Character Contrast

I will actually admit that this is one of the few books I somewhat enjoy. When I don't have an interest in the book, I can never really follow along, or I get lost in what I am reading. I chose to compare and contrast Loyd and Codi. Codi is one the those people who can't find herself. She doesn't know where to begin, but I feel as if Loyd has made somewhat of a influence on her. Loyd is a guy who Codi had a pretty rough history with. She dated him and he treated her badly... As Codi moved back to Grace, Arizona to help her ill father, become a biology teacher and see her old high school friends, you can see some of the changes she is going through. Loyd and Codi's relationship has definately changed. He treats her well now, and you can tell that they like each other. He takes her on trips, to meet his family, to old ancient buildings, and many more interesting places. Codi says she wants to be taken in my someone or something and feel wanted, but the obsticle I see throughout the reading is that she feels likes she can't leave Grace, AZ, her home town; She doesn't know exactly what she wants for herself. That all goes back to belonging. I think Codi lacks three things in particular. That is belonging because she doesn't know where she belongs and who she is as a person, setting goals because she doesn't have any goals she has set for herself and Codi does not have a high self-esteem or confidence by the way she acts (I think that makes it difficult as well.) Codi and Loyd are different because he is a mixed Indian, a hard laborer, outgoing, and a gambler who does cockfighting. She is a shy girl, very secretive, well educated, and tall. Codi is so secretive that she doesn't even tell her sister/bestfriend, Hallie that she was pregnant and had a miscarriage. How weird is that? Codi is also a very dependent person. When Hallie moved away to help others and the crops in Nicaragua, she didn't know what or where to go for herself. I feel like she just relied on Hallie for her desicions. I want the best for Codi and I hope she can find her way making good desicions and decide what to do for herself and not for Loyd or anyone else. Loyd, I think is a good influence on her and I have good feelings about their future... although she needs to find herself and look for where she belongs. During the reading I tried to look for hints as to where she might be finding "self"... one that stood out to me is the way she talks to Loyd. It seems that she is more open and comfortable about who she is. I think Loyd has changed alot from when they were in highschool, and they would be a great couple.