"Where The Heart Is"
...he aspects of her life. By meeting and becoming friends with Moses, a strong black photographer, Novalee is able to explore her creative side. She re-gained the respect of her community, after being the dubbed Wal-Mart mom, by winning the Greater Southwestern Kodak Photography contest. Novalee’s winnings were mentioned in the newspaper, “She was named Employee of the Week at Wal-Mart, the First National Bank sent her a card of congratulations, and the art teacher at the high school asked her to come to his classes to speak.”(Pg.216). Novalee constantly took pictures, but concentrates more on the photos of her friends, since they mean everything to her. Her friends are always there for her during the more difficult times, and Novalee vows to never forget about them. One of Novalee’s key components to reaching her dream, is to never let go of the people who mean the most to her, her friends. Willy Jack views family as being an obstacle on the path to his dream. He has a very narrow outlook on his life. He will do anything to get money, and believes it is the only good thing in life. Willy Jack fails to realize that the love from others will significantly help him in life. He passes up on the opportunity to start a family early on in the conquest of his dream. Willy Jack deserts his pregnant girlfriend in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, on their way to California, and leaves her with nothing but seven dollars and seventy-seven cents in change and the clothes on her back. As soon as this unlucky number of hers rings up on the cash register, she knows right away that something bad has happened, “She could see herself running, calling his name- the parking lot was empty, the Plymouth gone. He was going to California and had left her behind.”(Pg.16). His obsession with money, compels him to abandon his family. Willy Jack’s friends are used as leaning posts on his path to his definition of success. After being sent to prison, his economic tables turn due to his decision to become a Country music singer. With the help of the prisons’ librarian, he manages to get a hold of a guitar. He plays frequently, and his performance experience excelled. Very shortly after his release from prison Willy Jack meets a talent agent named Ruth Meyers. Ruth interviews Willy Jack, and sent him on the path to stardom. Not long after, Willy Jack’s greed over-powered him. Behind Ruth Meyer’s back, he tried to get a deal with big time talent agent, Johnny Desoto. During a meeting with Johnny, Willy Jack says, “Then I’ll get right to the point.” Willy Jack leaned closer to the table, his tone confidential. “I think Ruth Meyers has gone about as far with me as she can…She can’t make me rich”(Pg.256). Willy Jack then realized that he should not have messed with Ruth Meyers. She found out about his unfaithfulness, and canceled his contract telling him that he’d never work in show business again. This incident sends Willy Jack back to the life he was trying so hard to get away from, due to his desire for money. Novalee’s search for material goods, leads her to desire a house for her and her family, instead of money. Novalee doesn’t want a huge mansion, amazing cars or designer clothes. She simply wants a house to keep herself and her baby safe and warm at night. Novalee dreams of a variety of houses such as two-story houses, log cabins, condominiums, ranch houses or anything that is fixed to the ground. All she ...