The Notebook

By: Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by: Barry Bostwick

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

At 31, 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 29, 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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.