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141st out of 1,138 books
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1,080 voters
The Sunflower
"Seek not your destiny, for it is seeking you."
In the wake of personal tragedy, two people meet on a humanitarian mission in Peru. Christine is a shy, unadventurous woman whose fiancee broke off the engagement only a week before the wedding, and Paul is a former emergency room doctor whose glamorous lifestyle, stellar reputation, and beautiful fiancee are cruelly snatched...more
In the wake of personal tragedy, two people meet on a humanitarian mission in Peru. Christine is a shy, unadventurous woman whose fiancee broke off the engagement only a week before the wedding, and Paul is a former emergency room doctor whose glamorous lifestyle, stellar reputation, and beautiful fiancee are cruelly snatched...more
Hardcover, 334 pages
Published
October 4th 2005
by Simon & Schuster
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I would add this book to the Top 5 list but I don't know what I would kick off! It is all I can do to not start reading it again...right now and I jusr finished it. It was a good mix between a love story, adventure and finding a purpose in this world. It is a quick, easy read.
I read this for book club and probably wouldn't have picked it up other wise. But, I enjoyed it. Don'tcha just love that about book club!? It was a quick read with a sweet love story. The reality of the world is sometimes hard to read about, but it is good to take the blinders off for a second and recognize that my problems aren't the worst the world has to offer. It certainly stirred up my "Momma-bear" feelings for all those children who do not feel safe and loved.
I learned what it might be like to go on a volunteer vacation. Reading the book made such an adventure doable and survivable for me.
What helped make it more real was going to the author's website and seeing video footage from El Girasol. That was cool!
I really liked this book. I love happy endings!
What helped make it more real was going to the author's website and seeing video footage from El Girasol. That was cool!
I really liked this book. I love happy endings!
3 likes · like · see review
I liked this book, it made me want to go back to the exciting giddy times of dating (specifically dating my husband.)
I'm not a big fan of modern romance novels, but "The Sunflower" was a basically clean, easy read that kept me entertained on a day spent curled up on the couch with a cold.
That being said, it's probably not one I'll re-read: a little too cliche. Porcelain beauty who faints at the sight of spiders falls for manly man with a gloomy past who wields a machete and has a soft spot for orphaned children... Love at first sight, twists of fate, one nursing the other during a terrible illness, etc. The ro...more
That being said, it's probably not one I'll re-read: a little too cliche. Porcelain beauty who faints at the sight of spiders falls for manly man with a gloomy past who wields a machete and has a soft spot for orphaned children... Love at first sight, twists of fate, one nursing the other during a terrible illness, etc. The ro...more
3 likes · like · see review
Excellent book and quick read.
Outstanding book,...loved it.
Summary: In the wake of personal tragedy, two people meet on a humanitarian mission in Peru. Christine is a shy, unadventurous woman whose fiancé broke off the engagement only a week before the wedding, and Paul is a former emergency room doctor whose glamorous lifestyle, stellar reputation, and beautiful fiancée are cruelly snatched from him one fateful, snowy Christmas Eve. Deep in the Amazon jungle, against a backdrop of poverty and heartbreak, they must confront their deepest fears and, toge...more
Fun and delightful though thoroughly predictable. The author has a simple, easy and conversational style in writing which for some reason I just enjoy. Overall, the book probably deserves 3 stars, but it earns 4 stars from me for 3 reasons: 1) It was a fun and worthwhile read; 2) I loved reading about and enjoying his descriptions of jungle Peru and the culture(s) there and 3) (and this is the most important reason) I am truly inspired by someone who uses their resources to relieve suffering whe...more
Complex themes, and a compelling story.
It was a sweet book. The characters where believable, and the situation was plausible. (in fact I have had this happen to some friends) Paul was a doctor that after loosing several patients and being sued (although he won the cases) was disillusion and went in search of something great. He ended up at the sunflower orphanage in peru and helping with the street kids. He was there for about 4yrs. Christine had just been jolted a week before her wedding. Her friend jessica was trying to help her so...more
Christine's fiance breaks their engagement one week before the wedding. In the weeks that follow, Christine's best friend Jessica signs the two of them up for a humanitarian trip to Peru, believing that getting Christine out of town for awhile will help her heal. Their first service stop in Peru is at an orphanage, El Girasol (the Sunflower). Christine's heart goes out to the kids, and also to Paul Cook, the Dr. serving as director. As a result of circumstances, Paul ends up accompanying the gr...more
If it was not for this story to be true, I would had hated it: it's a love story that really quite unbelievable and crazy to be for real, but it is. It's also more than just a love story, it's about helping others who are less fortunate by volunteering in Peru. It was a really easy read. I read it in 3 days, something that doesn't happen with me, but like I said, it was an easy read and it didn't help that I haven't been sleeping well the past week or so, so I'm up reading when I should be sleep...more
Evans' has outdone himself with this touching and heartwarming story! I firmly believe this will be a novel you won't soon forget.
On the back cover, he explains how he got the idea for this story:
"The idea for 'The Sunflower' came to me while I was on a humanitarian mission deep in the Amazon jungle of Peru. I had taken my teenage daughter there, with hopes that she might learn some life lessons about gratitude and love. After more than a week of helping the native tribesmen, my daughter was vis...more
On the back cover, he explains how he got the idea for this story:
"The idea for 'The Sunflower' came to me while I was on a humanitarian mission deep in the Amazon jungle of Peru. I had taken my teenage daughter there, with hopes that she might learn some life lessons about gratitude and love. After more than a week of helping the native tribesmen, my daughter was vis...more
This book is a really easy read! It was the first book I read after the Twilight series and we all know that when your done reading those, you don't want to read anything else! After reading this book I want to go to the South America and do my own humanitarian work there with the people!
1 like · like · see review
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It taught me alot to love those around you and to apreciate the things that I have.
August 4, 2012: I read this book for the second time and I'm proud to say that I liked it better the second time than the first!
August 4, 2012: I read this book for the second time and I'm proud to say that I liked it better the second time than the first!
This was a good book. It goes by quickly and can be read in a day or two. It's about love being found again after true heartbreak. It's also about how service and sacrifice to others has a healing affect in our lives.
As usually the case with Mr. Evans' novels, they are sweet love stories. This one had the benefit of being set in Peru and had lots of interesting information about that country.
Christine had just been dumped on the week over her wedding. Devistated, she joined her best friend on an adventure/mission trip to Peru. They worked in an orphage where she met the doctor, an American expat who came to Peru to save children.
Due to a mishap involving her girlfriend, the doctor joined the group on the res...more
Christine had just been dumped on the week over her wedding. Devistated, she joined her best friend on an adventure/mission trip to Peru. They worked in an orphage where she met the doctor, an American expat who came to Peru to save children.
Due to a mishap involving her girlfriend, the doctor joined the group on the res...more
A good read about rebuilding when you lose hope, there is always someone there for you at the perfect time. Very inspiring!!! Evans puts it all together. Paul In the wake of personal tragedy, two people meet on a humanitarian mission in Peru. Christine is a shy, unadventurous woman whose fiancee broke off the engagement only a week before the wedding, and Paul is a former emergency room doctor whose glamorous lifestyle, stellar reputation, and beautiful fiancee are cruelly snatched from him one...more
This is the most wonderful book I have ever read! I experienced every single emotion while reading it! I cried, I laughed, I was scared... all of it! What a beautiful story, VERY beautifully written! I am definitely keeping this book, and going to read it over again more than once! I LOVED IT! I highly recommend it to everyone! This story has inspired me to be a better person, and to obtain a different outlook on life and career. It's just... touchingly wonderful!! A MUST READ! I planned to read...more
Having never read any of Richard Paul Evans books, I didn't know what to expect. I really enjoyed it. It is about a young woman who just got her heart broken by her fiance who broke off their engagement,so her best friend takes her on a humanitarian expedition to Peru. During this expedition, a beautiful story unfolds about service, children, sacrifice and love. I read it in 2 days while on vacation and would recommend it to anyone.
On a side note, I think I enjoyed it even more for the fact tha...more
On a side note, I think I enjoyed it even more for the fact tha...more
After Christine’s fiancé jilts her just a week before the wedding, her friend Jessica books a trip for the two of them to Peru where, along with sightseeing, they work in an orphanage for street children called El Girasol, or Sunflower. Paul Cook, a doctor working at the mission, had also come there years before after a disastrous event in the hospital where he had worked in the states. There is a real mission called Sunflower in Peru; this novel is largely based on true events and I’m not sure...more
I listened to this book on CD on a road trip a few years ago and the story still resonates with me. I just love this author's style of writing - he keeps the reader interested from the very beginning until the very end of the story. Even my husband was hooked on this book - we loved it so much that we didn't want the book to end - or to have to stop the car when we arrived at our destination because we were so into this book. Fantastic story line, fantastic author - couldn't recommend this book...more
This book is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. Very sweet story, typical Richard Paul Evans ending.
I have to admitt, when I started this book, I was pretty cynical about it. I am not a big Richard Paul Evans fan, as I feel he gets a little too sappy. I was so pleasently surprised with The Sunflower. After the initial set-up of the jilted bride, Christine, whose friend takes her on a service trip to the Amazon, the story got really good.
My favorite part was all I learned about Peru, especially the troubles of the stree children there and throughout the world. It made me want to do something t...more
My favorite part was all I learned about Peru, especially the troubles of the stree children there and throughout the world. It made me want to do something t...more
I really enjoyed this book, very easy to read and get into. It is about two people that go away from lost love to find it in the craziest place. Yet it is not really a love story. I like the adventure that they go on and I think it based on a true story. Most of the story takes place in south america and the amazon where you learn about orphans and at one point it made me want to go on an exhibition to help an orphanage. This story has a great message and one of the coolest parts was the quotes...more
This was a romantic, adventure type book. I related to the main character, (I already forgot her name) because I would not want to go to a jungle where alligators and other scary animals are. I would never go through a jungle when the guide in the front of the line and the one in the back carried a machete in case we were attacked by wild animals. It sort of reminded me of a 'Romancing the Stone' type story. It was heartwarming to hear how tender people are who care for orphans in other countrie...more
I was disappointed with this book. The description at the back showed so much promise, but it did not live up to it at all. Though the story may have potential, the characters and their interactions with each other are unrealistic and often idealistic, as are some situations. The ending is completely far fetched. I like happy endings, but the author really tried too hard. Everything seemed so forced. I agree that the quotes in the book are its best feature. I WANTED to love this book, but in the...more
Cartea are în centrul atenției un medic care renunța la profesia lui după un incident nefericit – Paul Cook, și o tânără părăsită de logodnicul ei cu câteva săptămâni înainte de nuntă – Christine Hollister.
Paul Cook fusese cândva un medic de succes a cărui viață s-a schimbat într-o zi de Crăciun când acesta primește la Urgențe doi pacienți – un băiețel și un bărbat. Îi pierde pe ambii și se simte răspunzător pentru moartea lor chiar dacă a făcut tot ce putea pentru ei. În acea seară decide să re...more
Paul Cook fusese cândva un medic de succes a cărui viață s-a schimbat într-o zi de Crăciun când acesta primește la Urgențe doi pacienți – un băiețel și un bărbat. Îi pierde pe ambii și se simte răspunzător pentru moartea lor chiar dacă a făcut tot ce putea pentru ei. În acea seară decide să re...more
For someone who has recently returned from a volunteer abroad experience this novel speaks volumes...from the children, to the lizards in the bedroom, to the strength and comfort you find in unlikely places. It is all relatable.
I know that the main plot line here is a romantic one, however, it was the underlying message and the volunteer experience that made this book 4 stars for me. I found myself smiling in places where others might be grossed out or untouched...it took me back to my life in M...more
I know that the main plot line here is a romantic one, however, it was the underlying message and the volunteer experience that made this book 4 stars for me. I found myself smiling in places where others might be grossed out or untouched...it took me back to my life in M...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| my thoughts on The Sunflower | 2 | 41 | Nov 19, 2011 04:58pm |
When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written ele...more
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