The Notebook (original 1996; edition 2004)

absolutely stunning. Words can not even begin to state how I feel about this book. It made me cry, on a train of all places. I rarely get that emotionally affected by books but this one is definitely a must read, even for the hard hearted.

During the summer of 1932, Noah and Allie had what everyone considered to be perfect love. Although it was against her parent's wishes, Allie spent the whole summer vacation with Noah. But their time together soon stops when Allie and her family move back home after the summer ends. Fourteen years later, Noah lives alone after returning from World War 2 a few years prior, and Allie is about to marry a rich lawyer. Before Allie makes this huge change in her life, she goes to see Noah to hopefully get some closure from their relationship. Will she get the closure she needs before her wedding day or will their love be stronger than before?
The Notebook was an alright book. It wasn't the best book I've read this year, but it wasn't the worst. The beginning and the ending were very confusing and I had to read it over a few times to discover what was going on. Aside from that though, I thought it was a good book and I'd recommend it.

This is one of my favorite all time love stories. Definitely much better than the movie, and the book is filled with so many details that you don’t know about in the movie. This is not a regular love story though; it is about forbidden love (but not less dramatic one like Romeo and Juliette). Not being a romance fan, I originally didn’t think I would like the book but I ended up loving it and it is one of my favorite books. Nicholas Sparks did an amazing job with this book, definitely worth taking the time to read. The book is also a really quick read both because it is not that many pages (only 239) and because I never wanted to put the book down. I would recommend this book to older girls and all adults because of some of the things that go on in this book. ( )

I remember laying on the bed in my dorm room and BAWLING over this book. What a perfect story to set up some super unrealistic expectations about love... ( )

This is the closest I've ever gotten to reading a "romance" book. But nevertheless, I enjoyed it. It was definitely WAY better than the movie, my only complaint is that the ending didn't leave enough closure for my personal taste. It's good for when you want something sappy to remind you of your first love when you were a teenager. ( )

This took me forever to read, because I read it on my Palm and only when I had no other books at hand. I was positively surprised by it though. It was very slow starting, but ended up being a beautiful love story. ( )

This book is my favorite out of all Nicholas Sparks book. It's a great book if you like romance books. ( )

The Notebook in my opinion is one of the greatest love stories of all time! I could read this book over and over again. For the first time I can honestly say the movie did the book justice! I loved everything about this story and I would strongly recommend that you read this book! ( )

Me parece que el libro muestra un amor imposible, que se termina convirtiendo en el amor verdadero. Un buen libro para una tarde tranquila. ( )

It’s phenomenal when a book can make millions of people cry but no one dies. Sparks has a knack for simple heartstrings writing and whether or not you like the subject matter you can’t deny his unique successful style.

If the book was more complex or verbose it wouldn’t of rang true with the simple characters who lead lives in a decade without Microsoft Outlook or even cell phones. Just like the story the writing also shows that a simple true style can be incredibly rewarding.

I put this as the primo of primo romance novels – a standout at 28,000 words.

Book review by Brianna D., posted by CA Library:

"The Notebook is a contemporary love story set World War II era. Noah and Allie spend a wonderful summer together, but her family has more money then Noah. This prevents them from being together. Although Noah attempts to keep in contact with Allie after they are forced to separate, his letters go unanswered. Eventually, Noah professes his undying and eternal love in one final letter. Noah travels north to find gainful employment and to escape the remebrance of Allie, and eventually he goes off to war. After serving his country, he returns home to restore an old farmhouse. A newspaper article about his endeavor catches Allie's eye, and 14 years after she last saw Noah, Allie returns to him. The only problem is she is engaged to another man. After spending two wonderful reunion days together, Allie must decide between the two men that she loves." ( )

Still an all time favorite even after the fifth read. Allie & Noah share the kind of love most of wish for. Always need a tissue handy when reading this ( )

Best Novel ever, could relate to it as a true story even if it is a fiction romance.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks © 1996
A Fiction book Published by Time Warner Books, Inc.
“The romantic would call this a love story,
The cynics would call it a tragedy.”
Nicholas Sparks based this novel on the lives of his wife’s grandparents. He lives in South Carolina with his wife and two sons.
The story is about two characters Allie Nelson and Noah Cahaun. After reading his book I know that it will stay forever etched inside my heart and soul. To me, “love is when you are with someone it’s like the world around you seems to disappear.”
The story begins in 1946 on the coastal shores of North Carolina, Noah is returning home from World War II at the age of thirty-one.
In 1932, 14 years before Noah came home from the war, he had a summer love with Allie. The obstacles that ended their relationship involved Allies disapproving parents and the war.
Noah goes off to war and for two years he faithfully writes love letters to Allie. Allies mother kept them and never let Allie see or read them.
I could relate to his part of the story. When I grew up in the 1960’s my parents thought they knew what was best for me as I grew up. For example, I grew up in an all strict Irish Catholic family. I was in love with a man I wanted to date and he was not from my Catholic school or upbringing. My parents did whatever they could to make sure we did not talk or see one another. My parents send me to an all girls boarding school, which brought about the final separation between me and the boy.
At the age of 29, Allie found Noah in a story on the house in Raleigh in the newspaper. She was now engaged to a very wealthy attorney. She decided to go to Raleigh to visit Noah and see the house he remodeled. This is the very house years ago that they met and spent a summer finding the love they both wanted in each other.
When Allie visits Noah she didn’t think that her feelings would come back so strongly for Noah. Well her emotions took over and as they visit and reminisce, they find the true love they once had and fall in love all over again, forever.
I would recommend this book to all who want to read a love story and a romance that will steal away your heart.
Review written by Jackie Paulson © 2012 ( )

This book really wasn't so bad. Unfortunately, it really wasn't so good, either. The story itself had promise, and in fact I did get a little weepy towards the end. But basing my opinion on just this book, Nicholas Sparks writes like a man who hasn't read a whole lot of great books, and who studied romance from made-for-TV movies... not like a believable narrator who is truly invested and immersed in his tale. It was just clear and descriptive enough to pull me through, and even a little charming at times, but that's the best I can say about it. My imagination helped to overcome the book's two-dimensional feel, and in truth some parts did tug at my heart, and so I did manage to enjoy this novel somewhat. But I really wouldn't recommend it to too many people. ( )

3 1/2 stars....

I found this to be a very sweet and tender romance story. I think this was the only Nicholas Sparks book that I haven’t cried at, but I was close a few times. It’s so good to read about a romance that can continue and grow stronger throguh the years. Even through the bad times, even when it breaks his heart, Noah continues to love Allie and stay by her side, day by day and night by night. ( )

The movie was tons better. I didn't care too much for the ending in this book.

The movie makes me cry. The book didn't. I was expecting to get a good cry from the book, and I didn't. I was disappointed. ( )

This book changed the way I thought of relationships in love. I'm a basic 18 year old girl, after all, and I'm one of "the lucky ones" who's never been in a relationship and never really experienced all that lovey-dovey-ness involved. What I loved about this book was the concept of growing old together, and it made me realize that whenever I do get around to dating, the compatibility of growing old together should be one of the more important factors, compared to aspects like attractiveness, career choice, or hobbies. A lot of people find this book to be really sad, but I don't; their love lasted for 49 years, and that's impressive. I can even overlook his over-exaggeration of over the top fuzzy-wuzzy "oh i love you" theme, because it does get a little unrealistic. ( )

I have to say, I'm not much of a romance fan. In fact, I don't even like the movie version of The Notebook all that much. However, Nicholas Sparks' novel of true love for the ages leaves me warm and inspired. When it comes to romance, The Notebook is actually far more realistic than it's film counterpart and many of the novel's contemporaries.

It can be slow going at times, but the novel is short so it is still a fairly quick read. I believe I like it mostly because it is set right after WWII, and I'm usually intrigued by stories set in a time long past. Life was simpler then, and Sparks really uses that to his advantage when writing this novel. Noah and Allie are written in a way that makes them seem familiar, like anyone you'd see on the street today. Their love is not as over the top as it is in the movie. The movie covers much more time than this novel does. The book is set within the span of several days in the late 1940s, and the course of a few days in what is meant to be current day, so it comes across more as a "slice of life" type novel than the movie would have you believe.

I think that The Notebook is perfect for romantics, or for readers like myself who detest the typical sappy love stories of the genre, but do like more realistic portrayals of love. Still, I find it to be a fairly average book at its best and give it three stars. ( )

The story told in The Notebook is timeless. It has inspired me to write my own book, Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love, which I hope people will enjoy just as much. ( )

This was an amazing book! By far my favorite ( )

Couldn't finish this overly sappy romance. Picked it up as an easy listen for a trip and it was just too much. ( )

The notebook is one of the best romance novels i have read. It is a real tear jerker and is so much better than the movie. Nicholas Sparks is one of the best and my favorite romance writer.I love his books! ( )

Lovely read.. Enjoyed it completely.. ( )

For my #1 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Thirty-one year old Noah Calhoun comes back to North Carolina from World War II haunted by memories of a girl he had lost fourteen years earlier. Allie Nelson is twenty-nine and about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but before she marries she is determined to find the boy who stole her heart so long ago.

Allie and Noah have a deep and abiding love for one another. Surely such a love can turn tragedy into triumph and outlast even life itself. I give this romance an A+! ( )

There is not any words to describe how good, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks was. It was a true love story that everyone should get a chance to read. Once you start reading it, you wont want to put it down.

This book was about a love that everyone will want to have. Allie and Noah meet at a fair and find true love at first sight. But Allies mother does not like the idea of Allie having anything to do with Noah. Noah was raised as a farmer on the country side and Allie was raised in a very rich family. After there summer love they break up and move on. Years later, Allie gets married to a rich man and feels that he is the “special one”, who she is going to get married to. She then sees an article on Noah, in the newspaper, and feels the need to go out of town to go visit him. She goes to visit him and later spends a night with him. She thinks she is in love with Noah, again. But at home she has a man waiting for her. She has to make a decision that will change her life. In the end she realizes who her true love is.

I rate this book a 5 star. I rate this book a 5 star because it was an amazing love story that you will not want to put down. After reading it once, you will want to go out and buy your own copy so you can read it again. ( )