Sparks, Nicholas ; The Notebook ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 3 December 2014

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I had no idea who Mandy Moore was when I watched the film and I fell in love with her (I'm pathetic, I know! haha)

[Karla]

Karen wrote: "I had no idea who Mandy Moore was when I watched the film and I fell in love with her (I'm pathetic, I know! haha)"

I knew who she was because of her song, Candy. You're not pathetic! I liked her and her music, until I got it in my head that she was a stuck up snob (like her character in The Princess Diaries, this was before the movie came out). When I heard she was going to be in A Walk to Remember I was not happy because it is one of my favorite books and I was convinced she would ruin the movie! Mandy Moore was amazing in the movie! Because of that, I now lover her.

[Belle]

Hi Karen! That's so lovely. :) I hope Margaret enjoys it. Interesting what a browse through someone's books will bring.

[Kelly]

Miracles-Phone Calls (Chapter 1-4)
(view spoiler)[
I saw the movie a few years ago and remember some of it but not specifics. I think that might be causing me some confusion because I keep thinking I remember things but I'm not sure if they're accurate or a mix of other movies and books that have merged together.

I'm a bit annoyed at Allie because she obviously loves Noah but is going to marry Lon anyway. It doesn't feel like it's fair to either one of them. Lon never gets all her heart which you really should do going into a marriage and Noah doesn't get anyone. It feels selfish to me.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Ack. Percentage numbering in kindle version very odd. Got to 7%5 then it ended.

Kayaks and Forgotten Dreams - end
(view spoiler)[
I liked the end a bit better but it kept feeling like plots got dropped. Like Lon just faded into the background. Nothing really happened in the book.

It does make me think again how little I want to get old though I suppose it's better than not getting old. I'm going with the "I hope medical science has fixed all this by the time I hit it" approach now.

Overall 3 stars. I liked the writing but nothing really happened.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Karen wrote: "Finished

I'm not sure how I feel about this actually! The story feels unfinished, or just a short story really. I'm not sure how it became so popular and I read some reviews where people felt it w..."

I felt like it was unfinished too. Especially since the kindle version cuts out at 75%. I felt like they forgot to give me the last 25% of the book.

[Karla]

I finished the book today. I gave it two stars. The movie is a lot better!

[RachelvlehcaR]

Karla wrote: "I finished the book today. I gave it two stars. The movie is a lot better!"

I felt that way too.

[Kelly]

Same

[Greta]

Hello all! I just finished this book and would love to join in the discussion. It was my first Nicholas Sparks book.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

So what were your thoughts Greta? Had you seen the movie? Ever read the book before?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Karla wrote: "I finished the book today. I gave it two stars. The movie is a lot better!"

Yes, it really was! There aren't many movies I feel that way about

[Greta]

Karla wrote: "I finished the book today. I gave it two stars. The movie is a lot better!"

Exactly, Karla! I did like the movie better than the book.

[Karla]

Had I read the book before I saw the movie, I might have liked the book better.

The movie is a great love story. (view spoiler)[You really see that Noah and Allie loved each other as teenagers. It is tragic when she leaves and never hears from him. You see how much it hurt Noah that he wrote every day for a year and never received one letter. The moment Allie finds out that he had written to her is all dramatic and romantic. You forget for a moment that she is engaged, as she and Noah head to the bedroom. It's obvious that they belong together. (hide spoiler)]

But, in the book,(view spoiler)[Allie basically shrugs off the fact that Noah had written to her for two years and her mom hid the letters from her. Noah takes her back with no problem. We don't see the love story between the two as teenagers. It's not described well enough. When the two finally sleep together, all I thought was Allie is cheating on her fiancee, which is messed up. (hide spoiler)]

Then again, maybe I wouldn't have.

[Greta]

Karen wrote: "So what were your thoughts Greta? Had you seen the movie? Ever read the book before?"

I just had a long response written on my Kindle when it froze and restarted...here we go again!!

I did see the movie first and enjoyed it even though it was a tear jerker. I also had a guy who I was dating years ago tell me that this book reminded him of us, even though we were just dating casually and ended up breaking up shortly after he said that. So, I avoided the book until now! I don't really see the similarities between our relationship and the book, but oh well!

What I like: (view spoiler)[I like how devoted Noah is to Allie from start to finish. He knows how much he loves her and stays true even through a difficult time at the end of their lives. I was really touched by Allie's letter to Noah, saying that she loves him even when she can't express her love for him or doesn't recognize him. My grandpa is suffering from Lewy Body Dementia and just got moved to a nursing home last month because it became to difficult for my grandma to care for him. I hope that she can remember that my grandpa loves her even when there is no sign of that love. (hide spoiler)]

What bothers me: (view spoiler)[ I typically don't like romances like this. I feel like the characters need more developing and that especially when Allie returns to New Bern to see Noah, it is like insta-love and doesn't seem realistic to me after such a long time apart. I also agree with others who felt like the book was unrealistic with regard to how Alzheimers presents itself. To have that happy ending where he gets one last kiss from Allie just seems so far fetched. I think her letter to him would have been enough to remind us that she really does love him. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I agree Karla, one of the key points that isn't really explored in the book is their original love story. And the book is so small, he certainly could've added more to it! :o

[Greta]

Karla wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "I'm up to page 76, and so far I am a little disappointed. I really enjoyed the movie, especially the part where [spoilers removed] but in the book [spoilers remo..."

Exactly...(view spoiler)[that does seem really off that he didn't have any qualms about her showing up out of no where to say she's getting married. (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

I'm so sorry Greta.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it skipped around a lot and I felt like some of the plot lines just dropped off without any wrapup. Like Lon just giving up and leaving.

[Greta]

Karla wrote: "Had I read the book before I saw the movie, I might have liked the book better.

The movie is a great love story. [spoilers removed]

But, in the book,[spoilers removed]

Then again, maybe I would..."

Karla- (view spoiler)[
Yes, I totally felt like their reunion was based all on sexual attraction and not like they were picking up this amazing relationship and connection that they had as teenagers. (hide spoiler)]