The Guardian

My son got me a copy of The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks for Christmas. It surprised me he was able to find a dog book I hadn’t heard of. I did not know that Sparks wrote a book with a dog in it, and having enjoyed the movie The Notebook, and knowing he has a lot of popular books out there, my expectation was high. Unfortunately, while I did overall enjoy reading the book, there were elements I did not like.

Mr. Sparks is great at writing about people coming together, forming relationships, and falling in love. Some of the early parts of the relationship between main characters, Julie, and Mike, was not as interesting to me, but I did enjoy when love finally blossomed. The banter between them would make me laugh at times and felt very show more natural. I especially liked this passage where Mike is thinking about how he fell in love with Julie:

‘He still wasn’t sure exactly how it had happened. After Jim had been gone for a while, he knew that. But he couldn’t pin it down any more than that. It wasn’t as if a light had suddenly blinked on; it was more like a sunrise, where the sky grows lighter and lighter, almost imperceptibly, before you realized it was morning.’

Another thing I liked about the book was how it was set in North Carolina, which I have now made my home. I love North Carolina. At one point the police officer Jennifer talks about what her father thinks of her joining a Police force here:

‘Her father, though proud she was “joining up with the good guys,” was aghast that she was doing it in North Carolina. “They all chew tobacco and eat grits and call every woman darlin’. How’s a nice Italian girl like you going to fit down there?”

Only she had fit in, oddly enough. It was much better than she’d expected so far, especially the people, who—get this—were so friendly that they waved to strangers while driving.’

I can relate to the friendly people, including waving to strangers in cars, although I have yet to see anyone chewing tobacco or call anyone darlin’.

In the Author’s note, he talks about what is different about this book, in that he wanted to write a thriller, a type of book he had not written before, with a theme of love and danger. He goes on to say, ‘The Challenge with The Guardian, then, was the find the right balance between the two elements and to pace the story accordingly, so that the reader never lost sight of what the novel really was – a love story between two regular people who find they’ve crossed paths with the wrong sort of person.’

I think he did get the pacing of the book right. My main problem was there were aspects of the story I just didn’t like.

First, I found the story of a dangerous stalker to just be the same as a lot of thriller shows I have watched in movies on TV. So, I didn’t find anything unique about this thriller.

Second, I think Mr. Sparks did a great job getting into the head of our villain, but that part of the ride was just not pleasant to me.

Third, is that anyone that knows me, knows I am all about reading books on dogs, and while there is one in this book, I didn’t like where they take the dog in the book. Early in the book there is this paragraph where you would think the dog is going to be unrealistically extraordinary:

‘Not that Singer’s behavior had ever been . . . well, ordinary. Except for the peeing thing, the dog had always acted as if he thought he were human. He refused to eat out of a dog bowl, he’d never needed a leash, and when Julie watched television, he would crawl up on the couch and stare at the screen. And when she talked to him—whenever anyone talked to him, for that matter—Singer would stare intently, his head tilted to the side, as if he were following the conversation. And half the time, it did seem as if he understood what she was telling him. No matter what she told him to do, no matter how ridiculous the command, Singer would carry it out. Could you go get my purse from the bedroom? Singer would come trot. ting out with it a moment later. Will you turn off the bedroom light? He’d balance on two legs and flick it with his nose. Put this can of soup in the pantry, okay? He’d carry it in his mouth and set it on the shelf. Sure, other dogs were well trained, but not like this. Besides, Singer hadn’t needed training. Not real training, anyway. All she’d had to do was show him something once and that was it. To others it seemed downright eerie, but since it made Julie feel like a modem day Dr. Dolittle, she kind of liked it.’

Nice paragraph, but they never raise the dog to that height again in the rest of the book. There is Just normal stuff a dog would do to growl or bark at suspicious people or noises. Then an obligatory save in the end with an unrealistic extra challenge thrown in.

There is a lot of people who really don’t like dog books when Kleenex is needed at the end. That doesn’t necessarily bother me when it makes sense, but what does bother me is when things are not unexpected, and when the characters do things that are stupid. For example, if you were worried about someone coming after you, and your dog had protected you from that person in the past, would you allow the dog to go out for a while on his own?

As I mentioned, I enjoyed reading the book, I guess I was just disappointed it wasn’t better. show less

My son got me a copy of The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks for Christmas. It surprised me he was able to find a dog book I hadn’t heard of. I did not know that Sparks wrote a book with a dog in it, and having enjoyed the movie The Notebook, and knowing he has a lot of popular books out there, my expectation was high. Unfortunately, while I did overall enjoy reading the book, there were elements I did not like.

Mr. Sparks is great at writing about people coming together, forming relationships, and falling in love. Some of the early parts of the relationship between main characters, Julie, and Mike, was not as interesting to me, but I did enjoy when love finally blossomed. The banter between them would make me laugh at times and felt very show more natural. I especially liked this passage where Mike is thinking about how he fell in love with Julie:

‘He still wasn’t sure exactly how it had happened. After Jim had been gone for a while, he knew that. But he couldn’t pin it down any more than that. It wasn’t as if a light had suddenly blinked on; it was more like a sunrise, where the sky grows lighter and lighter, almost imperceptibly, before you realized it was morning.’

Another thing I liked about the book was how it was set in North Carolina, which I have now made my home. I love North Carolina. At one point the police officer Jennifer talks about what her father thinks of her joining a Police force here:

‘Her father, though proud she was “joining up with the good guys,” was aghast that she was doing it in North Carolina. “They all chew tobacco and eat grits and call every woman darlin’. How’s a nice Italian girl like you going to fit down there?”

Only she had fit in, oddly enough. It was much better than she’d expected so far, especially the people, who—get this—were so friendly that they waved to strangers while driving.’

I can relate to the friendly people, including waving to strangers in cars, although I have yet to see anyone chewing tobacco or call anyone darlin’.

In the Author’s note, he talks about what is different about this book, in that he wanted to write a thriller, a type of book he had not written before, with a theme of love and danger. He goes on to say, ‘The Challenge with The Guardian, then, was the find the right balance between the two elements and to pace the story accordingly, so that the reader never lost sight of what the novel really was – a love story between two regular people who find they’ve crossed paths with the wrong sort of person.’

I think he did get the pacing of the book right. My main problem was there were aspects of the story I just didn’t like.

First, I found the story of a dangerous stalker to just be the same as a lot of thriller shows I have watched in movies on TV. So, I didn’t find anything unique about this thriller.

Second, I think Mr. Sparks did a great job getting into the head of our villain, but that part of the ride was just not pleasant to me.

Third, is that anyone that knows me, knows I am all about reading books on dogs, and while there is one in this book, I didn’t like where they take the dog in the book. Early in the book there is this paragraph where you would think the dog is going to be unrealistically extraordinary:

‘Not that Singer’s behavior had ever been . . . well, ordinary. Except for the peeing thing, the dog had always acted as if he thought he were human. He refused to eat out of a dog bowl, he’d never needed a leash, and when Julie watched television, he would crawl up on the couch and stare at the screen. And when she talked to him—whenever anyone talked to him, for that matter—Singer would stare intently, his head tilted to the side, as if he were following the conversation. And half the time, it did seem as if he understood what she was telling him. No matter what she told him to do, no matter how ridiculous the command, Singer would carry it out. Could you go get my purse from the bedroom? Singer would come trot. ting out with it a moment later. Will you turn off the bedroom light? He’d balance on two legs and flick it with his nose. Put this can of soup in the pantry, okay? He’d carry it in his mouth and set it on the shelf. Sure, other dogs were well trained, but not like this. Besides, Singer hadn’t needed training. Not real training, anyway. All she’d had to do was show him something once and that was it. To others it seemed downright eerie, but since it made Julie feel like a modem day Dr. Dolittle, she kind of liked it.’

Nice paragraph, but they never raise the dog to that height again in the rest of the book. There is Just normal stuff a dog would do to growl or bark at suspicious people or noises. Then an obligatory save in the end with an unrealistic extra challenge thrown in.

There is a lot of people who really don’t like dog books when Kleenex is needed at the end. That doesn’t necessarily bother me when it makes sense, but what does bother me is when things are not unexpected, and when the characters do things that are stupid. For example, if you were worried about someone coming after you, and your dog had protected you from that person in the past, would you allow the dog to go out for a while on his own?

As I mentioned, I enjoyed reading the book, I guess I was just disappointed it wasn’t better. show less

A coworker lent me this book to read. It starts out slow and builds. This is probably due to the author admitting that he wanted to write a romantic suspense book where the romance rather than the suspense was at the forefront.

Widow Julie Berenson received a great dane puppy (Singer) shortly after her husband passed away. After 4 years, Julie is finally ready to start dating again, though she hasn't yet found anyone she wants more than a couple dates with--until Richard Franklin. Though Julie enjoys Richard's company, she quickly decides that there's no spark with him. Richard is reluctant to let go of his relationship with her, even though Julie's coworker Andrea would be happy to take him! While Richard is away on a short trip, Julie show more decides she can no longer ignore the feelings she has for her friend, Mike, and just hopes that dating him won't affect the friendship if it doesn't work out.

The novel highlights stalking behavior that while unsettling, unfortunately is not always something the police can do anything about unless there is great proof of the perpetrator. (Thank goodness one of the officers follows up on her own!) But at the same time, Julie makes some questionable choices. She lets her emotions rule her rationale and allows Richard to come into her home (after Singer bites him) when he gives her a sob story about his mother dying. She serves him at least 3 alcoholic beverages while he pours his story out to her, then, when he passes out or falls asleep on her couch, she just lets him stay there overnight. She goes for a walk with her dog in a secluded woods. She decides to confront Richard in a crowded bar when he hasn't done anything other than show up there (and since no one else there except Mike knows that they suspect he's stalking her, everyone thinks the two of them went off on him unprovoked).

Sparks's characters seem to do a lot of drinking. Sometimes they drive afterward, with no real discussion of drinking and driving.

I'm used to happy endings from Sparks--but this one has only a partial happy ending. There's a twist at the end (involving the idea of guardians) that I didn't see coming. show less

Nicholas Sparks is absolutely my favorite author of all time and once again he gets me all wrapped up in this book 2 o'clock in the morning. The Guardian was full of romance, relatable characters, North Carolina charm, and all that good stuff he always throws at the readers. I'm still getting around to all his books and The Guardian is the first one that was full of suspence. He wrote the story in a way that had me screaming at the cops what I knew about "Richard" and that he was coming after Julie. The ending had me floored, but all the parts talking about the police business had my eyes flickering towards the next paragraph; I was more drawn towards "Richard", Julie, and Mike's point-of-view. I especially loved Singer, bless his show more heart. I loved what Singer's role in the story was and how human he seemed. After reading the book, I looked at my dog Milo and was wishing HE was like Singer. Overall, The Guardian earned a place on my favorite list. Highly recommended. show less

What an entrenching story. Once again, it is shocking to me that a man can write these fantastic books for women. This one was both a romance and thriller. The story of a woman and her dog and her finding love again. It also involves a man who becomes obsessed with her and stalks her. Very scary thing to endure for any of us. If you have ever had someone act even remotely like this guy to her, you will be able to relate to her character and her fear of this man. Do not read if you cannot handle tear jerkers that involve the fur babies in our lives.

Nicholas Sparks writes really interesting books and his dog characters are outstanding.Julie Barenson’s young husband left her two gifts before he died, a puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Four years later, she is ready to risk loving again, but she is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become murderous desire. Singer is a most wonderful dog, you will fall in love with him! This is another winner by Sparks. Highly recommended.

FROM AMAZON: Julie Barenson's young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died - a Great Dane puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now four show more years have passed. Still living in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, twenty-nine-year-old Julie is emotionally ready to make a commitment to someone again. But who?

Should it be Richard Franklin, the handsome, sophisticated engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband's best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she's had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire... show less

As much as I love Nicholas Sparks' novels, the first 100 pages seemed boring and slow-paced. However, after that, I read the rest in a heartbeat, just like I always did with every other N. Sparks' novel. I love the writer's voice, I love shifts between narrators. And being in a mind of a sociopath at times was really refreshing and horrifying. The ending was exactly what I expected. I must say I absolutely hated it! I am fine, for the lack of a better word, with people dying. I am not even close to being fine with killing off guardian angels.