speak up. wonderful! wonderful! wonderful! loved the ending. i wish this book never ended. :(


message 10: by Delaney (last edited Sep 25, 2011 09:08PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Delaney Clovergirl wrote: "i agree manisha, the book teaches you that you should stand up for yourself and not let the jerks get the best of you"<

EXACTLY!!!



message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

for me it teaches that love can be found where u wont expect it, kinda like me, i went out with a bunch of idiots and then one day, a guys i've known since year 9 and i started hanging out. we grew closer and now we are in a great relationship. he love reading like i do, so i have someone to go spaz over books with, someone i love. (i am now in year 12) basically, u can find that love was already in ur life, u just couldnt see it. until one day.


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

guy*


Nicole Nevicosi It shows you that good things can happen from bad things. It all those things hadn't happened to her, she wouldn't have met Owen! This book gave me hope. It's good to know that things will work out in the end.


Delaney Nicole wrote: "It shows you that good things can happen from bad things. It all those things hadn't happened to her, she wouldn't have met Owen! This book gave me hope. It's good to know that things will work out..."

but it sad cause sometimes, things don't work out and nobody seems to be there for you.


message 15: by Kate (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kate This book (my favourite of Sarah's) kind of had the common moral "never lie", but in more context. Annabel didn't lie directly, but from not speaking up about her troubles she was emotionally and mentally scarred. I find that when you lie, or don't speak up, you become heavily guilty even if you are not at fault. So really I think what Sarah was trying to teach us was that more happiness comes out of telling the truth to the people who matter, over keeping it bottled up and reliving negative scenes on your own...
There are various morals from this story - like the love and choice theories mentioned above - which is why I love Sarah Dessen (and her work) so much!! Behind every novel is an awesome plot and meaning to the tale, which have helped me through so many stages in high-school and personal life. So really any meaning can be brought out of not just this book, but all of her's...
=)


Nicole Nevicosi Biting wrote: "Nicole wrote: "It shows you that good things can happen from bad things. It all those things hadn't happened to her, she wouldn't have met Owen! This book gave me hope. It's good to know that thing..."

This is true, but its always nice to have hope. I'd rather think that everything will work out than think that there's no chance. And, for me anyways, everything works out in the end, even if it takes a long time


Delaney Nicole wrote: "Biting wrote: "Nicole wrote: "It shows you that good things can happen from bad things. It all those things hadn't happened to her, she wouldn't have met Owen! This book gave me hope. It's good to ..."

how lucky. like at my school it's so hard to be make friends. my best friend seem to care less about me. how do you solve that? i don't want to just walk up to people and say hi.


message 18: by Dee (new) - added it

Dee that sometimes you have to take risks in life. She could have chosen not to trust owen because of what she had heard, but she did.

@biting - if your "best" friend could care less about you, is she really your best friend? Does your school have any sports teams, or after school type stuff you could get involved in - the majority of my friends, some of whom I am still friends with today, 12 years after graduating high school


Nicole Nevicosi Biting wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Biting wrote: "Nicole wrote: "It shows you that good things can happen from bad things. It all those things hadn't happened to her, she wouldn't have met Owen! This book gave me hope..."

I agree with Dee. Like you, I can be shy when it comes to making new friends. Getting involved will help you meet new people. That's always a good place to start


message 20: by Delaney (last edited Sep 27, 2011 09:35PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Delaney Dee wrote: "that sometimes you have to take risks in life. She could have chosen not to trust owen because of what she had heard, but she did.

@biting - if your "best" friend could care less about you, is sh..."


I got this thing called Drum Line is a after school thing and I'm out into a bass group and there are 3 more people for bass. should i be saying hi or just asking them a question of help or a pencil? but my best friend is the only one I could hang out with. but suddenly feels uncomfortable to be around her, but I don't want to diss her off all of a sudden. and i wonder why I'm so open right now. I feel miserable that it's just my problems I'm bragging about


message 21: by Dee (new) - added it

Dee yeah, just say hi; ask them what they are doing this weekend; umm, i'm definately not a shy person, so its hard for me to give advice - I tend to be a dive right into the deep end kind of person ;)


Delaney Dee wrote: "yeah, just say hi; ask them what they are doing this weekend; umm, i'm definately not a shy person, so its hard for me to give advice - I tend to be a dive right into the deep end kind of person ;)"

i wish i was like that, but i feel better and feel like i belong in Drum Line, i guess i'll go at my own pace. do you have any problems I could help you with? an answer for an answer.


message 23: by Dee (new) - added it

Dee not unless you want to help me write my dissertation...haha ;)


Delaney Dee wrote: "not unless you want to help me write my dissertation...haha ;)"


what's a dissertation? oh well :) . i wish i could be open to someone like how i confessed that it's hard to make friends. i wonder, i wonder. hey what can i draw or write about for a theme: "diversity means..."
i'm stuck as a rock.


message 25: by Dee (new) - added it

Dee a dissertation is my huge writing project for my phd - so i'll be a doctor of philosophy (in psychology)


Delaney WOW! your must be in like college! nope, can't help you there now. :D

i made a friend in drum line and his name is David. Just today i made him as a friend cause he stands in front of me.


message 27: by Dee (new) - added it

Dee that's the way it works and i'm beyond college - in a sense...its still college, but like super college


Delaney dang, girl you must be really smart!


message 29: by Dee (last edited Oct 01, 2011 02:05PM) (new) - added it

Dee ehhh, hard worker and dedicated - most people would argue my smartness! Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to

have fun at drumline ;) I was a trumpet/mellophone player for years


Delaney haha i have drumline on wednesday maybe friday and saturday. Thanks for your support! and work hard on your dissertation.


ichigo_menthol my first sarah dessen book i read <3 and my favee. i agree with all the good comments above!!!...not sure about the college and trumpet ones though, they were random. this book teaches you heaps of lessons!! but the one that stuck to me most was...keep an open mind coz you might find something that you like...hahaha like owen's taste of music and owen himselff.


Shelby White Althought this is my second favorite (#1 truth abou forever) this book had another powerful message/theme about letting go of the past and lookig forward to the future. Also about being open/honest with yourself and others. Overall, this book is a GREAT read and so realistic, you'll fall in love with Annabel's realistic insecurites and Owen's honesty :)


Snarky the title "Just Listen" is what I wish my mother would do from time to time. She always has to give me her opinion and advice instead of just listening.


Greer i think it teaches you more than to move on and forget the past. through out the book she struggles with the night she was reaped and uses her voice to speak up. along the way she falls in love and finds out who she truly is. this book is not just about her finding herself but about how young women need to speak up about sexual assault! i learned that every voice just like every vote counts. someone has to speak for someone to "just listen".


Delaney Snarky wrote: "the title "Just Listen" is what I wish my mother would do from time to time. She always has to give me her opinion and advice instead of just listening."

same goes for my dad, it feels like my sis and I are just his guinea pigs to toy around with but not really care for the feeling deep inside.


Shalaka Its really important to listen.to yourself,to your heart mind or to someone else rather than just give suggestions and advice. I always knew music is more than just soothing or just cacophony of instruments. Its actually a feeling attached to it that never changes..and remains constant no matter what. I so agree with Owen.! And it also gave me a teeny weeny hope that I'll find my own Owen someday :P :D


Brittany to me it teaches you that sometimes holding stuff in doesnt always work and just like owen said " it was day by day if nt moment by moment . all you could was take on as much weight as you can bear . and if your lucky , there's someone close by to shoulder the rest"


Danielle. It also teaches us to speak up for ourselves.


Diana Townsend This book teaches you Karma. You treat people like crap but you never ever know when the shoe will be on the other foot. It also teaches you how popularity hangs from a very thin thread.


Sydney Hmmmm... I think this taught you how that no matter what you think might happen, it's good to talk to someone about something that you're going through. Like how Annabel was raped by Will, and so was... Man what was her name? It starts with a C I think. I can't remember... But one of sophie's and Annabel's friends was also raped by Will... But C... told someone about it, and instead of them freaking out and not believing her, they took her in and comforted her. So i think this teaches you that you need to talk when soemthing goes wrong, even if who you tell it to might not want to hear it...


Delaney Sydney wrote: "Hmmmm... I think this taught you how that no matter what you think might happen, it's good to talk to someone about something that you're going through. Like how Annabel was raped by Will, and so w..."

Clarke=the C person. :D


Sydney Okay.. Yeah.. there's her... but I actually ment Chrystal! I finally remembered her name....(=


Delaney Who's Chrystal?


message 44: by Samira (new)

Samira i like this book and i love it SARAH DESSEN is my favotire A I AM DOING this book research and i took this book at first i couldn't understand what they wfere taking about,but at the end i understood.The best book i recommand this book.plz read it can happen to anyone what happen to annabel and what i learn from this book is that no matter what you should never lie


Sydney C.H.O.M.P wrote: "Who's Chrystal?"

Chrystal is this girl that both Annabel and Sophie. Then the thing with Will happened and Chrystal became Sophie's bff.. Then will did the same thing to Chrystal as he did to Annabel....


Sydney C.H.O.M.P wrote: "Who's Chrystal?"

Oh, and also, I saw in some of your earlier messages that you wanted some help making friends. Or just someone to talk to. If that same post applies to now, I'd LOVE to talk to you!!!


Delaney Sydney wrote: "C.H.O.M.P wrote: "Who's Chrystal?"

Oh, and also, I saw in some of your earlier messages that you wanted some help making friends. Or just someone to talk to. If that same post applies to now, I'..."


Ohh I remember now. Yeah, making friends isn't the biggest thing I'm good at, but that's okay, I got you to talk to!


Sydney (= Yes you do!!!! I'm actually not that good either at making friends... Usually they come up to me.. But i guess cuz i'm mad that helps... who knows(= Just be yourself... Many people will love you for you.


Delaney I've learned that. And thanks! I bet you have a lot of friends now too. You sound so nice!


Deyanira Garcia i believe that Owen did help Sophie to move on from her best friend. Sophie was being judged on how everyone believed that she backstabbed her bff. but she didnt. Owen taught her the true meaning of friendship and to not judge, but to just listen.


« previous 1
back to top