A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Walk to Remember
Book Review: Not His Best Work
Summary: 2 Stars
A little too syrupy for me. Keeps reusing "if you know what I mean" - probably as a device. It doesn't work - if you know what I mean.Book Review: Not what I expected
Summary: 3 Stars
I know that people always say that the movie is different from the book. And most will also say that the book is better than the movie. I usually agree, but this book was an exception. In fact, I think it's the only book/movie combo where I've actually liked the movie more.
Nicholas Sparks is an amazing author. His books are easy to read, yet the stories pull you in. The thing that I just could not get over with this book was how different it is from the movie.
I watched "A Walk to Remember" when it first came out, and since then it's been, hands down, my favorite movie. I love everything about it. So I just knew that I would love the book...but when I started reading the book, it was completely different. It's set in a different era; Landon isn't a "bad boy", Jamie's father wrote the play and Landon volunteered to be in it; they didn't have all of the sweet dates that helped her accomplish things on "her list"; Landon's parents were still together; and on and on and on. It was a COMPLETELY different book. The over-all moral of the story was the same, but practically all of the details were different.
That being said, I probably would have loved the book and hated the movie if I read it first. The actual book wasn't bad--it was just too different in my opinion. Since I've loved the movie for so long, the book wasn't what I thought it would be. However, I have a really good friend who loved the book before she saw that movie and she feels completely opposite.
To sum all of this up: If you love the movie, know that the book is completely different before you start it or you'll be disappointed. If you haven't seen the movie, read the book because it really is well-written.
Book Review: One of Sparks' Greatest Love Stories
Summary: 5 Stars
A Walk to Remember is probably one of Nicholas Sparks' greatest love stories - and if you're a fan of his work, you know that Sparks is not short on love stories. Though I am a huge fan of his writing, I sometimes feel that many of his books follow similar storyline structures and are sometimes predictable. However, this book is by far an exception! Right from the beginning, you are brought into Landon Carter's world of success and popularity and Jamie Sullivan's world as somewhat of a social outcast. Yet circumstances beyond their control bring them together and, soon after, they find themselves falling in love - certainly an unlikely romance. Okay, so I guess that sounds like a typical Nicholas Sparks' story, but I promise you this one will stand out above all others. The two teenagers, Landon and Jamie, are a perfect example of how opposites attract, but also prove that even teenage love can be real and life-changing as well. Though Jamie struggles to overcome her secret illness alone, Landon forces her to open up and allow for him to help her through her heartrending battles with leukemia. As I said before, this is an emotional and moving must-read novel by Nicholas Sparks. Just make sure you equip yourself with plenty of kleenex!
- Monique Ritter, Author of The Song Unsung
Book Review: Played my heartstrings like a fiddle
Summary: 4 Stars
For those who say the book wasn't written well, I disagree. It was just short, probably not even longer than a Harlequin romance, even though it was presented in a hardcover edition with large type. I wasn't fooled. Though the story is reminiscent of "Love Story" (without all the use of the Lord's name in vain) and "Charly" (minus the Mormon doctrine), and others, it's still a sweet story.
Perhaps, compared to all the other books out there, this doesn't deserve four stars, but when I rate items, I rate them for their enjoyability factor, not for their literary qualifications. "The Great Gatsby" may be considered a great book, but I wanted to hang myself with boredom, so is it really that great, or am I just a simpleton?
Probably both.
Anyway, this edition (with the New England autumn) is one I wouldn't be ashamed to have in my collection. I hate it when they re-release a book with the movie version's actors on it. It makes a book look cheap and tacky. Though a film may be based on a book (however close it may be to the text), it's still a completely different work of art (and I use the term art loosely). My imagination sure did a much better job conjuring up Landon and Jamie than the casting director did. Shane West was ugly, and though Mandy Moore is pretty, and did a good job, she wasn't right as Jamie, not to mention it completely lost something by setting it in the present day (just like they did with the "Flowers in the Attic" film).
I think, sadly, anymore, it's hard to write a sweet story set in modern times, because it comes across as false. There's just something innocent about the 1950's, or maybe that's just our perception. Hollywood had a lot to do with fostering it, creating family shows like "Father Knows Best" and "Leave it to Beaver". Pollyanna set in today's world would be laughed off the screen.
That this book has received many five star reviews isn't a bad thing (hey, if Sparks could write something as simple as this and not only it become a bestseller, but also a movie, I can do it), because this isn't a book for cynics. It's a book for those who still believe in true, lasting love, and that teenagers really can and do love as much, or more, as adults do. I was surprised that Landon never married again, but it's not unheard of (if you don't believe me, read the story of 1960's starlet, Dolores Hart).
Though Jamie was sort of too good to be true, she was also a minister's daughter in the 1950's, so I took that into consideration, and Landon wasn't a bad person like he was in the movie, he was just an immature teenage boy who grew up a lot in love.
I could read this story at least once a year (probably on Christmas), but I've watched the movie twice and don't care to ever watch it again, though I will say it was refreshing compared to most of the teen movies out there.
Book Review: Reba P. written review on "A walk to remember"
Summary: 5 Stars
"It is amazing how wrong you can be about somebody from first impressions, you've never spoken to them, don't care about their feelings, and never even think of their future, even if one day you will be a big part of it. You think you can judge someone about how they dress, or how they talk, or even how they walk, sometimes you can be correct but other times your thoughts will dramatically change once you get to know each other. It can be a good or bad change, you never know until you try."
In this book "A walk to remember" written by Nicholas Sparks is a Beautiful and Heart Wrenching novel, which will take you through an unforgettable twist in heart, when a young boy and girl grew up in completely different social groups and brought together just from a small Interaction. In 1958, Landon Carter is a senior who lives in Morehead City, North Carolina. His father is a congress man and the two of them are basically strangers to each other. He lives and was raised by his mother since his father is on the road quite often. His father basically makes him run for student-body president because he knows it will be better for his college applications, so he runs for it, and he wins. One of the mandatory assignments was to attend the school dance, and since him and his girlfriend are no longer together, he needs a date, and fast. So he takes out his year book and looks for someone he knows will be available and decides on Jamie Sullivan, otherwise known as a junior and the minister's daughter.
Jamie Sullivan is a saint, she carries a bible every where she goes and wears the same sweater since 5th grade, wears long skirts, and her hair is always in a ponytail. She believes "everything happens for a reason" and strongly believes in faith and that everyone has a good side. She is definitely not the popular one in school, and who is obviously not the one Landon and His friends are Interested in. After the dance he has no clue to ever hang out with Jamie again.
As president he also has to star in the spring play, which Jamie Sullivan's dad wrote about how he found love after his wife died. Landon is picked the lead role and Jamie is an Angel he falls in love with in the play.
From sitting together and talking on Jamie's porch, to driving her home every day, he eventually gets to know her and becomes a better person and even starts to get a high feeling for her. Hanging out with her in rehearsals for the play and her helping him with his lines he can't but help but actually performing in the play with her. On the opening night, when she comes out , he finally see's her true beauty, her hair's down to her shoulders, make-up, and a amazing smile across her face. As she sings to him in the performance with a beautiful voice he realizes that he is in love with her and she feels the same way.
Along the end the amazing love story comes to a dramatic twist and is an automatic tear jerker. While he plans a future with her, she is a hiding a secret so devastating it will change him forever. Pain and deep tears lie ahead for the couple and the readers. This story is as I said before, unforgettable and will never leave your mind as the tears drip from your face.