First, a disclaimer – I have never read a Nicholas Sparks book and I am not a fan of the movie adaptations of his novels. The stories just seem ridiculously sappy.

I bought “Three Weeks with My Brother” for my friend as a birthday gift. It is a memoir written by both Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah. It sounded like the perfect present for my friend. She read it and loved it and wanted me to read it. I was not sure what to expect and ended up blown away by it.

The memoir jumps between the brothers going on an Amazing Race style whirlwind trip to exotic places around the world and their family History. The Sparks brothers are the only two surviving members of their family and have experienced a lot of tragedy through the years. Their shared experiences have brought them extremely close together. The book is very much part travelogue and adventures on the trip, prompt reflection on their lives and decisions.

I felt a very strong personal connection to their story, as I have also very little family remaining and have experienced similar tragedy within my own History. In particular, I related to Micah and how he took death as an opportunity to live his life to the fullest. I very much felt this in the year after my mom passed away. Death is a horrible thing to experience, but it is also a reminder to live life with zest. That being said, I had a difficult time reading many portions of this book, as it hit too close to home. I cried a lot and had trouble sleeping. Ultimately, I think this book is very helpful for grieving, even if it stirs up emotions. It’s healthy to have those emotions stirred.