It was well written. But I often have a problem with books written about the author, but labeled as fiction. I'm just never sure what part is true. But this book did explain a lot of why Nicholas Sparks writes such tragic books. I spent 8 years living in the same town as the author and met him briefly a couple of times. Between small town rumors and the books he writes I gathered a view of him that was rather complex and depressing. This book (if mostly true) explained most of this.

I'm not really sure why I read this book. I didn't know who Nicholas Sparks was prior to reading this and I've never read any of his books nor even the seen movies. However, none of that is essential for reading this book which is about his personal life and family interspersed with a log of a trip around the world he took with his brother. I enjoyed a lot of it, but I also tended to roll my eyes when he talked about his relationship with his wife and his faith. I don't think I'm the target audience for the book; I think Christian women in Middle America are the target audience. To be sure, he loves his wife, but I just kept noticing how he seemed to take pride any time he helped out with his own kids' upbringing, as if he was doing her job as a favor to her, rather than participating in raising his kids.

Sparks memoir revolving around his brother Micah's trip. Many many topics covered. Wonderful warm writing.

I absolutely loved reading about Nicholas and Micah's life. This was an emotional read that you come to expect from Nicholas Sparks. He was the first author whose words made me shed tears, and still to this day I indulge in his books like no other author. I wasn't expecting the same emotional connection as I would have with his novels, but quickly I gauged it would be and was not wrong. I lost both my parents and two siblings within a 5 year span and could really relate to his struggles. Great book that I recommend to all.

Wow... Just wow. This is an amazing book. To be honest, I had no idea it was a memoir when I checked it out at the library. Although I am a fan of memoirs, I was not intending to read one anytime soon. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This book is full of important things... 'reminders' may be a better word. Things that we need to keep in mind through the busy rush of our every day lives. Mad respect for Sparks after reading this. One thing to keep in mind though, despite feeling extremely empathetic towards every obstacle he has faced in his life, it is important to remember that these are things everyone goes through... so be KIND to everyone because even though you don't know what they are going through, everyone is going through SOMETHING. Well done Nick :) Beautifully written.

I read this book because it meant alot to my sons. They related to it and because of some tragedies in our lives.....I also could relate. It is the story of Nicholas Sparks and his brother and the importance of family. Even in the face of death and grief, there is strength to carry on when it is shared with loved ones. My main source of strength is Jesus and it is because of the hope I have in Him that I am able to contnue. I don't always thrive, as this book encourages.....some days it's just enough to get by. In the loss of my daughter, Miranda, it helps me to read about other's losses and how they dealt. We all handle grief differently, Nicholas and Micah Sparks did also, but there is also a kind of unity that you feel with others who have been where you have.....you share an inner feeling of understanding with them. These two brothers have a great bond, as my two sons do, and this story meant alot to me, primarily because it touched them.

يقال ان اردت ان تعرف أحدًا بحق, فسافر معه. هذا الكتاب كالسفر بصحبة نكولاس راااااائع من جميع النواحي.
فهو مزيج بين سيرة ذاتية ورواية ومعلومات وثائقية وتاريخية وأيضًا نصائح تربوية وحياتية وأخوية بأسلوب يسلب الأنفاس.
أحببت نك كثيرًا وهو حتى الآن أفضل شخصية قرأت عنها

This is one of those books that you oculd read over and over and over and still be in awe when you finish it. It's truly a amazing. I recommend it to anyone. I read it when I ws 11-12 years old and I'm 14 now. Yes, I was young but I started reading adult books early. My grandpa bought the book in a wal-mart when we were on vacation and never read it but I picked it up. I was drawn to it only because it's a memoir. It's written very intrestingly. It follows Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah on a 3 week tour around the world. It flips back and forth to the present when they are on the trip and to the past which is their childhood and up on through the years. So one chapter they will be telling you about his sister having a brain tumor and then the next they will be on a mountain in machu pichu. It's not a book that's highly addictive but you want to read it and you can't speed through it since it can be very emotional. I'm thinking of reading this again, now. :)

I know it's cliche to say that a book is so touching it makes you laugh and cry, but there you have it. So, I'd call this typical Nicholas Sparks - cliche yet incredibly moving. Plus, I can't help but like anyone who feels the same way I do about museums. I also know that the main theme of this story is family, but what is really sticking with me and what I keep turning over in my mind is how INCREDIBLY different children were raised just one generation ago.

This is what happens when prisons don't employ librarians...a bunch of male offenders pick dreck like this. Now I want to read The Notebook, only to figure out how to sell a novel in one week for a million dollars. If this guy can do it, anyone can. I'm thinking the secret is: exploit tragedy to its extreme, and continually refer to what a good Christian you are. And be a huge UGLY AMERICAN and then be kind of proud of it.

Yes, Micah, you definitely deserve to be the one guy in centuries they allow to have his photo taken on ancient sacrificial stones, making fun of an entire civilization. You are that cool.

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So it's a few days later, and I've now attended our book group discussion. I was also honored to attend IMCC's First Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, in which all volunteer programs were invited to a lovely ceremony, with food and drink, and an opportunity to socialize with offenders that valued the volunteer opportunities made available to them. What an awesome experience. IMCC is lucky to have a community of generous and intelligent support, ranging from an insider/outsider chorus and songwriting group, Job Club, Writers' Group, Master Gardeners, Incarcerated Veterans, Parenting Group, AA, and Stories for Dads, not to mention lots of spiritual/religious support. There was so much love in that room, so much pushing and striving for a better life, over 200 volunteers were honored, and 200 offenders were present to give their thanks and show the work they were so proud of. One offender, presenting a certificate to Stories for Dads, spoke of how, because of that program, his three-year-old child had her only opportunity to hear his voice, and how that was enough to push him to be a better father upon his release. It was truly a moving event, and has inspired me to keep working for this community, knowing that whatever benefits we can bring are truly appreciated. The offenders that were present are not just people determined to take charge of their own lives, but work everyday to inspire their peers to do the same, and they are really the people that deserve an appreciation ceremony.
So, with all this in mind, is it any surprise that my book group colleagues found a lot of value in this book (remember, this is a review of Three Weeks With My Brother?). A couple of them couldn't finish it because it hit too close to home. What they identified with is Sparks' feeling of loss, losing his parents and sister. Many of my colleagues have no family to return to upon their release -- loved ones have either died during their incarceration, or abandoned them as lost causes. Through this perspective, I can appreciate what they see in the text, and Sparks' optimism and values can be a real balm for someone who is seeking a new take on life. And if this book helps a man feel less lost in the world, than I'm glad it's out there. I don't retract my criticisms, but I'll concede this -- every book its reader, and hallelujah for the power of narrative.

I'm not a big Nicholas Sparks fan, but my mother recommended this book to me "Because you've been to so many of the places they visit!" Its an easy read, and one that uses the time-honored narrative trope of using present events to frame a story of the past. But I almost feel like the book itself didn't need that trope -- the story of Sparks life growing up with his brother (and less importantly, his parents and sister) was compelling enough to stand alone as a narrative. In fact, I found the parts of the book set in the present (specifically, Sparks' instance on leaving his wife with their five kids under the age of 11 to take what sounds like the worst sort of guided tour for rich, bored Americans with a propensity to mock their native hosts around the world for three weeks and then having the GALL to complain to his saintly wife about having to go on said trip after deciding he was too busy being a workaholic for such a vacation) to be problematic.

(Also, one quick PSA: Please, please don't be that person that goes to foreign countries and disrespects local culture by climbing all over sacred artifacts. Its a bad look for us all.)

I've read of few of Nicholas Sparks' books and thought I would try his memoir. I am glad that I did. Overall I did enjoy reading his book and found it fasinating. I gave the book 4 stars because it was so moving and touching and made you really stop and think of all that you should appreciate in your life and that it could be taken away from you at any moment.

I could see how his life experiences affected his writing. When I first read his book Nights in Rodanthe, I really enjoyed the book, but I did cry and wished for a happy ending not such a sad one. After reading his memoirs I can see that he drew from his own life experiences to write such emotional stories.

This book is really 2 stories weave into one. He writes about his 3 week around the world trip with his brother and in between he flashes back to his youth and lets that story unfold. As the story progresses on we see how different life experiences shape his life. All the joys as well as his tragedies that come to shape his take on life. I must say that I enjoyed the flash backs to his memories of his youth more so then the descriptions of his trip around the world. I guess that is why I have it 4 stars instead of 5. Still a very worthwhile story to read and appreciate.

If you ever read any of Sparks books it is a must read to truly appreciate were he is coming from.