The Notebook

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Barry Bostwick

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Experience the unforgettable, heartbreaking love story set in post-World War II North Carolina about a young socialite and the boy who once stole her heart—one of PBS's "Great American Reads".

Every so often a love story so captures our hearts that it becomes more than a story—it becomes an experience to remember forever. The Notebook is such a book. It is a celebration of how passion can be ageless and timeless, a tale that moves us to laughter and tears and makes us believe in true love all over again . . .

At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, 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 cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle . . .

©1996 Nicholas Sparks (P)2004 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A classic tale of love."—Christian Science Monitor

"A one-night read . . . If you are in need of a good cry, The Notebook is absolutely the right book."—USA Today

"The lyrical beauty of this touching love story . . . will captivate the heart of every reader."—Denver Rocky Mountain News

ali

listened twice and it was great! nice story, good writing. Warm feelings towards Noah and Ally.

I love the movie, the book is good.

I love this movie the most romantic and passionate story I ever see. The book is good but there is more beautiful details in the movie.

Good writer overall

Great premise, cheesy middle, but I loved the last section. Lots of beautiful writing, and its popularity is evident, so my criticism doesn’t mean much. I almost stopped listening because I was so embarrassed by what seemed so cheesy and unrealistic to me. But I’m glad I stayed for the end, which was so touching that it brought tears to my eyes. Good interview with the author at the end, he seems extremely likeable.

Nice story , beautiful narration

Barry Bostwick did a really great job. For me it was a beautiful performance with all different characters rather than only narration

The Noteboik

A love story of two young people who feel in love in their teens and separated for many years before the reunited and the live they made for themselves and their children and how their lives ended.

Everlasting Love

This was the first time I heard this book. I had seen the movie but the book is 100 times better. My husband and I have a love like this, a love that I know is endless. I pray he never has to go through what Noah went through. This is now my favorite Nicholas Sparks book.

A rollercoaster ride of emotions!

I don't know how I haven't gotten around to reading this book or seeing the very popular movie before now, but I'm very glad I waited. The author did such a wonderful job in creating lovable characters and a moving and memorable love story. This is one book that I will listen to again and again.

Love is amazing

Noah met Allie one summer in his small town and they fell madly in love. When the summer ended she went years thinking he forgot about her and he did the same after writing letters and getting no response. After years of not speaking, Allie sees an article in the paper about him 3 weeks until she is married to another man. Allie then goes on her own mission to go see Noah and see how life is for him where they remember that summer and rekindle that love from that summer many years ago. You learn all this as they are now old people in assisted living care and Noah reads a notebook of their love story everyday to fight her memory loss. It really is a book that teaches you love does conquer all.

Nicholas Sparks is fabulous on his writing and keeping you rooting for the love to conquer whatever gets in the way. It is a wonderful book that teaches you that you can fight for what you love and despite everything in your way you can win. Nicholas reminds us that love is a very strong force that can make us or break us.

The narrator reads this story with such passion that it makes you feel like you are watching the movie. He does amazing with portraying the pain and joy with each chapter.

Atmospheric

I am 73 years old, a man, thrice married. I am deeply in love with my wife of 21 years. I have a wonderful relationship with my sons, because I love them so, and I have tried to be a good father to them and to her children. At the end of the day, as the end approaches to our lives, I feel a long arc to our lives. So much happened and so little happened. So much was routine and mixed into it all was caring. Biographical, success, money, notoriety, reputation, they all mattered in their own way. The details of our lives, and how we impacted others also matter. But I lived in other relationships with perfectly nice people, but in my heart, I was plagued with doubt and emptiness, I know now that if there has been an abiding love, if it’s been possible to come back to the source every day, and to be met with good cheer and tender, caring, then my life has been a success. this is a feeling, not a story, and not a narration. Underneath daily frustrations and personal triumphs & tragedies, there has always been deep love with this woman, and I will care for her to the end of her days, as I know she would for me. Mr. Sparks has captured that kind of love. It’s not about background music or whether it seems mushy or manipulative. It’s atmospheric and each day has been filled with meaning by love.

Watch the Movie

I liked the book but loved the movie. You won't be disappointed. It was so well done!