A Walk to Remember Book Review

Author : Nicholas Sparks

Released year : 1999

Genre : Teenage romance, drama, spiritual

Synopsis:

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 winds smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year in 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. 

My reviews:

The story begins with a prologue from Landon Carter at the age of 57. The remainder of the story then takes place in the past, when Landon was a 17 year old high school senior. Landon was a popular boy at school. He was not exactly the typical popular guy that we all used to read about but he had his perks. 

Never in a million years did Landon ever thought that he would eventually fall head over heels in love with Jamie Sullivan, a very religious girl who always carried a bible around with her wherever she went and often wore an ugly sweater. Fast forward, they will eventually be paired up in a play called 'The Christmas Angel' to which Jamie was the "angel". Seeing how radiant and angelic she looked, Landon told Jamie that she was beautiful, truly meaning it. Soon, Landon realized that he enjoyed having Jamie as company and will eventually fall in love with her. But it wasn't long before Landon got to know that Jamie was about to die due to leukemia. 

One day, Landon approached Jamie for her hand in marriage, realizing that he loved Jamie so much and at the same time, he also wanted to fulfill her wish of getting married in a church full of people. Although Jamie was weak and wheelchair bound, she insisted on walking down the aisle so that her father could give her way which was part of her dream. Landon remembered thinking that it was the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. In every way, it was a walk to remember.

This was my first Nicholas Sparks' novel and since then I have become his ardent fan. This was a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book. Kudos to Sparks for this brilliant masterpiece. Sparks really knows how to tug at reader's heartstrings. A Walk to Remember was a tragic tale of love and heartbreak to which Sparks had beautifully written. It makes us believe that true love do exists...

I read online that this story was based on real life experiences of Sparks's sister, Danielle Sparks Lewis who died of cancer. After her death, Sparks said in the eulogy, "... I suppose I wrote this novel not only so that you could get to know my sister, but so that you would know what a wonderful thing it was that her husband once did for her."

|| "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in others people's sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes." - A Walk to Remember.

Rating : 10/10 stars!

**P/S : Find me on Twitter : @SajitaAswini

Hush Hush saga Book Review

Author : Becca Fitzpatrick

Released year : 2009 (First book)

Genre : Young Adult Fantasy Novel

Synopsis:

Book 1 : Hush Hush

When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.

But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what's up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?

As their connection grows stronger, Nora's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?

Book 2 : Crescendo

Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora's life isn't normal - her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don't add up. Now, Nora's own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?

Book 3 : Silence

After waking up in a cemetery with no memory of the last few months, let alone the last five minutes, Nora Grey discovers that she has been missing for weeks. As she struggles to put the pieces together and resume her daily life - hanging with her bestfriend, Vee; going to school; and avoiding her mother's creepy new boyfriend - she gets the feeling that everyone knows more about her disappearance than she does.

When she meets a mysterious stranger whom she is simultaneously drawn to and afraid of, the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. As he begins to shed light on the events that led to her memory loss, Nora discovers that not only is she about to embark on the fight of her life, wedged between ancient enemies she can barely comprehend, she's also falling in love. But even with all these strange new occurrences happening around her, she can't help feeling she has done this all before.

Book 4 : Finale

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.

But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

My reviews:

Okay, first things first, I am TRULY MADLY DEEPLY in love with this saga! It has been years since I read this series and yet this series still hold a special place in my heart. Becca Fitzpatrick, thank you for this! <3

Nora and Patch's first encounter was in Biology class. (Yes, I know. Cliche setting.) Remember the Twilight saga? *wink wink* But that's where the similarity ends. Patch Cipriano was a fallen angel who fell from heaven. You see, he wants to be a human and have feelings. That is why, at first, he was out on a mission to harm Nora. But, all things aside, love ultimately conquers all. ;) A Nephilim and a fallen angel combination in the end. Can you imagine how awesome it is? :D

Becca wrote this story well. The way the plot builds up from one book to the next and the plot twists. But for those of you who wish to read this saga, you must read it from the start of you'll be left confused.

BTW, I just can't 'unlove' Patch Cipriano. My fictional character crush, then, now and forever. Lol. There is just something so alluring about Patch. The celestial being who fell from heaven and ultimately falls in love with a human, Nora Grey. Oh how I dislike that silly girl. (No, I am not jealous. Erm, maybe a lil? Oops. Hehe.) Throughout the course of the book, Nora is just like the typical heroine we all used to read about in books. Plain silly and annoying. *eye roll*

But I shall give Nora some credit. (Only some :P) Only towards the end of the book (ending of Silence followed by Finale) can we really see how she develops into a stronger person overall. Well, since she was entrusted the role to be the leader of the Nephilim army, not that she was given a choice, how can she not become stronger and more rational right?

Even Patch changed for the better. At first, Patch really angered me with his behaviour and actions. However, as the series progressed, he was more in control of himself and finally embraced his feelings and affection for Nora. Oh my dear Patchy! :P

|| Nora : "If you can't feel, why did you kiss me?"

  Patch : "Because I feel it here, in my heart."

Rating : 8/10 stars.

** P/S : Find me on Twitter : @SajitaAswini