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Vocations classes host speakers from the Archdiocese

Our Lady of Grace couple Dan and Sheryl Moran spoke to BSM seniors about marriage. (Emma Eldred)

Vocations classes host speakers from the Archdiocese

May 11, 2012

Giulia Imholte and Katie Sisk

The hype turned out to be more than the actual event. In November the Archdiocese announced plans to have speakers on marriage visit all of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Catholic Schools, and what students expected to be a controversial discussion––after reading about the heated question and answer session at DeLaSalle––ended up being an uneventful,... Continue Reading

BSM hockey players weigh options for their future in the sport

Ryan Collins is one of two sophomores that have recently made the decision to play for the U.S. NTDP next school year. (Emily Kruse)

BSM hockey players weigh options for their future in the sport

May 9, 2012

David Nelson and Peter Best, Staff Writers

Hockey is a fast-paced sport that lives off choices that need to be made in milliseconds. It’s a sport where one wrong choice can be the difference between success and failure. Sophomores Jack Glover and Ryan Collins were given the opportunity to play in the USA National Team Development Program (NTDP), based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This decision... Continue Reading

Shannon Stroh

(Emily Kruse)

Shannon Stroh

May 21, 2012

Leila Aboussir, Online Photography Editor

Lights come up, voices start ringing, and the band starts playing their instruments. Shannon Stroh has been an avid member of the BSM theater department since her entrance into the school, but is rarely seen on the actual stage. Yet, Shannon’s dedication alongside her sarcastic, witty personality has made her an extraordinary member of the tremendous... Continue Reading

Fun. releases ‘Some Nights’ album

The band experimented heavily with hip-hop inspired beats and auto-tune––though Ruess’s crystalline voice doesn’t need it. (Vinyl Records)

Fun. releases ‘Some Nights’ album

May 2, 2012

Lauren Effertz, Staff Writer

Three years after dropping their first album, “Aim and Ignite,” the New York-based indie pop band fun. released “Some Nights.” fun. is a supergroup of sorts; lead vocalist Nate Ruess formed the band after the break-up of The Format, guitarist Jack Antonoff also serves as the frontman for Steel Train, and keyboardist Andrew Dost is from Anathallo. Overall,... Continue Reading

Four speech members place at State tournament

Anna Landis, Juliet Beckstrand, Rachel Hogen, and Sian Last represented BSM at the State Speech tournament where they all placed in the top eight. (Maura Brew)

Four speech members place at State tournament

April 30, 2012

Shannon Galvin, Staff Writer

On Saturday, April 21, BSM speech team members headed to Chanhassen High School to participate in the Minnesota State Speech tournament. At the end of the day, four students, seniors Anna Landis, Juliet Beckstrand, Sian Last, and junior Rachel Hogen, all placed in the finals. Landis placed third in Poetry, Beckstrand placed second in Great Speeches,... Continue Reading

SportDateOpponentResultW/L
BaseballMon, May 21 Holy Angels1-0W
Boys LacrosseSat, May 19 Holy Angels15-6W
BaseballFri, May 18 Totino-Grace6-4W
SoftballThu, May 17 Totino-Grace5-0W
Boys TrackThu, May 17 NSConference Opponents7th place
Boys TrackThu, May 17 True Team Opponents5th Place
Girls TrackThu, May 17 NSConference Opponents5th place
Girls TrackThu, May 17 True Team Opponents5th Place
Girls LacrosseThu, May 17 Cretin-Derham Hall11-22L
SoftballWed, May 16 Chisago Lakes10-0W
Boys LacrosseTue, May 15 Spring Lake Park21-0W
BaseballTue, May 15 Bloomington Jefferson7-5W
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.
SportDateTimeOpponentLocation
Boys TrackTue, May 22 NSConference OpponentsTotino-Grace
Girls TrackTue, May 22 NSConference OpponentsTotino-Grace
Girls TrackTue, May 22 NSConference OpponentsTotino-Grace
Boys TrackTue, May 29 Section OpponentsTBA
Girls TrackTue, May 29 Season RecordTBA
Boys LacrosseTue, Jun 05 1:00TBAChanhassen
Girls LacrosseTue, Jun 05 1:00TBAChanhassen
Boys TennisTue, Jun 05 1:00TBABaseline Tennis Center
SoftballThu, Jun 07 1:00TBACaswell Park
Boys TrackFri, Jun 08 TBAHamline University
Girls TrackFri, Jun 08 TBAHamline University
Girls GolfTue, Jun 12 TBABunker Hill Golf Course
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.

Sparks novel insightful, yet poorly written

Sam Thomas
January 12, 2010
Filed under Book Reviews, Reviews

Author of “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember,” writes another New York Times bestseller, but that’s not to say that the novel is deserving of this bestseller title.  Nicholas Sparks tells a romantic plot in a predictable and unrealistic fashion.

“Dear John” tells the story of a rebellious high school graduate, John Tyree. The story is told in first person narrative, and John depicts his time in the army and his instant love for angelic Savannah Lynn Curtis.  Neither foresees the attacks of 9/11 which will put their future together on hold, and John’s time in the army will eventually begin to weigh on their relationship.

Though “Dear John” consists of an insightful theme and likable characters, the plot behind the novel is extremely predictable.  Aside from the surprising twist at the end of the novel, I could predict what would happen in every chapter; for example, John goes looking for Savannah on his second leave, even when their relationship is through.

The book seems somewhat unrealistic because John and Savannah fall in love within the two weeks he’s on leave from a German Army Tour.  They think that will be enough to keep them together through the war; this additionally seems unrealistic because their letters and calls to one another eventually become non-existent, even though they claim their love remains.

Though this quick read does seem sappy at times, Nicholas Sparks succeeds in writing interesting and more realistic sub-plots––such as the relationship between John and his reserved father.  Throughout John’s life he has never gotten along with his father, and Savannah teaches him lessons about the importance of relationships aside from the one John shares with her.

The other interesting sub-plot of “Dear John” is the insight into the life of a soldier who is counting the days until he can return to his home in North Carolina.  Throughout his time in the war, John shares the horrors and sights of what he experiences as a soldier.

The book was made into a major motion picture to come out in theaters on February 5, 2010, and my advice is to wait for the movie.  The film will cast actors Channing Tatum (John) and Amanda Seyfried (Savannah) who will hopefully bring more life and depth into the characters.

Though this mediocre book lacks excitement and intrigue, it gives a good presentation of how war can transform love and also change the people who are in it. The themes of this book are insightful and intriguing; however, the way they are written leaves something to be desired.

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