After or while reading”The Love of My Life” by T.C. Boyle, what are some of the thoughts that went through your mind? Did it remind you of any other work? Your response should be three to seven sentences long.
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Reading “The Love of My Life” by T.C Boyle was an emotional rollercoaster for me. The story starts off rather romantic with the couple enjoying each company and experience life together. I almost envy their relationship as they’re almost like inseparable. However, I realized the relationship was rather toxic when they decided to have unprotected sex without thinking of the consequences of their young relationship. The couple was too obsessed and contented with their life that they decided to leave their daughter in a dumpster. I was rather disgusted at the fact that Jeremy regards his child as “That thing in the Dumpster–and he refused to call it human, let alone a baby–was nobody’s business but his and China’s.”, which clearly indicated his lack of remorse toward his cruel action. This is the first thing I read something where the main character specifically parents neglected their responsibility. For example, “The Death of Salesmen” at least ends with an honorable suicide where the father left life insurance money for his son’s business. as a form of apologies.
While reading the “Love Of My Life” I was trying to find out the authors writing strategies and their central ideas in the story. I notice that author used good imagery to clarify what’s going on? and what is he trying to convey? I wonder if he could be more specific in connecting the story to main characters personality (characteristics). So that we can also understand which characteristics caused the regrets and responsibility. In the beginning of the paragraph, story was encouraging me to read, but at the end I felt like it’s incorrigible. Overall, it’s really interesting and meaningful.
According to this novel, the author talks about these high school students, Jeremy, and China that are lovestruck. Throughout the whole story, there are a lot of emotions, intense dialogue, and complex storylines. In the American culture, teen pregnancy is becoming a trend. We can see a change throughout the relationship when this conflict accord between the two characters. There are many growths between Jeremy and China, even when it’s negative. For example, when Jeremy calls China “stupid” for keeping their child. I believe a true man should take responsibility and own up to their own mistake instead of getting rid of it and acting immaturely. When I came to the end of the novel, I question myself, what is true love? It’s still a mystery, and people have different ways to express this emotion. Of course, many different authors have a similar storyline to Boyle that talks about young love and being carefree because many people can relate to it. We all been there and did that, except to have sex or become pregnant. All jokes aside, it’s a story that’s predictable.
After reading the beginning of the story, “The Love of My Life” by T.C. Boyle, I thought that Jeremy and China were smart and responsible students. They both have fun together and cares about their education. The way I felt about them changed after reading the whole passage. Jeremy blamed China for something they both are responsible for. They should have known that they might get pregnant after what they have done. I was disappointed when every time Jeremy mention the baby as “it” and “ that thing”. However, I realized that they are young adults like me. They acted like they are adults but they are still young and do not know how to act during situations like this.
At first, while reading “The Love of My Life”, I thought it will be a sweet love story between two high school students. But when the story gets to the point where they talked about pregnant and Jeremy told China to get rid of the baby. I am thinking about how this story will be totally different if they accept this new life? This reminds me of some stories that I have heard or read about teen moms and parents, I believe that if they work together and maybe ask their parent for some help they will be fine. I also think that Jeremy kind of irresponsible and cold-blooded when referring to the baby, he is the one who throws the baby to the dumpster.
The Love of My Life (Boyle) begins with the romantic story between two high school students. From the beginning, I had impression that they really loved each-other and were ready to take any responsibility regarding any outcomes of their relationship. However later on, the plot of the story has changed and it is really sad that everything ended in the tragic way. Personally, I don’t think they had true love and agree with the above comments that it was “toxic” relationship between them, because they did not take any responsibility on what they have done together and ,moreover, everything could have finished with the death of both China and their child. Also, even if they thought they were mature enough, they would better speak with their parents and asked for advice and support. In addition, it was disappointing that Jeremy was cold-blooded to her, when she needed his support and love the most as well as China, who loved him, wanted the child, but was not able to speak for herself and her opinion and accused him in murder in the end. Young people, toxic relationship…
When I started reading the passage, like the first few paragraphs, I knew that at some point of the story/passage, Jeremy and China will eventually break up. However, I was still astonished by the ending of the story because I didn’t expect the story to end like that. Also, I agree with the comments above that Jeremy is irresponsible and cold blooded because he kept telling her to go to the clinic to get rid of the baby. It is obvious that he doesn’t want to be responsible for what he had done. Also, when I read, “But not China. She was hitting the books, studying late…Jeremy didn’t get it. ‘Look, you’ve already been accepted at your first-choice school…You’ll be a high-school senior once in your life. Relax. Enjoy it,” it reminded me of myself when I was near the end of senior year in high school and senioritis was one of my biggest problem as well.