There was a time when the world was sweeter....when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina, wore dresses, and the men donned hats.... Every April, when the wind smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year at Beaufort High. Landon had dated a girl or two, and even once sworn that he'd been in love. Certainly the last person he thought he'd fall for was Jamie, the shy, almost ethereal daughter of the town's Baptist minister....Jamie, who was destined to show him the depths of the human heart-and the joy and pain of living. The inspiration for this novel came from Nicholas Sparks's sister: her life and her courage. From the internationally bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, comes his most moving story yet....
Start reading A Walk to Remember on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
Try it free |
Don't have a Kindle? Read Kindle books on your smartphone or tablet with the FREE Kindle app
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
In the prologue to his latest novel, Nicholas Sparks makes the rather presumptuous pledge "first you will smile, and then you will cry," but sure enough, he delivers the goods. With his calculated ability to throw your heart around like a yo-yo (try out his earlier Message in the Bottle or The Notebook if you really want to stick it to yourself), Sparks pulls us back to the perfect innocence of a first love.
In 1958 Landon Carter is a shallow but well-meaning teenager who spends most of his time hanging out with his friends and trying hard to ignore the impending responsibilities of adulthood. Then Landon gets roped into acting the lead in the Christmas play opposite the most renowned goody two-shoes in town: Jamie Sullivan. Against his best intentions and the taunts of his buddies, Landon finds himself falling for Jamie and learning some central lessons in life.
Like John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Sparks maintains a delicate and rarely seen balance of humor and sentiment. While the plot may not be the most original, this boy-makes-good tearjerker will certainly reel in the fans. Look for a movie starring beautiful people or, better yet, snuggle under the covers with your tissues nearby and let your inner sap run wild. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
From Publishers Weekly
Sure to wring yet more tears from willing readers' eyes, the latest novel by the bestselling Sparks is a forced coming-of-age story concerning a pair of unlikely young lovers. In a corny flashback device that mimics The Notebook, 57-year-old Landon Carter spirits himself back to his fateful senior year in high school in Beaufort, N.C., when he was an archetypal troublemaking teenager of the 1950s, changed forever by an unexpected first love. Jamie Sullivan, the Bible-toting minister's daughter, with her drab brown sweaters, spinster hairstyle and sincere, beatific advice, is the obvious target of high school ridicule. Despite conspiring in Jamie's derision, class president Landon, desperate for a date for the homecoming dance, finds himself asking Jamie. Afterwards, Jamie asks him to participate with her in the metaphor-laden school Christmas play (Jamie plays the angel). Landon endures the taunting of his friends and forms an uneasy friendship with Jamie, which is carefully supervised by her father. The teens visit needy orphans, give Oscar-worthy performances in the school play and share dreams watching the sunset. Landon realizes he's in love with Jamie, but, of course, she is hiding a devastating secret that could wring her from Landon's arms forever. Now tortured by his knowledge of what will be her terrible fate, he must make the ultimate decision that catapults him into adulthood. Readers may be frustrated with the invariable formula that Sparks seems to regurgitate with regularity. Although the narrator declares, "My story can't be summed up in two or three sentences; it can't be packaged into something neat and simple that people would immediately understand," this is the author's most simple, formulaic, and blatantly melodramatic package to date. Agent, Theresa Park, Sanford Greenburger Associates. Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild main selections; 20-city author tour; movie rights optioned by Denise DiNovi at Warner Bros.. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to give feedback on images? |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 126 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Attention readers: Invest in Kleenex! After reading this book, you will know the reason. Nicholas Sparks has such a gentle, sweet way with words. I thoroughly enjoyed A Walk to Remember, this beautiful love story that pulled me in from the start and held me in rapt attention throughout. So pull out your hankies and sit down for an enjoyable, emotionally charged read.
There was only one reason for 17-year-old high school Senior, Landon Carter, to enroll in Drama - a chance to take it easy for an hour. Plus there was only one other boy in a class full of girls, a benefit of the highest degree. Also in the class is Jamie Sullivan, the unpopular preacher's daughter who no one wants to hang around. She is also the only girl left when it comes time for the homecoming dance. Although not his first choice and the fact that he's running out of time, Landon asks Jamie to be his date. Her agreement became the crucial moment, the pedal that got the wheel to spinning, the stepping stone to one of the most beautiful and courageous love stories ever written.
What a valuable lesson this novel serves to teach. Those who may be different from us, status or otherwise, can be the most wonderful people to know. Jamie Sullivan is a character that is pure in heart and would be such a joy to spend a day with. There should be more people like her, and like Landon, a boy who took a chance on her and found a love unlike anything he'd ever known. I applaud Nicholas Sparks for writing this bittersweet and uplifting story. The time and tears spent on this novel was well worth it.
92 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a beautiful, romantic, heartwarming story that will sure to leave you crying at the end. But as the author states in his preface - "you have been forewarned". I don't read many fiction books, yet when I do, I tend to stick to favorite authors and Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorites. I was hooked after reading Message In A Bottle - another tearjerker.
I am a hopeless romantic and I usually don't read romance books, but this book is superb for all of you other hopeless romantics. This book will tear at your heartstrings and will linger with you for days. I could not put this book down and read it in two days. I was immediately captivated and transported into Landon Carter's world in the late 1950's. Landon does an incredible amount of "growing up" during his seventeenth year of life. The minister's daughter, Jamie Sullivan, helps him to transform from a selfish, self-absorbed "kid", to a young adult on the verge of manhood. Landon conveys traits of tenderness, and compassion, and learns about love and faith and how to forgive, while his love blossoms for Jamie. Jamie is able to bring out all that is pure and good from Landon. It is this innocent love that is all consuming that helps to foster Landon's growth and wisdom.
Jamie may be portrayed in the book as a "goodie two-shoes", but her innocence, her unnerving faith and trying to live her life as God wanted us all to live, endears her to the reader.
The book may be predictable in parts, but that does not deter from the beauty of this story. In the conclusion, Landon realizes what love is and what it really means to love another by helping your love's dream become a reality. Landon's heart softens when he lets his true nature come through and shine - and shine it does.
... Read more ›34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By tttooommm
Format:Hardcover
Yes, I am a hopeless romantic, and yes, I take great comfort in believing in the power of true love in the world, so if this makes me a sap, then I'm proud of it! I have now read all three of Mr. Sparks' books and have enjoyed them immensely. Will they be considered great literature? Probably not. But they are completely believable and engaging, and appropriate for all readers. They have a wonderful way of transporting you right into the story. You are hooked right from the get go. Yes, they're easy and quick to read, and somewhat predictable, but so what? I've found great life lessons on billboards and posters and calendars so I've never been prejudiced into feeling that only Shakespeare and Thoreau and Milton provide great and worthy messages. I know that many will dismiss Mr. Sparks' books as fluff, but I think that any writing that moves so many people in such a positive way is indeed "great literature." Buy this book, and enjoy! (And buy The Notebook and Message in a Bottle also if you haven't read them yet! I also recommend Richard Paul Evans.)
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Comparisons Between The Novel And The Feature Film A Walk To Remember
November 6, 2005
By Tarah Meehan
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The book A Walk To Remember is one of the most beautiful love stories ever written. Written with a typical high school setting, Landon Carter the popular "stud" was running out of time with no date for the Homecoming dance. Jamie Sullivan, the most unpopular preacher's daughter is the only girl left who has not been asked yet to the dance. Although not his first choice, and the fact that he's running out of time, Landon asks Jamie to be his date. She then asks him to participate in the winter play with her, where he first realizes how beautiful she really is. They partake on a journey of falling in love and doing many wonderful things together. Then Jamie shares her big secret with Landon, the fact that she has been fighting cancer for two years and has stopped reacting to treatments.
A movie was made after the book was released following the same story line as the book. There are many comparisons between the book and the movie but three major ideas stand out. The main points differ but still follow the same basic idea.
The first big difference in the book is how Jamie Sullivan and Landon end up talking to one another. In the book Landon is desperate for a date to his homecoming dance and Jamie being the only available girl, he asks her to go with him. In the movie it happens very differently from the very beginning. It starts with Landon and his friends playing a prank on a classmate, but in the process the prank goes bad and the student gets hurt. When the cops show up, all of Landon's friends bail out on him. Leaving him to take the fall and get in trouble. His punishments include participating in the school play, tutoring kids on Saturdays, and helping the janitor after school.... Read more ›
A movie was made after the book was released following the same story line as the book. There are many comparisons between the book and the movie but three major ideas stand out. The main points differ but still follow the same basic idea.
The first big difference in the book is how Jamie Sullivan and Landon end up talking to one another. In the book Landon is desperate for a date to his homecoming dance and Jamie being the only available girl, he asks her to go with him. In the movie it happens very differently from the very beginning. It starts with Landon and his friends playing a prank on a classmate, but in the process the prank goes bad and the student gets hurt. When the cops show up, all of Landon's friends bail out on him. Leaving him to take the fall and get in trouble. His punishments include participating in the school play, tutoring kids on Saturdays, and helping the janitor after school.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great reading!!
With Nicholas Sparks you can count on two things, great writing and loads of drama! His books are an emotional roller-coaster that rarely end with a happy ever after! Read more
Published 19 hours ago by K.
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars
Well when the book came in it was in great condition, no tears or wears. So I was overall satisfied.
Published 1 day ago by emmalee
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Bad For A Romance
I really wasn't sure what to expect with this audiobook. The summary sounded good, but I had always thought Nicholas Sparks to be a romance writer. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Steven Brandt @ Audiobook-Heaven
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Marvelous"
This shows that one person can change someone's life. We have our own guardian angels and Jamie is Landon's guardian angel!!!
Published 5 days ago by T'nia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply awesome
Nicholas sparks is one of those authors who can make take you very easily to his own world through his wonderful heart touching stories and characters!! Nice book to read
Published 5 days ago by Aashish
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Walk to Remember
Well this is my first foray into this genre, so I think I am reasonably unbiased. And I have never written a review for a book before so bare with me. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Fabian Elumogo Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I loved this book. It makes us all realize how precious life Is. I would recommend it to all of my friends. Thank you Nicholas sparks.
Published 7 days ago by karen livingston
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kicked my ass
I cried. It was a quick easy read. Very predictable but that never took anything away from the story. Read more
Published 8 days ago by NB Balance
4.0 out of 5 stars
pretty good
It was used as requested and a little damaged as said, but there was a white stain on the front of it that easily came off.
Published 8 days ago by B. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, great read!!!
Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. Wonderful story, teaching the rest of us just how we should live our lives. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Nancy Szymanowski
Book Extras from the Shelfari Community
(What's this?)To add, correct, or read more Book Extras for A Walk to Remember , visit Shelfari, an Amazon.com company.
More About the Author
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers. All of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, with nearly 80 million copies in print worldwide, in over 45 languages, including over 50 million copies in the United States alone, and his popularity continues to soar.
Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28. It was published in 1996 by Warner Books. He followed with the novels Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005) and its sequel, At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010) and The Best of Me (2011), as well as the 2004 non-fiction memoir Three Weeks With My Brother, co-written with his brother Micah.
Safe Haven is scheduled for release on February 14, 2013, and marks Sparks's eighth film adaptation, following The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song, which thus far have a cumulative worldwide gross of nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars.
Sparks lives in North Carolina with his family. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. Along with his wife, he founded The Epiphany School in New Bern, North Carolina. As a former full scholarship athlete (he still holds a track and field record at the University of Notre Dame) he also spent four years coaching track and field athletes at the local public high school. In 2009, the team he coached at New Bern High School set a World Junior Indoor Record in the 4 x400 meter, in New York. The record still stands.
Sparks wrote one of his best-known stories, The Notebook, over a period of six months at age 28. It was published in 1996 by Warner Books. He followed with the novels Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005) and its sequel, At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song (2009), Safe Haven (2010) and The Best of Me (2011), as well as the 2004 non-fiction memoir Three Weeks With My Brother, co-written with his brother Micah.
Safe Haven is scheduled for release on February 14, 2013, and marks Sparks's eighth film adaptation, following The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song, which thus far have a cumulative worldwide gross of nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars.
Sparks lives in North Carolina with his family. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually. Along with his wife, he founded The Epiphany School in New Bern, North Carolina. As a former full scholarship athlete (he still holds a track and field record at the University of Notre Dame) he also spent four years coaching track and field athletes at the local public high school. In 2009, the team he coached at New Bern High School set a World Junior Indoor Record in the 4 x400 meter, in New York. The record still stands.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customers Who Highlighted This Item Also Highlighted
- The Notebook
$5.99 - The Last Song
$5.99 - Dear John
$5.99 - The Lucky One
$5.99 - The Choice
$5.99 - The Wedding (Sparks, Nicholas)
$5.99 - Safe Haven
$4.99 - The Best of Me
$5.69 - Message in a Bottle
$6.64 - The Rescue
$5.99
So You'd Like to...
|
|
