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The Notebook

by Nicholas Sparks

3.84 · rating details · 327,512 ratings · 7,950 reviews

A man with a faded, well-worn notebook open in his lap. A woman experiencing a morning ritual she doesn't understand. Until he begins to read to her. The Notebook is an achingly tender story about the enduring power of love, a story of miracles that will stay with you forever. Set amid the austere beauty of coastal North Carolina in 1946, The Notebook begins with the stor...more

Hardcover, 214 pages

Published October 1st 1996 by Warner Books

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Aug 10, 2010

Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance-contemporary, fiction, library-book, reviewed

4 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Sweet and romantic, but I liked the movie much more. In fact, I LOVED the movie and watched it before reading this. In the movie, the characters of Noah and Allie had more intensity and passion. It is one of those rare moments, for me, when the movie was better than the book.

There are some great quotes in this book though. These were my favourite:

"I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a co...more4 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Sweet and romantic, but I liked the movie much more. In fact, I LOVED the movie and watched it before reading this. In the movie, the characters of Noah and Allie had more intensity and passion. It is one of those rare moments, for me, when the movie was better than the book.

There are some great quotes in this book though. These were my favourite:

"I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."

"We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking."

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given to me..."

"We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has only happened once, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I'll never forget a single moment of it."

"So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday."

"I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours."

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.
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Oct 06, 2011

Nicole rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: no one!

I love the movie, but if you think that was sappy, do not pick up this book. I heard Nicholas Sparks had a knack for sap, but I almost drowned in it and felt no spark at all. The book was so frustratingly simple and obvious and laid out. The dialoque droned. I'll come back and add a real quote, but it was something like this:

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" he asked, wondering what she would say.
"Okay," she said, and than asked, "What should we eat?"...more

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Oct 22, 2007

Bells rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

quite possibly the sweetest love story ever. I wept like a baby.

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Aug 06, 2007

Stacey rated it

Shelves: gag-me-with-a-spoon

I read this book on a train from Italy to somewhere else in Europe after graduating from college. I was unfortunate enough to be forced to buy it because there were no other English Language novels to choose from.

I know this is a beloved book, by a beloved author, but if I could give it any sort of negative rating, I would. The "Gag me with a spoon" category is almost too kind. My apologies to any one who likes Nicholas Sparks - if you're able to find the genius in his w...more

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Jul 23, 2007

Becky added it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: the chicken soup for the soul crowd

This is the worst book I have EVER READ. And the fact that this jerk is so popular continues to astound me. I would give it less than zero stars if I could. My sister tricked me into reading this book, and I wish I could gain that time back into my life so I could read a different book. This book teaches you that ANYONE could write a bestseller. Just be sappy and corny and have one big-ass deus ex machina and you're all set for stardom. As you can tell, I don't read shit that I think I won't lik...more

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Jan 21, 2011

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

Vanessa bought me this book after I watched Fracture and developed a serious crush on Ryan Gosling. Well, that led me to this movie and, unfortunately, this book. How does this man have a career as a writer?! Who is paying him to write stories with the most obvious choices in plot/dialogue/decisions. Wow. Lowest common denominator.

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Oct 17, 2010

Dana rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: true love lovers, people who believes that true love will surely return to you one day

Recommended to Dana by: Anupama P

Shelves: love, young-adult, favorites

Does such true love really exist? Nicholas Sparks, all I can tell is that your wife Cathy has been lucky to marry you!I cried like a baby.Yes, true love will return to you, maybe not in a very perfect condition, maybe with a fiancee, maybe not with a good heart, but surely it'll return.

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Dec 13, 2007

Carolyn rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Tracy Rupple, and no one else.

Shelves: almost-a-complete-waste-of-time

I read this book because my sister loved it. It made me sad. Not because it was a sad story, but because it was so poorly written.

This Sparks character had a fantastic idea for a story, a truly painful and passionate story of love and devotion. But the book? It was like my 14 year old nephew watched this brilliant movie, then tried to write about it on his myspace blog. It was butchered by an appalling lack adjectives and an appalling lack of emotion. Sad.

The fa...more

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Aug 28, 2009

Arlene rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-2009, romance

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is a story about two teenagers from opposite sides of the track who meet one fateful summer and fall in love for a lifetime. This novel was engaging and steady paced. I was able to read it in one sitting as I was drawn into the lives of Noah and Allie. Nicholas Sparks has created a poignant story about two people who try to recapture the love they once shared despite the passage of time.

Noah Calhoun is a simple boy with simple dreams. He loves poetry,...moreThe Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is a story about two teenagers from opposite sides of the track who meet one fateful summer and fall in love for a lifetime. This novel was engaging and steady paced. I was able to read it in one sitting as I was drawn into the lives of Noah and Allie. Nicholas Sparks has created a poignant story about two people who try to recapture the love they once shared despite the passage of time.

Noah Calhoun is a simple boy with simple dreams. He loves poetry, his life in a small town, and a girl that was never meant to be his. Allie Nelson is accustomed to a life of riches and luxury, but she desires much more for herself. She loves art, music and spending time with a boy her parents do not approve of. As they explore their love for one another during their summer together, they realize that theirs is a love meant to last a lifetime. However, circumstances pull them apart for over 14 years and they are faced with trying to find a way to get back what they once had.

I enjoyed the story, but I feel the author could have spent a little more time telling the readers about Noah and Allie’s reunion and a little more of what they went through to make a life for themselves. It was interesting to experience this story through the eyes of Noah as he enters the last chapters of his life.

Compare Book to the Movie

I’ve never seen the movie nor read the book, so it was enjoyable to do both back to back. After finishing the book in one sitting, I watched the DVD and was immediately able to compare the differences between the two. I feel the book was well written and the movie did a great job of bringing the main events to screen.

One of the differences I noticed was the encounter between Allie and Martha. Martha was a love interest of Noah that never fully developed because he could not bring himself to move on. In the book, Martha leaves Noah well before Allie comes back into Noah’s life. In the book, they break up after Noah and Allie spend the night together, so obviously the timing was off, but it still worked well.

Another difference I noticed was the way the movie depicted Noah and Allie’s relationship as somewhat volatile. They fought and told each other on several occasions that they hated each other, when that never happened in the book. In the book, their love was perfect and steady. In the movie they fought quite a bit and their breakup in the movie was disheartening, which didn’t happen that way in the book. So there were differences in their character development between both.

The main difference between the book and the movie was the ending. As that would be a big spoiler for this review, I will not provide a detailed account, but let’s just say I felt the ending in the movie was more appropriate for this storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed both the movie and the book and I’m glad I chose this for my reading challenge.(less)

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Jul 20, 2007

jen rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: EVERYONE

This is my favorite love story ever. It shows what true soul mates are. (I also loved the movie as much as the book.) If you don't cry when you read this then something is wrong with you. I think that you can love someone like ally did the lawyer, but only true love with your soul mate like with Noah. People who don't like this book have never truely been loved, because if you have it hits home.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"I am a common man w...more

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Aug 28, 2008

Muphyn rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Muphyn by: Infinite Playlist

Shelves: audiobook, fiction, summer-beach-reading

Besides the awful writing style (just to mention unimaginative, spiritless and full of clichés), I found the story just a little too contrived and far too predictable. I couldn't get over the premise where Noah and Allie meet when they are teenagers, spend one summer together and meet again after 14 years to realise they are still utterly in love?! What?!

It irritated me to no end that Sparks felt the need to not leave anything unexplained, describing things in excruciating detail, bo...more

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Jun 18, 2007

Colleen rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Romantics, family of Alzheimer's

As an author, I learned that this romantic, simple style is not my cup of tea. Although I enjoy cheesy comedies (the work of Capra springs to mind), I don't yearn to write them myself. The original love story of this novel was a little too pat and plain-- it was too clear that this was the love of a lifetime. Perhaps I'm jaded, but I really think a lifetime of love is more irritating-- after all, no two people can be absolutely perfect for each other. In fact, that irritation and friction, a...moreAs an author, I learned that this romantic, simple style is not my cup of tea. Although I enjoy cheesy comedies (the work of Capra springs to mind), I don't yearn to write them myself. The original love story of this novel was a little too pat and plain-- it was too clear that this was the love of a lifetime. Perhaps I'm jaded, but I really think a lifetime of love is more irritating-- after all, no two people can be absolutely perfect for each other. In fact, that irritation and friction, and learning how to live with each other is what impresses me so much about long term relationships. I'm amazed that my parents are still together 29 years later because I know they've annoyed the hell out of each other-- and yet they were willing to work through that frustration because they believed their relationship (and our family) was worth it. The writing style in the beginning of the novel reminded me of my own writing during high school-- that rush of first love, that hope that you've found that one person to complete you and make your life worthwhile.

For me, the most interesting, compelling part of The Notebook was the last segment. (If you haven't read the book, be aware that rest of this review will contain spoilers.) When the main character's love for his wife of forty-nine years triumphs even through Alzheimer's relentless blanket of memories, I was inspired. More than their love for each other, and the miracle that was their relationship, I was touched by Noah's willingness to live life in the present moment. At the end of their life together, Noah's goal each day is to fall in love with his wife again, even though she doesn't remember him. Even if he never sees that flash of recognition in her eyes, he is satisfied, as shown by this passage:

There is beauty where we sit this afternoon, Allie and I. This is the pinnacle of my life. They are here at the creek: the birds, the geese, my friends. Their bodies float on the cool water, which reflects bits and pieces of their colors and make them seem larger than they really are. Allie too is taken in by their wonder, and little by little we get to know each other again.

My goal is to say and truly believe that line in the middle every day: "This is the pinnacle of my life." That is the best lesson of the novel: to find happiness in simply being alive and appreciating the beauty and love around us.

(What? I read a cheesy book! You'd BETTER expect a cheesy review!)

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Apr 27, 2011

April rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: No one with a brain

Shelves: absoluterubbish

I have, in my lifetime, come across so few people that I can honestly say the following about "Straight to a fault". Mr. Sparks steals the cake in this book. Not only does he play up to every hopelessly/sappily romantic notion pop-culture has ever churned out for women over the age of 10, he does this in a sexist/uber macho yet trying to come of as sweet but rough around the edges kind of way. Oh male privilege.... If you want to write from a woman's perspective, you should maybe h...more

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Oct 31, 2010

Kat Kennedy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews, romance-romance-romance

Have you ever come across something so undeniably cute that you feel like you may be crushed by the weight of squee that’s about to explode from you chest.

”cute”

Kind of like when you see this?

That’s what reading The Notebook was like. The romantic tone of The Notebook was both its greatest asset and biggest downfall. Nobody wants to be crushed by squee anymore
than they want to drown in their own tears and The Notebook wants to destroy you. Never doubt that. Whether it...more

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Sep 22, 2011

Book Chick City rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, books-i-own, contemporary-fiction, book-list-2010, 2010-february, reviews, romance-contemporary

The Notebook is a difficult book to review. I have seen the film, which I absolutely loved, and which is now one of my all time favourite romance flicks. As I read the book I could only imagine the characters as they were in the film. Fortunately for me, this was fine as I think the actors are great, and now I have also read the book, a perfect match for Allie and Noah.

I also had difficulty with reading the actual story that was told within the pages. I kept filling in the blanks wit...moreThe Notebook is a difficult book to review. I have seen the film, which I absolutely loved, and which is now one of my all time favourite romance flicks. As I read the book I could only imagine the characters as they were in the film. Fortunately for me, this was fine as I think the actors are great, and now I have also read the book, a perfect match for Allie and Noah.

I also had difficulty with reading the actual story that was told within the pages. I kept filling in the blanks with scenes from the film. I think this was because the book didn't show the whole story of Allie and Noah, just the part where they see each other again after many years apart. The young romance we are shown in the movie are just fleeting memories and flashbacks in the book. The movie gives us a lot more detail of certain times in Allie and Noah's life that weren't actually developed fully in the book.

The Notebook is a very quick read at only 189 pages and a part of me wishes that it was a lot longer. I wish the book showed us the story of young Allie and Noah and let us live and feel their romance and passion and what it meant to them. The fact they fell in love again after fourteen years apart with just a few minutes together would have been more deeply felt by me had I lived through their romance all those years ago.

The film also had a profound affect on me regarding Noah and Allie and the difficulties they faced in old age. I think the impact would have been far greater when reading the book, if I had been shown the whole story of Allie and Noah. And I think this is why I prefer the movie to the book, which is very unusual for me, as I usually dislike or am disappointed with movie adaptations as directors seem to change so much. But the director of The Notebook film was very respectful and there are only minor changes and maybe a different interpretation of the ending. But again, I was okay with it as I actually preferred it to the ending of the book, which was a little ambiguous for my taste.

Overall I loved The Notebook. Sparks did a great job capturing emotions and pulling hard on my heart strings. It still brought tears to my eyes, although didn't have me blubbering like the movie. This is a sweet love story. It's sad as well as beautiful. It also reminds us of our own mortality, of love, loss, life and death. And it broke my heart.

Verdict:

If you enjoy reading love stories or watching romance movies then this book is certainly for you. I really enjoyed it, but for me it doesn't come close to the impact that the film had on me, but this may be because I already knew the story and what was coming. However, I whole heartedly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed (I also say, go rent the movie!)(less)

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Apr 10, 2008

Abby rated it

· review of another edition

So, I didn't love this book, even though every other girl on planet earth does. Here's the deal: it's an old guy at the end of his life, showing how undyingly committed and in love he is with his elderly wife, who is dying of Alzheimer's. Sweet, right? Except here is how he shows his love: every day, he reads her the story of their love. It involves hooking up as teenagers, then being apart without communication for years and years, yet yearning for one another while sleeping around with other p...more

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Mar 28, 2007

Tara rated it

· review of another edition

Favorite Quotes

I suppose [my life] has most resembled a blue chip stock: fairly stable, more ups than downs, and gradually trending upward over time. A good buy, a lucky buy, and I've learned that not everyone can say that about his life.

"A living poem" had always been the words that came to mind when he tried to describe her to others.

Our lives can't be measured by our final years, of this I am sure.

We sit silently and watch the world ar...more

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Sep 14, 2007

AJ rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone who believes in true love and a soulmate.

Shelves: one-of-my-favorites, favorites

by far, one of my favorite books.

call me a sucker. i can totally relate to the concept of true love and a soulmate. i don't think you get many chances at finding that one person, and when you do, you know it.

never let go of the one that you know BELONGS with you. on your mind every second of every day.

"forever with you, forever in me, ever the same" (rob thomas- ever the same).

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Jan 17, 2008

Tifnie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 01, 2007

Dawn Michelle rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone who still believes in true love

I truly loved this book. The story and how it is told just sucks you in from the minute you start reading. I am amazed over and over again just how much I love this book.
I no longer own this book. I lent it to a "friend" and never got it back. And I am having a hard time trying to find a replacement copy. ARGH.
This is the story of Noah and Allie. They meet as teens, but are torn apart by circumstances. As the book progresses so do their lives until the moment that Allie rea...more

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Dec 04, 2009

Lucinda Reed rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who like romance

Sappy, cheesy, and several similar other words used to describe this story are right on. That said, it is a beautiful story about two people who are at the end of their lives, and one has Alzheimer's. It may cause tears. Not my kind of story, but for those who like sappy, perfect romantic lit, this is probably a great book.
I will not read another book from Nicholas Sparks.

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Dec 21, 2010

Joyzi rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: to all who love romantic novels

Recommended to Joyzi by: my friend janine and recyl

Shelves: fiction, own, watched-it, books-to-movies, reviewed, adult, chick-lit, realistic-fiction, author-american, contemporary-fiction, favorites, contemporary-romance, 100-books-tfg

This book made me believe that true love is possible. I also like the movie adaptation of this book. I first read it and then when I watch the movie I was very satisfied with it. The movie was even better than the book.

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May 15, 2010

Adrienne rated it

· review of another edition

I've given this 5 stars because it moved me, the happy parts and the sad parts bought tears to my eyes. Everyone should have a man like Noah Calhoun in their life

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Jan 19, 2012

Elizabeth Soiles rated it

· review of another edition

“What? You haven’t read that book! That’s like the best book ever!” That was the response I got every time I mentioned I hadn’t read the Notebook. After hearing all these wonderful reviews and comments, I had to read it for myself. That’s what I exactly did. I locked myself away in my room and became immersed in the world of Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is a heart wrenching yet heartwarming love story I’ve ever read. It leaves you drowning ...more

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Nov 18, 2011

Hayley Donahue rated it

· review of another edition

"The Notebook” is a heartwarming, tender story about the power of love, and how it can overcome anything. A man sitting with a worn out notebook on his lap, and a woman about to go on with her morning ritual, unaware of her surroundings or what is happening. Then, he starts to read to her and she begins to remember. This novel is a story of the power and strength of love, and I think it was very remarkable.

The story begins with Noah Calhoun, a man returning home from World War...more"The Notebook” is a heartwarming, tender story about the power of love, and how it can overcome anything. A man sitting with a worn out notebook on his lap, and a woman about to go on with her morning ritual, unaware of her surroundings or what is happening. Then, he starts to read to her and she begins to remember. This novel is a story of the power and strength of love, and I think it was very remarkable.

The story begins with Noah Calhoun, a man returning home from World War II. He is planning on restoring a plantation home, when he starts to remember the images of the beautiful girl he met in the summertime years ago. He loved her with his whole heart, but he was doubtful of the chance to see her again, until she suddenly appears in his town to see him one last time. Allie Nelson is engaged to another man, but she begins to realize her feelings for Noah have not gone away, despite the fourteen years they have spent apart. She must realize what she wants for the future because her wedding is just weeks away, and she has the chance to change how her future will unfold.

 "I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough,” says Noah. He is saying that he only needs his one true love, Allie, to be genuinely happy. He does not care about silly things, he only wants to be with her, and it kills him inside that she is engaged to another man. Lon, her fiancée, neglects Allie by prioritizing his career over her.

The climax of the whole book is when Noah receives a letter from Allie saying exactly what she promised him when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease; she will try to overcome this illness and be with him through the end. The way that the book ends is completely saddening. I was not surprised by how it ended, but it still made me desolate. I think Allie and Noah were the perfect couple, and no matter what her parents did, they still made it through and stayed together right until the end. Their love was so powerful and strong; nothing could keep them apart, and even when faced with death, they were with each other. This book proves that love conquers all, even small obstacles along the way can strengthen the passion between two lovers.
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Apr 13, 2011

Jyoti rated it

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'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks is a simple yet heart rendering love story. It will make you smile and cry often. It is about the belief that true love never dies or dims, it remains with you through the thick and thins of life. I will definitely recommend reading it.

The story starts with eighty years Noah Calhoun reading out his 'Notebook' to a lady who does not remember him, in a nursing home. It is the story of his life, his love story. He does it every day, in the hope that it ...more'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks is a simple yet heart rendering love story. It will make you smile and cry often. It is about the belief that true love never dies or dims, it remains with you through the thick and thins of life. I will definitely recommend reading it.

The story starts with eighty years Noah Calhoun reading out his 'Notebook' to a lady who does not remember him, in a nursing home. It is the story of his life, his love story. He does it every day, in the hope that it with stir her memory and she will remember things from the past which she seldom does these days with only a few exceptions!

As he reads out his notebook, the story flashes back to his past to October 1946. It is the time when he had recently returned from war to North Carolina. To keep himself busy and to forget the adversities of war he spends all his time restoring an old plantation house, which he has recently purchased to its old glory. Despite his best efforts, his memory often slips to a time when he had met Allie, her love, fifteen years ago. He has never been able to forget her, the summer they had spent together. He has finally learnt to content himself with the memories and thinks that he would never be able to find her. And suddenly one day she turns up!

Allie is engaged to another man, Lon Hammond-A well know man and their marriage is just three weeks away. But she realises that the memories of her long lost love has never dimmed all these years and that is what makes her go back and meet him one last time. Things that followed the meeting changes their lives.

The story does not end there, in fact it is quite the beginning of their beautiful love story. The ending is not exactly a happy or a sad one but a mixture of the too which will make you smile and cry at the same time. True love is eternal but some times memories fade away, because there is always something that is not in our hand, some circumstances in life we can't change or avoid. The love described in the story is profound. It is poignant love story that will move you deeply.

To quote from the book:

"I am nothing special; of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I have led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me,this has always been enough(less)

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Jan 25, 2009

Nomanisan rated it

· review of another edition

Spoiler alert...
One night, browsing tv for something reasonable to watch, we happened upon THE NOTEBOOK. I loved the setting, the characters, the unfolding story, and the structure; I was really enjoying it; Rick--worn out--went to bed. At the point when Allie--having remembered and begun dancing with Noah--loses it once more and begins to scream, I started crying, all by myself in a dark room with a tv, and I cried through the rest of the movie.
When I saw THE NOTEBOOK in a thrif...more

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Dec 22, 2008

Victoria Aldea rated it

· review of another edition

The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks
pg. 213, New York, NY
Time Warner Books, Inc. $5.99
ISBN 0-446-60523-9

Allison Hamilton, now 29 years old, can’t seem to shake away her first love, Noah Calhoun. Torn between her fiancé Lon and her soul mate Noah, Allie must make a decision that won’t be easy and faces the danger of breaking one of these man’s hearts. Nicholas Sparks writes a jaw-dropping, passionate romance novel that will have you wanting more. If you aren...moreThe Notebook
Nicholas Sparks
pg. 213, New York, NY
Time Warner Books, Inc. $5.99
ISBN 0-446-60523-9

Allison Hamilton, now 29 years old, can’t seem to shake away her first love, Noah Calhoun. Torn between her fiancé Lon and her soul mate Noah, Allie must make a decision that won’t be easy and faces the danger of breaking one of these man’s hearts. Nicholas Sparks writes a jaw-dropping, passionate romance novel that will have you wanting more. If you aren’t a fan of romance stories, start here and read this captivating novel The Notebook.
It all started that summer when Allie was only 15; she met Noah- a low class 17 year old filled with life and enthusiasm- and they immediately clicked. Infatuated with love, this young couple did everything together and they were never apart. They had high hopes of being together, raising a family and growing old with each other. Even though they had their differences at times, they still were there for each other.
Unfortunately, Allie had to go back home and leave Noah behind. Heartbroken, Allie missed Noah and thought about him all the time. Noah was sad and missed Allie terribly. He wrote letters to Allie-one each day- but all of them were left unanswered. Allie’s mother had purposely taken them, without informing Allie. She didn’t think Noah was right for Allie and referred to him as “trash.” Years passed and both of them had not heard from each other but they still had tremendous love for one another.
If you enjoy reading love novels this is the book for you. It will make you fall even more in love with these love stories. If you are not a fan of romance stories then The Notebook is definitely what you need. From the second you pick up this book to the second you put it down, it will change the way you look at love and make you desire it. Spark paints us a beautiful picture of the obstacles and the wonderful things that loves offers.
Spark’s unique writing will have you fighting back tears and wishing for a relationship just like the one that is shared between Noah and Allie. This heart warming novel had me on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put the book down. I anxiously turned each page waiting to see what became of Allie and Noah. This book taught me that no matter what the circumstance are, you will always have your true love forever.
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Jan 29, 2009

Susan rated it

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Shelves: own-in-book-format, chicklit, fiction, remarkable-reads, read-in-2009, reading-challenges, contemporary-romance

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, is a beautifully simple story of the love two people share. In the days before the "Great Depression," two teenagers in New Bern North Carolina meet. Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson catch a little southern summer magic and fall in love. Unfortunately, they are doomed to be parted, and at the end of the summer, Allie's disapproving parents take her away from Noah. For the next 14 years, Noah and Allie lead their separate lives, never forgetting the enchant...moreThe Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, is a beautifully simple story of the love two people share. In the days before the "Great Depression," two teenagers in New Bern North Carolina meet. Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson catch a little southern summer magic and fall in love. Unfortunately, they are doomed to be parted, and at the end of the summer, Allie's disapproving parents take her away from Noah. For the next 14 years, Noah and Allie lead their separate lives, never forgetting the enchantment of that summer, and the passion they had for each other.

Noah moves to New Jersey to find work, and eventually enlists in the U.S. Army during WWII. When the war is over, having inherited a small fortune from his old boss, Noah returns to New Bern, buys the house he has always wanted, and gets to work restoring it. Meanwhile Allie, forced by her parents to marry a man with status within society, has become engaged to influential lawyer Lon Hammond. When she comes upon a chance newspaper story about Noah and the restoration of the old house, something stirs inside her. She doesn't fully understand the reasons, but Allie knows she must go to New Bern and see Noah.

Allie shows up at the house in New Bern to get some answers, and ends up spending the next two days getting to know Noah again. During their time together, something happens between them, and soon they are questioning their choices in life and their futures.

The Notebook is an intensely romantic story of the power of true love across time, across social conventions, and ultimately conquering all. The story is very simple and easy to read, but it captivates and touches the reader in a profound way. The setting of small town North Carolina is breathtaking, and only adds to the intoxicating feeling of the story. The love between Noah and Allie, from the time they are teenagers to the days they spend in the nursing home, is overwhelming.

I highly recommend this book as a quick read for any hopeless romantic. The story may be sweet and simplistic, but it is also dynamic and poignant - a beautiful story of the strength of true love.
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May 29, 2008

LeiAnn rated it

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About Nicholas Sparks

As a child, he lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California at the age of eight. His father was a professor, his mother a homemaker, then optometrist's assistant. He lived in Fair Oaks through high school, graduated valedictorian in 1984, and received a full track scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

After breaking the No...moreAs a child, he lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California at the age of eight. His father was a professor, his mother a homemaker, then optometrist's assistant. He lived in Fair Oaks through high school, graduated valedictorian in 1984, and received a full track scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

After breaking the Notre Dame school record as part of a relay team in 1985 as a freshman (a record which still stands), he was injured and spent the summer recovering. During that summer, he wrote his first novel, though it was never published. He majored in Business Finance and graduated with high honors in 1988.

He and his wife Catherine, who met on spring break in 1988, were married in July, 1989. While living in Sacramento, he wrote his second novel that same year, though again, it wasn't published. He worked a variety of jobs over the next three years, including real estate appraisal, waiting tables, selling dental products by phone, and started his own small manufacturing business which struggled from the beginning. In 1990, he collaborated on a book with Billy Mills, the Olympic Gold Medalist and it was published by Feather Publishing before later being picked up by Random House. (It was recently re-issued by Hay House Books.) Though it received scant publicity, sales topped 50,000 copies in the first year of release.

He began selling pharmaceuticals and moved from Sacramento, California to North Carolina in 1992. In 1994, at the age of 28, he wrote The Notebook over a period of six months. In October, 1995, rights to The Notebook were sold to Warner Books. It was published in October, 1996, and he followed that with Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), and Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), Three Weeks with my Brother (2004), True Believer (2005) and At First Sight (2005) all with Warner Books. All were domestic and international best sellers and were translated into more than 35 languages. The movie version of Message in a Bottle was released in 1999, A Walk to Remember was released in 2002, and The Notebook was released in 2004. The average domestic box office gross per film was $56 million -- with another $100 million in DVD sales -- making the novels by Nicholas Sparks one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood.

The film rights to Nights in Rodanthe, True Believer and At First Sight have been sold, and Nicholas Sparks has written the screenplay for The Guardian, though he has not offered it for sale at this point.

He now has five children: Miles, Ryan, Landon, Lexie, and Savannah. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

His ancestry is German, Czech, English, and Irish, he's 5'10" and weighs 180 lbs. He is an avid athlete who runs daily, lifts weights regularly, and competes in Tae Kwon Do. He attends church regularly and reads approximately 125 books a year. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually.(less)

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“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough..” — 9,469 people liked it

“So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday.” — 5,814 people liked it

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