This Lullaby

This Lullaby

Infobox Book |
name = This Lullaby
title_orig =


image_caption =
translator =
cover_artist =
author = Sarah Dessen
country = United States
language = English
genre = Young adult, Romance novel
publisher = Penguin Group
pub_date = May 27, 2002
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 345 pp
isbn = ISBN 0670035300

"This Lullaby" is a fictional book first published in 2002 by Speak.

Overview

Written by Sarah Dessen under the category of Young Adult, the story is of an eighteen-year-old girl, Remy, who has a cynical view on love due to her mother’s four unsuccessful marriages (and the upcoming one with Don, a car salesman). Her father, hailed as a "one-hit wonder", left before she was born and wrote the song "This Lullaby" as his tribute after hearing of her birth. Her mother’s failure in relationships has familiarized her with what happens when a relationship gets serious, and Remy dares not to let herself become serious about a boy because she has seen what it has done. Consequentially, Remy has been in many relationships, but lasting only six weeks or less. Her romances have become mechanical, in order for her not to get hurt.

Then comes lanky, clumsy, and unpredictable Dexter, who knocks into her at the car dealership Don owns, and is carefully persistent in pursuing her until she agrees to become his girlfriend. In doing so, Remy breaks her first and foremost rule in dating: no musicians.

Despite her growing feelings for Dexter, Remy plans to break up with him at summer's end, dismissing it as a mere summer romance before she leaves for college in California. Yet she is unable to, until one night and an accidental overhearing breaks their relationship for her. Remy is left cold and unfeeling, with she and Dexter agreeing to be just friends.

Yet certain events inexplicably bring them back together, this time with Remy closing the distance, and healing her own heart.

This Lullaby is Sarah Dessen's fifth novel.

This Lullaby Lyrics

This lullaby is only a few words
A simple run of chords
Quiet here in this spare room
But you can hear it, hear it
Wherever you may go
I will let you down
But this lullaby plays on...

Note: In Truth Squad's version of the song (on their CD) the words in the second to last line are changed from "I will let you down" to "Even if I let you down" and the last line is changed from "But this lullaby plays on..." to "This lullaby plays on..."

Characters

* Remy Starr - Remy is the protagonist of This Lullaby, and unlike some of Dessen's other characters, she is cool, calm, and beautiful. After seeing her mother's failed marriages, she proclaims that she doesn't believe in love. She believes herself to have the upper hand in all of her relationships. She is also a bit obsessive about cleanliness and does not allow anyone to eat or smoke in her car. She got her name from an expensive brand of cognac that her mother saw in Harper's Bazaar. She is emotionally scarred by her past with her father whom she never knew but who wrote her the song 'This Lullaby' the day she was born. She claims to know when a relationship is about to end.

* Dexter Jones - Dexter is the lead singer of a band called Truth Squad (also known by their wedding persona, the G-Flats). Gangly and sociable, he bumps (literally) into Remy at her stepfather's car dealership, claiming to have a special bond with her. It is later revealed he dropped out of college for music, "breaking his mother's heart," as Don says at the Fourth of July barbecue. Despite his carefree attitude, he is both kindhearted and caring. He is related to Don because Don's sister is Dexter's aunt. Dexter is truly in love with Remy, as she finds out while watching him and John Miller outside the Zip Mart. Monkey, named that because he had wanted a monkey, a dog he got when he was ten, is his constant companion. He loves to throw down ridiculous challenges at every given opportunity. Examples are he dares John to eat ten bananas (later changed to 9 and a half due to Remy's judging abilities) and he dares Chloe to stand on her head for 20 minutes. One time he was dared to eat 32 oz. of Miracle Whip in 20 minutes, and he won. During the story, he collected funny photos from his job at a one-hour photo place. One of these photos becomes evidence of Remy's stepfather's affair, and Remy mistakenly believes Dexter showed it to her on purpose to hurt her. He hates English Muffins. Remy wonders how he can eat a whole jar of mayo in one sitting but can't eat English muffins.

* Barbara Starr - Barb is Remy's mother, who also happens to be a famous author. Her books are the romantic type, all about exotic locations and women who have everything yet nothing. Her latest book is "The Choice". She has been married numerous times, each time changing her outward personality to match her newest husband. She bought a 'gypsy bead curtain' at a flea market when her children were young to tell them whether or not they could bother her when she was writing.

* Christopher Starr - Chris is Remy's brother. He used to be a juvenile delinquent, before he met his girlfriend, Jennifer Anne, during his shift at Jiffy Lube. Since then, he's shaped up considerably. He breeds lizards in his room. Named after Barbara's favorite saint, he is very close to his sister because of their childhood and taught her how to break into houses with a credit card.

* Jennifer Anne Baker - Jennifer Anne is Chris's perfectionist, uptight girlfriend. She is the only one who refers to him as "Christopher." Later in the book, they become engaged. Remy often cannot tolerate Jennifer Anne. However, she does mean well. She also reads many self-help books. She says that Remy does not have enough faith in her mother because she makes bets when her marriage is going to end.

* Don - Don is Barb's fifth husband. They met at the car dealership when Barb and Remy went to buy a new car. A lifelong bachelor, he has habits that annoy both Chris and Remy--like his decorating schemes, which often seem to have sexual or violent themes, and his pyramids of Ensure cans. He also eats food and puts the empty containers back in the fridge or cabinets or leaves just the 'butts' of bread lying around. Later he is proved to be just another notch on Barb's belt, as he is caught cheating with his secretary.

* Jess - Jess is Remy's oldest friend. She is generally very emotionless, and clashes a lot with Chloe. Remy describes her as "big," but not fat. She is the mother of the group because she's been raising her two younger brothers since her mom died when she was in fifth grade. She disagrees and fights with Chloe often. She is also the most responsible of the group, she doesn't drink or smoke. And she avoids dating problems by not dating at all for the most part. She is somewhat the polar opposite of Chloe.

* Lissa - Lissa is Remy's friend, the "emotion" of the bunch. Unlike Chloe and Remy, she believes in true love. She plans to attend the local university to be together with her boyfriend, Adam, whom she gave her virginity to. After Adam dumps her, she is miserable, especially after her future roommate requests that she buy furnishings so that their room will be color-coordinated. She becomes more upset when she sees Adam with another girl. She had an "infamous" sweet tooth.

* Chloe - Chloe is one of Remy's friends. She shares Remy's skeptical views on love. Her mother is an airline stewardess, and often brings home the small airline bottles of liquor that the girls steal and drink. Her mom is also a compulsive shopper, so Chole is often seen in new clothes and is referred to as "our little trendsetter". Chloe doesn't understand Remy's attraction to Dexter, and is often insensitive. Jess and Chloe argue with each other a lot.

* John Miller -When John Miller first appears, he is referred to as Ringo. He was given this nickname by Lola, when he came into the hair salon to apply for a job. John Miller is the drummer of Truth Squad, and possibly the one who makes the most appearances (following Dexter). He is "madly in love" with Scarlett, one of the main characters in "Someone Like You." He is redheaded. Scarlett later finds him "immature" as John Miller points out while he is drunk at the Quick Zip. "Huffah" indeed.

* Ted - Ted is the guitarist for Truth Squad. Unlike the others, he is very uptight about everything and feels very deeply about how their music is accepted and understood. He does not like doing covers, as this reminds him of the G-Flats job. He works at a grocery store where he brings home several crates of tangerines. During the story he dates a girl named Scary Mary. In Just Listen he and Owen are good friends.

* Lucas - Lucas is the keyboardist for Truth Squad. He has "been in several bands", including a hair metal band. He has a tendency to be an "eggbert". He and Dexter both work at Flash Camera. He is the technician there.

* Paul After Remy and Dexter breakup, Remy agrees to go on a blind date with Paul, who she immediately christens "Perfect Paul." Lola often raves about his perfect hands and the fact that he is bilingual. One of his favorite bands is Spinnerbait, a band Truth Squad considers talentless frat boys (this is probably because Spinnerbait was signed before them). "Hate Spinnerbait!"

* Lola Lola is Remy's boss and a salon owner. She specializes in hair, and always begs Remy to let her do her hair. After Remy and Dexter break up, she sets her up with Paul, one of her client's sons. Also, when John Miller comes into the salon to apply for a job, she gets him a job at Java Hut instead.

* Amanda Amanda is Remy's coworker, whose specialty is nails.

* Jonathan Jonathan is Remy's boyfriend at the beginning of the novel. Although overly possessive of Remy, he cheats on her, the evidence in the "cheap red, polyester panties", giving reason for their breakup. Later, Remy flirts with him in order to anger Dexter. His nickname is Jerk Jonathan.

* Patty Patty is Don's secretary. Later in the book, it becomes known that she is his long-time mistress.Patty acts as though she is innocent around the family, but she just felt uneasy around her "lover" Don's new wife.

Trivia

Remy and Dexter, along with the rest of his band, Truth Squad, make an appearance in Dessen's book "Just Listen." It becomes apparent right away that Ted does not agree with the record label that signed them.

Scarlett from "Someone Like You" makes a cameo appearance as John Miller's love interest.

Two references of This Lullaby are found in another book by Sarah Dessen - "The Truth About Forever". First, when Macy first meets Stella, she is reading The Choice by Barbara Starr, who is Remy's mother.

Most of Dessen's books take place in the same town- Lakeview.

Whenever Truth Squad talks about Spinnerbait, a rival band, they yell out "Hate Spinnerbait!"

Barbara Starr is briefly seen in Dessen's newest novel, Lock & Key.

Awards and nominations

* "PW" Best Book of The Year
* "Los Angeles Times" Book Prize finalist

External links

* [http://www.sarahdessen.com/thislullaby.html Sarah Dessen's This Lullaby page]
* [http://www.sarahdessen.com/ SarahDessen.com]


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