52 weeks, 52 books discussion

This is this weeks NYT bestseller in combined print and e-book. I'll be honest: I have only read a few Nicholas Sparks books, generally on vacation. But he is clearly beloved by millions. Are you one of them? If so, why? Tell me your thoughts on this book, but please, if your review contains SPOILERS, please say so (***SPOILER ALERT***) so it doesn't give anything away for others. Happy reading!

Nicholas Sparks for me is one of those authors I sort of fall back on. I've read a few of his books and did enjoy them so I'm comfortable with his writing. His stories tend to have sad or tragic endings so they mirror true life a little more. Of course not everyone's ending is sad or tragic or happy for that matter lol. I guess it's a formula I've grown accustomed to from him.

Joan wrote: "Safe Haven is another book I've listened to rather than read. I did a challenge in 2011 where I had to read all of the Nicholas Sparks books, and I did read (listened) to most of them.

I enjoyed..."

I hear you, Joan! Who did the narration? Was it Nicholas Sparks?

I've had this book sitting on my shelf for quite awhile! I'm actually really excited to finally get to it.

I've never read any of Sparks' books before although I've heard all the hype. I picked this one up from the library last night & am already on page 100. It's been a light & pleasant read so far although the plot seems like a fairly common one in female written contemporary romance books.

Jacquelyn wrote: "I've never read any of Sparks' books before although I've heard all the hype. I picked this one up from the library last night & am already on page 100. It's been a light & pleasant read so far alt..."

Stick with it; it takes an interesting turn...

Andrea (Cozy Up With A Good Read) wrote: "I've had this book sitting on my shelf for quite awhile! I'm actually really excited to finally get to it."

let us know what you think!

I've never Nicholas Sparks before. They seem a bit sappy (based off the movies made from them). Do I need to keep a box of tissues next to me when I read it?

I hope my library has a digital copy available.

Nope, I've never read Nicholas Sparks before. I'm getting along okay with SH so far, though I'm not a fan of romance AT ALL. It's fast reading, though. I'll give it that.

By the way, in my "free" time (HAHA!) I'm trying to read up on what, exactly, makes a bestseller, i.e.: what qualities they possess, what the requirements are, etc. The first NY Times bestseller list was published in 1942, which I thought was pretty interesting. Here's the list from sometime in 1943: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/200... I'll admit, I've heard of hardly any of these.

This book was an easy read.... It had a great story line... Movie coming out in February

Lisa wrote: "By the way, in my "free" time (HAHA!) I'm trying to read up on what, exactly, makes a bestseller, i.e.: what qualities they possess, what the requirements are, etc. The first NY Times bestseller li..."

Very interesting, Lisa. Thanks for doing that. And I found it slow going at first, but it picks up with an interesting twist about half way through.

Lacey wrote: "I just couldn't get into this one. Something about the writing style really put me off, and the book became a massive chore to read. So I'm going to skip this week and join in again next week."

No problem Lacey. Reading is supposed to be fun!

Lisa wrote: "By the way, in my "free" time (HAHA!) I'm trying to read up on what, exactly, makes a bestseller, i.e.: what qualities they possess, what the requirements are, etc. The first NY Times bestseller li..."

Lisa- thanks for posting about what makes a bestseller- something I had never thought about but once you mentioned it I "had to know" :) Really interesting

Hello! This week has spun just a little of course for me for work so I unfortunately haven't started. I love the unexpected turns of many of NS's books. THE WEDDING is my all time favorite. I keep a copy of it on my desk when I'm writing and always think about what will be the unexpected turn in my manuscript.

I've read a lot of Nicholas Sparks books, but have been off for a while reading different genres. I'm glad I finally read this book, it was different from all his other ones. I loved the darker side of this book (the first book I read of his was THE GUARDIAN, and it had that but in a different way). I flew through this book not wanting to put it down and needing to know what would happen next. Definitely some interesting turns throughout the story that I didn't see coming.

read it when it came out - one of the best sparks books in my opinion!!! really good, I think I laughed and cried. It's not as cheesy as his other books are and the main characters back story is just really well done :D!
(still haven't read Gone Girl buuuut I'm making a list and all will eventually be read :P)

This is a neat idea for a group! I just started Safe Haven. Like a lot of others, I haven't read too many Nicholas Sparks books; nothing against the guy, I just generally chose something else. It should be interesting to read books outside of my normal zone!

this is definitely not a book I would have chosen. I'm having trouble getting through it for 2 reasons: First reason, I tend to think of his books as "cookie cutter" books--all very dramatic, easy to read, set in the south, all the same covers...nothing wrong with that, but they don't set themselves apart enough for me. Second reason, my Kindle version comes with the movie cover--the 2 film actors are nothing like the 2 in the book physically. AND stupidly, I decided to watch the movie trailer to get inspired and it did the total opposite. I feel sort of stuck about 30% of the way in. Looking forward to the next selection.


Follow Up: I've finished and did get into more in the 2nd half. I enjoyed the "surprise" at the end and really was intrigued with Kevin. I thought NS did a great job with communicating the complexity of his character.

Kathleen wrote: "this is definitely not a book I would have chosen. I'm having trouble getting through it for 2 reasons: First reason, I tend to think of his books as "cookie cutter" books--all very dramatic, easy ..."

I hear you Kathleen but the book does pick up, and veer in a new direction about half way through; I suggest sticking with it if you can!

Heather wrote: "This is a neat idea for a group! I just started Safe Haven. Like a lot of others, I haven't read too many Nicholas Sparks books; nothing against the guy, I just generally chose something else. I..."

Thanks, Heather. Me too.

Okay I have just finished. I think this one is my least favorite of his books that I have read so far. Good but I felt it was a little darker than his usual stuff. Not of course that that's a bad thing.

I was glad to have this as our second book as I had always wanted to read a Nicholas Sparks book, after having watched so many of his movies before. Based on the movies I had seen of his - romantic tear jerkers, I was surprised that this one was so different. And although the first part of the major twist in this book through me for a loop, by the end of the novel and the final twist I was happy to have read it.

Easy to read and quick paced, this novel literally read like a screenplay and classically the movie will be out next month. Even though I can't picture either of the lead actors as the characters, I am excited to watch the movie.

Looking forward to what book is in store for next week! :)

Generally I'm tired of Nicholas Sparks books and don't read them as I hate having a character I like killed off and then the rest of the book having the other main likable character learn to deal with it. Glad to say, this didn't follow the pattern and didn't take too much time to read. This would be a good curl up with the hot beverage of your choice under a throw book. A very solid 3 stars.

I just joined this group and I am super excited. I read Gone Girl in November and LOVED it. Just started Safe Haven. I have never read one of his books and so far so good. An easy read so far. :)

Brigette wrote: "I just joined this group and I am super excited. I read Gone Girl in November and LOVED it. Just started Safe Haven. I have never read one of his books and so far so good. An easy read so far. :)"

Welcome, Brigette!

Like I said I just joined today and start Safe Haven this morning.... I have done nothing but read. I will finish the book tonight. I am surprised to say I love it!

I did not enjoy this book very much. It was so similar to the movie Sleeping with the enemy. Seems like NS is losing is MUSE. I loved his earlier works but have not liked any of his recent books.

I did not enjoy this book very much other & doubt I will read any other of Sparks' books either. I thought the 'twists' in this book were predictable & similar to other books & movies on this topic. I really didn't like Jo's part; it felt contrived & like an afterthought to me.
Oh well, on to the next best seller!

Didn't love it, but definitely liked it.

Just okay. I didn't really find it that interesting, especially after reading Gone Girl just before it. Now that was a good one.

Jean wrote: "Just okay. I didn't really find it that interesting, especially after reading Gone Girl just before it. Now that was a good one."

They are very different books.

i enjoyed this book, and although Nicholas Sparks books do tend to be a bit formulaic, it took me a little while to figure out the story. i liked the main characters, and i really liked Jo. it was a good quick read, i have always considered NS to be a reliable read.

I mostly enjoyed this book, I too was happy that it didn't involve a tragic accident or illness like many of his other books. The twist at the very end was surprising!

I'm more than 1/2 way done with Safe Haven and I am loving it. I've read many books by this author, and this is def one of my top 3 faves by him. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!

This was my first Nicholas Sparks book. Although it was predictable, I enjoyed most of the book. The last 3rd of the book got a little churchy for me and I could have done without the twist - it was unnecessary.

AWESOME BOOK, ONE OF MY FAVES BY THIS AUTHOR!

Very good book. I didn't expect the twist at the end. I also found the description of Kevin as a character to be very well written! To be able to describe that kind of mind, now that's talent!

Just finished the audiobook. This definitely wasn't your usual NS book. This is probably one of my favorites of his though. I honestly only read the books shortly before the movie version is about to come out. I'll be interested to see this one too. Even though I think that there are always too many changes from the book to the movies that don't seem to be necessary.

I read this one when it first came out, I'm a big fan of his and his not always happy endings. this is one of my favorites because it isn't a typical romance. It reminded me of The Guardian, also by Nicholas Sparks.... not just straightforward boy meets girl. I would recommend him to anyone!

Celine wrote: "Very good book. I didn't expect the twist at the end. I also found the description of Kevin as a character to be very well written! To be able to describe that kind of mind, now that's talent!"

I agree about Kevin; best part of the book for me.

Jaime wrote: "Just finished the audiobook. This definitely wasn't your usual NS book. This is probably one of my favorites of his though. I honestly only read the books shortly before the movie version is about ..."

Curious how they deal with the Jo angle in the movie ...

Yeah we will see about Jo in the movie... I did just read that she's being played by Colbie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother. Love her!

I finished reading it last night. I'd avoided reading N Sparks in the past because his books seemed pretty sappy. i haven't seen the movies, either, although I probably will at some point because I do like the occasional chickflick. Now, about Safe Haven: Until the end it was completely predictable, and the characters are beyond cliche. The loving husband, the evil husband, the saintly & beautiful wives, the sweet, perfect boy and girl who fish and play with dolls, respectively (they have no internet in small town N. Carolina?). And, a scene near the end that's practically stolen from the Julia Roberts' movie on the same theme (now, that's not giving too much away, is it?) In the plus column, the characters were likable, you couldn\t help but want everything to work out and it was a good story of courage and perseverence. I suppose all romance have to be cliched to some degree... I don't want to be all cynical, but this is my reaction. It was an enjoyable book, no huge complaints, but nothing to rave about.

Ashley wrote: "Yeah we will see about Jo in the movie... I did just read that she's being played by Colbie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother. Love her!"

Interesting casting choice ...

I love Nicholas Sparks books and read all but Three Weeks with My Brother. They all are full of emotion and most make me sob out loud at some point. I have to admit Safe Haven is not one of my favorites though & was suprised it was made into a movie so quickly. Nights in Rodanthe is my favorite, as well as The Notebook, The Wedding, and A Walk to Remember.

Looking forward to coming weeks to get new ideas.

Has anyone ever seen Sleeping With Enemy, the Julia Roberts movie? I think Safe Haven has already been made. Yes, there are a few differences but the two are eerily similar. It is still an interesting story and I liked the way Nicholas Sparks told it but, really I've already seen it on the big screen.

Nakia wrote: "Has anyone ever seen Sleeping With Enemy, the Julia Roberts movie? I think Safe Haven has already been made. Yes, there are a few differences but the two are eerily similar. It is still an inter..."

I agree there are big similarities and was thinking that all through the book.

I finished Safe Haven this evening. I have read a few of Nicholas Spark's books. I liked this one and was surprised at the twist at the end. Like others have already mentioned I also thought a lot about Sleeping With the Enemy while reading it. I think it's because of the theme and the carnival etc. A lot of similarities. I like reading the book before the movie comes out so I'm sure I will be checking out the movie in Feb.

liked the book but was a little predictable. glad it had that "twist" so I enjoyed the ending a bit more.