The REAL book "The unkindness of Ravens"

All over the world, there are over 6 billion people, and nearly every one of us are fans of something. Some are causal fans who know current basics of their vice, some are dedicated fans whom would stand out in the rain to wait for tickets, and then there are the obsessed or “crazed” fans who would spend tons of money on eBay for a tissue that a celebrity used.

Although One Tree Hill fans are dedicated, we are much more than just that. We are like pupils in material art films, grasshoppers learning about life in an enjoyable way. Faithfully we attend in front of our televisions to see what life lessons would be taught next.

Personally, I have enjoyed this show and see it as my haven. Although it is very successful with eight complete seasons and one more staring in January 2012, I see it as more than the drama and the cliffhangers of the episodes. I see it the way Peyton sees music. Peyton is a tortured artist as she lost her mother at a young age, being supported only by her father, who works as a mariner. She feels alone with no one to understand her. She turns to her music and let the lyrics be her therapy.  After everything that has happened in her life she guards her heart. I like to think of her as a survivor, with all of the life and death situations she has been in to everyone she knowing leaving her, she was vulnerable but strong.  I relate mostly to this character out of all of them.

Knowing how it is to lose a parent at a young age and having the other distant because they have to take care of everything alone. I understand because I too guard my heart, because of hurtful situations, only difference between us is she turns to her music and I turn to her. 

Then again that’s just me, other fans might relate to Lucas and Nathan whom are brothers from two different mothers… literally. Haley, who is sometimes called “Tutor Girl” a smart family ordinated girl with a secret talent of singing like an angel, or even Brooke, the happiest rich cheerleader you could ever meet, although her heart is huge, it’s been crushed nearly by everyone close to her.

 I have explained the main characters and their roles within the show, which is not all that they are. Just like in reality these characters grow and as fans we grow with them. Peyton Sawyer started off as this loner, tortured artist, who has her heart locked away and shielded to then being this open and loving character how helps other that hide themselves away to open up and let the world see how amazing they are.

As of now most role models are what you see on T.V, and teens try to mimic those negative characters, with One Tree Hill it shows positive characters in real life situation. The deepest meaning that I have received about this show is that you must be yourself. Throughout seasons 1-4 the introduction music was “I don’t wanna be” by Gavin Degraw, in which the meaning to not try to become someone else. Identity crisis has always been an issue for adolescents and this show puts out a strong message to break from that tradition and tells people that they should be themselves.

 As a fan you realize these current things. The messages that are put out there like, “Follow your dreams, no matter what.” “Take chances while you’re young” and my favorite “Don’t let anyone take your talent.”

Earlier I said that this show is my haven, I say that because I had times where I did not know who else to turn to, or how to even explain my troubles, and sometimes I wanted to hide in my subconscious. This series, these characters, and the meaning for it all has explained and brought out everything. It was and still is my therapy. When most people open the Bible and search a chapter for clarity, and peace, I open out my seasons and search an episode.  

This show is for everyone, not just teen girls. The sport of Basketball is a big factor in this show which was able to get guys to even watch this teen drama. I have recruited my friends and even my roommate and they too are now fans of this meaning piece of art.

I interviewed a male friend to see the show from a guy point of view, and he says that if was not centered around the sport of basketball it would not have grabbed his attention. When asked if he feel that he has grown from watching the show his response was “I felt enlightened, by the quotes that Lucas says on the show. They were quotes to live by. Also I related to the characters Nathan and Haley, I was Nathan and the changes that I made are the changes that he made, also because I too fell in love in high school, it’s not a walk in the park but I know that we could make it through, these characters remind me of my past and I get that satisfaction of seeing how I changed from then to now.”  

During the time that he watched the show, he went through each season one week at a time, and after he was shocked and amazed I remember he would text me a report of what episode he just finished and shares with me his ideas of the storyline. Each day he was more and more drawn to the show, and at times stayed up until two in morning with the knowledge that he had work in four hours just to finish a few episodes. I must admit, that the show is addictive, so much that my roommate finished of over 120 episodes in one week.

When asking my roommate and viewing her reaction to the show she was drawn  to the drama and the cliffhangers. She watched seasons 1-6 within one week. After class she dedicated her time by staying in the room and watching the series. Her reaction to each episode was jaw dropping for her. There were times she laughed or was shocked and then there were even parts of the show that made her cry. I asked her how she viewed One Tree Hill, she says “Well, I am not really that much into TV shows although I would watch some. I really like shows that are real, and about real life issues, and One Tree Hill shows nearly every issue in life. It shows life, death, birth, love, misunderstanding, abandonment, revenge, and even issues we do not ever think will happen to us. Like for example nowadays everyone puts all their business online like Facebook, and just like what had happen to Peyton that stuff could actually happen to anyone, the show makes you think twice about doing things.”

There is so much that could be said and studied about One Tree Hill, but to really understand it you have to watch it and even more if it could be a true keepsake as a wonderful novel. Trust me and the other 5,042,846 people that are fans of One Tree Hill.

“At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just not facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world, six billion souls. And sometimes…. All you need is one.” ~ One Tree Hill (Peyton Sawyer)