Where Rainbows End
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Cecelia Ahern |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Publication place | Eire |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 592 pp (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-00-716501-3 (paperback edition) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Preceded by | PS, I Love You |
| Followed by | If You Could See Me Now |
Where Rainbows End is Irish writer Cecelia Ahern's second novel, published in 2004. It was titled Rosie Dunne in the US.
Plot summary
From naughty children to rebellious teenagers, Rosie and Alex have stuck by each other through thick and thin, the best of friends since the first year of primary school. But just as they're discovering the joys of teenage nights on the town and dating disasters, they're separated. Alex's family moves from Dublin to America – and Alex goes with them. For good. Rosie's lost without her best friend. Rosie is later on delighted to be awarded a place in college in Boston where she can be united with Alex but devastating news change this. After Alex fails to attend the prom due to his flight from America being delayed, Rosie is forced to take an unlikable boy 'Brian the whine' whom her and Alex disliked throughout their childhood and adolescence as her date. After drinking a bit too much at the prom, Rosie discovers a few weeks later that she is pregnant at the age of eighteen. Abandoning all her hopes of college in Boston and a soaring career, she goes through with it and gives birth to a baby girl, Katie. Brian abandons her and does not want anything to do with the baby so Rosie has to struggle through life as a single mum. Meanwhile, Alex completes his degree and starts life as a successful heart surgeon in America. Living the dream whilst Rosie is stuck living in her parents house with a child. Despite the distance and the different lifestyles, Alex and Rosie remain best friends. Alex goes on to marry a woman named Sally whom he has a son named Joshua with. However the marriage does not work out and they get a divorce when Josh is older. Rosie goes on to marry a man named Greg but their marriage is also unsuccessful and after discovering Greg has cheated on her many times, Rosie leaves him. Half way through the book, both Alex and Rosie realize that they love one another but are both too shy to confess it to one another. After her broken marriage, Rosie decides that moving her and Katie to America would help her to forget her sorrows and be a fresh start. This news makes Alex pleased and he plans to confess his love to her there. Luck takes a turn for the worst and just as she is preparing to leave, Katie's father Brian crops up out of blue claiming he is sorry and wants to be part of thirteen-year-old Katie's life. Rosie is furious but knows her daughter deserves to know her father so is forced to stay in Ireland. Alex, meanwhile, is also furious. With hopes of being with Rosie behind him, he gets back with old girlfriend from his adolescence Bethany Williams- or 'Slutty Bethany' as Rosie enjoys calling her. He realizes that the relationship is not working with her as his heart lies with Rosie but news that Bethany is pregnant with his child. Despite everyone telling him not to, Alex marries Bethany and she gives birth to a son named Theo. However as Theo gets older, the marriage doesn't work and Bethany and Alex divorce. The book is full of mishaps and misunderstandings in love and friendship. By the end of the story, Alex and Rosie finally get together and confess their love after fifty years. The whole story is told through letters, emails and instant messages.
Characters in "Where rainbows end"
- Rosie – Main character.
- Alex – Rosie's best friend.
- Greg – Rosie's temporary husband who turns out to be cheating on her.
- Sally – Alex's temporary wife.
- Katie – Rosie's daughter whom is born when Rosie is only eighteen.
- Brian – Katie's father.
- Josh – Alex's son with first wife Sally.
- Ruby – Rosie's work mate and best friend.
- Toby – Katie's best friend
- Bethany – younger Alex's girlfriend and later on, wife and mother to his second son Theo.
- Theo – Alex's son with second wife Bethany.
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Book Review of "Where Rainbows end"
“Where Rainbows end” tells the story of Rosie and Alex who are meant for each other and everybody seems to understand that apart from their destiny. Their whole life both of them had in mind that they might be more than just good friends, but misunderstandings, circumstances and sheer bad luck have kept Rosie and Alex apart from each other. Finally after 50 years of friendship, when their hope was almost gone, Rosie and Alex made their way and realized that they belong together.
“Where rainbows end” is about difficult relationships and aggravating circumstances. It even shows how your life can be affected in a bad way when you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although this might sound pessimistic at the moment, it is not, because you also get an idea of how to overcome certain difficulties. Moreover, after reading this book, you will agree with the quote `What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. `
The novelist also tries to show her readers that patience as well as initiative are necessary skills. But you should know when to use what, if you want to achieve your aim in life. To get a better understanding what this means regarding the case of Rosie and Alex it is necessary to go a bit more into detail. Without a doubt you will find out that both of them take the initiative several times but unfortunately without success. One day, for example, Rosie even had the heart to kiss Alex, but he didn’t kiss her back. She was so embarrassed, he was too confused and therefore they never spoke about it anymore. They just moved on with their friendship as before. It is obvious that Rosie and Alex didn`t really know how to use these skills. Therefore they either dared too much or showed no action at all. During their whole friendship similar incidents happened: first somebody showed, maybe too much, initiative and then again patience was the rule.
In addition to this Cecelia Ahern also tries to advise us that friends as well as family are very important in times of crises. Rosie is always supported by them and whenever she needs somebody to talk to they are there for her. Even as a reader you get the feeling that you would be never alone if you were Rosie.
But the larger theme of the story is about that true love never ends and that soulmates will find their way towards each other even if it takes almost a whole life. Between Rosie and Alex was always a special, magical connection. Even being separated by thousands of miles didn’t affect their relation. They never broke up and all the time they had in mind that there must be more than just a “very good friendship”. Alex even wrote in a letter to Rosie the following:
“Twice we’ve stood beside each other at the altar, Rosie. Twice. And twice we got it wrong. I needed you to be there for my wedding day but I was too stupid to see that I needed you to be the reason for my wedding day.” It might be true that they needed a long time to realize that they belong together but in the end they did.
Even though “Where rainbows end” is a work of fiction the novel is authentic and you are able to compare it to the real life, because it could have happened like that. This is exactly what makes the book a page-turner, because you can identify yourself with the two main characters Rosie and Alex. It is not a boring love story where it comes to a happy end immediately without any difficulties. But it shows that, you will find your true love sooner or later, although you sometimes don`t even realize that your true love is standing next to you.
The story of Rosie and Alex is in my point of view very convincing, interesting and fascinating because Cecelia Ahern writes it in way that makes you fell the emotions by yourself. She has a talent to write heart-warming novels although they do not always start in a good way. The secret of her success is mostly the fact that she stays authentic and realistic. She doesn’t try to create dream worlds or super wonderful relationships without problems. The novelist just faces the reality without exclusions.
You will also find this out when you have a closer look on other novels she wrote, for example “If you could see me now”, and “P.S. I love you”. The first one mentioned is about a woman who deals with her traumatic past as a daughter deserted by her own mother. The second one is about a woman who lost his husband when she was 30 years old. As you can see these are all stories which could have happened in the reality and which are very touching and realistic.
Finally I can say that if you are interested in “unusual” love-stories with some obstacles and difficulties, you really should read “Where rainbows end”. You will be impressed how profound and well-versed a 26 year-old woman can be and how touching Rosie`s and Alex` story is. Even more you might realize that you are not the only one who has problems in life and regarding love and you will learn some ways how to solve certain problems or how to deal with them. So don`t miss the chance to experience Cecelia Ahern`s way of writing, including her tips and hints. You will not regret any page you read!