Three Weeks with My Brother

By: Nicholas Sparks, Micah Sparks

Narrated by: Henry Leyva

Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

In January 2003, Nick Sparks and his brother Micah set off on a three-week trip around the world. It was to mark a milestone in their lives, for at 35 and 36, respectively, they were now the only surviving members of their family. As Nick and Micah travel the globe, the intimate story of their tragic family legacy unfolds in the details of the untimely deaths of their parents and only sister. Against the backdrop of the wonders of the world, the Sparks brothers bond together to heal, to remember, and to learn to live life to the fullest.

©2004 Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks (P)2004 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"This is a rare opportunity for readers to get to know a favorite author as Nicholas reveals the inspirations for his fiction. A must-read for Sparks fans as well as a treat for those who want to find out what makes a family strong." (Booklist)
"Refreshingly honest and perceptive....Weaving in vignettes of tenderness and loss with travelogue-like observations, Sparks's account shows how he and his brother both evolved on this voyage." (Publishers Weekly)

Personal and reflective

I always enjoy reading or hearing stories from real people, about the real people that they are, and the struggles they endure. This is a compilation of stories, well woven together. At times it seems a bit too sappy, but the pain these people go through makes it both bearable and understandable. The reader is good, both in vocal character and inflection. I really enjoyed this book, though it didn't keep me in suspense or awake at night wondering what happens next, I did find myself growing attached to the characters. I have never read a Sparks novel, nor did I know he was an established author, but I will read some of his other titles now. His style of writing is easily understood, even in this personal journal of his life. -- Recommended if you like true stories.

A Classic!

While I have enjoyed two of his other books, I believe "Three Weeks with
My Brother" is his best work to date. Nicholas Sparks is an excellent storyteller. Their youthful escapades are uproariously funny.
I laughed, I cried ... I loved it!

Really Good

If you are looking for an armchair travelogue, this is not the book. That is what I was looking for, and I kept on waiting for sightseeing commentaries. Those are secondary. Like peeling an onion, this story unfolds and u get to understand, why it was so important for him to travel with his brother. Where they went seems incidental. A really, really good story. I have never read his fiction books (strike me as romantic stories) but this book was a nice surprise.

A different journey

The most compelling journey the Sparks brothers take you on is not the one around the world. Instead, as we accompany Nick and Micah back in time, they gradually reveal the world they saw as normal when children. It is a world of youthful exuberance, set alongside the pain of a father's emotional distance and an adored mother's attempt to teach her 3 children life's lessons. Laughter and tears comingle as the brothers recount their escapades and the nearly unbearable grief they endured within and alongside their family. I want my own grown sons to read this book. Nick and Micah recall and relate to each other their childhood stories in the same way, I suppose, that all close siblings do. While each son is different, their shared experiences forge a common bond that endures life's harshest moments. As the book ends you finally realize why the trip around the world wasn't nearly as important as the time spent away and together.

Great Read!!

I always feel sad when I finish one of Mr. Sparks books its like saying goodbye to a good friend. I wish he could write faster!! I have read everyone of his books and I have never been disappointed. He is one of the greats!!

Parental Nightmares

As much as I enjoyed this book by Nicholas Sparks I couldn't help thinking that the childhood that he and his brother recall so fondly all through the book was actually one of neglect and abuse. Their mother, in her attempts to make them tough, sounds as though she went way, way overboard. Their father was distant, abusive and resentful. It gets quite depressing in parts and anyone who is expecting a cheery round the world travelogue had better look elsewhere. The audiobook is well produced and well read, but there are annoying musical interludes at the end of each chapter. Three stars because I couldn't relate to the sugar coated reminiscenses of the Brothers Sparks.

Exhausting and Self-indulgent

So, let me first begin with the disclaimer that I am not a dyed-in-the-wool Sparks Super-fan as seemingly are some of the other reviewers here. Neither am I not a fan- I have read or seen the movie versions of several of his books. While well written, in general they are waaay to saccharine for my taste.

However...when I made this purchase- I thought it be OK might because it was a true story and not one of his tear jerker novels.

Had I not been in a hurry when I purchased this audio book , and had I actually read the description I would not have purchased this book- primarily because I would have realized that this is not the travel journal I was seeking. What I wanted was great tales of round the world adventures to accompany me on a long drive. Less than 1/4 of the book, (if that) discusses their amazing itinerary- (what a waste!)- instead only vague mentions are made to events and places on their journey and even then it's only a "gee whiz isn't that neat" or to regale us with some dumb Ugly American moment. Usually the mentions were only made as a "gosh that reminds me of the time when..." and then here we go diving headlong back into the sob-story Sparks...

I found this book to be an EXHAUSTING (and exhaustive!) account of every detail of the life and times of the family Sparks. Drama, death, drama, death....you get the idea. Cathartic for the author yes, entertaining for me no.

This book is a wonderful journal and family history for the Sparks children. But that is where this book should have been left, as an unpublished family memoir.

Unless you are a real Sparks junkie and just NEED to know just how he came to be the sappy novel king he is to day I think you'll finish the book emotionally drained and thinking I'm sorry all those things happened, but so what?"

A must read for Sparks' fans!

I had only read/heard a couple of Nicholas Sparks' books before listening to Three Weeks With My Brother on recommendation from my mother in law that his stories take on new meaning once you know his own story. She was absolutely right! I highly recommend this one first if you're new to Nicholas Sparks.

Three weeks with my brother

I loved this book. It gave much insight into who Nicholas Sparks is. It was easy to relate with him after such an awesome life story. I loved his views on life and tragedy. His life has made him the author he is today

Not what I hoped or expected

First the good news. The author writes clearly and with a reasonable sense of observation and some humor. He also seems like an all-around nice guy. Now the bad news. About one third into the book I started feeling like that it was written to be sold as the material for a movie of the week on Lifetime, Hallmark or some other cable channel that carries sop stories. Sure enough, two thirds into the book the author explains that his books are picked up for scripts of sappy movies (e.g., the ultra-sappy "Message in a Bottle" with Kevin Costner). All told, I was expecting something with insight and depth. What I found was just a midge above trivial. The book may have been meant to tell a moving story of self-discovery, but as the author states many times, what you want and what you get are often entirely different things. Also, I have a difficult time feeling sorry for this guy no matter how hard he tries to tell us that he's led a tough life. Losing relatives is very rough, but myriad poor souls on Earth would feel blessed if that was the worst that ever happened to them.