A Walk to Remember

“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that if I did, the joy would be gone as well.”



When an author tells you in the very first page of his book that he's going to make you cry, and that author is Nicholas Sparks, you better freaking believe him. I never read this book before, nor watched the movie (just like The Notebook - yes, I was actually living under a rock), so I had no idea where the story was going, but then I mean, I would lie if I said that I didn't see it happen from page like 50. Still, even with its predictability and that little sprinkle of Spark's "cheesiness", I enjoyed this read much more than I was expecting and much more than The Notebook (which I read last week).

Also, while the first half of the book made me sincerely smile with its humour, the very ending literally punched me in the guts. No Really, I was like "oh wow I am so proud of myself I didn't actually cry ahah" and then BAM. Anyway, I am now an official Nicholas Sparks fan. If you are too, please give me more recommendations! This man has written so many books in his life I really don't know where to start. I also want to watch the movies!

While Sparks is known for having romantic plotlines in his fiction, and would probably appeal to fans of the romance genre, he eschews the conventional formula here, and this novel gains depth as a result. The core of his story is most definitely a (clean and wholesome) romance, between two people that the reader comes to care about, and that's a type of story with an innate appeal to many readers of both sexes -- it's true that most men aren't big fans of commercial "romances," but that's because we usually don't appreciate the verbal excesses and predictable plotting that mar most of those efforts, not because we don't root for true love as much as female readers! But more than romance, like all really good fiction, this book offers a serious look at the things that matter in life, and subtly invites the reader to grow in appreciation of those things as we watch Landon Carter grow.

Sparks' prose is clear and straightforward, and the book is easy to read (I could imagine some readers wanting to read it at a sitting), and his setting, small-town coastal North Carolina in 1958-59, just before his own birth, is evoked well. A Roman Catholic, his treatment of his heroine's faith (she's the daughter of a Baptist minister) is very positive and respectful. While the book is titled A Walk to Remember, Jamie is certainly also a character to remember, for a long time --one of the classiest ladies to grace the pages of contemporary fiction. (And fans of tough females can take note: she's not a swordswoman like, say, Jirel of Joiry, but she's her equal in guts and inner strength!)

Aww.... What a breath of fresh air! A beautiful God-filled romance (it can't get better than that, right?). I'm an absolute SUCKER for romance books, but this book was absolutely fantastic. Having watched the movie beforehand, I had my hopes up for an even BETTER book, because aren't book versions often more amazing than movie versions? I have to humbly admit though.... the movie was better. *knocks over chair and screams* I also LOVE Mandy Moore and Shane West, so maybe that is a SLIGHT reason for my bias... ;) Anyways, let's get back to the book!

Few things I LOVE about this book:
Landon Carter - This boy is your traditional "bad" boy (although he is not as bad as in the movie... o my word). He's quirky, but he has the unexpected goal of getting into UNC. He does have high goals and expectations, which is awesome!
Jamie Sullivan - Both the characters in this book are opposites. Jamie is a good student, but she is often considered the "odd one," because of the clothes she wears, and the fact that she carries around her Bible everywhere she goes. But, her spirituality and inspiration makes her unique and lovable!
The Romance - Ha, you knew that I was going to have something about the romance, right? Of course, being me :D The romance is BEAUTIFUL. Something, you don't actually see in today's high school culture, what with texting and electronics getting constantly in the way with us being relatively social creatures, *sighs*.

Overall, the book was BEAUTIFUL and INSPIRING. Being my first Sparks' novel and the level of how much I actually enjoyed it, I have many of his other books on my to-read list *claps*! Just as a little note, some people might say that this book has a similar storyline to TFIOS, but please don't compare the two! This book is SO much better! As another side note, watch. the. movie. It's so amazing + Shane West is SO handsome (Even a better reason to watch it ;) right, girls?). It's a definite 5/5.

*All opinions are entirely my own*

I hope they live happily ever after, in another life. In Heaven.
I feel like I've punctured a lung.

What can I say? I can't even begin to explain how wonderful this book was. Once again, Nicholas Sparks outdone himself. When I first started reading this, I didn't expect much, seeing as how it was a tragedy and I don't really care for tragedies, after the disaster with Romeo and Juliet LOL. However, there was something more to this book than other sad books I've read in my life. For one, this book touched my heart-REALLY touched my heart- and made me ask myself all these questions about love and miracles. This is like, the only book in my life that gave me that heartwarming I-want-to-be-a-better-person feeling. I love how at the beginnning Landon was just an ordinary high school student who took the smallest details of life for granted, but after meeting Jamie, he saw life and love in a new perspective. THIS is the kind of book that could be the new Twilight. I feel like people need more of these heartwarming, inspiring stories and I'm very grateful to Mr. Sparks for teaching me a lesson that I'm sure others need to learn.

First off, I would like to praise the book cover. Fits the theme and book title perfectly. It reminds me of autumm, memories,walking, and lives changing. To me, the book cover shows how 57-years-old Landon flashbacks to his senior year when he was a 17-year-old. Even just looking at the cover makes my insides turn all gooey and reminds me of all Jamie and Landon had to gone through. :'(

Next, I'd like to say I love the whole romance thing. How a twist of fate could change a boy's life and make him see what life has to offer him. When Landon asked Jamie to go to the school dance, little did he know it would only be the beginning of a long-time memory that would last with him forever. It's so neat how Jamie and Landon would later fall in love with each other, even though they never expected the unexpected to happen. The tiny moments they had with each other (rehersing the play, helping out at orphanages, talking on her front porch, etc.) were beautiful, and makes me fall in love with the book even more. The whole process of falling for each other ,even though they didn't expect to, was heartlifting and makes the book all the better. That is what I expect in YA novels. I love how time after time they realize they're in love, instead of those stupid I-love-you-so-much-even-after-knowing-you-for-a-week romance.

I also enjoy getting to know the two main leads. Jamie is probably the most inspiring, most unselfish main character that I've ever known. She makes me want to be a better person, and she makes Landon feel that way, too. Two weeks ago, I didn't give a rat's ass about poor people or orphans. Now, however, after reading this book, I start thinking of miracles and small differences to make the world a better place. And the most inspiring, most saddest thing about Jamie was how she knew she was dying for, like, a year but during that year she still wanted to help others in need. Besides inspiring and unselfish, Jamie is also one of the bravest characters I know. She still stay optimistic, even when nature took its course. If I were in her place, I don't think I could be as brave as her. =')

I also love Landon! Like I said earlier, I think it's amazing how he never notice life's smallest details until he met Jamie. Before, he didn't give much thinking into making a difference, but then after getting to know Jamie, he fell in love and wanted to make his girl proud of him by making small but genuine gestures. I believe that that is what made him a strong, amazing man at the end of the book. For example, at the end of the book, when Landon said he finally believed in miracles, I think he means that Jamie was his miracle, and that he was Jamie's miracle. I believe that is what shaped him up. He's one of the best growing characters that I'd read about. And the scene when he married to Jamie was like the most beautiful, lovely, heartbreaking, powerful thing I've ever read in my life!!!!!!!!!! :)))

Now that my point is carried across, it's time to wrap things up. This was a very good book, and was the first and only book that made me cry in a long time. I could read this a thousand times, and I would still choke up a bit. It was a beautiful, heartwarming, powerful tearjerker. I had just watch the movie for the first time just today, which caused me to write this review. In my opinion, the movie was better than the novel, because the movie went deeper than what the book did. Plus, it made me cry even more than the book. Now everytime I see the book's cover, or listen to Mandy Moore's songs "Cry" and "Only Hope", or even think about the lovers behind the most amazing love story ever, I would break down in tears. Yes, AWTR was THAT amazing. It's saying something when a book/movie makes me extremely depressed for three days. :,(

I love this book. It has been and always will be a favorite. To back up my claim, 14 rereads over 4 years (as of Nov. 2023).
A Walk to Remember has one of the best examples of God's transformative love that you will ever find in fiction.

Tropes: sick love interest, bad-boy

Content: teasing, language (only in the beginning), kissing

5 Stars

oh my god this is so beautiful

Read prior to GR. I just bought this last week for my daughter, so you never know. I may re-read. Loved the movie too, the lesser known Shane West was a fave from my very most fave show ER. Sweet, innocent and hopeful. What's not to love about that?