Published : 2021 || Format : print || Location : Colombia ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ What was it about the country that kept everyone hostage to its fantasy? The previous month, on its own soil, an American man went to his job at a plant and gunned down fourteen coworkers, and last spring alone there were four different school shootings. A nation at war with itself, yet people still spoke of it as some kind of paradise.. Thoughts : Infinite Country follows two characters - young Talia, who at the beginning of this book, escapes a girl’s reform school in North Colombia so that she can make her previously booked flight to the US. Before she can do that, she needs to travel many miles to reach her father and get her ticket to the rest of her family. As we follow Talia’s treacherous journey south, we learn about how she ended up in the reform school in the first place and why half her family resides in the US. Infinite Country tells the story of her family through the other protagonist, El
Title: A Walk to RememberAuthor: Nicholas Sparks
First Published: September 2000
Publisher: Warner Books
Source: Personal Copy | This book has been on my radar ever since I watched the movie
240 pages
In a nutshell
Every April, when the wind smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year at Beaufort High. Landon had dated a girl or two, and even once sworn that he'd fallen in love. Certainly the last person he though he'd fall for was Jamie, the shy, almost ethereal daughter of the town's Baptist minister... Jamie, who was destined to show him the depths of the human heart --- and the joy and pain of living.
I might never have read this book if not for the movie, by the same name. I was enamored by the movie, enough to want to read the book. As happens almost all the time, there were really big differences between the book and the movie, and I can't say I am happy about that.
I think...
Landon Carter is a typical high school student, with scant interest in his academics. His father is a Congressman, whose family has a long history with Reverend Sullivan, Jamie's father. Jamie, on the other hand, is the personification of the ideal girl. Loved by all, including the adults, for her everything is about the Lord's plan. She manages to see God's hand in almost every event, no matter how much sadness may be caused. When Landon and Jamie are paired up in a drama, they inevitably find themselves seeing each other more often than they had ever in all they years the knew each other.
I couldn't appreciate Landon's and Jamie's relationship much. I think the movie brought it out better, but in the book, it just fell flat on me. Landon initially doesn't want anything to do with Jamie, and spends a lot of time letting the reader know what he doesn't like about her. When his turnaround came, I found it hard to buy. His change appeared to me an abrupt makeover. The author tries to show it as being gradual, but when you consider the time span, it really wasn't. As for Jamie, I'm sure there are good girls like her, but a perfect one like her was just a little too far-fetched a concept.
However, I was still able to enjoy the book. The length and the easy writing had a lot to do with that. A Walk to Remember is a breeze to read. I read it in one sitting. Landon proves to be a great narrator, as his wise-crack mind manages to see the humor in even the most absurd or dismal situations. I wouldn't really call this a romantic comedy, which it is not, but there is some well-placed humor that can entertain you. Although I shed quite some tears while watching the movie, I couldn't work myself up while reading this book. I guess that's because I already knew what's coming. Nicholas Sparks' books aren't famous for HEA endings.
The previous Nicholas Sparks novel that I had read was The Guardian. I wasn't too impressed by that one either. I somehow feel that I may be done with Nicholas Sparks, unless I get strongly inspired to try any more of his books.
What did you think?
Have you read this book? I'd like to know what you thought about it. Please leave your review link in the comments, or a brief opinion, if you hadn't reviewed it.
Did you like it or you didn't? If you didn't, at what point did the book turn you off.
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Comments
i have enjoyed all the films made from Spark's books, but have heard similar comments from others and just stayed away from the books.
it is rare when the book is NOT better than the film, but it has to happen sometime
Emidy, I am hesitant to read him too now.
Steph, I have Notebook on top of my Sparks' TBR, so if I do read him, that will be next. Thanks for recommending that!
Lisa, haha, I second that!
Juju, you are welcome!
Erisian, well said! I guess I will be just sticking to Nicholas Sparks' movies rather than his books.