Buying A Walk to Remember

I might never have read this book if not for the movie, by the same name. I was enamored by the movie, enough to want to read the book. As happens almost all the time, there were really big differences between the book and the movie, and I can't say I am happy about that.

Landon Carter is a typical high school student, with scant interest in his academics. His father is a Congressman, whose family has a long history with Reverend Sullivan, Jamie's father. Jamie, on the other hand, is the personification of the ideal girl. Loved by all, including the adults, for her everything is about the Lord's plan. She manages to see God's hand in almost every event, no matter how much sadness may be caused. When Landon and Jamie are paired up in a drama, they inevitably find themselves seeing each other more often than they had ever in all they years the knew each other.

I couldn't appreciate Landon's and Jamie's relationship much. I think the movie brought it out better, but in the book, it just fell flat on me. Landon initially doesn't want anything to do with Jamie, and spends a lot of time letting the reader know what he doesn't like about her. When his turnaround came, I found it hard to buy. His change appeared to me an abrupt makeover. The author tries to show it as being gradual, but when you consider the time span, it really wasn't. As for Jamie, I'm sure there are good girls like her, but a perfect one like her was just a little too far-fetched a concept.

However, I was still able to enjoy the book. The length and the easy writing had a lot to do with that. A Walk to Remember is a breeze to read. I read it in one sitting. Landon proves to be a great narrator, as his wise-crack mind manages to see the humor in even the most absurd or dismal situations. I wouldn't really call this a romantic comedy, which it is not, but there is some well-placed humor that can entertain you. Although I shed quite some tears while watching the movie, I couldn't work myself up while reading this book. I guess that's because I already knew what's coming. Nicholas Sparks' books aren't famous for HEA endings.

The previous Nicholas Sparks novel that I had read was The Guardian. I wasn't too impressed by that one either. I somehow feel that I may be done with Nicholas Sparks, unless I get strongly inspired to try any more of his booksGet more detail about A Walk to Remember.