Product Description: A poignant tale of first love set in the 1950s introduces seventeen-year-old Landon, who has never payed much attention to plain Jamie Sullivan, a Baptist minister's daughter, until fate intervenes and Landon learns the true nature of beauty, the joy of giving, and the power of love. Simultaneous.
Amazon.com Review: In the prologue to his latest novel, Nicholas Sparks makes the rather presumptuous pledge "first you will smile, and then you will cry," but sure enough, he delivers the goods. With his calculated ability to throw your heart around like a yo-yo (try out his earlier Message in the Bottle or The Notebook if you really want to stick it to yourself), Sparks pulls us back to the perfect innocence of a first love.
In 1958 Landon Carter is a shallow but well-meaning teenager who spends most of his time hanging out with his friends and trying hard to ignore the impending responsibilities of adulthood. Then Landon gets roped into acting the lead in the Christmas play opposite the most renowned goody two-shoes in town: Jamie Sullivan. Against his best intentions and the taunts of his buddies, Landon finds himself falling for Jamie and learning some central lessons in life.
Like John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Sparks maintains a delicate and rarely seen balance of humor and sentiment. While the plot may not be the most original, this boy-makes-good tearjerker will certainly reel in the fans. Look for a movie starring beautiful people or, better yet, snuggle under the covers with your tissues nearby and let your inner sap run wild. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
heart breaker After reading the first 2 books by Nicholas I figured I would go in order of how they were written and "A WALK" being the 3RD. It was was heart breaker, Jamie was the preacher daughter and where ever she went she took her bible. Landon was a troubled teenager, who after a play and going to the orphanage falls in love with Jamie. When she tells him she is sick, he is heartbroken. I had tears in the eyes for a while in some of the chapters. At the end you never really know if Jamie dies or not from being sick, you have to use your heart to figure it out.
A Walk to Remember Not surprisingly, Sparks tells a beautiful story of two teenagers in love, with absolutely nothing in common. At first, the love between Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan looks as if it won't happen. Landon is outgoing, popular, and has many friends. Whereas, Jamie - she keeps to herself, carries a bible, and dresses plainly. She is a great person with a "big heart."
Landon decides to take a drama class to skid by in school. He is then put into a play and this is when Jamie starts talking more and more to Landon. Landon is embarrassed in front of his friends, and Jamie immediately notices it. She walks away from him and Landon feels bad for hurting her feelings. Time passes on and the two of them start spending more and more time together. Love is inevitable for the two.
Jamie volunteers for on orphanage, and Landon senses his feelings changing for Jamie. He begins to see her in a new light, one with compassion toward her.
In the end, Jamie has a big secret that no one in town knows about, except her father. She decides that her love has became so strong for Landon, that she must share this secret with him, and knows deep in her heart that it will destroy him.
What the two of these characters share between each other is beautifully depicted in this story. It will bring happiness and sadness to you, and if you love to cry at a good story, then this is the story for you. It will also make you look at life in a different attitude.
A Sweet Love Story "A Walk To Remember" was my first exposure to Nicholas Sparks, but it was the movie, not the book. I absolutely adored the movie and I can watch it over and over, and cry, and cry again. Finally, I read the book, just to see how it differed from the movie. It was a disappointment. Yes, it was a sweet love story, and keep the kleenex handy, but I've come to learn that Sparks' writing style really doesn't change from book to book. The story is about a typical teenager who discovers the inner beauty of an unpopular, overprotected girl and falls in love with her. The characters are well-developed but what annoys me the most about all of Sparks' books are the long, drawn out self reflection of feelings and emotions (I like him/her, does he/she like me...well, he/she seems to like me...)
I've seen all of his movies (including "Message In A Bottle", "The Notebook" and "Nights in Rodanthe") and loved them all. After I found out they were all books by Nicholas Sparks, I decided I'd better start reading, that they had to be good!!! So, now I've read half a dozen or so, and the more I read them, the more I dislike his style of writing. These books are nothing more than modern-day Harlequin romances. Predictable and, well, boring. Most of the women in the books are very annoying and makes me wonder why on earth any man would put up with them. And Sparks uses the same phrases from book to book and more than once in a book. If I read "she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear", one more time...
I'm currently listening to "At First Sight" on audiobook. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to finish it, then I'm done with Nicholas Sparks. I'll watch the movies because they're good chick flicks.
amazing! once again nicholas sparks brought me to tears. this book grabed me from the very beginning! i loved every minute of it. nicholas sparks created an amazing character that made mebeleave true love does exst and it can brake any barriers.....this is a book that i will passfor all my friends to read.
Great Read This is one of the only times I would say a movie is better than the book. But if you haven't seen the movie yet this is a great book. I like to read the book after seeing the moving to read what the characters were thinking etc. I enjoyed the differences of the book from the movie but I liked the ending in the movie better. It's a great rainy day afternoon read.
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