Rating: 
Summary: An insult
Review: Cliche plot, cliche sentences, unoriginal, unmoving: John Locke was correct when he said that in a capitalistic society mediocrity would rule, would rise to the top, but he NEVER prepared us for this!!!where is the Salinger of our time???!!!
Rating:
Summary: DON'T BUT THIS BOOK!
Review: I returned this book after reading ten pages. It should be listed under "true crime", b/c it's just that!
Rating:
Summary: oh, lord
Review: I guess it's inevitable that we will always suffer such trite, shallow, obvious, moneygrubbing writing as this schlock, each and every year. One would think Mr. Sparks would at least have the shame to use a psueodnym
Rating: 
Summary: Not much of a story.
Review: This isn't the worst book I've read, but I can't understand why it's been a bestseller so long. There's hardly any story here. I'm not unromantic, and the love between the main characters is sweet and enduring, but that's not enough to make this a good book. I was 14 pages from the end and had no trouble waiting a day to finish it. Actually, the only thing that got me through the whole book was to see what the big deal was. And I still don't know. Sorry, Nicholas.
Rating:
Summary: Contrived to bring tears in a most unoriginal manner.
Review: I love a good, romantic story as much as anyone, but this story is a huge waste of time. Its only salvation is that it's short. After the first few pages, the rest of the book is entirely predictable and unoriginal. What would you call the written equivalent to a paint by number picture?
Rating:
Summary: truly mediocre
Review: Yikes! How can so many seemingly bright readers fall for this maudlin and implausible tale of sex on the deathbed? Friends with whom I have agreed on many other books told me would love it, warned me to keep tissues nearby.... tissues unnecessary except to stifle my alternating giggling and gagging. Probably the best thing I can say about this book is that it's marginally better than Bridges of Madison County: the worst thing? That it's sophomoric and maybe little bit gross. That final image actually made me say, "Eeuww!" Yucky. No, wait -- here's the worst thing I could say: It was obviously written with a movie in mind. Maybe the movie will actually be better in the same way Bridges made for a better film than novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, but after a while "get on with it" response.
Review: I enjoyed the book and felt empathy for Noah and Allie, although, at times during the description of their second meeting I just wanted to shout "GET ON WITH IT--QUIT BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH!!!" Sometimes, I felt the "mushiness" was overdone -- I wondered what these people did all day other than profess their undying love for each other. The reader was left with the impression that they hourly declared their love. I realize the story was about their love and not about the non-essentials of their lives, but I just wondered if they did anything else. I had trouble believing that for 14 years these people had met no one that was suitable, and that this love lingered from their teenage years when people are notorious for weekly new-loves. I don't think they had the maturity at their first meeting to recognize and value characteristics that they did, and at that age, their own values and characteristics are subject to fluctuation. That was a turn-off! to the reader. I think if the characters had been older at their first meeting it would have been more believable. I enjoyed the later years more - nursing home scenario and his feelings towards her. I think that was more in touch with reality. If you've spent 49 yrs with someone (in harmony) you would be devastated by Alzheimers and would do anything to try to reverse it and would miss the person enormously. I enjoyed the book, but one reading was enough(hearing actually, I checked out the audio form the local library) - I would not purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Touching story and a great resource
Review: I found myself being quickly drawn into this story and found an awareness about Alzheimers that was very touching. I had to share this with others and found myself buying multiple copies to give to friends and family. I have since then shared many conversations with others about the stages of Alzheimers and how their loved ones may be at a certain stage as mentioned in the book. I was very impressed with this story. Because of the sections that were rather sexual, I was reluctant to offer it to a priest I am friends with, but the message is so important to share with others, I hope many will read this book. Kudos to Nicholas, I am presently reading Message in the Bottle and am enjoying it as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Sickenling Sweet Tear-Jerker
Review: While the concept of this novel is not very original, I liked the sandwich effect of time (present, past, present). This technique added a enough tension to spur me on and finish the book. I found last portion of the book to be the most enjoyable, though I had some difficulty because I was crying most of the way through. Sparks does a good job tugging at your heart strings and I believe the movie version of this book will be just as successful as "The Bridges of Madison County". A great book for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: Actually, no stars for Nicholas Sparks
Review: Nicholas Sparks seems to be under the mistaken impression that mediocre writing and a contrived plot can be hidden under adjectives and long-winded description. It can't. This is writing for money's sake, without any poetry, emotion, or heart. About four pages into the book, the reader basically can figure out the gist of the plot. And did we really need that five-page description of cooking a crab dinner? Allie and Noah are merely caricatures of actual human beings, and Sparks barely touches real human emotion here.. All in all, a disappointing and actually unbearable reading experience.
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