The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List discussion

Truly if you are going to read a Nicholas Sparks book bring the tissues and read this book. All of his books make me cry so I really have to prep before I read them. This one had me sobbing but I loved every moment of it. I read it before the movie and although they did a good job with the movie you really should read the book. It is the sweetest love story I've read in a long time.

Oh I didnt like this book. In fact i have not liked any Nicholas Sparks book.

I'm not a Nicholas Sparks fan either but I was driving to New York (from MA) and grabbed the book on tape from the library. It was better than just your basic cheesey romance book, definitely more layered than that but it was so freakin sad it pissed me off. I was literally angry that anyone would write something so sad-it felt like cruel and unusual punishment to me!

Michael,

I totally agree! I didn't really expect to like Nicholas Sparks and I didn't, so no surprises there.

I just felt like the story was dragging on and on. Probably also didn't help that I was listening to the audio book and the narrator is just not suited. He sounded like a grandpa, fine for the old Noah but a young Alli doesn't really sound like a grandpa, I would imagine. The story didn't really touch me either. Hm, not my cup of tea, I think.

I just think Nicholas Sparks is mindless sentimental garbage. But that is just my cynical opinon

Michael I sometimes require sentinmental mindless garbage as part of my reading diet. Just as I require carbs as part of my eating diet. I watched the movie again the other night. Sorry you cynics, but I cried again. I love a good too sweet love story!!!!

You cried during the Olympics Penny

i always cry over Nicholas Sparks novels. i guess i don't mind reading sentimental mindless garbage. :)

I judge a book or movie by weather or not it made me cry... lol...I want to be moved and engaged in a book

I have to agree that Nicholas Sparks writes a tear-jerker, but I think the real problem here is that it is misplaced. This is a romance - if it was listed in the romance section, you expect the type of writing you get from Sparks if you are expecting a romance. I have to be in the mood for the tears, but when I am, I always turn to Sparks. The movie was ok, but the book was so much better - and I don't think I could do these books as audio; I think the narrator would bug me too!

The Notebook and The Wedding are the only two Nicolas Sparks books that I have finished reading. His writing is just not my style and I am not a romance reader at all. That being said, I loved these two books. I liked the ups and downs throughout the story and I thought it was nice to have a sad ending to a romance. It seemed to make the story a bit more touching and real. I haven't seen the movie yet because I don't want to ruin the vision in my head from the book. I suppose someday I will cave in and try it because I have heard that the adaptation wasn't that bad!

Oh Laurie the movie was sooo good....total romance though!

I like all of his books. I really liked the tender relationships.

I loved this one!! Made me cry.

I wasn't a fan of this book either. I always dislike when a book says "it will change your life". That's a pretty tall order to promise and this book had it written on the front cover!
Well, change my life it didn't
I thought it was predictable in a "roll your eyes" type of love story. I didn't find it sweet or romantic

The only Nicholas Sparks I've read is A Walk to Remember, and I found it so treacly that I've avoided reading any of his other books.