The Best Of Me: Film Tie In in Nicholas Sparks Novels

Apr 07, 2012 Karen & Gerard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dysfunctional-family, romance, relationships, sparks-nicholas

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks is the sad love story of Dawson and Amanda, two high school sweethearts who went separate ways. Dawson was from an abusive family and had bullies for brothers but was not like them. Amanda was from a well-to-do family who did not want her seeing Dawson. They had a common friend, Tuck who was an old widower but who could see their love for each other so made arrangements for them to cross paths years later through his will, Over the years, they still thought abou ...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Isabel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fiction, adult, audible-books, kindle

Contrary to the generalization many people make about Nicholas Sparks books, not every one of his books end in tragedy. However, this one does. I have to admit that I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and I absolutely love his books. I had high hopes for this book, but it ended up being a disappointment to me. There was just something missing. It felt too empty? Dry? I can't find the right word, but the book was definitely lacking something. It felt like the characters and plot were a little bit too Contrary to the generalization many people make about Nicholas Sparks books, not every one of his books end in tragedy. However, this one does. I have to admit that I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and I absolutely love his books. I had high hopes for this book, but it ended up being a disappointment to me. There was just something missing. It felt too empty? Dry? I can't find the right word, but the book was definitely lacking something. It felt like the characters and plot were a little bit too reminiscent of the past and circled too much on it. It was also a little too centered on sadder, darker emotions in my opinion, as well. Just a touch too much.

That doesn't mean that I didn't like the book, though. It made me cry, too. The twist at the end doesn't lack Nicholas Sparks' signature twist of events, and I didn't really have a problem with that. Unlike so many people, I don't really have a problem with Sparks' incorporating death and tragedy. I'm not telling you what happens, but I don't think that it's a spoiler to tell you that yes, it is one of those books. The writing is good and so is the plot, though it's just missing something.

Now that I think of it, this book actually reminds me of The Notebook- except that she's married with kids (and marriage problems) and they're brought together by a death. Amanda takes a trip away from her home, and like in The Notebook, her other love interest (in this case, her husband Frank) is tucked safely away as she and Dawson fall in love again and reconnect. Then the scope of what happens dawns on them and Amanda is torn apart. This sounds like a cold, calculating, and unfavorable generalization of both books, but when you strip it down, that's what's left. But unlike The Notebook, there really is something missing in The Best of Me. I get that the fact that she's married with kids and all makes this love a tougher challenge to write than the love in The Notebook, but there's still something lacking. Maybe the intensity and certainty of true love? I don't know. The Best of Me just fell short and lacked the same panache as the rest of his books.

I like the book, but it hit below my expectations and just wasn't there. I think I'd recommend this, though with reservations. I probably wouldn't recommend it to someone who hasn't read any Nicholas Sparks books, since I feel like he could have done better and the book doesn't reflect how powerful he is as a writer. ...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm a sucker for love stories. Love his books and this one wasn't any differnt. It was really good. :) Predictable ending but def. didn't dissappoint. ...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Erica Monzingo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I absolutely loved the love story in this book. It captured my heart (as a Nicholas novel usually does). I was a little disappointed that I figured out the ending before any of it started to unravel and that is unusual for me in a Sparks novel, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

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Feb 10, 2012 Krazyangel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was one of the best books by N. Sparks to me. It is a different read than most of his other books. I would say to everyone to give this book a read. I really enjoyed the book and hope others will too.

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