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230th out of 644 books
—
259 voters
A Perfect Day
Robert Harlan has three loves: his wife, his daughter, and his writing. But when his thirst for success causes him to lose focus on his happy family life, ambition begins to consume him. When a stranger appears with a mysterious message about the brevity of his future, he discovers the truth about himself: who he has become, what he has lost, and what it will take to find...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
October 5th 2004
by Signet
(first published January 1st 2003)
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I've read all of Richard Paul Evans books and this is by far my favorite. It's not as sappy romantic as his others and it made me cry. It's about a guy who loses his job then finally fulfills his dream of writing a novel. He quickly finds huge success then realizes how hard it is to balance family and his touring. He meets a man who knows intimate details of his life and tells him he's gonna die on New years and it makes him start to re-prioritize his life. It's a tear-jerker so be warned!
Have you ever achieved something that you wanted so badly and then once you got it, it only ended up ruining your life instead of making it happier ? For Robert Harlan, he always dreamed of becoming a writer and eventually four years later when he lost his job, he finally finished his book A Perfect Day , a book based on the last few months his wife Allyson and her father Carson had together before he passed away with Cancer. Robert sends out the book to twenty-five publishing agents and one fin...more
Dec 04, 2010
Alisha
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christmas,
contemporary-fiction
Okay, so A Perfect Day is so not the type of book that I usually read. It's a bit on the sappy, romantic side and that just doesn't appeal to me half the time. However, I have an intense love for Christmas movies and unbeknownst to me at the time, the movie was based on the book (I seriously groaned out loud when I started the DVD and it said "Based on the novel by Richard Paul Evans" as I like to read the book THEN watch the movie). Since I loved the movie and thought it was a sweet, yet angsty...more
Somehow my written review got deleted which is a good thing for Mr. Evans should anyone take my reviews to heart. Those who have read my reviews of JPEs work know I love most of what he writes. I thought "The Last Promise" and "The Carousel" were top notch. While I found much of this novel interesting (since like the hero I am an author with a first novel just released) I felt two things that kept me from embracing this work. First, I thought the hero was far from sympathetic. Despite his hard w...more
Another wonderful book by Richard Paul Evans! It is a book about learning what your priorities are and should be. A man has his dreams come true with a best selling book about his wife's life. What looks like the best thing that could ever happen to him isn't all that great. He loses his priorities in the middle of his new exciting life. It goes down hill from there for him but the sweet twist that brings this book to an end is great! I recommend it for everyone.
Could Richard Paul Evans' books ever be less than a 5 star? He's amazing. And so are his stories. One thing I didn't think was as realistic was when Ally became upset so quickly with her husband's absence from home. It happened in 4 weeks!! I'd be upset too, if I were her husband. My husband has had to travel quite extensively for his career, and we just deal with it. It doesn't mean he doesn't love me, in fact, quite the opposite. He loves me so much, he's willing to do whatever it takes to kee...more
Normally Evans doesn't write paranormal, but this book interestingly can be interpreted as such. A completely absorbing, probing read featuring an angel type messenger. The hero has three things that matter the most to him: his wife, daughter, and writing. After he writes a novel about his wife and her beloved father, he becomes a bestselling author. Ambition consumes him and his success comes between him and his family and friends. One day, he meets a mysterious stranger who tells him that he h...more
Apr 24, 2010
Erin
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of clean romances
Recommended to Erin by:
picked it for a reading challenge
Shelves:
books-read-in-2010
I know a lot of people who would probably really like this book, but it actually left me not quite satisfied. I really liked the premise of the book; it was just the execution, and the ultimate resolution, that bugged me. I don't want to say too much so that I don't give the end away to those who might read it, but I will say that I think the author copped out of a potentially really strong ending. I do applaud him for trying to do it creatively, but I just didn't buy it.
As for the rest of the b...more
As for the rest of the b...more
Probably my favorite "Richard Paul Evans" book that I have read. I think his style has evolved over the years and his storytelling is drawing me in. (I didn't care for and quit reading his earlier works right after Christmas Box House). The lesson and unexpected twist at the end of this book has stayed with me over the years reminding me what is really important to me in my life.
This is Evans' 8th novel which was just published and released in Sept. 03. I found this novel to be quite different from most of Evans' other novels like "Timepiece", "The Looking Glass" etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel.
From the dust jacket:
"Robert Harlan has three loves in his life: his wife, Allyson; his daughter, Carson; and his writing. A sales rep for a small radio station, he has hopes of one day leaving it all behind for a successful writing career. When he is unexpectedly laid o...more
From the dust jacket:
"Robert Harlan has three loves in his life: his wife, Allyson; his daughter, Carson; and his writing. A sales rep for a small radio station, he has hopes of one day leaving it all behind for a successful writing career. When he is unexpectedly laid o...more
Guy loses his job, wife encourages him to follow his dream and become an author, book and guy becomes successful, marriage falls apart, guy finds out he's going to die, guy tries to fix all the wrongs, finds out he's not going to die after all, the end.
Not the most convincing novel around. I found myself turning it off while driving because his wife is too needy. He's only been away a couple of weeks! What a drama queen.
Author made the life of an author on tour sound like that of a rock star on...more
Not the most convincing novel around. I found myself turning it off while driving because his wife is too needy. He's only been away a couple of weeks! What a drama queen.
Author made the life of an author on tour sound like that of a rock star on...more
reviewed at : Mama Kucing Books :A Perfect Day By Richard Paul Evan
A friend loan me two Richard Paul Evan's book for nearly a year. I have tried reading this a few months ago but the "mood" just wasn't there.Have you ever found yourself to be in need of a certain mood to read a certain book? I have considering to return the books to her without reading but decided to give it a try once again.
The book was based on Ally and her father's relationship and their last days together.
I finished this b...more
A friend loan me two Richard Paul Evan's book for nearly a year. I have tried reading this a few months ago but the "mood" just wasn't there.Have you ever found yourself to be in need of a certain mood to read a certain book? I have considering to return the books to her without reading but decided to give it a try once again.
The book was based on Ally and her father's relationship and their last days together.
I finished this b...more
This book irked me, because of the 'emotional manipulation' cited at one point, by an interviewer of the main character, when he goes on his book tour...
I was waiting for Evans to further investigate this aspect, but he never did. The ruse, of a novelist writing about a novelist, is a good enough plot, yet some of the emotional responses just didn't ring true & I felt manipulated, insincerely by the author.
For instance, if anyone I know had less than 2 weeks to live, they'd spend it with th...more
I was waiting for Evans to further investigate this aspect, but he never did. The ruse, of a novelist writing about a novelist, is a good enough plot, yet some of the emotional responses just didn't ring true & I felt manipulated, insincerely by the author.
For instance, if anyone I know had less than 2 weeks to live, they'd spend it with th...more
I'm kind of embarassed giving 5 stars to a Richard Paul Evans book, but I really, really enjoyed this one! As it is a RPE, it's a very easy read, but I was intrigued by the story and it had a great moral to it, too.
I grabbed this book off a community shelf when I was away for a weekend, which was probably dumb since I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it and would have to leave it there. But then I got sucked in and decided to buy it when I got home. The book must have resonated with me at some previous point in life because I was lying in bed reading it the other night and looked up at my bookshelf only to realize that I already owned this same book in hardback! So now I have two copies! Well, it is proba...more
I have just finished reading the book and I must say it is one of the best book,I have read in recent times .
It tells the story of what are important to us in life and how sometimes we fail to notice them without even realizing . It is the story of realization that what we have in life is for important and interesting than what we don't have .
In the book , Robert shoot to frame by writing a book based on a true incident of his wife . But soon enough he lost priority of his life and become some...more
It tells the story of what are important to us in life and how sometimes we fail to notice them without even realizing . It is the story of realization that what we have in life is for important and interesting than what we don't have .
In the book , Robert shoot to frame by writing a book based on a true incident of his wife . But soon enough he lost priority of his life and become some...more
Sometimes we lose track of the things we love most until something makes us stop and discover the truth about ourselves...who we've become, what we may have lost, and what will it take to find what we've had all along. This story is about a man who writes a novel that becomes a success and things spiral out of control with the fame and stardom. When told by a stranger that he is going to die, he stops and realizes what he had and lost in his climb to fame. /What I've learned from this book...liv...more
(Wow - nursing through the late night offers a lot of reading time because there is nothing but paid programming on the local tv channels).
This was a touching book, super quick 'elementary-style' read, about what really matters in life - not a fancy title behind your name that ties to your career, nor the compensation you draw, but all about love, relationships, and family. I found it very refreshing to read a story about an ordinary couple that have a strong and loving marriage. Throughout the...more
This was a touching book, super quick 'elementary-style' read, about what really matters in life - not a fancy title behind your name that ties to your career, nor the compensation you draw, but all about love, relationships, and family. I found it very refreshing to read a story about an ordinary couple that have a strong and loving marriage. Throughout the...more
I just love this author! Each book that I read, gives me something to think about...
"I learned that the measure of life is revealed in the quality of our relationships with God, our families, our fellowmen. I've learned that the greatest threat to love is not circumstance, but the absence of attention. For we do not neglect others because we have ceased to love, rather we cease to love others, because we have neglected them.
I've learned that each day is a miracle unearned...In short, I have lear...more
"I learned that the measure of life is revealed in the quality of our relationships with God, our families, our fellowmen. I've learned that the greatest threat to love is not circumstance, but the absence of attention. For we do not neglect others because we have ceased to love, rather we cease to love others, because we have neglected them.
I've learned that each day is a miracle unearned...In short, I have lear...more
What a wonderful book. The main charcter was in the radio business until one day he was fired unexpecteodly. He has to begin again and find a way to support his family. He has always wanted to be an author. Fame and fortune rear it's ugly head and he make poor choices. I cried thru the last half of the book. He learns he has until Janurary 1st to live. He realizes he made bad choices and tries to fix them. He realizes family is the most important thing. What a great read. " The measure of life i...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Robert Harlan has big dreams of being a novelist but is stuck as a sales rep. Only reason why he took it was because he thought that it was going to lead him to his dream in becoming a novelist but he is beginning to think that his dreams will never cone to pass. Alyson his adoring wife encourages him to pursue his writing,once he gets fired from his job. Struggling to pay the bills, Alyson gets a job to take care of the expenses. Carson his loving daughter was named after her grandparent who pr...more
A nice, easy, refreshingly clean story about keeping priorities & perspectives straight. Message was good and delivered efficiently. However, the time frame of story development was unrealisticc to me; if their relationship was so strong, how could he loose sight so completely in only about 2 months? Why didn't he care more about his daughter? Why did he think having a best selling book made him a rock-star? Now for her: how did she so quickly turn jealous and unsupportive? She's a baby cryi...more
In the tradition of Nicolas Sparks, you can expect to shed a few tears at the conclusion of this great story about what is really important in our lives.
Robert Harlan has 3 loves in his life, his wife, his daughter, and his writing. He is a sales rep for a small radio station, but his real love is writing which he hopes to be able to pursue one day. One day he is unexpectedly laid off from his job and his wife encourages him to pursue that dream of writing. He writes a novel entitled A Perfect D...more
Robert Harlan has 3 loves in his life, his wife, his daughter, and his writing. He is a sales rep for a small radio station, but his real love is writing which he hopes to be able to pursue one day. One day he is unexpectedly laid off from his job and his wife encourages him to pursue that dream of writing. He writes a novel entitled A Perfect D...more
Good story, a quick read.
Caught my eye on Amazon.com because it was a story that chronicled the rise to fame of a first-time author. That part was a Cinderella story, and certainly not a parallel to my experience!
It reminded me a bit of The Five People You Meet in Heaven but without similar leaps in imagination - it's just a really good story: Fiction, but leaving you wondering just how much of it can possibly be true, actually lived by the author's better moments all strung together.
Caught my eye on Amazon.com because it was a story that chronicled the rise to fame of a first-time author. That part was a Cinderella story, and certainly not a parallel to my experience!
It reminded me a bit of The Five People You Meet in Heaven but without similar leaps in imagination - it's just a really good story: Fiction, but leaving you wondering just how much of it can possibly be true, actually lived by the author's better moments all strung together.
SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT!
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Richard Paul Evans tends to have quite a knack for sucking you into his characters' lives. This book was no different! He didn't even kill off the lead male this time and make him some sort of hero (see The Looking Glass), a pesky habit that he ocasionally has. You do want to kick the main character from time to time, but it all works out as it should in the end. Yay for happy endings!
************************************
Richard Paul Evans tends to have quite a knack for sucking you into his characters' lives. This book was no different! He didn't even kill off the lead male this time and make him some sort of hero (see The Looking Glass), a pesky habit that he ocasionally has. You do want to kick the main character from time to time, but it all works out as it should in the end. Yay for happy endings!
Mar 10, 2011
Brittany L
added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really enjoyed this book and I have found a great new author. I think I particularly enjoyed reading it since the main fictional character was an aspiring writer who ultimately got published! However, his quick rise to fame caused him to lose site of what was important in his life. The book definitely reinforces how critical it is to appreciate each day and how our time here is finite, but a gift not to get too philosophical or anything!).
I really enjoyed this book, as a short light read about a struggling author who finds fame and success and yet changes his personal life and is about to lose it all. Makes you think about those things which are precious and dear to your heart. Robert has a wonderful wife, daughter and gets fired from his job and unable to find a job, (feels as though he has to prove himself, based on his relationship with his father) and turns to his love of writing. After many rejections, he finally catches a b...more
I enjoyed reading this book. I have to say it made me a little paranoid about the effect of a husband going away from his family for a month, since my hubby is doing that right now. But maybe I can take what I learned from reading this book, and avoid any misfortunes. I thougt it was neat that this author uses where he lives as the setting of his books. I guess probably becuase that is what he knows the most about.
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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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“You want to know what hell is? What brimstone and burining really is?"
Yes"
Hell is the perfect recollection of every evil thing you've done in your life, every thoughtless word, every cruel, evil thought or action. It's knowing that you could have helped your brother and didn't. Hell is clarity, Bob. It's nothing more than clarity." He leaned forward as if to confide in me, his gaze intense. "Do you want to know what heaven is?"
I was locked into his gaze. "Yes."
His voice was barely above a whisper, "It's the same thing.”
—
37 people liked it
Yes"
Hell is the perfect recollection of every evil thing you've done in your life, every thoughtless word, every cruel, evil thought or action. It's knowing that you could have helped your brother and didn't. Hell is clarity, Bob. It's nothing more than clarity." He leaned forward as if to confide in me, his gaze intense. "Do you want to know what heaven is?"
I was locked into his gaze. "Yes."
His voice was barely above a whisper, "It's the same thing.”
“. . .and every native has a story of winter – stories that usually begin, You call this a storm? And grow in the telling like battle tales shared by graying war veterans. It’s a peculiar character flaw to those of us from cold climates that we feel superior to those who have the sense to live elsewhere.”
—
7 people liked it
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