by Linda G.
Member since:
March 26, 2007

Book Review- The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

January 10, 2008 12:51 PM EST
views: 1205 | comments: 16
This was an amazing book.  It is hard to imagine that story so simple, and without intense action or an exotic backdrop, could be so compelling.  It is a love story about two average people in a small town. Travis is a handsome, athletic, smart and very self-assured. His life plays out like the X-Games until he meets his new neighbor Gaby. She is infuriating, bold, crazy and beautiful.  He suddenly realizes what has been missing in his perfect looking life.  She, on the other hand, has a boyfriend and her life all planned out.  Meeting him unsettles her and brings her to see herself and her future in unimaginable ways.When the book opens, we learn there is something wrong with their marriage, but do not get any details.  We then go back in time and follow their courtship over most of the book reveling in simplicity of their lives and rooting for them to choose each other, even though we already know they later become a couple.The second part of the book is intensely emotional and at times suspenseful.  Fate gets in the way of their love, and as readers we ride the emotional rollercoaster with them. Okay, I admit I cried more than once.  Author Nicholas Sparks is a gifted storyteller with an uncanny sense of dialog and pace.  Most of the book is in dialog and it is as if you are in the middle of the conversations.  His characters are surprising and likeable and his story is certainly unforgettable. The "choice" in the title works a several levels and makes the reader stop and think about the choices we may daily.
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Comments: 16

Landen Michaels Jan 10, 2008, 1:01pm EST
Very good book.
Sparks amazes me with his simple and prolific writing, especially his characterization.

I bet The Guardian got to you too...
Kimberly Ripley Jan 10, 2008, 1:49pm EST
I haven't yet read this one, but I do enjoy his books. Will definitely need to get a copy now. Great review!
Kim M. Jan 10, 2008, 7:55pm EST
Great review! I loved this book, as I do all of his books. As you said, the title can refer to so many things throughout the book.
Lisa M. Jan 10, 2008, 9:54pm EST
Excellent Book Review! Thanks for posting this to...

The Book Review
Susan *. Jan 11, 2008, 8:30am EST
I really like this book! It is one of those that makes me think!
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Paul M. Jan 11, 2008, 9:16am EST
The only amazing thing about Sparks is that people keep buying his treacle.
Linda G. Jan 11, 2008, 3:32pm EST
To each his own, I enjoyed andI hope you have authors you enjoy too. Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your opinion.
Kathy E. Jan 11, 2008, 4:37pm EST
This is one I definitely want to try...thanks for the review.
Lisette C. Jan 11, 2008, 4:47pm EST
I read this book thinking its just another sappy love story, but when i started reading, i couldn't put it down. this was the first nicholas spark book i read and now i cannot stop reading his books!

great book, i recomend it to everyone!
Rose Lamatt Jan 11, 2008, 7:51pm EST
Your review was a good one, but the book was not good. I loved Sparks when he was the 'old' Sparks, Notebook, Time in a Bootle, but I have to say the last three, except, Three Weeks with My Brother, were not the Sparks I've read in the past. I get the feeling he has lost his 'muse' whatever, but he has lost something. I even ordered the book before it came out and couldn't wait to read it, was sorry when I did.

Your review was good, infact very good writing. But he could take a lesson from you and go back to being simple, yet meaningful.
Austin Cushing Jan 11, 2008, 11:27pm EST
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!
Nancy 67 Jan 13, 2008, 8:38pm EST
Hi Linda, I also read this book and enjoyed it very much, but as Rm Lamatt said, I also kind of feel he's not up to his usual self. It was a good read, very relaxing and pleasant, but not really inspiring as he earlier work was. Good review! By the way, I also wanted to thank you for your nice words about my photo! Keep up the good work with your writing!
David C. Jan 14, 2008, 8:58pm EST
sounds good, I believe I've read something else by him.
Cortney R. Jan 15, 2008, 3:06am EST
That sounds like my kind of book. In fact he is one of my favorite authors. I will definitely have to read this book.
Sheila Deeth Jan 17, 2008, 1:58am EST
Good review. I feel like you've given nothing away but left me eager to read the book. Good job.

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