The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Format: Paperback
Pages: 187
Published: November 1st 2007
Publisher: Sphere
Genre: Romance

Description:
North Carolina, October 1946. Noah Calhoun has recently returned from war: he tries to forget the horrors he has seen and experienced by restoring an old plantation home. But though his days are spent working, his nights too often give way to dreams of his past.


Fourteen years ago, Noah fell in Love with a girl, and he is still haunted by her memory but convinced he will never find her again. But when the past slips into the present, Noah realises his ghosts are never far away.

Review:
My friend loaned me her copy of this book and I was excited to read it. Having being totally in love with movie. I had real high hope. However, I was slightly disappointed.

The Notebook is a love story about a man and woman who after fourteen years apart are reunited and fall in love all over again. Seems like a great premise for a love story. However, it just doesn't come across as believable. The characters lacked the passion that you would expected from this love story. Noah, comes over a bit simple, still pined after a girl spent a few weeks with when he was boy. Allie, just came across are very selfish, leaving her fiance just two weeks before her wedding to go visit Noah. I just didn't seem believable to me.

Nicholas Sparks has a world wide fan based. Honestly I don't understand why. He goes into far too much details about the smallest and more boring thing. Making me quiet a few times really fall asleep.

However, I pushed through the book and it wasn't till near enough the end that I began to like it and I was a bubbling mess. And I mean proper snot tears. I had to stop reading a few times because I couldn't even see from tears. So by the end I did like the story and now I am looking forward to reading more of Sparks work.





Rate: 3/5

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The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Format: Paperback
Pages: 390
Published: January 7th 2010
Publisher: Sphere
Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Description:
Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father ...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

Review:
This is my second Nicholas Sparks novel and after being disappointed in The Notebook, I was really nervous about this. It sound like the kind of story I could fall in love with and unlike The Notebook, it was a story I fell in love with. It just a beautiful and heartbreaking story that will be loved by young and old for year come.

The Last Song is told from a view points of view and sometimes authors make it really confusing. However, Sparks managed to master is just perfectly. The is a range of different characters, some you will love, some you will hate and others that will just make you want to jump into the pages and steal them. The four main characters in this is Ronnie, Will, Steve and Jonah. Ronnie is the rebellious teen who is sent to live with her father for summer and at first she hates it. However, everything changes when she meets and falls for loveable, kind Will. Steve is Ronnies father and it is clear that he loves his children more than life itself. Jonah is my favourite character. He is Ronnies little brother and he is just so cute, adorable and has th funniest lines.

Sparks has managed to create a beautiful story that deals with alot of serious issues and really gets you thinking about life and how there is no time for regret. 

If you haven't read this yet. I beg you, go beg, borrow or steal a copy. You won't regret it. However, if you are like me and cry very easily have plenty of tissue because this will have you bawling like a baby. Even as I write this review I have a lump in my throat and my eyes are watery just from thinking about the story.

Now I need to buy the movie and watch it!

Rate: 5/5

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Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Format: Paperback
Pages: 338
Published: November 29th 2007
Publisher: Sphere
Genre: Adult Romance

Description:
Is duty enough reason to live a lie? When John meets Savannah, he realises he is ready to make some changes. Always the angry rebel at school, he has enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life. Now he's ready to turn over a new leaf for the woman who has captured his heart. What neither realises is that the events of 9/11 will change everything. John is prompted to re-enlist and fulfil what he feels is his duty to his country. But the lovers are young and their separation is long. Can they survive the distance?

Review:
I am completely tor in half with this book. On one hand I really enjoyed it. On the other hand, I hated the ending and it completely ruin the book for me.

Dear John is a very wonderful story of John, the rebel turned solider. On leave from the army he meets Savannah and very quickly he is smitten. I have to say they are adorable. They are complete opposites and thats why it worked so well. John is a loner, strong, and well oh so yummy. Savannah is a little naive and innocent yet she she isn't scared of John when alot of people are. They are just adorable together. However, soon its time for John to get back to the army. Can their love make it?

The story is split into Three parts. The first two parts I loved. However the third and final part is what has me torn. And is the reason why I only gave this a 3/5 rating. Saying that part three we get to see a totally different side of John. We see the caring side of him when he is dealing with his father. And it melted my heart how this big touch army solider can be so sweet and caring.

I feel that this isn't much of a review. However, I hate putting spoilers in reviews. It just not fair on those who haven't read it. I want to explain why I hated the ending so much but it will give away the big spoiler in novel. All I will say is even though the story is fast paced, and beautifully written you may feel very disappointment and cheated by the ending.






Rate: 3/5

Originally Reviewed: 15 March 2011

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