A Walk to Remember

Reader reviewed by Steph

A Walk to Remember is one of romantic author Nicholas Sparks most famous stories, seeing as the movie based on the novel became a huge hit when it came out in 2002.

Unfortunately, after falling in love with Mandy Moore and Shane West, the book came as a huge disappointment to me. All of the cute little things that make your heart melt in the movie I sadly discovered were directors additions; none of them appeared in the book.

For those of you who havent seen the movie, the book follows teenagers Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter, two North Carolina high school students who were on completely opposite ends of the social spectrum. Jamie was the town reverends daughter, who spent all her free time reading the Bible, helping out at the local orphanage, and doing various charity work. Landon was occupied with harassing Reverend Sullivan, running for class officer because his father, a congressman, pushed him to, and acting cool. When they are cast as the two main roles in the town play, a drama inspired by Jamie after her mothers death, Landon starts to fall for Jamie. Just when everything seems to be going right for them, there is a huge plot twist that throws both of them in the hardest position they could be in; one that only true love can pull them through.

The story is touching, but it lacks the personal aspect that the movie captures so well. My recommendation for A Walk to Remember is to read the book before you see the movie so you wont be disappointed. If youre already a fan of the film, my advice is not to waste your time reading the book.

Reader reviewed by charlene

I have to confess, that I have the book at home on my shelf, but I would not recommend it to you. The story developes in too slowly, but instead the author added many tear-triggering passages. The height of corniness is reached at the end with a melodramatic finale. My main dislike, however, is that I read the book without at the end knowing why, because the end had been predictable from page 10 on. If in doubt, leave it out.