Rating: 
Summary: My second Sparks novel
Review: "The Wedding" was my first Nicholas Sparks novel and I loved every word. Now, "The Guardian" is my second, and it's every bit as good as my first read. Sparks is one of those authors, like McCrae or Grisham, who can weave a great story, bring us memorable characters, and give us a satisfying ending, all without selling out. The writing is stellar and you truly feel that Mr. Sparks is trying to "give" you something.Also recommended: McCrae's THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: The Gaurdian
Review: This book, The Gaurdian, by Nicholas Sparks is a great book. If you have read any other of his books and did not like them you should still read this one it is much different than any of his others. The book is based in a small North Carolina town, and the main character is Julie Barenson. She is a widow, whose husband died because of a known health problem. She is now trapped in choosing who she wants to be with. Mike,her husband's brother, or Richard, someone she met on the job. She likes them both but cannot chose. All of the sudden something terrible happens and she has to cling on to someone to live and be safe. Her dog is her gaurdian, as she travels on this journey of love and hate. This book is part romance, but definatley more mystery. This plot what was what brought me into the book. The connection between the characters is wonderful.Even if you haven't read any other Nicholas Sparks books you should read this. If you like any kind of romance or mystery this is the book for you. Once you start, you won't stop. Bottom Line: Don't Miss Out! Some other titles written by Nicholas Sparks are: The Wedding, The Rescue, A Bend In The Road, and The Notebook.
Rating: 
Summary: A very disappointing book
Review: If you love your dog like a member of your family, you'll hate this book. If you enjoyed "A Walk to Remember" and "Message in a Bottle" also by Nicholas Sparks, you'll hate this book. On the other hand, if you love slow moving plots with pages and pages of monotonous dialogue and if you love stories about serial murderers who excuse their violence because their mothers were beaten by their fathers and if you love books that are so predictable you can figure out the whole plot by reading the book jacket, then "The Guardian" is a book for you! This is an "Old Yeller" style story: like the long-ago Disney movie, the bad guy dies, the good guys all live happily ever after and Old Yeller gets shot at the end! This book isn't a good love story, unless you count the dog; it isn't a good murder mystery, and it isn't a good fantasy. Rather, it's a chaotic mixture of elements from all three that never quite jell into a coherent or interesting whole. I bought "The Guardian" as an audio book; I wish I had used my money for something better or, at the very least, I wish I had bought it as a cheap paper back!
Rating: 
Summary: trite and predictable
Review: This is the first Nicholas Sparks book I've read and guessed the plotline from the bookjacket summary... not surprisingly, I guessed correctly a very predictable storyline. Though love-obsession is a scary situation to be in, Sparks' writing did not make me feel compassion or empathy for protagonist Julie. I found all of the characters to be very shallow and not well-developed, mostly stereotypical.
Sparks' writing style is clean but uninspired, filled with stock phrases and a bland rhythm (the shouts aren't shouts, the italicized thoughts don't have any weight). Hope that standard writing formula isn't prevalent through all of his books, if I should ever read another book of his again.
Rating:
Summary: thumbs up
Review: It was the first book I've read from Nicholas Sparks and he is one of my best authors because first impression is the last impression. The plot is very new to me. It consists suspense, love and a rejuvenated life of a widow, who gets a big blow when she found herself dating a stalker and a brutal murderer. I feel it can happen in real life as well because there are so many psycho out there. Anyway this book is fabolous and I do recommend everybody read this book. You wont be able to stop coz u will reading as fast as a ferrari.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I cried while reading the Prologue, I cried at the end.... and I couldn't put it down throughout the rest of it! What a great book. A love story AND a thriller. My hat's off to Nicholas Sparks.... I think I found my new favorite author. I recommend this book without hesitation!
Rating:
Summary: The Guardian
Review: "Everything in life happens for a reason." Right? Isn't that what we were always told? "Life goes on. It was meant to be." The unoriginal pep talk of life. Yes, I've heard it all, but come to think of it i have actually started believing it up until i read this book. I beleive that everyone is connected in this world that we may never know about, but it isn't just coincidence that brings us together. It's fate. Nicholas Sparks represents this in his book-The Guardian. All of Nicholas Spark's key ingredients are plastered into this story to make a haunting thriller blended with a beautiful love story with miracles.
When Jim, Julies husband dies of a brain tumor she is left alone. Not to say she doesnt have any friends because she does. Mike, Henry and his wife, and Jims aunt whom she works for a a beauty salon. This is where she meets the unforgetable Richard Franklin, a mysterious man who starts off nice enough and charming to Julie who had just jumped back into the dating scene 4 years after her husbands death. Soon though, he becomes a constant threat in her life, and she finds herself running from the life she loves. Mike, who was Jims best friend growing up becomes person who Julie can trust with her life.
Each chapter seems to bring a new story and will leave readers in awe after it is over. The constant question will go through the readers mind: "Whats going to happen next?!"
Nicholas Sparks has created a book that has a knack for drawing tears and spreading smiles. This is a book is great for highschoolers and beyond. I'm going to keep this by my side until im old and gray.
Rating: 
Summary: luke warm
Review: Predictable, luke warm plot, but I loved the charaters. I just wish the reading had more zing.
Rating:
Summary: Best book by Sparks yet!
Review: I have read all of Nicholas Sparks' books, and this was my favorite. It is different from all of his other books. It's still a love story, but mixed with some mystery and Drama. I'm sure if you have read one of his books, you've read them all or on your way to reading them all, but if you haven't read any yet, definitally try this one out.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it
Review: This was a decent read, but not what I expected. Kudos to Mr. Sparks for switching things up and trying new things. I've read a good bit of romantic suspense though and this just didn't stand out from the usual girl-in-jeopardy story. I loved the dog though. Mike and Julie were likable. Richard was hatable. Andrea was pitiable. Probably only Mabel, Henry and Emma were interesting and they didn't do anything. Their characters had little quirks though like Mabel's disappearance and reappearance (that'd make a great book) or Emma's unexpected advice to always marry someone who loves you more when it seems she's the one who adores Henry. There weren't many surprises from the main characters, but it was a fun ride. I appreciate authors who try different things.
|
