Das Lächeln der Sterne

by Nicholas Sparks

book data

15,268 ratings, 3.59 average rating, 1,629 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		22%
4		31%
3		32%
2		11%
1		2%

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published

February 23rd 2009 by Heyne (first published 2002)

details

Broschiert, 234 pages

characters

Andrienne Willis, Paul Flanner

isbn

3453722086 (isbn13: 9783453722088)

description

At forty-five, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of…more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 19,815)

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Oct 05, 2008

Kathrynn rated it:

(review of isbn 0446612707)

bookshelves: 2008, own, reviewed, romance-contemporary

Read in October, 2008

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

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

4 comments

Sep 16, 2008

Laura rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

I am just a big Nicholas Sparks fan! I love the way he writes. This is just another great one of his that I loved as I was reading it and could not put it down. Can't wait for the movie!

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

4 comments

Sep 08, 2008

King rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

First off, I'd like to offer myself as exhibit A in the case against the hypothesis that carriers of the XY gene are love story averse. Though I must admit that partly the reason for my reading this novel is Diane Lane. What can I say? Shes really pretty.

With that said, I was a little, well... disappointed with this one. I've never read a Spark's novel before but enjoyed the silver screen version of The Notebook so I was expecting something a lil more I suppose. If I could use one wo...more

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Aug 19, 2008

Krista rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Krista by: Donna Patterson
recommends it for: Nicholas Sparks fans - romance novel fans

What I learned from this book is merely a confirmation of something I already know because I have children - most parents willingly and without hesitation make tremendous sacrifices for their children. They will put aside their own wants and needs and sometimes personal happiness so that their children's lives go on uninterrupted and relatively normal. Usually the children are unaware of what they have been given.

An older mother shares with her grieving daughter a yet untold stor...more

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Oct 17, 2008

Kassi rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: An accessible read to everyone, but especially women between ages 18 - 99

This book is a quick read (easily read in one sitting) with a great message driven home clearly, poetically and effectively.

While I understand that Nicholas Sparks gets glowing reviews about how touching and beautiful his sensitivity to romance is, what I actually found more remarkable about this book were the characters themselves. There were two main characters: A man and a woman. It was my experience that the man was the stronger of the two characters and the woman served as a wit...more

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Jun 02, 2008

Megan rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

bookshelves: book-club

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: women

Nicholas Sparks is such a wonderful story teller. I started this book last night at 3 AM when I couldn't sleep, and less than 24 hours later I was finished. I couldn't put it down!

The sweet, secret romance that took place between Adrienne and Paul was so romantic. Just about every woman dreams of the whirlwind romance that is portrayed in the novel.

That said, I felt this was more like a short-story than a novel. It was over too quickly, and I felt that there could ...more

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Feb 20, 2008

Holly Boehmke rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

I don't know why I attempted another Sparks novel. I think my friend told me to read it and I had previously trusted her knowledge of literature...until she recommended Twilight...but I digress. One question: why are all of Nicholas Sparks' characters out of the ordinary and incredible people in one way or the other? They're flawless, perfect, super-beings from another realm. In other words, they're unrelatable. Seriously, the protagonist in this novel had this back story: grew up on a farm with...more

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Jan 20, 2009

Mary Sue rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: no one

What a waste of time. Read chapter one and you don't need to continue. This is so predictable and such an overworked concept. How did this guy get to be a best selling author?

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

2 comments

Jul 31, 2007

Janette rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in January, 2006

recommends it for: people who like happy romance books

This book sucked. Sorry all you Sparks fans! Don't mean to offend, but I can't believe a retired high school English teacher recommended it to me. Maybe they thought I wanted something "light". It was very True Romance in my view and his characters were sappy and overly sentimental and sweet. Nicholas Sparks has a great following, maybe I'm just too old to like romance books anymore! After I finished it, not sure why I did, I felt guilty that I could have been cleaning my bathroom w...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

Dec 28, 2008

Kathryn rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in January, 2009

How many millions did this crappy novel make? A fit, handsome (and let's not forget rich)doctor who has suddenly grown a heart and given up his materialistic ways spends a passionate weekend with a middle-aged divorcee who is not herself distinctively fit, pretty, successful or smart, but whose devotion to her kids and aging dad apparently make her irresistible to the sexy doc. Needless to say, their lives are never the same, or something.

I feel inspired now to start writing my own...more

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May 20, 2007

Heather rated it:

(review of isbn 0751538892)

Read in January, 2006

your parents may not always know what you are going though but they probably have been there so ask for advice and shut up and listen

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Sep 16, 2008

Michelle rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: 2009, grab-the-tissues---meh

Read in June, 2009

recommended to Michelle by: a fellow reader, who I will not drag into this
recommends it for: Only to Sparks fan, and NO ONE ELSE!

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

Just a bare-bones list of what I SHOULD/COULD have done with the 2 hours it took me read this sorry excuse for a book:
1. Cleaned my bathroom
2. Painted my daughter's bedroom BEFORE more paint gets spilled
3. Cooked AND ate a romantic dinner with my husband, which would be much better for my marriage anyway
4. Gave myself a MUCH needed mani and pedi
5. Weeded my garden
6. Caught up on laundry
7. On and on and on...
8. And last, but not least, read ...more Just a bare-bones list of what I SHOULD/COULD have done with the 2 hours it took me read this sorry excuse for a book:
1. Cleaned my bathroom
2. Painted my daughter's bedroom BEFORE more paint gets spilled
3. Cooked AND ate a romantic dinner with my husband, which would be much better for my marriage anyway
4. Gave myself a MUCH needed mani and pedi
5. Weeded my garden
6. Caught up on laundry
7. On and on and on...
8. And last, but not least, read ANY OTHER BOOK, I mean, besides another one by Sparks.

I have to state, the reason I read this was because I saw the movie preview and I like Richard Gere. The preview didn't seem that bad and the book was getting high marks. Everyone talks about how Sparks is such a great author, but I just don't get it. Yeah, his books are supposed to MOVE you, to make you feel, cry, whatever. But not only are his characters COMPLETELY unrelatable, (i.e. super-perfect humans who have been poorly treated by something for absolutely NO reason whatsoever), but Sparks exploits his readers feelings by using universally tear-jerking situations. Of course you're going to cry if someone you love dies. Of course you're going to cry if your husband/wife cheats on you and leaves you for a better/younger model. Of course you're going to cry if you have a miscarriage/lose a child/anything bad happens to do with your children. It doesn't take special talent to insert your bad situation and then add as much melodrama as possible. I especially like his uber-Christian porn...they looked at each other, they had overwhelming feelings, so much couldn't be said, she led him to the bedroom and they made love. At least if you're going to read romance, a little sex would be nice, describe how these perfect people show their perfect love that has begun in less than 24 hours, and isn't premarital sex wrong, or is that only for the young? Haha! Meh. Sappy, unrealistic and unenjoyable. Like I said, I'm glad that I only wasted 2 hours of my life, because I really can't find anything to appreciate about this book, other than its over.

*** I would have given it ZERO stars, but its like having terrible service at a restaurant...if you leave nothing behind, people might think you just forgot. It really WAS that God-awful...(less)

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

Aug 13, 2008

Kathryn rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

bookshelves: romance

Read in August, 2008

I am a big Nicholas Sparks fan. In fact I thought that I had read all of his books, but then I saw the movie preivew for this book (soon to be movie) and was excited because it was another Sparks book that I hadn't read. However, this is my favorite of his novels that I have read. I have come to love Sparks for the twists and turns of the plot in his novels mixedd with a highly predictable setting and characters. This book wass ho-hum. It's short and I literally read its 220 pages in one day, it...more

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Jan 29, 2009

Abby rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

I thought this book was really heartwarming and heartbreaking. I forgot that a story could be told in 250 pages or less. It was an easy page turner that kept you interested and made you care about the characters. If you are looking for a good book that's a light read, this is the book for you.

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Jan 26, 2008

Jennifer rated it:

(review of isbn 0446691798)

Read in April, 2008

A quick, easy, enjoyable, light read. Good story, but some of it was predictable. Felt like Bridges of Madison County in some ways. Daughter's husband dies young. In order to get Amanda out of her depression, her mom, Adrienne, tells her the story of her weekend at Rodanthe when she met and fell in love with Paul. He planned on spending a year in Ecuador to repair his relationship with his grown son. He did that, but died in an accident. Adrienne goes on with her life, has 3 grown children, but ...more

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Aug 29, 2008

Mandi rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in August, 2008

"For the most part, people weren't all that different. Young and old, male or female, pretty much everyone she knew wanted the same things: They wanted to feel peace in their hearts, they wanted a life without turmoil, they wanted to be happy. The difference...was that most young people seemed to think that those things lay somewhere in the future, while most older people believed that they lay in the past." (164)

Another Sparks tear-jerker that makes you appreciate what you...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

Feb 14, 2009

Krystal rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

You know, I read The Notebook and didn't like it, but I thought I'd give Nicholas Sparks another try. I always hear people raving about his books. So, I am planning on watching Nights in Rodanthe with my mom, and I wanted to read the book first. Let me tell you: it is terrible. Sparks' writing is so damn cheesy. I guess I shouldn't say the book wasn't entertaining because it had me laughing out loud several times. I even read certain passages to my girlfriends so we could get a good laugh....more

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Mar 12, 2010

Cathy rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Nights in Rodanthe is about Adrienne Willis, a 45 year old, divorced mother of 3. Who lives in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Adrienne helps a friend out by watching her beach front Bed and Breakfast in Rodanthe NC. It’s off-season at the Inn So there is only one visitor expected… Paul Flanner, a 54 year old, world-renowned doctor. Who just sold his practice and is moving to Ecuador to assist his son at a clinic. Paul and Adrienne have an immediate attraction, but try to keep it at just that, ...more

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Feb 22, 2010

Sara Lickers rated it:

(review of isbn 0553813951)

Read in February, 2010

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

As an avid Nicholas Sparks reader, it was no surprise to me that I loved Nights in Rodanthe. It was very intriguing and kept moving along at good pace, where you don’t miss the details and descriptions, but the story doesn’t lag and get boring. The novel incorporates so many stories and struggles as two people begin to develop romance. Ultimately, the book follows the stories of Adrienne Willis and Paul Flanner, two middle aged and single people who cross paths in the Outer Banks of N...more As an avid Nicholas Sparks reader, it was no surprise to me that I loved Nights in Rodanthe. It was very intriguing and kept moving along at good pace, where you don’t miss the details and descriptions, but the story doesn’t lag and get boring. The novel incorporates so many stories and struggles as two people begin to develop romance. Ultimately, the book follows the stories of Adrienne Willis and Paul Flanner, two middle aged and single people who cross paths in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It is very passionate and memorable as the reader is reminded that love is always possible to find, no matter what age you are.
The book is told from a third person point of view. While I typically like a book to be told from the perspective of the character, I really enjoyed how Sparks wrote the novel. Even though there were no “I” pronouns, he did a very good job at filling the reader in on the main characters’ thoughts and feelings as the story progressed.
As many of Nicholas Sparks’ books are, Night in Rodanthe is set in North Carolina. Sparks lives in North Carolina, so one can easily find many of his books to be set there. Rodanthe is a small town along the southern part of the Outer Banks. The two main characters, Adrienne and Paul, are brought together when they meet at the Inn in Rodanthe. Adrienne agreed to watch the place for her friend, and Paul is staying as a guest.
The beginning of the book focuses on the main character, Adrienne Willis. She is older and has one daughter and two sons. She is also divorced and has raised her three kids pretty much on her own, as her husband left her for a younger woman many years prior. Matt is the oldest, Amanda is the middle child, and Dan is the youngest. They all have kids, so Adrienne spends a lot of time with her grandchildren. It is also revealed that her daughter Amanda has recently lost her husband to a fast progressing from of testicular cancer. Amanda apparently has been having a tremendous time dealing with her loss. Before Adrienne has a talk with her daughter, she goes and finds an old box and reveals what is in it, including a letter at the bottom. It is written from Paul, and goes to say how much he misses Adrienne and how his experiences have been so far, a big sign of foreshadowing. Anyways, it continues with Adrienne talking to her daughter and her need to tell her something. The rest of the novel then jumps to a flashback and is told from there on.
The subject then switches to Paul Flanner, a middle aged surgeon who has won many awards and been written about in many medical journals. He has a son named Mark, whom he hasn’t spoken to in a couple of years and has been asked for a divorce from his wife Martha. He is a very well known and successful surgeon who does reconstructive work, including plastic surgery. However, he has decided to quit his work, sell his house and other belongings to come to Rodanthe. Recently, Paul had performed a routine surgery on a woman, but she ended up dying in recovery. Her name was Jill Torrelson and was 62 years old. This soon leads him to Rodanthe, and to his meeting Adrienne.
When Paul Flanner arrives at the Inn in Rodanthe, Adrienne had been on the porch thinking about things that led her to crying. Embarrassed that she is in such a state when Paul approaches, she quickly wipes her tears and starts talking to him. This is when they first meet, and this is when I first became hooked. The way Nicholas Sparks writes makes you think nothing else exists, but this developing story. He uses such vivid details and imagery that clearly paint the scene in your mind. Lines such as “saw grass speckling the rolling dunes and maritime oaks bent sideways with the never ending breeze” make me fall more in tune with the story Sparks is telling.
As one might predict, Adrienne and Paul continue to grow closer as the week continues. They eat dinner and breakfast together every day, and you can’t help but love reading about their pasts and all their similarities. One day, a storm hits the beach, so the two are forced to stay together in the house. It is then that all the stories are uncovered. As the book continues, questions over the importance of Jill Torrelson, their divorces, why Paul doesn’t speak to his son, and more will all be answered in a way that is exciting and keeps the reader on their feet.
The ending of Nights in Rodanthe is sure to send the reader on a wild ride, most likely with tears involved. However, to find out where this romance goes and how everything comes together, one will have to read this amazing book by Nicholas Sparks. I can assure you that there will be no disappointment. That is unless you watch the movie because I can attest for the fact that the book is 100 million times better, and the movie is terrible. Therefore, I encourage anyone who loves a romance story and the reassurance that finding love is always possible to read this book.

(less)

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Jun 04, 2009

Laurel Bradshaw rated it:

(review of isbn 0446612707)

bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, daytimers-book-club, love-stories

Read in June, 2009

Read this for bookclub, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. It's pure fluff, and that just isn't my thing. Yeah, it's just the kind of book for a movie - a pleasant, but short diversion, ultimately forgettable. Probably works better as a movie actually, but I don't have any strong desire to look for it and watch it. I gave it three stars just because it was short, and sweet. I only rolled my eyes a few times.

Book description from Amazon.com :
Reeling with heartache after her hu...more

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