Thursday, March 26, 2009

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Set in coastal Carolina a few years after the end of WWII, "The Notebook" is a classic love novel and tear jerker appreciated by millions of women and men across the nation.
Allie Nelson, a teenager who comes from a family with pure southern money, went to New Bern, North Carolina one summer on vacation with her family and to spend some time with some of her friends, Fin and Sarah. One night, Allie went to a carnival with Fin and Sarah and met one of their friends who was local to New Bern, Noah Calhoun, a poor southern boy who worked in the lumber yard and lived on a plantation with his father. Noah was instantly attracted to Allie, who in return regarded him as nothing of substance that was good enough for her. He persisted several times to get her to go out with him, the final straw resulting in him hanging from a ferris wheel where she finally said "yes". Allie ended up liking Noah and they dated the rest of the summer. However, Allie's parents didn't approve of this relationship because Noah didn't come from Southern money. Nevertheless, Allie fell crazy in love with Noah and his compassionate, thoughtful, free-spirit nature. At summer's end, Allie left Noah and went back home, after an awful argument with her parents that resulted in the banning of her to ever see Noah again. But, he promised to write her. And he did. He wrote her everyday for a year, without a single repsonse (later she found that her mother had been keeping the letters from her). Well, Allie grew older and fell in love with a wealthy lawyer and soon got engaged. One day, she saw Noah's picture in the paper and decided to pay him a visit. There, their love was re-kindled and Allie had to make the painstaking choice of choosing Noah, her first love, over Lon, her new wealthy, parental-approved fiance. Allie and Noah grew old together and had many children. In the end, Allie ends up obtaining a disease that causes her to loose all recollection of her life and the knowledge of who anyone around her is, even Noah. In determination to regain her memory, Noah read to Allie everyday the journal that she wrote of their life together, in hopes that she would come back to him. One day, she does remember Noah, however it is short-lived, for that very evening, Noah and Allie die together in the nursing home.
"The Notebook" is an instant classic by the genius novelist Nicholas Sparks, who has written many other notorious romantics such as "Message in a Bottle", and "Nights in Rodanthe". This is a story of both young and old love, and it's journey through time and all the obstacles that come with it. Not only does one learn the truth of soul mates, but how true love prevails all and will somehow find a way to work out if it is truly meant to be. Noah and Allie set an example that anything is possible through love, no matter the distance, social circumstances or life situations. I've read this book several times, and watched the movie countless times, and it never gets old. I recommend the book to any female of any age, and to guys who aspire to impress their girl.

2 comments:

  1. I have seen the movie The Notebook but have never read the book. I really enjoyed the real tear jerker movie. The movie shows a young girl, Allie, who falls in love with a man named Noah, who her parents don’t approve of. Later, she meets a wealthy man who she becomes engaged to. Her parents approve of this man because he has money. Allie then has to make the difficult decision of who she is going to spend the rest of her life with. In the end, she chooses Noah. This story can teach people that money doesn’t matter all the time. I would love to read this book.

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  2. The Notebook seems like a good book and I would love to read it. Nicholas Sparks is an awesome novelist who writes some of the best love stories. I’ve started reading his book, A Bend in The Road and so far I am completely into the story. The story in The Notebook sounds cute. I’ve seen the movie and like it a lot. I like the thought that they are star crossed lovers and have a summer romance then split paths but ultimately end up together in old age. Even though Allie has a hard time remembering Noah near the end, she finally does and they are still in love like they have been all their lives. I would enjoy reading this book.

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