In the fall of 1984, high-school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.
Now, 25 years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for a funeral. Neither has lived the life they imagined - and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers soon realize that everything they thought they knew - about themselves and the dreams they held dear - was not as it seemed. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?
©2011 Nicholas Sparks (P)2011 Hachette
"Horribly depressing"
I cannot believe I listened to this book all the way through. Mr. Sparks, I know every story doesn't have to have a happy ending but books are my entertainment. While you can weave quite a story. This is just too depressing. I found it unbelieveable long maybe it was just dragging me down. Narrator performance was very good.
I do not purchase or listen to books to be taken this far down emotionally.
If you are a NS fan, you will probably buy this as I did but I cannot recommend this book.
"Dear Audible, Never let me buy another NS book."
Typical Nicholas Sparks tearjerker, just more so. You can see the "shocking" ending from 100 pages away.
"A Downer"
I certainly would try other books from Sparks, they are usually a little more inspiring than this one.
One sad event after another
No I had not to my knowledge.
Oh I would say it was fine, just not great.
There really wasn't one happy event in the lives of the characters in this book. The overall theme was fine, intended to be happy, but individually it was a downer.
"Lisa"
This book was the sappiest thing I have ever come across. It was shameless with ridiculous sentimentality. Got to the last few chapters and just stopped. I felt like my IQ dropped a few points for entertaining it for that long.
Get more real! He either is the most sensitive human being on the planet or is just catering to lonely women in desperate, and I mean desperate need, of some love and affection.
Maybe.
All of them!!!!!
I am a 34-year old litigator, father of three young sons. I listen to a lot of business books, suspense/thrillers, bios, and history.
"I can't believe I am admitting this..."
But, yes, I also listen to Nicholas Sparks occasionally. The story itself is vintage Sparks sappy, fairly predictable, made for movie. The narration is average, but it didn't stand up. Nothing particularly special about this book, but it was a good read.
"Boring!"
The story line is weak and slow. The characters are not appealing. You really don't care what happens to them. I am 90% through with the book and have quit listening. The ending is now obvious and so ridiculous that I can't stand to listen to it. This book is sappy beyond belief. The narrator is just OK.
"Always Good"
When I knew that Nicholas Sparks would be having his newest book released Oct. 11th, 2011 I could hardly wait! The wait was worth it, of course. He writes in a manner that keeps ones attention and always there is a twist that twinges the emotions, and this one doesn't fail to meet that.
"SAPPY!!"
If you are looking for a predictable book this it ! Melo dramatic to the point I laughed out loud
Undaunted Courage
Better story line.
I had a few good laughs because it was so maudlin
Bad southern accents
"A must read"
I am a Nicholas Sparks fan, and love all of his books. This one was no exception. I could not put it down, what a wonderful, touching, and amazing story. You will not be disapointed.
"Wolf in Sheeps Clothing"
This, so easily could have been a 5 star book. I've read a few books lately that were poorly written or aimed at a younger audience, so after cozying up with this book I was happy to find I had finally found a book that was *good*, and well written. I loved the characters, and Sparks had me wanting to keep reading.
I was a bit disappointed in the middle of the book, I'm not a fan of affairs and don't like it when stories include them - thankfully Amanda thought better of an affair with Dawson or leaving her husband Frank, and the star couple parted ways. I was hoping that the author would resolve the story by pairing the couple back together later in life by the death of her husband or some other way that wouldn't paint the soul mates badly - but instead, Sparks killed off the hero, Dawson...
I would have voted 4 or 5 stars for my review, but killing Dawson at the end killed it all for me. It feels like Sparks was playing a cruel joke on his readers by building up such a great feeling about this couple, and what a great guy Dawson was, and then writes in Dawson's murder at the end. The only thing Sparks left out was a "Muahahahaha....." at the end, because after reading this book it feels like that's what Sparks must have been thinking when he finished writing this book.
As for the narration, I would have preferred a female narrator because men never seem to be able to master the mushy tones of a romance, or do the female voices as well. But Sean Pratt did do the best narration of a romance I've ever heard a man do.