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Souvenir
In this powerful fiction debut, Therese Fowler combines the emotional resonance of Nicholas Sparks with the intense, true-to-life richness of Jodi Picoult to create a stunning and dramatic novel all her own.
Meg Powell and Carson McKay grew were raised side by side on their families’ farms, bonded by a love that only deepened. Everyone in their small rural community in nort...more
Meg Powell and Carson McKay grew were raised side by side on their families’ farms, bonded by a love that only deepened. Everyone in their small rural community in nort...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
February 12th 2008
by Ballantine Books
(first published January 1st 2007)
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What a great book this one is. To give you a short description, the story revolves around Meg Powell and Carson McKay. Through their childhood and teenage years they were best friends moving on to being lovers and true soul mates. But then Meg was faced with a marriage proposal from another man and she made a choice to accept it and put her ‘puppy’ love behind (I write ‘made a choice’ because I believe we always have a choice even though those of you who already read it or will read might not ag...more
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view 1 comment
Nov 10, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
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Reviewed by Amanda Dissinger for TeensReadToo.com
SOUVENIR is a heart-wrenching novel in the vein of Nicholas Sparks' THE NOTEBOOK and A WALK TO REMEMBER.
It is a novel about lost love, the possibility of second chances, and the fate that brings us all together.
Meg is a doctor with a sixteen-year-old daughter, and a businessman husband. Things seem to be normal in her life; she's stable at home, and she loves her job. However, she's still holding on to many secrets from her past, including a mis...more
SOUVENIR is a heart-wrenching novel in the vein of Nicholas Sparks' THE NOTEBOOK and A WALK TO REMEMBER.
It is a novel about lost love, the possibility of second chances, and the fate that brings us all together.
Meg is a doctor with a sixteen-year-old daughter, and a businessman husband. Things seem to be normal in her life; she's stable at home, and she loves her job. However, she's still holding on to many secrets from her past, including a mis...more
This book is all about what it is we do for love--love of parents, of children,
of siblings, of the boy next door. Meg Powell and the next door boy Carson McKay were inseparable since their 5 and 6 year old selves met on the country
school bus. They were even going to get married--until suddenly Meg was offered an opportunity to help her dirt poor parents and 3 sisters have a much better life. At the cost of her happiness and great secrecy. Flash forward 16
years and all of the same players are...more
of siblings, of the boy next door. Meg Powell and the next door boy Carson McKay were inseparable since their 5 and 6 year old selves met on the country
school bus. They were even going to get married--until suddenly Meg was offered an opportunity to help her dirt poor parents and 3 sisters have a much better life. At the cost of her happiness and great secrecy. Flash forward 16
years and all of the same players are...more
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Wow! What a moving and intriguing novel. Meg, faced with difficult decisions and the love for her family, does what she thinks is right for everyone else. From the beginning of the story until the end Meg puts others before her, sometimes at great cost to herself.
Meg led a good life - with a wonderful career, a beautiful daughter and a fancy lifestyle. The only trouble was she was not in love with her husband, as she never truly got over her first love. She worked hard at caring for others - he...more
Meg led a good life - with a wonderful career, a beautiful daughter and a fancy lifestyle. The only trouble was she was not in love with her husband, as she never truly got over her first love. She worked hard at caring for others - he...more
I loved so many things about the book, mostly how Therese took the reader from 'commercial' fiction to 'literary' fiction (I hate labels but need one or the post will be forever!) The theme's were deep, I am grateful for the courageous stand Therese took with her first novel.
"Fiction is where you get to read the truth" holds true for this novel. Deep Spiritual truths like you can't always control what happens to you, but you can control how your respond. The brutal nature of regrets in this nove...more
"Fiction is where you get to read the truth" holds true for this novel. Deep Spiritual truths like you can't always control what happens to you, but you can control how your respond. The brutal nature of regrets in this nove...more
I can't believe all of the favorable reviews that this book has generated. I couldn't read past the first 75 or so pages. It all felt very Lifetime movie to me with plastic characters and a less than interesting storyline. I don't think she writes that well. I've lost interest in reading her debut effort and will be posting that book onto my bookshelf shortly.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Did not like this book for a few reasons... #1) subject matter such as teenage sex and drug use, #2) some bad language, #3) the storyline turned out to be plain dumb, and #4) because I would consider myself to be a pretty picky reader. Most of all, though, the characters in this book didn't have the best morals and it bugged me.
3 likes · like · see review
In this powerful fiction debut, Therese Fowler combines the emotional resonance of Nicholas Sparks with the intense, true-to-life richness of Jodi Picoult to create a stunning and dramatic novel all her own.
Meg Powell and Carson McKay grew were raised side by side on their families’ farms, bonded by a love that only deepened. Everyone in their small rural community in northern Florida thought that Meg and Carson would always be together. But at twenty-one, Meg was presented with a marriage propo...more
Meg Powell and Carson McKay grew were raised side by side on their families’ farms, bonded by a love that only deepened. Everyone in their small rural community in northern Florida thought that Meg and Carson would always be together. But at twenty-one, Meg was presented with a marriage propo...more
I'm kind of partial to this book, it being my first published novel and all. :)
9 likes · like · see review
For some reason a lot of the reviews compare this to Nicholas Sparks; it's not like that - it is good.
I agree with the reader who said she was really surprised. I read the prologue and almost didn't continue because I was expecting a soap opera-y potboiler and found a very realistic story about people making hard choices and having real problems and found myself moved to tears for the first time since I first read "Cider House Rules" maybe 20 years ago. I've found myself "too busy" to read a lot...more
I agree with the reader who said she was really surprised. I read the prologue and almost didn't continue because I was expecting a soap opera-y potboiler and found a very realistic story about people making hard choices and having real problems and found myself moved to tears for the first time since I first read "Cider House Rules" maybe 20 years ago. I've found myself "too busy" to read a lot...more
I'm not an expert i just know what i like, and i really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters. I loved that it was so real. I really felt for Meg. I'm someone who always sacrifices for others, and this really hit home & told me i need to really live and not waste my life. (even though i am really young).Carson was a great character( i wanted him and Meg together so bad!) i fell inlove with his character. I definently cried a waterfall when meg was suffering with the disease. As it moved...more
This is a very compelling story. What would you do if you were terminally ill with a disease that would rob your body of the ability to move? ALS is akin to being buried alive--your body wastes away leaving you immobile while your mind remains fully functioning. I know because I watched as this hideous disease ravaged my mother's body. Therese skillfully captures the emotional and physical impact as well as the repercussions that the disease can have on the lives of family and friends. I highly...more
Even if I love romantic novels, surprisingly, I do not like this book at all. I feel that the story is too contrived.
I knew the ending even before I was halfway through the book and that is not good at all.
I wish the twist was really a twist and not just a curve.
I wish that the love lives of the two female leads turned out differently because this one just reminds me of the soap operas I see on TV.
I do not recommend this book to anyone. Only those with nothing to do should read this.
Maybe I shou...more
I knew the ending even before I was halfway through the book and that is not good at all.
I wish the twist was really a twist and not just a curve.
I wish that the love lives of the two female leads turned out differently because this one just reminds me of the soap operas I see on TV.
I do not recommend this book to anyone. Only those with nothing to do should read this.
Maybe I shou...more
I picked this book up from my book club not knowing anything about it and I have to say I loved it. Maybe because I saw my first boyfriend this week for dinner and my mother was in town, I don't know but the writing was excellent, the premise of the story was captivating. It was the first novel for the writer and I think I will have to check her other books out. After reading this book it promoted a long, intense dicussion with my husband and I and I think that is proof that the author was compe...more
The beginning of this book was interesting enough, but suddenly it turned into Lifetime TV for Women. I finished the book to see where it was going but I really didn't enjoy it. Cheesy ending. The other problem is the author gave too much attention to the 'good' guys in the story. I would have loved to hear from Meg's husband point of view too. Does he really love her, how did her illness effect him, along with her decisions, etc. Certainly would have given the story a bit more depth, than just...more
Souvenir is about living with the choices that have shaped and altered life.
Meg Powell and Carson McKay are childhood sweethearts and soul mates who were meant to be together. Meant to marry and make a life together. Then circumstances present Meg with an opportunity to better the lives of her loved ones, or so she thinks. Although, her decision to marry another man means sacrificing her future with Carson she resolutely accepts the opportunity, a reflection of her nature as the family caregive...more
Meg Powell and Carson McKay are childhood sweethearts and soul mates who were meant to be together. Meant to marry and make a life together. Then circumstances present Meg with an opportunity to better the lives of her loved ones, or so she thinks. Although, her decision to marry another man means sacrificing her future with Carson she resolutely accepts the opportunity, a reflection of her nature as the family caregive...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I read the prologue online and was hooked. The prologue introduced the main character, the love of her life and showed their last moment together before she had to marry a different man...but the love of her life doesn't know she 'has' to marry the other man.
The rest of the book didn't grip me as much as the prologue but it was still good. I really connected with the MC and the sacrifices she made in life...I could definitely sympathize with this character. And I think this author did a stellar...more
The rest of the book didn't grip me as much as the prologue but it was still good. I really connected with the MC and the sacrifices she made in life...I could definitely sympathize with this character. And I think this author did a stellar...more
I was a little disapointed in the turn that this book took. I liked the characters and the love story. I wish that the author did not drag on the ALS as much and the ending was blah. I thought the author developed the characters and made me feel like I knew them, but then it just fizzled. I would not compare Therese Fowler to Nicholas Sparks. I rated this as "I liked it", which I did. I coudnt put it down becuase I wanted to see what happened next. But then about 3/4 the way through I caught mys...more
most amazing book i've read in a while. Everything this mother goes through to help her parents keep their farm. an the unhappiness she endured giving up the person she felt was her soulmate to help her parents. All the unknown questions she didnt have answers to an left the world still not knowing the one she wanted to most. Im glad she got to spend as much time as she could with her daughter. i dont think she was being selfish with how the book end. its a must read in my opinion.
Meg Powell has been diagnosed with a deadly illness at the same time that her childhood sweetheart re-enters her life. Carson Mckay is a famous musician who is idolised by Meg's daughter Susannah.
The story follows how Meg struggles t come to terms with her illness and how her life turned out after she left Carson and married her husband. At the same time her daughter ends up in a dangerous sexual relationship with someone she met online.
The story follows how Meg struggles t come to terms with her illness and how her life turned out after she left Carson and married her husband. At the same time her daughter ends up in a dangerous sexual relationship with someone she met online.
Meg and Carson are a couple destined to be together- when the rich boy who owns most of the town essentially offers to get Meg's family out of debt if she marries him, she agrees- one last tryst with Carson leaves Meg pregnant and unsure of the paternity of her daughter. The decision to save her family over her one true love sets off a turn of events that takes decades to sort out. A sudden and fatal illness leaves Meg wishing she had more time with her coming of age daughter, with her 3 sisters...more
This book is definitely not a light read. It's pretty heavy and emotional, but I enjoyed it very much. The characters were strong and very realistic. The characters take you along on a roller coaster ride of events in their lives and with those events a roller coaster of emotions.
If you're looking for a quick and light hearted read, save this book for another time. But I definitely recommend it, just have a box of tissues nearby.
If you're looking for a quick and light hearted read, save this book for another time. But I definitely recommend it, just have a box of tissues nearby.
I vacillated between not really not liking the story line of this book and not being able to put it down. I was not prepared to be saddened and sometimes even angry when reading this story, so in the book's defense, it's not at all what I was expecting. That being said, it's a good story that does make you think. The major turnoff for me in this book was related to Savannah; her character seemed to be somewhat thrown together and her part in the story line was too fantastic and unbelievable some...more
I'm not sure what to think about this book. The premise is a little unbelievable - parents' debt paid off if daughter will marry suitor. Resulting husband becomes distant and uninvolved, though you would expect him to be controlling. Rejected lover becomes famous rock star and pines for lost love. Questionable paternity. Terminal disease. The biggest issue I have is that the main character, Meg, just isn't very likeable. Still, I kept reading.
I liked this one a lot better than I thought I would! It's a little bit love story and a little bit life/regret/redemption and has a dash of social issues thrown in. A touch sappier than I typically prefer, but Fowler handled the various subject matters adeptly and without the typical sugary sweetness that turns my stomach.
The characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional; I had no trouble identifying with them and their various positions, simultaneously, which added a nice degree of comp...more
The characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional; I had no trouble identifying with them and their various positions, simultaneously, which added a nice degree of comp...more
What can I say--my mom left it after her last visit and I was curious. It was sad, but sort of a romance novel in slightly more sophisticated clothing (the guy doesn't get the girl, and there's less bodice-ripping). Actually, I take that back--there's not that much sex, so it's more like Jodi Picoult (the one book I read of hers, anyway) with a bit more depth. I wouldn't buy it, but I didn't hate it.
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I don't normally read this kind of fiction and had absolutely no idea what the plot line was. I was pleasantly surprised. I always looked at these kind of books as cynical attempts to tug at the heart strings of women who were a bit gullible, and maybe a bit lonely. Perhaps a lot of them are but I really enjoyed this one. It didn't back away from any harsh truths and it didn't sugarcoat things. It did make me a bit sad but then I think if you're not sad after reading this then you have no soul.
When I bought this book, all I was expecting from the blurb on the back was a nice love story, but I was put right circa in the middle of the book. I couldn't put it down and had a sad expression on my face or was even sobbing during the second half of the book.
It's such a tragic story, that made me think about life, how valuable family is and that some decisions just can't be undone!
It's such a tragic story, that made me think about life, how valuable family is and that some decisions just can't be undone!
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