Rating: 
Summary: Film Won Me Over; Now to Read the Book
Review: I am not averse to sappy love stories, but the film's trailer gave hint to a melodrama I thought I would rather do without. After a brief hesitation, I suggested to my wife that we see the film. The story was predictable and not exactly original, neither of which kept me from crying. I think the story (which I assume, based on the reviews, is even more vivid in the book) will appeal to married couples, to elderly folks who have lost their spouse, and to any romantic who still appreciates a good love story. The one appealing part of the film, which steers away from previous stories of the same genre, is that Noah and Allison are not free from disagreements in their relationship. On the contrary, Sparks makes sure to highlight the extreme disagreements in the relationship. The objective is to show that if you love someone enough, you work at resolving your differences. There is no such thing as a perfect relationship.This story is a fine example of entertainment that is infused with heart, and enough reality that you can relate to the characters. (Who doesn't think about growing old with your loved one, and the issues that come with old age?)
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Love Story
Review: I just finished reading this book and while I was reading it, I couldn't put it down.
I thought it was a great love story and not one that is just all about sex, it touches more on the "sweet" side too. It's incredible how much Noah loved Allie and I loved that about the book because I think that is the kind of love we all would want to have. The reason I didn't give it five stars was because I expected a little more from the end. The ending was ok and I didn't feel frustrated with it but I think the author could've added a little more to it.
Overall I think this is one of the best love stories and the first one I've read because I usually don't get into reading the heated love books but decided to read this one because I wanted to see the movie. It was definately worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Be Careful WHERE You Read this Book
Review: I borrowed this book since "Message in a Bottle" was unavailable at the library. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I brought it to work which was a major faux pas. The story touched my heart and spoke to me in a very strong way. The expressions of love, the devotion, and respect that the characters had for one another reminded me so very much of my relationship with my fiance. A few passages brought tears to my eyes, much to the consternation of my fellow workers and clients. I so loved the simple, yet deep love story that Nicholas Sparks brought to life that I went out and purchased a copy for my fiance. I will give it to him on our wedding day and hope that our love like that of Noah and Allie will stand the test of time. Incidentally I loaned a copy of this book to my younger sister and warned her to find a private place to read "The Notebook". She didn't listen to my advice and read it on the subway - much to the consternation of the other commuters. She in turn loaned it to her sister-in-law with the same warning...
Rating:
Summary: it's the most romantic book i have ever read
Review: i had seen the movie first and than,thought i should read the book. Well,after seeing the movie and reading the book i feel more in love with my boyfriend. it's kinda how me and my boyfriend met like noah and allie. Then we broke up because my (father)didn't like him. We finally got to talking again and i hurt a gentle man like allie did with lon. We have together ever since and i love him each and everyday like allie wrote in her letters to noah. This book was the best book i have ever read.I like to read but, this book is awsome.
Rating: 
Summary: Why did this book get published?
Review: Why is this book so popular and well-loved? I felt nothing for this book as I read it. The characters are amazingly flat, despite the author's neverending attempts to develop them. Sparks' "tell don't show" style is exhausting. The ending is predictable, the plot sloppy. The book contains a surprising number of cliches.
Biggest Disappointment (of Many): Why does the mother spend years keeping Noah's letters from her daughter, only to, all of a sudden, change her mind and come to her daughter's rescue and advise her to follow her heart? The director of the film must have recognized this totally random change of heart on the mother's behalf and demanded a reason be included in the film, but as for the book, who knows? I suppose she just felt like being nice on that particular day.
If you enjoy characters with depth, well-calculated plots, conflicts that don't cut off just before they reach their zenith, and stories that a ten-year-old couldn't predict, I suggest you find something else to read. Or, go see the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Breathtaking
Review: The novel The Notebook is absolutely breathtaking. The Notebook is certainly not your average romance novel, and it is much more complex and realistic than any love story I've ever read, as it truly brought tears to my eyes. Every part of the story was either amazing in how sweet the character's gestures towards one another were or heart-wrenching at some of the painful decisions they had to make and things they had to go through. I've never seen a more incredible picture painted of two people that were so truly, deeply in love.
As the plot of the novel moved slowly forward, I found myself savoring each sensory detail that was portrayed in every activity Noah and Allie did together. It was just amazing to me how Noah and Allie's love seemed to fly off the pages of the book and become something real, a part of me.
I felt that although I haven't been in love like that quite yet, I could relate to how Noah and Allie felt about the different problems they had to go through. I felt m heart breaking as Allie had to make her decision of if she was going to marry Lon, who her parents loved, or Noah, her true love that her parents did not approve of. I mistakened their frustration for my own when they couldn't be together.
When Noah and Allie's teenage love story ends abruptly and I was flashed forwards to an elderly man telling the story of his unstoppable passion for his wife who has Alzheimer's Disease, it all clicked that the elderly couple is Noah and Allie far into their future together, their love still gong strong. Noah is desperately trying to relieve Allie of her disease by reading her the story he wrote of their love in hopes she will recover and remember his name at least so they can love fully once more.
I have never felt so satisfied by an author's attempt at a dramatic twist in a plot or a twisted ending of a story, and I have never been so satisfied overall with a love story. As I closed the book and let my final tears fall, I cried and cried for Noah and Allie's incredible, beautiful and realistic love.
Rating:
Summary: A WONDERFUL BOOK
Review: I enjoyed the movie a lot and decided to read the book. I'm not the type to read books, only when compelled to like after watching the notebook, i read the book version
going into the book, there were no surprises for me in terms of plot. probably the best thing about the book was you get to find out little tid bits of the characters. And some of the letters read were pretty good. but other than that, there wasn't too much i liked. the book centered around a 2 day period, (which is a later scene in the movie and wasnt that bad since that scene was one i enjoyed a lot in the film), with references to the summer. i wanted more of the summer romance because i do not think the book provides much in the way of why they split up. it does take care of logistics, how come she never wrote back, addresses changed, etc. the movie does it so much better. I like movie version Noah much better too and Allie is pretty much the same. And movie version of Allie's mom is better. Basically, I just kept going back to the movie, which isn't a good thing.
There were more dissappointments than highlights, but it isn't all bad, as it kept my interest (even though i knew the plot) and i finished it in one sitting, about 3 hours.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Wonderful Book
Review: I don't normally read romance novels, in fact The Notebook is the first romance novel I have ever read. I had always believed that they weren't entertaining enough and would never hold my attention the way my beloved literary novels do. However, someone recommend that I read this one and over the weekend I decided I would give it a try. I didn't have much else to do and the book is relatively short. I figured it wouldn't take long to read and if I didn't find it interesting I just wouldn't finish it. I did find it interesting and I did finish it. I was surprised at how captivating The Notebook was.
I knew that I was hooked when I read in the first chapter this stirring passage. "There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough." The character goes on to say that this story is either a love story or a tragedy depending on how you look at it, and that he believes it is both. I would have to agree that the story is both a love story and a tragedy.
The Notebook is written in an interesting format. The first chapter and the last chapter are written in First Person from an old man's point of view. Whereas, the rest of the book is written in Third Person as if written by someone outside, looking in. The reader is first introduced to Noah as an old man of 80 years, then taken into a story of his life as a teenager and then adult before moving back into the present (1990s) life of Noah again an old man. At first I was confused by the opening chapter and how the old man tied into the story but before long I realized that the old man of 80 and the young man named Noah were the same. The Notebook is a touching story of lost love that is found again. This book will pull at your heart strings. I even found myself crying while trying to read the last chapter and I am not usually that emotional while reading. It is the perfect book for any romantic, especially those who have lost a love. Don't miss it! Another quick Amazon recommendation I need to make is "The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez -- despite the somewhat offputting title -- an offbeat, very funny, strangely romantic book (one I can't stop thinking about since picking up a used copy off Amazon).
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfection
Review: I recently read this book after I saw the movie, and I wish I had done it in reverse, I think I would have enjoyed the book more. I liked the movie better than the book, which is something that doesn't happen to me very often. I really did like the book, it is a wonderful, classic love story that I find most would enjoy. But I think that the characters in the movie are more realistic than in the book. They are one-dimensional, they have no flaws. In the movie, however, they are shown bickering with each other all the time, and I think that's something people can relate to more. Although, the book draws away from that in the love story itself.
Don't get me wrong, I really loved this story. Sparks handles every scene very well, and you can feel all the emotion that's there, every thought, the sexual tension that building throughout the story until they finally are together again. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone, I read it in maybe about 3 hours, so it's for anyone looking for an easy read. But don't just read the book, definitely see the movie as well.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: This book was perfect, it couldn`t have possibly been any better, I just got to see the movie made of it, WONDERFUL!
This is one grand writer!
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