Rating: Summary: Sweet... sentimental... loved it! Review: With apologies to all those literary types who bash all books that don't deal in misery, angst, abuse, and the worst possible traits in human nature, A Bend in the Road is a great read. It is sweet, sentimental, and down-to-earth. The characters aren't terribly emotionally damaged. If you're looking for angst and abuse and the whine-whine-whine of "literary" fiction, you probably won't like this one, but, if you're a regular person, looking for a book that's uplifting and real, you will love Nicholas Sparks. If you love Nicholas Sparks, you will probably also love Wait Till Next Year, by Dorris Kerns Goodwin, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, and Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate -- a few more of my sentimental favorites.
Rating: Summary: Much ado about nothing. Review: This is the first book by Sparks that I've read. I've seen his books on bestseller lists and expected more. The plot was contrived, the abrupt ending too neat and convenient, and the characters unconvincing. The book seemed more like an extended Good Housekeeping romance story...maybe that's what Sparks writes. If so, this will be the last book of his that I read. I suppose I need to remember that "bestseller" does not mean literary excellence.
Rating: Summary: Predictable...but who cares! I love Nicholas Sparks!! Review: Even though this book wasn't much of a "mystery"---I had it figured out pretty early on---I still loved it. I'm a sucker for a sentimental story and Nicholas Sparks is the best in this area of writing.
Rating: Summary: If you liked "Dick and Jane," you'll love this one... Review: The tedium of reading one cliche after another becomes incredibly bothersome; like ploughing through a thick corn field...and I do mean "corn."I am currently listening to this book on tape, and just had to comment on it. It's so easy to "read" that it is actually hard to read. It plods. It never meets a cliche it doesn't like. All children "nod" their assent to adult questions. The hero's palms never fail to "sweat" when he comes near his lady love. A curt "Thanks!" never fails to rear its cheery little head when the hero is complimented. People look off into the distance sadly, see a boat, a tree, a bench. If you are looking for minimalism in writing...if you are looking for writing that is barely there at all...this is definitely the book for you . He's done a clever thing: set it up so you want to find out who murdered the hero's wife. If it weren't for that one carrot leading you on, you'd throw up your hands and say, "Get out of my face with your really bad writing, Mr. Sparks," and toss the book (or tape) into the trash (or return it to the library, in my case). But we plod on. Listening to the "warm." The ending better be good.
Rating: Summary: A Bend In The Road: A Review by Mike Harden Review: I have read all of Nicholas Sparks romantic novels and I have to say, this one had to be one of his best. It took me 3 re-news at the library to finish it. I LOVED IT! I goto bed at 10:00 since I am 13, and when it was time for me to go, I was whining "I want to read more"! He kept me on the side of my seat for this one! In all, I give Nicholas Sparks' A Bend In The Road a 5/5! GREAT JOB!
Rating: Summary: Awesome! Review: This book was by far the best book I think I have ever read. Nicolas Sparks shines in this wonderful book that he has written, and I couldn't put it down the whole time I was reading it. There were several parts that I wanted to scream out right then and there saying No! or do something like this! It has an ending I never would have thought would have happened, but all in all I think that this will be my favorite book for a long time. I can totally believe that someday (if not already) this book will be on the Best Seller List. I totally recommend this book to anyone that likes a little bit of everything in their stories.
Rating: Summary: A Bend in the Road Review: This particular book is awesome although there are cliches throughout the content. Nicholas Sparks does a wonderful job of combining the third person and first person narrative. This book is great for either pleasure or a college discussion class.
Rating: Summary: GREAT READ Review: This was the first book by Nicholas Sparks that I have read and I absoluetly loved it. It was recommended by a friend and now I want more of Nicholas's books. It was a great romance with a little crime suspense and a great twist at the end!
Rating: Summary: A Great Book Review: This was the first book I read by Nicholas Sparks. From the very first page to the very last, I couldn't put this book down. It kept me guessing what was going to happen next. This was a wonderful book that is well worth taking that time to read.
Rating: Summary: Very predictable, average book, but still enjoyable. Review: The last two Sparks books I've read, The Rescue and this one, have just not moved me the way The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, and A Walk to Remember did. A Bend in the Road was so predictable, that the big revelation lost all of its impact. I did however enjoy the love story of Miles and Sarah and the setting. But that is always two of the author's strengths - characters that you care about, and wonderfully descriptive narrative. I'll read his next book, but the author is on "probation" now as far as I'm concerned.
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