Debra’s Comments (group member since Sep 02, 2012)

Debra’s comments from the 2013 Nicholas Sparks Challenge (from Debra's Book Cafe) group.

I have to confess that I am a little bit behind in my Nicholas Sparks challenge but I will catch up soon lol! I have popped a link to my review below:

Debra's Book Cafe


Debs :-)

phew, I am so behind with reading with this challenge. Have now finished Nights in Rodanthe (link to review below)

Debra's Book Cafe


Debs :-)

Darlene wrote: "What a great story. I love the surprise ending. The Wedding has become one of my new favorites.
Now on to the next book."

So glad you enjoyed this book Darlene! Its my fav of all time.. Great ending :-)

Kouk wrote: "I am reading The Rescue right now and will have it finished this weekend.

I think this will be another winner!"

Hi Kouk! Im really this too this weekend. I can't believe I had forgotten how good this book really was... :-)

Darlene wrote: "I just finished A Bend in the Road. The story had a different twist to it. The usual love story, but an added who done it as well. The book was not my favorite, but I gave it four stars. I love bei..."

Thank you so much for taking part Darlene... :-)

Elizabeth wrote: "Another great one by Nicholas Sparks! I'm so glad I'm doing this challenge."

Glad you enjyed this one Elizabeth and glad you are taking part. I am going to be picking up this book hopefully at the weekend.. :-)

Nicole wrote: "Started reading this book today!! And Im already struggling to put it down."

Yey! I am going to start this one at the weekend, hopefully.... :-)

Darlene wrote: "I enjoyed watching Landon mature and also change his feeling towards Jamie through out the story. The book was much better than the movie."

Definately agree with you there Darlene... :-)

Published: 1st April 1998
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Goodreads : Click here
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Review: 10 out of 10

Out of all of the books written by Nicholas Sparks, this one has a very special place in my heart. This is the story that introduced me initially to the wonderfulness that is Nicholas Sparks. I have to admit that it was not the book that brought me in, it was the movie that I watched first (absolutely love Kevin Costner lol!). I fell in love with the story and when I realised that it was a book, I had to read that story and the rest, as they say, is history.

What I loved about this story...

What can I say, I absolutely love the way that Nicholas Sparks packs his story full of emotion, right from the beginning. There are two characters to follow in this story. The first being Theresa who at the beginning of the story we see that she is living with her son, having split up from her husband. Her son is going to spend time with his father, which leaves Theresa spending some 'me time' at the beach staying with good friend. This is when she discovers the message in a bottle, which to me seems to appear at the moment she needs it the most. The second character is, of course, Garrett. When we first see him in the story, he is suffering great pain from the loss of his wife and struggling to cope. I loved the character progressions of Theresa and Garrett.

What I was not fond of in this story...

Absolutely nothing!

Movie -v- Book....

As mentioned above, this is the first book/movie I read/watched by Nicholas Sparks so they will both mean a lot to me. With this story, I would have to say that I enjoy both the book and the movie equally (which is really rare for me to say about movie -v- book situations). Between the book and the movie, there are subtle differences in the story which, for me, gives each an 'edge' which makes it slightly different from the other...

Tracy wrote: "After reading the book, I broke my general rule and watched the movie. I must say that the book is so much better. I must stick to my rule!"

Im going to be watching the movie this weekend but have seen it many times before. The book is definately so much better but I do like the fact that there are subtle differences in the story... :-)

Darlene wrote: "I just finished "Mesage in a Bottle" and I can't wait to get started on "A Walk to Remeber". I am enjoying this group, but I need to catch up with the rest of you."

Im just doing the reverse, Ive just finished A Walk to Remember and will be reading Message in a bottle this week lol! :-)

Absolutely loved this book!!!

My Review 10 out of 10

I have just fallen in love with this story all over again. It has been many years since I last picked up this book and a little sooner that I last watched the movie, probably when it first came out, and I have been very much looking forward to delving into this story again. For me, there is always something almost magical about sitting down and delving into a Nicholas Sparks story. It is guaranteed that at the end of every single story I have read, I will cry. It could be tears of happiness, tears of sadness or a bit of both but still guaranteed.

What I loved about this book...

Where can I start lol! Absolutely everything. If I had to pick one particular thing about this story that I really did love the most I would have to say it was Landon and Hegbert, Jamie's father. I liked how we see Landon's personality change as the story goes on and see the effect that Jamie has on him. With Hegbert, there are a lot of secrets that he holds particularly in relation to his family and you can feel it as you read about him, his character progression throughout the story is gradual but enjoyable to follow.

What I was not fond of with this book...

Absolutely nothing!

Best wishes

Debs

Kouk wrote: "I'm currently reading it, but i'm not getting very far.
Because i am in bed with the flu.

Don't know when i'll be on my feet again but i hope to finish the book in the weekend!

Glad you enjoyed A..."

Sorry to hear you are not well Kouk, hope you feel better soon... :-)

Hi Kathy! This one is definately one of Nicholas' quicker reads... I started it yesterday and probably will not take me long to finish it... Its been a while since I have read the other books but from memory yes they all have some element of tear jerkiness to them... Thanks so much for taking part! Best wishes Debs :-)

Darlene wrote: "I just finished the Best of Me. Great ending! i am excited about the group. I had planned to read all of Nicholas Spark's book this year and now I have a way to share with others. Thank you. Now I ..."

Excellent.. This is the one book I haven't read yet. Been holding back as my little treat for reading the rest of the Sparks books.... Looking forward to hearing how you get on with The Noteboook... :-)

Kathy (ebookkat) wrote: "I finished "Message in the Bottle" late last night. What a great book! I have become a huge Nicholas Sparks fan! I am glad I will be reading all of his books this year! Thanks again Debra for invit..."

Now that was speedy Kathy! I am so pleased that you really enjoyed Message in a Bottle, its such a great story. I can get easily swept away in just the Dear Catherine letters alone... Thanks so much for taking part and I am so happy to know that you are enjoying his books so far... :-)

Kouk wrote: "I just finished The Notebookand i loved it so much!

I already loved it when i read it about 10 years ago in Dutch, but reading it now in its original language i love it even more!

The Notebook is..."

So glad you enjoyed it Kouk... Looking forward to hearing what you thought of the rest of the books... :-)

Olivia wrote: "Finally getting ready to start it! I'm excited! I love the movie so hopefully I can say I love the book as well :)"


Excited! Looking forward to hearing how you get on... :-)

Sarah wrote: "I finished it really quickly once I started it. As I said in my review, it suited my mood at the moment, I was looking for something really simple to read, with no complicated storylines and a gre..."

SO glad you enjoyed it Sarah.. :-)

Ashli wrote: "When I first read The Notebook, I loathed it. I had wanted to reread it because I think I had judged it too harshly. I was right. I had upped it to three stars instead just one. Even though I did e..."

Excellent! I have found that with some other books I have read and given a second chance too! Thanks for taking part :-)