Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (Hardcover)

by James Patterson (Author) "KATIE WILKINSON sat in warm bathwater in the weird but wonderful old-fashioned porcelain tub in her New York apartment..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Martha's Vineyard, North Carolina (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Talk about a change of pace! Renowned suspense writer and Edgar Award winner James Patterson, author of such bestsellers-turned-blockbuster-movies as Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, exposes his sensitive side in his new novel, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Katie Wilkinson's boyfriend Matt dumps her; not a total cad, he leaves her a gift, a diary kept by Suzanne, his first wife, for their son Nicholas. Though it's not exactly the diamond ring Katie was hoping for, she's unable to make herself destroy the diary--against her better judgment, Katie begins to read.

Drawn against her will into the other woman's world, Katie learns of physician Suzanne's heart attack at age 35 and her decision to slow down, accomplished by a move to Martha's Vineyard and a new job as a simple country doctor. When love comes knocking, in the form of housepainter-cum-poet Matt Harrison, Suzanne is ready to listen to her newly repaired heart. Though painful for Katie, she begins to know and like Suzanne and her infant son Nicholas. Suzanne's devotion to Matt and their son shines through, as well as her plainspoken wisdom. While the journal helps Katie understand Matt, whether they can write a future together remains in question. --Alison Trinkle

From Publishers Weekly
Say what? A women's weepy from the megaselling author of the hard-boiled Alex Cross mysteries? Yes, and it's not the stretch some might imagine. Patterson has demonstrated his flair for female POV and characters in the stand-alone When the Wind Blows and in his current bestseller, 1st to Die and Cross himself has his gooey side. So how good is the novel? Good enough to lightly pluck the heartstrings and to impress with its craft and its calculation. As usual, Patterson mixes first- and third-person narration. Katie Wilkinson is a Manhattan book editor who's been inexplicably left by her lover and star author, a Martha's Vineyard poet named Matt. After he splits, Matt mails Katie the diary kept by his wife, Suzanne, for their young son. Katie reads it (the novel's extensive first-person passages) and reacts to it (briefer third-person interludes). The diary details how physician Suzanne, recovering from a heart attack at age 35, forsakes the rat race, moves to Martha's Vineyard and finds bliss with Matt, a housepainter who reads Moby-Dick and writes strong poems, and with their newborn son, Nicholas. The novel sloshes with sentiment (some of it quite icky) and simple spiritual truths, while acknowledging the reality of pain and loss: rose bushes galore, with thorns. Patterson sustains suspense through clever plotting and by Katie's wondering about the fate of Suzanne and Nicholas; what's finally revealed pushes her, and the novel, to a bittersweet conclusion. Patterson is one smart author (here, he dazzles with his use of refrains, stories-within-stories and romance novel tropes); this jump into another genre won't hurt his reputation as a master of popular lit. (July)Forecast: A lovely dust jacket featuring a title in violet script trumpets this as a love story. Will Patterson's fans buy it? Some mostly women yes. And a 12-city author tour and major print and TV publicity will draw in enough new fans, most of them also women, to float the title onto bestseller lists though not at Alex Cross numbers.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (July 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316969443
• ISBN-13: 978-0316969444
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (805 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #470,466 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORIES EVER WRITTEN, July 16, 2001

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

James Patterson and his Alex Cross novels have captured the attention of readers around the world. His has written some terrific psychological thrillers and a couple of less acclaimed novels, such as "When the Bough Breaks" which might have been best left in the closet. However, James Patterson's fans will not be the least disappointed in his latest masterpiece. It could not be further from the action packed, Alex Cross, crime novels, but it is every bit as worthy of praise and acclaim.

Katie Wilkinson, a book editor, has been left by her boyfriend, Matt. Matt, however, gives Katie a diary written by his first wife, Suzanne, for his son Nicholas. As Katie reads through the diary, she is not only compassionately drawn to Suzanne but develops a better understanding of Matt. The story that evolves will capture your heart and will long be remembered after the final page has been read. You will laugh and you will cry. The book is on the same par as "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Message in a Bottle." The readers will be pleasantly surprised at the new creative ability of Patterson in this sure to be best seller. Do not miss this book, it is packed with emotion and the reader is immediately drawn to the strong characters. This is once again, James Patterson at his finest - worthy of a whole universe of stars!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas, November 5, 2008

By	Angela M. Hooper "Angela M. Hooper" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (Paperback)

Katie Wilkinson is left by her boyfriend, Matt. Katie cannot figure out why he left. She thought they were happy together. However, Matt gives Katie a diary that was written by his first wife, belonging to his son, Nicholas.

As Katie turns the pages of this diary, she soon becomes involved with Suzanne's emotions and becomes seemingly more aware of Matt's personality. This book will have you laughing and crying, and as you learn the meaning behind this book, it will be one that you will not ever forget. This book has love and passion, and will make any mother cry. It is a true romance.

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Simple Love Story. 4.5 stars, September 7, 2001

By	Denise Bentley "Kelsana" (The California Redwoods) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Patterson has taken a huge leap in genres, and by the reviews I see, his readers are running hot and cold. I personally loved this book and I know for a fact that love like this does exist, if only it could happen to everyone at least once in a lifetime.

The style of the book is not only as a diary, but it is laced with short entries about the life of Katie who has been given the diary to read. The majority of the story takes place on Martha's Vineyard, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. It is the story of a perfect love, a perfect family and everything one could only hope for in life. Patterson is acutely sensitive in his ability to write as a female character telling her story.

Without ruining it for the reader I will say that the book is an emotional roller coaster, but a ride I wouldn't have missed for anything. Right from the beginning we are left to wonder why Katie is reading Suzanne's diary and we know that there is much more to this story. Thank you Mr. Patterson for a wonderful book and a loving piece of humanity. Kelsana 9/8/01