Nicholas Sparks
Author of The Notebook
About the Author
Nicholas Sparks was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on New Year's Eve, 1965. As a child, he lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California when he was eight. In 1984, he received a full scholarship to run track and field for the University of Notre show more Dame. Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28. It was published in 1996 and spent 56 weeks on the New York Times hardcover best-seller list followed by another 54 weeks on the paperback list. Sparks has had a string of New York Times bestsellers including: A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle, The Rescue, A Bend in the Road, Nights in Rodanthe, The Guardian, The Wedding, True Believer and its sequel, At First Sight, Dear John, The Choice, The Last Song, Safe Haven, The Best of Me, See Me, The Longest Ride, and Two by Two. The Choice will become his eleventh film adaptation. Sparks is involved in many local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. Along with his wife, he founded The Epiphany School in New Bern, North Carolina and the Nicholas Sparks Foundation. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Nicholas Sparks
The Best of Nicholas Sparks 73 copies
Nicholas Sparks Holiday Collection - 3 Novels (True Believer / At First Sight / A Bend in the Road) (2012) 21 copies
Nicholas Sparks (5 Set) Longest Ride; Best of Me; Lucky One; Last Song; Nights in Rodanthe (2015) 14 copies
Nicholas Sparks Love Stories - 3 Novels (A Bend in the Road / The Rescue / Message in a Bottle) (2003) 8 copies
Nicholas Spark Love Stories Series: Notebook, Dear John, the Last Song,a Walk to Remember, the Lucky, Safe Haven (2011) 6 copies
Livros Condensados: O Anjo-da-Guarda | Sangue no Céu | À Deriva | Degolado (2004) — Author — 6 copies
Saying Goodbye [Uncomplete Novel] 4 copies
a ultima musica nicholas sparks 4 copies
O desejo - Quando uma pessoa esta prestar a perder tudo so o amor pode salva-la (Em Portugues do Brasil) (2019) 3 copies
No Seu Olhar 2 copies
The Rescue 2 copies
Sa svakim dahom 2 copies
Three Novels By Nicolas Sparks "Walk to Remember,nights in Rodanthe,message in a Bottle (1990) 2 copies
Immortelle 1 copy
Family Blessings 1 copy
The Last Song 1 copy
If Only 1 copy
Anioł stróż 1 copy
Un segreto del cuore 1 copy
NJË SHËTITJE E PAHARUESHME 1 copy
Vybor 1 copy
TË BESOSH NË MREKULLI 1 copy
The Best of Me 1 copy
5 Titles By Sparks - The Wedding - Notebook - Rescue - Message in a Bottle - A Walk to Remember 1 copy
TË BESOSH NË MREKULLI 1 copy
MAGJIA E DASHURISE 1 copy
Последна желба 1 copy
The Last Song 1 copy
O caderno diário (78) 1 copy
Livros Condensados: Sedução fatal | À primeira vista | Diamantes e ossos | Trilha do perdão (2010) 1 copy
Odluka 1 copy
Nunta 1 copy
Nicholas Sparks 5 Book Set - Series-3 (Every Breath, Longest Ride, Best Of Me, Safe Haven, Dear John) (2023) 1 copy
Poslednja pesem 1 copy
Deliverance Creek 1 copy
Primavera dos sonhos: Uma comovente história de amor sobre arriscar tudo por um sonho (Portuguese Edition) (2022) 1 copy
Nicholas Sparks 5 Book Set (The Last Song ~ Dear John ~ The Choice ~ The Notebook ~ The Wedding) (2000) 1 copy
Libros selectos 1 copy
Nicholas Sparks Collection 4 Books Set (The Return, Every Breath, Two by Two, See Me) (2020) 1 copy, 1 review
Undrens tid 1 copy
O Desejo 1 copy
Respiratie in doi 1 copy
Jurnalul unei iubiri 1 copy
Nicholas Sparks Collection - 3 Novels (The Notebook / A Walk to Remember / The Last Song) (2005) 1 copy
Nicholas Sparks Novels, 4 Volumes, The Best of Me, The Longest Ride, A Bend in the Road, The Notebook (1998) 1 copy
Usko rakkauteen 1 copy
No seu olhar 1 copy
Associated Works
Reader's Digest Select Editions 1999 v06 #246: The Devil's Teardrop / Lake News / Thunderhead / A Walk to Remember (1999) 55 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2001 v01 #253: The Rescue / Even Steven / My Mother's Daughter / Code to Zero (2001) — Author — 41 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 1998 v04 #238: The Street Lawyer / Message in a Bottle / The Cobra Event / Sooner or Later (1998) — Author — 40 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2002 v02 #260: A Bend in the Road / The Woman Next Door / Jackdaws / Long Time No See (2002) — Author — 32 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2004 v03 #273: The Wedding/ The Conspiracy Club / Summer Harbor / The Sight of the Stars (2004) 26 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2006 v01 #283: True Believer / One Soldier's Story / The Undomestic Goddess / The Double Eagle (2005) 24 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2003 v02 #266: Hornet Flight / Leaving Eden / Q is for Quarry / Nights in Rodanthe (2003) 20 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2006 v04 #286: False Impression / At First Sight / Sun at Midnight / Cover Your Assets (2006) 20 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2005 v01 #277: The Things We Do for Love / Three Weeks with My Brother / The Murder Artist / Night Train to Lisbon (2004) 16 copies
Australian Reader's Digest Select Editions: The Ambler Warning • True Believer • Tyrannosaur Canyon • Quite Honestly (2006) 12 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2011 v03 #315: Safe Haven / The Sentry / An Irish Country Courtship / The Provenience Cure for the Brokenhearted (2011) 11 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions: The Chosen One | Mr Rosenblum's List | Nowhere to Run | Safe Haven (2010) 8 copies
Livros Condensados: Nas Areias de Saqqara | Estrada Costeira | Segundo Fôlego | Um Momento Inesquecível (2000) — Author — 7 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2009 v03 #303: The Lucky One / A Foreign Affair / Envy the Night / The Last Lecture (2009) — Contributor — 7 copies
Reader's Digest Today's Best Fiction: Never Go Back, The Longest Ride, A Cold and Lonely Place, Archipelago (2014) — Author — 6 copies
Livros Condensados: Contagem Decrescente | Corações Em Silêncio | Explosão de Cristal | Notícias do Lago (2001) — Author — 5 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions: The Woods • Written in Bone • Dear John • Thunder Bay (2007) — Contributor — 4 copies, 1 review
Australian Reader's Digest Select Editions: Even Steven • Decisive Measures • The Rescue • Beneath the Skin (2001) — Author — 4 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 237 - Blackout im Cockpit. Das Schweigen des Glücks. Eifel-Sturm. Die Verheissung der Quelle (2000) 4 copies
Livros Condensados: O homem da estrela branca | Uma família para Cathy Cameron | As chaves da rua | O caderno diário (1997) 4 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 1999: The White House Connection • A Walk to Remember • Ice Reich • A Place of Execution (1999) 4 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: A Prisoner of Birth • Child 44 • The Choice • The Crystal Skull 4 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 234 - Das Bernstein-Amulett. Nacht-Blende. Zeit im Wind. Königsschießen (2012) — Author — 3 copies
Livros Condensados: Nada a Perder | O Sonho de Hannah | Pirâmide | A Escolha (2009) — Author — 3 copies
Het Beste Boek 229: De illusionist / De thuiskomst / Dubbele leugen / Schaduwspel 3 copies, 1 review
Livros Condensados: O Mago | Três Semanas Em Paris | Tango Um | O Sorriso das Estrelas (2003) — Author — 3 copies
Det Bästas bokval, vol. 218 3 copies
Het Beste Boek 249: De lijfwacht / Met hart en ziel / De wraak van de kruisvaarder / Schaduwsporen (2008) 2 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest: O resgate / Refém / A filha de minha mãe / Caçada ao texugo — Author — 2 copies
Livros Condensados: Algum Risco | A Alquimia do Amor | Premeditado | Agência nº 1 de Mulheres-Detectives (2006) — Contributor — 2 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher, Bestseller-Sonderband - Das zweite Gedächtnis. Das schweigen des Glücks. Der Goldschmied (2002) — Author — 2 copies
Reader’s Digest Auswahlbücher 289 : Warte bis Du Schläfst. Tante Inge haut ab. Mit Höchstem Einsatz. Bis zum letzten Tag (2009) 2 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: The Third Twin • Wilderness of Mirrors • The Notebook • Trading Reality (1997) — Author — 2 copies
6 prachtige romans 2 copies
Reader's Digest: De getuige; Lieve John; Het Venetiaanse masker; Roerloos — Author — 2 copies, 1 review
Válogatott könyvek 28. Stephen Leather - Egyes számú célpont; Nicholas Sparks - Veszélyes kanyar; Elizabeth McGregor - Jégmezők gyermeke; Mary Higgins Clark - Az utca,… (2003) — Contributor — 2 copies
Reader's Digest: Kirjavaliot - Veitsi kurkulla, Silvia Ruotsin Kuningatar, Suljettu saari, Illat meren rannalla (2005) 2 copies
Het Beste Boek 184: De fraudejagers / Het dagboek / Rose / Onderhuidse dreiging (1997) 2 copies, 1 review
Reader's Digest : libros selectos : Visita Mortal : Mutuo rescate : Solsticio de invierno : El espejo — Author — 1 copy
Válogatott könyvek 6. John J. Nance - A Medúza-effektus; Nicholas Sparks - Emlékek könyve; Ridley Pearson - A gyújtogató; Daniel Silva - Gyanún felül (2003) — Author — 1 copy
Large Print Reader's Digest Book Bundle - 3 Volumes (6 novels): Dear John, Garden Spells, The Summer Girls, Missing Child, Stargazey Point & The Promise (2008) — Contributor — 1 copy
Válogatott könyvek 2013/5 Michael Connely - Zuhanás; Nichplas Sparks - Vissza hozzád; Patricia MacDonald - Kétségek között; Alan Titchmarsh - Kísért a múlt (2013) — Author — 1 copy
Reader's Digest: Rechercheur Brons en het lijk op de wallen; De Keuze; De eindafrekening; De olifanten fluisteraar — Contributor — 1 copy, 1 review
Libros Selectos: Un Viraje en el Camino, La Vecina de al Lado, El Condenado a la Horca, Temporada de Caza 1 copy, 1 review
Reader's Digest Select Editions: The Devil's Teardrop / We'll Meet Again / A Walk to Remember / Fire and Ice (2000) — Author — 1 copy
Reader's Digest : libros selectos : De la manera difícil : La reina dulce : Llamada de lo salvaje : La decisión — Author — 1 copy
Het Beste Boek 194: De straatvechter / Brieven van verlangen / Vijf over twaalf / Modoc — Author — 1 copy, 1 review
Válogatott könyvek 35. Michael Crichton - Préda; Nicholas Sparks - Viharos szerelem; Barry Eisler - Hajsza Tokióban; Lorenzo Carcaterra - Utcagyerekek (2004) — Author — 1 copy
Livros Condensados: Uma curva na Estrada | O quinto paciente | Quanto tempo não te vejo | Gelo negro — Author — 1 copy
Reader's Digest Select Editions: Airframe / A Woman's Place / The Unlikely Spy / The Notebook — Author — 1 copy
Reader's Digest: De deal; Regen en sterren; Je bent nooit alleen; Jacht op de jager 1 copy, 1 review
Reader's Digest: De junimoorden; De bruiloft; Steen der wijzen; De ijzige tocht — Author — 1 copy, 1 review
Kirjavaliot - Potilas (The Patient ∙ The Rescue ∙ High Risk ∙ N Is for Moose) (2001) — Author — 1 copy
Reader's Digest: De claim; De ontmoeting; Geurend goud van Banda; Zonder kleerscheuren — Author — 1 copy, 1 review
Uur van de waarheid; Een jaar van herinnering; De Cock en de dood in antiek; Everest — Author — 1 copy, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Sparks, Nicholas Charles
- Birthdate
- 1965-12-31
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Notre Dame (Business Finance, 1988)
Bella Vista High School (valedictorian) - Occupations
- novelist
screenwriter
producer - Organizations
- The Nicholas Sparks Foundation
- Agent
- Theresa Park
- Relationships
- Sparks, Micah (brother)
- Short biography
- Nicholas Charles Sparks is an American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist. He has published twenty one novels and two non-fiction books, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 115 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages.
Eleven of his novels have been adapted to film, including The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven (on all of which he served as a producer), The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, The Last Song, and The Notebook, with a cumulative domestic box office totaling more than $574M.
Sparks lives in North Carolina, where he contributes to a variety of local and national charities. In 2011, he launched The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Places of residence
- Watertown, Minnesota, USA
Inglewood, California, USA
Playa Del Rey, California, USA
Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Fair Oaks, California, USA
Sacramento, California, USA (show all 7)
New Bern, North Carolina, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Discussions
historical Romance - English girl saved from marrying evil lord by neighboring lord in Name that Book (January 2013)
Reviews
Oh brother!
*
If you have ever wondered why Americans have such a bad reputation as tourists, this book gives an amazingly detailed account of narcissistic and vulgar behaviour while traveling abroad. The picture on the back cover shows two suntanned Americans with teeth whiter than the whites of their eyes smiling as if on a photo shoot for L.L Bean (hm, I wonder who their target audience might be?) - yes, they are definitely ready to explore the world having read up on their Jules Verne, of show more course...
It almost felt as if I were reading a satire - surely this could not be written as a serious account? It comes across as extremely insulting and condescending, and I happen to be one of "these Norwegians" that the author claims to be "among the friendliest on earth"... As with most of his "observations", he bases his said conclusion on his interactions with the locals that happen to entertain them while out touring away from the hotel. Or as his insights so succintly states "Over the years, I've visited numerous countries, and I've learned that until you meet the people in a relaxed setting, doing what they normally do, you haven't actually experienced what the country is all about". Wow... I wonder what prevented them to "do what they normally do" in India or Ethiopia...
It would mostly be a laughable account suitable for a Christopher Guest mockumentary if it hadn't been for the sheer vulgarity. They shock the natives by pulling selfish pranks on sacred sites, they mock the aborigines and find "this stuff boring", they make fun of the poor guides who are there to "entertain them", they are flabbergasted when a bar in Peru can't find a channel that shows the Super Bowl in English, they make fun of anyone who actually finds interest in architectural details beyond the brochure blurbs and resent their "lecturing", they are bored with ruins if they don't look like a good movie set, they get "museumed out", they call on their cell phones to their spouses back home on top of temples to tell them how incredible it all is...
The irony, of course, is that they see themselves as adventure and culture seekers and acute descriptions such as "awesome", "amazing", "unbelievable" and "breathtaking" are littered throughout the text. For a feel of the complexity of the narrattion, sample these nuggets of travelogue speak:
"I never believed I could get so excited about seeing a pile of dirt".
"There were trillions of flies".
"Entire books have been written on the subject of the carvings alone, and it's far beyond the scope of this volume to even attempt to comment on them".
"As they say, you must see it to believe it".
"Architectually, it's amazing, and I can see why it took decades to build it".
"All we could do was stare out the window (of the bus), wondering how on earth people survived like this".
"This looks...boring. How long are we supposed to be here?"
"Saying that you went dogsledding in Norway with a team that once competed in the Iditarod is more fun than the sledding itself"
In between the travel diary, we get a presentation of the family history. There are musings about their childhood, the trauma of their parent's deaths (which happened after they were grown up), the sad story about their little sister battling a brain tumor, and some rather bland religious ponderings. Some of their childhood memories are quite touching, like all childhood memories are. However, the story about how the brothers took pride in destroying all their cousins' toys (and still seemingly think this is funny) is ironic since it is completely believable.
Also, the author has an almost pathological need to impress his readers with, well, himself...His only seeming fault seems to be that he tries to accomplish too much. After a tirade on how a devoted dad and husband he is, he offers this humble passage: "Somehow, despite all that, I squeezed in time to earn a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, lift weights, and jog daily. I continued to read a hundred books a year. I slept less that five hours a night". Wow - poor superman...By the way, if you go to his website (which is complete with a glossy photo shoot, and where you can read that he has been voted "the sexiest author"), the first thing you get to read is whether you knew if he had a black belt in Tae Kwon Do? I almost feel sorry for the guy...
Finally, the passage that lingers in my mind is the author's claim that when he grew up "they were desperately poor" because they were fed powdered milk, oatmeal and potatoes and only received toys for birthdays and Christmas...
How anyone can actually write that after visiting some of the places they did (albeit in the comfort of guided tours, air-conditioned buses, and endless cocktail parties) is a sad commentary in itself. show less
*
If you have ever wondered why Americans have such a bad reputation as tourists, this book gives an amazingly detailed account of narcissistic and vulgar behaviour while traveling abroad. The picture on the back cover shows two suntanned Americans with teeth whiter than the whites of their eyes smiling as if on a photo shoot for L.L Bean (hm, I wonder who their target audience might be?) - yes, they are definitely ready to explore the world having read up on their Jules Verne, of show more course...
It almost felt as if I were reading a satire - surely this could not be written as a serious account? It comes across as extremely insulting and condescending, and I happen to be one of "these Norwegians" that the author claims to be "among the friendliest on earth"... As with most of his "observations", he bases his said conclusion on his interactions with the locals that happen to entertain them while out touring away from the hotel. Or as his insights so succintly states "Over the years, I've visited numerous countries, and I've learned that until you meet the people in a relaxed setting, doing what they normally do, you haven't actually experienced what the country is all about". Wow... I wonder what prevented them to "do what they normally do" in India or Ethiopia...
It would mostly be a laughable account suitable for a Christopher Guest mockumentary if it hadn't been for the sheer vulgarity. They shock the natives by pulling selfish pranks on sacred sites, they mock the aborigines and find "this stuff boring", they make fun of the poor guides who are there to "entertain them", they are flabbergasted when a bar in Peru can't find a channel that shows the Super Bowl in English, they make fun of anyone who actually finds interest in architectural details beyond the brochure blurbs and resent their "lecturing", they are bored with ruins if they don't look like a good movie set, they get "museumed out", they call on their cell phones to their spouses back home on top of temples to tell them how incredible it all is...
The irony, of course, is that they see themselves as adventure and culture seekers and acute descriptions such as "awesome", "amazing", "unbelievable" and "breathtaking" are littered throughout the text. For a feel of the complexity of the narrattion, sample these nuggets of travelogue speak:
"I never believed I could get so excited about seeing a pile of dirt".
"There were trillions of flies".
"Entire books have been written on the subject of the carvings alone, and it's far beyond the scope of this volume to even attempt to comment on them".
"As they say, you must see it to believe it".
"Architectually, it's amazing, and I can see why it took decades to build it".
"All we could do was stare out the window (of the bus), wondering how on earth people survived like this".
"This looks...boring. How long are we supposed to be here?"
"Saying that you went dogsledding in Norway with a team that once competed in the Iditarod is more fun than the sledding itself"
In between the travel diary, we get a presentation of the family history. There are musings about their childhood, the trauma of their parent's deaths (which happened after they were grown up), the sad story about their little sister battling a brain tumor, and some rather bland religious ponderings. Some of their childhood memories are quite touching, like all childhood memories are. However, the story about how the brothers took pride in destroying all their cousins' toys (and still seemingly think this is funny) is ironic since it is completely believable.
Also, the author has an almost pathological need to impress his readers with, well, himself...His only seeming fault seems to be that he tries to accomplish too much. After a tirade on how a devoted dad and husband he is, he offers this humble passage: "Somehow, despite all that, I squeezed in time to earn a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, lift weights, and jog daily. I continued to read a hundred books a year. I slept less that five hours a night". Wow - poor superman...By the way, if you go to his website (which is complete with a glossy photo shoot, and where you can read that he has been voted "the sexiest author"), the first thing you get to read is whether you knew if he had a black belt in Tae Kwon Do? I almost feel sorry for the guy...
Finally, the passage that lingers in my mind is the author's claim that when he grew up "they were desperately poor" because they were fed powdered milk, oatmeal and potatoes and only received toys for birthdays and Christmas...
How anyone can actually write that after visiting some of the places they did (albeit in the comfort of guided tours, air-conditioned buses, and endless cocktail parties) is a sad commentary in itself. show less
The amount of times a teenage Maggie mentions she’s “bigger, especially [her] breast/bust” got creepy.
The religious agenda was turned up to 11. I know Sparks has always had a thread of church or religion in his books in some form or another but this one laid it on thick.
And this quote was outrageous:
He set his menu aside. “I know it’s not my decision or even my business, but I’m glad you decided to put the baby up for adoption and not have an abortion.”
“My parents wouldn’t show more have let me. I suppose I could have gone to Planned Parenthood or whatever on my own, but the thought never crossed my mind. It’s a Catholic thing.”
“I meant that if you had, you never would have come to Ocracoke and I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet you.”
Seriously. Wtf.
This is the fifth Sparks “new release” that I have loathed and I have one more on my shelf. I’m not going to bother with it. The romances I loved when I was younger is an era I can treasure and appreciate. But it isn’t one that needs to perpetuate into whatever the hell his books have become. I skimmed most of this just to get thru it and I hated every word. show less
The religious agenda was turned up to 11. I know Sparks has always had a thread of church or religion in his books in some form or another but this one laid it on thick.
And this quote was outrageous:
He set his menu aside. “I know it’s not my decision or even my business, but I’m glad you decided to put the baby up for adoption and not have an abortion.”
“My parents wouldn’t show more have let me. I suppose I could have gone to Planned Parenthood or whatever on my own, but the thought never crossed my mind. It’s a Catholic thing.”
“I meant that if you had, you never would have come to Ocracoke and I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet you.”
Seriously. Wtf.
This is the fifth Sparks “new release” that I have loathed and I have one more on my shelf. I’m not going to bother with it. The romances I loved when I was younger is an era I can treasure and appreciate. But it isn’t one that needs to perpetuate into whatever the hell his books have become. I skimmed most of this just to get thru it and I hated every word. show less
When you look at modern Women's Fiction (or Chick Lit, as it is called for whatever reason), Nicholas Sparks is one of the few names you cannot turn away from that easily. He has written more novels than many other authors, most of them have become quite popular, and if you take a look at his Goodreads page, you might realize that thirteen of his novels have more than 100,000 ratings. There was only one author who I discovered to have more novels than Sparks with such an achievement on show more Goodreads.
It's easy to figure out why people like this novel, and I understand and value all of the raving opinions. The concept is pretty interesting, too. A teenage-girl one step before entering adulthood trying to deal with life and the obstacles thrown at her, her dysfunctional family trying to hold together what hasn't already been shattered, and this gorgeous boy from neighborhood who is so sweet and courteous and attentive that it seems like Nicholas Sparks wants you as a reader to fall in love with him as well. And that's already the problem: I just don't buy it. People can be as beautiful as possible, but it's impossible to judge whether the soul behind that beauty is just as beautiful ... or maybe ugly. However, Sparks defined Will, the protagonist's love-interest, as sweet and beautiful and successful and ... did I mention beautiful? Throw in the facts that Will rescues endangered animal species, has a lot of friends and experience and is one of the best atheletes in his town. Let's summarize: He is the perfect guy.
It seems like Nicholas Sparks wants to handle every stereotype available out there. He introduces the cruel, mean antagonist who finds pleasure in making life difficult for others, terrorizing them and treating women like shit. Guess the purpose of this? To make the perfect guy shine even brighter, of course. Nobody is as perfect as Will Blakelee, but Sparks seems to want his reader to believe just that. But allow me to question one thing: If Will had had the same character, but another appearance, not the Liam Hemsworth kind, but a not-so-attractive guy ... would the movie have been that successful then?
I guess not.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against romance novels. I liked Ronnie, the female protagonist, and the story of her family, I adored her little brother Jonah, and the writing was not as bad as I initially feared. But I do have something against novels defining love by how good-looking people are. show less
It's easy to figure out why people like this novel, and I understand and value all of the raving opinions. The concept is pretty interesting, too. A teenage-girl one step before entering adulthood trying to deal with life and the obstacles thrown at her, her dysfunctional family trying to hold together what hasn't already been shattered, and this gorgeous boy from neighborhood who is so sweet and courteous and attentive that it seems like Nicholas Sparks wants you as a reader to fall in love with him as well. And that's already the problem: I just don't buy it. People can be as beautiful as possible, but it's impossible to judge whether the soul behind that beauty is just as beautiful ... or maybe ugly. However, Sparks defined Will, the protagonist's love-interest, as sweet and beautiful and successful and ... did I mention beautiful? Throw in the facts that Will rescues endangered animal species, has a lot of friends and experience and is one of the best atheletes in his town. Let's summarize: He is the perfect guy.
It seems like Nicholas Sparks wants to handle every stereotype available out there. He introduces the cruel, mean antagonist who finds pleasure in making life difficult for others, terrorizing them and treating women like shit. Guess the purpose of this? To make the perfect guy shine even brighter, of course. Nobody is as perfect as Will Blakelee, but Sparks seems to want his reader to believe just that. But allow me to question one thing: If Will had had the same character, but another appearance, not the Liam Hemsworth kind, but a not-so-attractive guy ... would the movie have been that successful then?
I guess not.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against romance novels. I liked Ronnie, the female protagonist, and the story of her family, I adored her little brother Jonah, and the writing was not as bad as I initially feared. But I do have something against novels defining love by how good-looking people are. show less
This was some cheesy nonsense, yikes. The movie is already made, and it’s probably going to be just as terrible when it comes out next year. There is no soul in this story. The conversations don’t even attempt to sound like real humans. Was this written for idiots on purpose? The “twist” is so obvious that the moment the three possible suspects were introduced, I was rolling my eyes. I kept reading, hoping it wouldn’t be the pathetic, predictable thing I feared. Reader, it was show more exactly that. When Tate starts declaring his love, I lost it. Love?? How?? My guy, you talked to her like four times. This isn’t romance; this is a diagnostic criterion. He should never have been discharged from the psych facility, this is the real horror. It’s meant to be The Notebook meets The Sixth Sense, but it reads like a parody of both.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for access to this book. show less
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for access to this book. show less
Lists
First Novels (1)
Hurricane Books (1)
Tagged Storms (1)
Elaina's (1)
A Novel Cure (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 163
- Also by
- 93
- Members
- 143,441
- Popularity
- #44
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 2,379
- ISBNs
- 2,002
- Languages
- 33
- Favorited
- 343
