The Notebook

Rating:
Summary: More sap than maple syrup
Review: I'm not sure why certain romance novels seem to "catch on" and become mega-bestsellers while others are relegated to the pink-and-baby-blue-softcolor shelves. In this case, I don't see what all the hype is about. There are much better books out there to spend your time with.

Rating:
Summary: blechh!
Review: This is mass marketing at its best and fiction at its very, very worst. If you want true love & romance, try reading Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or O Pioneers. The writing is laughable, though Mr. Sparks looks good on the jacket photo :)

Rating:
Summary: A Folksie Romeo & Juliet with a twist.
Review: My sister recommended this book to me because of the similarities to my parents and our own family. The interweaving of the current with the stories of the past keeps the narrative interesting and builds some dramatic tension. I get warm fuzzies reading this story of well worn love. It speaks a timeless message in a day when we need to hear it. I think the book could become a classic in time like "It's a Wonderful Life".

Rating:
Summary: Pass the tissues - you'll need them!
Review: A friend of mine strongly suggested this story because I was raised by my grandparents and she thought I would relate to the story and enjoy it - which I did whole-heartedly. I read the first 30 pages at a slow pace and crying almost immediately after I picked up the book. After letting the book collect dust for about two months, I picked it up again last night and did not put it down until I finished late in the evening. The story was beautifully written and took you through every emotion you could imagine. It was especially hard to get through towards the end when Allie and Noah are in the nursing home and Allie suffers from Altzheimer's. Having suffered through this with my own grandmother only a year ago, I know the pain of having someone you love so dearly not recognize you. I cried for about an hour and a half when I was reading the ending chapters of the book. I am now a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks and look forward to the movie that I'm sure will come soon - I just hope it can live up to the book! I'll bring a whole box of kleenex to that show!

Rating:
Summary: Whether young and in love or old and gray, a must read!
Review: This is one of the most touching books I've ever read. It is a small book, but the lesson and story it tells is wonderful. After reading it I told the story to my husband. It is a testament to true love and how to make it last. Everyone should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Fast, entertaining, romantic reading.
Review: I liked this story for it was just perfect. Well written and believable. I can see why it became a New York Times Best Seller. The beginning was easy to get into. Also, so many books I read do tend to drag on, but this story ended just perfectly. The character development was just right, for I could feel for everyone. Even though I thought the story was a bit predictable, like a Harqulin romance, I still enjoyed it and would readily recommend it to others.

Rating:
Summary: The best love story I`ve ever read or seen or heard of.
Review: I bought this book in London on my vacation and it was read in only three days. It is so wonderful to never forget one summer and one and only girl for the rest of the time. And to find her one day again... Sparks describes the events so wonderful that I thought I was it myself. In the end his wife doesn`t know Noah anymore and that was so sad that I cried when I read it and I cried when I told my boyfriend about this lovestory. There couldn't be a better end. Always Happy End is boring.

Rating:
Summary: MAKE THAT MINUS ONE.
Review: I paid money for this and what I got was a stupid re-hash of all the other romantic novels I have read in my teen years. Gooey, sappy, this thing was a virtual maple tree of goop. C'mon. Stop buying trash like this. WHERE CAN I SEND IT BACK FOR A REFUND. Excuse me, I think I'll vomit first. Oy.

Rating:
Summary: MY FAVORITE STORY OF LOVE
Review: I WEPT OPENLY AT THE END OF THIS STORY. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO ENJOYABLE. SPARKS MAKES YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AND SHOWS HOW IT CAN HELP YOU TO OVERCOME EVEN THE HARDEST THINGS THAT WE ARE SOMETIMES FORCED TO FACE IN LIFE. I LOVED THE ENDING, THE CHARACTERS, EVERY ASPECT OF THIS BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO READ..

Rating:
Summary: Love Endures.....wrapped up into a simple unforgettable book
Review: This simple story about love in one of (hopefully) many lifetimes is very inspiring. It reinforced in my mind that as long as you have your soulmate, everything else can be conquered. If you are looking for a book that is straightforward and honest, give this one a try. I cried through a lot of it...tears of happiness, even when it was sad, because (even though it is tough) Allie and Noah are together, forever.