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The Notebook  By  cover art

The Notebook

By: Nicholas Sparks
Narrated by: Barry Bostwick
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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

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What listeners say about The Notebook

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,460
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    356
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Good book, annoying music

The book "The Notebook" is nice. Very sweet, like the movie. However, I did not like this particular AudioBook because of the loud, obnoxious music that played in the background. The music was entirely too loud which made the narration very hard to hear, and I also found it distracting. I doubt I'll buy another audiobook from this particular maker.

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71 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Yes, finally a man !

What a wonderful story! Nicholas Sparks went far beyond the creation of just another "tear jerker", the book touches ones soul, as Sparks reflects of many of the questions that sooner or later we all ask us in our lives. What is the purpose of my life? What truly brings joy to me? What will it be that I will have in my head to take with me, when it is finally time to go? And so many more...

All this packaged in a gripping yet gently told love story that leads us on a emotional roller coaster (as life is), and it is hard to take a break before the story ends. Recommended by a man, especially to all other men out there.

It is sad that many women (especially in the U.S.) think, that men can not express their feelings or truly share their love and emotions, and even enclose their own husbands in that generalization.
They need to ask themselves why did they marry this "great", yet emotion-less man in the first place.
Our society certainly can improve to participate in the upbringing of more gentle, warm, caring, loving, and emotionally secure males, but many of them already exist, just open your eyes...

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64 people found this helpful

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

Good story, but hated Narration

the narrator's voice was too old sounding for Noah's charactor. Made certain scenes seem creepy. Also the little music incerpts were awful.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Annoying background music

Periodically, there is low-sample-rate music played so loudly that it's difficult to hear the narrator. This went on for so long at the beginning of the book that I nearly abandoned it. The narrator isn't very expressive, though he seems to get better as the book goes on.

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Need tissues for this one

I really enjoyed this book. It shows the strength of true love and how powerful it can be. I was hooked from the beginning, and had a hard time turning the player off when it was time to leave work. You will probably need a tissue!

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Chic book, but a good read (grunt, scratch)

Sparks creates a wonderful image of an old man near the end of his days, recollecting his past love.

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21 people found this helpful

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

Movie is Better

Would you ever listen to anything by Nicholas Sparks again?

I'm not sure. I've read a couple of his other books and don't remember being as disappointed.

What didn’t you like about Barry Bostwick’s performance?

At times he was talking so softy, I couldn't understand what he was saying.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment! The character development wasn't there, the romantic chemistry seemed forced. At times, the conversations between the characters seemed absolutely endless circular repeats.

Any additional comments?

I LOVE this movie. One of the rare times that I would say it was much better than the book.

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13 people found this helpful

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

Enjoyed the movie more

I am a huge fan of the movie the Notebook (who isn't?!) and actually enjoyed the movie much more than the book, usually it's the opposite. I like the characters betters in the movie version, Noah in the book and in the movie seemed like two totally different characters, and I like the movie version better, maybe it's because Ryan gosling did such a great job portraying him but I didn't care
For the book version of Noah. Still a great love story but found the movie better.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A REAL TEAR JERKER

NO BODY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE THE KIND OF LOVE THESE TWO PEOPLE HAVE. IT IS A GREAT STORY AND WHAT REALLY MAKES IT GRAND IS THE NARRARATOR. HE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO HIM AND PUTS UNBELIEVABLE FEELING INTO IT. AND TO THINK IT WAS WRITTEN BY A MAN. WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE?

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11 people found this helpful

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

Poor production

I was looking forward to listening to this beautiful story. While the narration is fine, there is very loud obnoxious music playing over the narrator in many places.

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8 people found this helpful