Audiobook Review: The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

Here is a summary of The Wedding from the Hachette website:

With The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and his other beloved novels, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks has given voice to our deepest beliefs about the power of love. Now he brings us the long-awaited follow-up to The Notebook-a story of an ordinary man who goes to extraordinary lengths to win back the love of his life... After thirty years, Wilson Lewis is forced to face a painful truth: the romance has gone out of his marriage. His wife, Jane, has fallen out of love with him, and it is entirely his fault.

My Review:
The Notebook was the first book that I read by Nicholas Sparks and I recall tears streaming down my face as I read the entire story.  Dear John had a similar affect on me so I was a bit apprehensive when a friend of mine suggested that I listen to the audiobook of The Wedding. I wasn't sure what to expect from this story but my friend assured me that I would enjoy the book and that I would be happy with the outcome.

You may remember the heartbreaking love story between Noah and Allie from The Notebook.  The Wedding picks up after Allie has passed away and Noah has decided to continue living at the assisted living center as his health has been failing.  They managed to raise some wonderful, God-fearing children that have his best interests at heart.  We get a close look at the life that their daughter Jane lived after she married Wilson thirty years before.

Wilson and Jane met and fell in love during their college years.  Shortly after graduating from college they married and started a family together.  They did everything that they needed to in order to raise happy and well-rounded children, but somewhere along the way they started taking separate paths.  Even though they still lived under the same roof they found they weren't communicating or even wanting to do little things to please each other any longer.  When Wilson forgets their anniversary Jane is so heartbroken and distraught that he really cannot be surprised when her emotions and attitude seem to be at an all time low.

Wilson realizes that his marital relationship is declining so he decides to confide in his father-in-law Noah, in an attempt to mend what he feels he has broken.  He is enlightened when he learns that life for Noah and Allie wasn't always the perfect love story that their children talk about, but they actually had rough patches just like most ordinary couples do.  Knowing this information gave Wilson hope that he could win the love of his wife once again.

This was such an inspiring story to listen to as I think many couples seem to lose their way after so many years of marriage.  Whether you are letting the romance or friendship fade, or just taking each other for granted it really is a wake-up call to let you know that it is possible to stop heading down that road and start your relationship over.  Tom Wopat did a wonderful job of narrating this novel and I just loved listening to him.  Some of you may remember him from his role as Luke Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard!  He was my favorite Duke brother then and he still is after listening to this book.  I don't usually enjoy romances myself, but because this seemed like such a probable situation I found myself thoroughly enjoying this audiobook.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this book from the library and listened to it for my own entertainment.  But in all honesty, my friend Miranda would not stop hounding me until I did listen to it!  Thanks Miranda, because you were right...I loved it!

Audiobook Review: Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Here is a summary of Dear John from the Hachette website:

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else.

My Review:
I will start this review I will tell you that I have only read a couple books by Nicholas Sparks and quickly decided that his writing just wasn't my cup of tea.  When a good friend of mine couldn't stop raving about Dear John I decided to give it try...and I'm very glad I did.

This book is narrated by John and he starts out by telling us about his background.  His mother walked out on him and his father shortly after he was born so his father did his best to raise John on his own.  They seemed to live in an area where many families were financially thriving, so John always felt a bit left out around the other kids.  Having to save his money all week to buy a burger on the weekend and spending time working when his friends were enjoying life was just what he became used to. 

As John grew into a teenager he seemed to distance himself from his father.  He couldn't understand it, but for some reason his father never seemed to want to take the initiative to strengthen their relationship.  All his dad seemed to care about were his daily routines and his coin collection.  John becomes so frustrated with his father that it really is not a surprise when one day he decides to join the Army in an attempt to distance himself from his father as much as he possibly can.

John grows up in the Army and probably learns more about being a man that he learned from his father.  He still goes home on his Leaves and finds that with his newfound wisdom he is able to continue a relationship with his father.  It is when John is based in Germany that he comes home on a Leave and meets Savannah, who will leave an impression on his heart forever.

It is easy for John and Savannah to start a relationship because as they spend time together they feel comfortable as if they have known each other for a lifetime.  Before they realize what is going on they find themselves confiding their secrets, dreams, and fears with each other.  Savannah sees a piece of John that no-one has ever had access to, and she also helps him to understand his father in a whole new light.  The development of the father-son relationship is one of my favorite parts of this book.

John and Savannah are caught up in the whirlwind of their romance and understand that they will have to part soon.  John will have to return to Germany and Savannah will have to return to college.  They vow to keep in touch with each other and they do manage to successfully carry on a young relationship for quite some time.  During the difficult time of being apart they both look forward to when John's service is complete so they can spend the rest of their lives together.

I'm not going to share any more about this book as I don't want to give too much away.  Parts of the story were predictable to me and I think that is why I have steered away from Sparks novels in the past.  I probably will continue to not actually 'read' his books, but I will be adding him to my list of audiobook authors that I do enjoy.  I also loved the voice of the narrator of this book-it was like running into a young and polite serviceman on the East coast.  If you are a Sparks fan I think you will enjoy this one.

My Rating: 4/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my friend  Miranda for my own entertainment.

Check out more great book reviews at Book Review Party Wednesday at Cym Lowell's Blog.