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The Notebook  By  cover art

The Notebook

By: Nicholas Sparks
Narrated by: Kate Nelligan, Campbell Scott
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Publisher's summary

With echoes of The Bridges of Madison County, this tale explores the enduring power of love through the years and in the face of adversity.

Noah and Allie fell in love as teenagers, with the purest sort of love, only to be kept apart by Allie's mother. Their feelings survived in spite of everything - and they recounted their romance in the pages of a notebook. Now, years later, Allie suffers from Alzheimer's, and her memory has been wiped clean. By reading the story of their relationship and the passion they shared, Noah hopes to break through the barrier of his wife's illness.

This poignant first novel from Nicholas Sparks rivals any love story ever written.

©1996 Nicholas Sparks, All Rights Reserved, Abridgment Approved by the Author (P)1996 Time Warner AudioBooks, © 1996 Time Warner AudioBooks (Packaging Rights Only), A Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing

Critic reviews

Winner of Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award: Best Audio of 1996, Romance

"Nelligan's genteel, Southern tones blend perfectly with Scott's straightforward, gentle, often sensuous baritone. The readers deliver strong characterizations." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Notebook

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful love story

I think this is one of the most touching love stories ever written. I listened to the last hour while riding home in the car, and cried all of the way. It's beautifully written and beautifully performed. Get this audiobook...You won't be disappointed! It's a WONDERFUL book describing how enduring the love between two people can be.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Notebook

Nicholas Sparks stays true to his form with this book. Absolutely awesome.....

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

CHAPTER 1 INCOMPLETE

Only about 5 minutes of chapter one (of 4) skips their whole story of falling in love. DO NOT BUY

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Abysmal

Trite and lacks depth - a complete waste of time.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An inspirational, highly moving story

Definitely worth the price! One of the most touching novels I have "read" in a long time. It made me laugh and it made me cry. The characters are very believable and the story is very moving.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful for those who still believe.

Nicholas Sparks has to understand that love which surpasses life's obstacles to relationships and writes about the bond which does not skip a beat. It's so noted throughout the story of the Notebook. The beginning was a tad slow for me, but captured me soon after I had begun reading. Well worth the price.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Have tissue paper handy...

What did you like best about this story?

The impossible love of young people generaly make for an interesting story. That is not any different in The Notebook. But the impossible love of two elderly people, as presented in this book, is truly touching. It brings forward, to one's mind, the invevitable passing of time and the sadness of loss within reality.

What about Kate Nelligan and Campbell Scott ’s performance did you like?

Kate Nelligan and Campbell Scott performed brilliantly. As simple as that.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

While it is hard to speak about that passage without giving away the story, I was very moved by the moment when he sees her go, taken away by the monster.

Any additional comments?

If you have an elderly person in your family whom you love dearly, give him or her a big hug and many kisses next time you see them.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I'm sorry, the movie was far better than this book. I could not keep going for long. I'm sorry it was my first download. I chose it because Campbell Scott was the narrator. He had me hooked with "Honeymoon" and he does a fine job here. But the book is lacking. Save your money. See the movie.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Seasons of Love

Would you consider the audio edition of The Notebook to be better than the print version?

The audio version is better. The voices, the music...there's atmosphere, makes a clearer, more artistic picture of the happenings in my mind.

If you’ve listened to books by Nicholas Sparks before, how does this one compare?

I've never read his work before...i saw two movies adapted from his books--themes of those stories were very similar to this story.

Which character – as performed by Kate Nelligan and Campbell Scott – was your favorite?

Campbell Scott's character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did have tears in my eyes a few times...and I laughed occasionally.

Any additional comments?

no

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie

Of course the book is always better than the movie! Allie & Noah have such a sweet love story.

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1 person found this helpful