Final answer:
Characters in the book experience realizations of love, with Trina comparing a new overwhelming attraction to past affections, and another character understanding love as a transformative force after a confession.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the passages provided, two characters experience the realization of love in different ways. The first excerpt describes Trina questioning her feelings, contemplating whether the strong physical attraction and overpowering presence of a 'blond giant' equates to love, especially compared to the more familiar and gentle affection she felt for Marcus. In the second excerpt, the character is unsure about love until Clarisse confesses her love for him, which utterly transforms his perception of the world and makes past troubles, like the cyclone, seem trivial.