Better than I thought it would be. I saw the movie first and loved it, then decided to check out the book. It was a bit mushy for my tastes but that didn't take any of the reality out the story. I had originally refrained from reading it because I had been told that Nicholas Sparks wrote Christian literature and I was afraid that in reading it I would end up being preached to. I have seen "A Walk to Remember" but not read the book for this reason. This was not the case at all. He talks about God and "miracles" but not in a way that makes you feel as if he's shoving his beliefs down your throat. There were few differences from the movie except the ending. I liked the movie ending better. When I got to the end of the book it was like, "Is that it?" Very disappointing. But still, bottom line: A good fast read with a lot of heart.

*The cover art is different. It's the movie tie-in edition with Noah and Allie kissing in the rain. And I have re-enforced the cover with contact paper to ensure that it stays somewhat damage proof.*

RELEASE NOTES:

Controlled Release - Going to RainDrop162004 who has nicely agreed to trade with me for her copy of "Sense & Sensibility". I hope the book has a happy journey!

Yay! Thanks much, starrling!

I'm so tempted to read it first, so I'll start it and try to finish it tonight. It shouldn't take too long. Then I'm going to give it to Jess in a bookring. :D

At thirty one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after WWII, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier.

At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she can not stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart.

Thus begins the story of love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle.

I loved this book. I just finished it about ten minutes ago and could not wait to journal it. It was so sweet it had me crying at end because I was so happy everything worked out okay! And the best part is that I reently accepted "The Wedding" by Nicholas Sparks of bookrelay.com, so now I get to read the sequel! I hope one day I have a love as sweet as this one. :)

OFFICIAL BOOKRING

For those of you who have joined a bookring of mine before, you know how the story goes and how they work. But for those of you who haven't... here's how the rules go... :)

1. Please PM the person after you on the list to get their address. If they do not respond within two weeks or so, move on to the next person.

2. Journal the book upon receival as soon as you can.

3. DO NOT have the book past three months please.

4. Journal upon finishing the book, and be honest about your feelings on it, no matter what they are.

5. Have fun!

FUN STUFF!!!

1. Pick a scene from the book and state what you would have done differently as the character.

2. Place a postcard in the book from where you are to be sent home.

3. Place a picture in your journal entry.

4. Place a small note inside the book for the next person to stumble upon to get a surprise!

5. Do anything that sounds fun, as long as it is appropriate and doens't harm the book.

BOOKRING PARTICIPANTS:::

1. froggiepopple(MN,USA) US only
2. sunshindreamr (CT,USA)
3. Drusillamac (Scotland,UK)can ship inter.
4.cambridgelass(UK) can ship inter.
5. DEESSE(France/Germany)prefers to ship in Ger/Fra/Eur,but can do inter.
6.home to me. :)

RELEASE NOTES:

sending to the 1st participant. Enjoy!

Just received, I have 2 other books I need to read first then I will get to it.

I think this is one of those rare occasions where I actually preferred the movie over the book. It was stil a good read, nothing extraordinary though. I just pm'd the next person in line.

RELEASE NOTES:

The book came in the mail today! I am so excited about reading this, because I absolutly loved the movie. I have another bookring book infront of it, but I will get to this one as soon as I can.

I really needed to read a good love story, and this was just the one! I'm so glad I read it. Noah and Allie had a love that most people wish to have (including me, LOL!) I could not put the book down, I read it all yesterday, then decided to watch the movie last night. There were a lot of differences between the movie and the book, and as someone else said I actually liked the ending of the movie better than the book's. But the book was still terrific and it made me cry, LOL. A very sweet love story and someday I might just get a copy to put in my permanent collection.

Thanks for sharing this as a bookring, Juanet! I really enjoyed it.

I will be sending it to the next participant as soon as I get an address.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to next participant :) Enjoy the book!

Caught this in the post this morning. I have a few other bookrings to get to first but I don't see this book being a taxing read which could see it moving up the pile a bit quicker ;-)

When I was reading the book, I felt there was less tension because I had seen the film and knew the outcome. I'm not a great fan of romantice stories but this story is made more 'real' due to Allie's mental decline. It must be heart breaking to watch someone you love not recognise who you are anymore. I did get a lump in my throat towards the end :-)

Off to cambridgelass when I get an address.

Posted this to cambridgelass via second class post today.

i have two other bookrings that arrived at the same time, this is 3rd on the list to be read as there is nobody else after me.

will read asap

3 out of 5, enjoyable

sorry to journal so late, i have finished reading the book, things been hectic here.

i did enjoy the book but was slightly dissappointed it didn't quite have the edge as it did with other of his books. i also found that i didn't believe the love between noah and allie i thought it was lust. the sexual emotion between them i didn't like i thought sparks went maybe a bit pornographic with it. oh well still glad i read

FUN STUFF

mmm ok i chose to be noah i think the scene where allie's mother arrives at noahs was interesting, i wouldn't of let allie drive away i would have put up more of a fight. it just lacked that extra emotion.

thanks so much raindrop for introducing me to the book, will pm the next person on the list

I found it yesterday in my letterbox - just perfect for the beginning Easter holidays (and I just finished the book I'd been reading!) Thank you, RainDrop162004 for adding me on this bookring and thank you, cambridgelass for sending it on despite your hectic time at work!
I've already started it (I'm on page 22) and I already like the writing style and start to "know" the two main characters.

I liked the idea of the "flashback" and I think that Noah and Allie really loved each other (sorry, cambridgelass - I think it wasn't just lust, because their live together and what he does for her in this home for old people every day is a big, big proof of true love! - at least that's what I think...)
I just hope that I'll never have to experience this horrible disease when I'm old - or happen to love someone with this disease...
Well, I was warned that it would make me cry - and actually I sobbed a bit when she's leaving him with the car after the arrival of her mum, and at the end... but it was not my "wettest" Nicholas Sparks - novel so far (I cried a lot more during "Message in a bottle" of "A walk to remember", the only two other novels I knew so far).
They were mean to print the first chapter of "The Wedding" at the back of this one - so now I'm sure that I must read it one day, too.

Thanks, RainDrop162004, for this bookring (I'll mail it to you as soon as you PM me your address) - and thanks everyone for sending it on!

edit 03.05.06:
Since yesterday the book is on its way back to RainDrop162004.

Thanks everyone for participating. I hope you all truly enjoyed the romantic journey! :D

Welcome to Book Crossing!

You're in for a real treat, because you've found a book that has been loved beyond words, and is now on a journey of it's very own to touch other lives and put smiles on other people's faces.

Thank you for entering the BCID on the homepage and deciding to make a quick journal entry. Please say whatever you feel about the book. Have you read it? Do you plan to? What are you going to do with it? How did you find it? Do you know the author? Are you new to BookCrossing?

Whatever you feel, please write! The book is yours now!

I hope you will join bookcrossing and get as much joy out of it as I have. Do as you will with the book, as I mentioned, it's yours now.

There's so many wonderful people, take a look around, and email me through my page if you'd like. I love hearing from people. (=

If you do join, please put my name: "bookchick88" in the referral spot. =)

Happy reading!