"A Walk to Remember"

Part 1: Chapters 1-4

Landon Carter starts his Senior Year of high school unsure of what to expect, he knows that he doesn't want to take a challenging class because this is the year to have a little fun so he signs up for Drama. And to his surprise he and another boy are the only to males in the class, this story is about a man who reflects on the best year of his life and everytime he thinks about it, he can recall that year word for word.

Jamie is the Pastor's daughter that Mother's died at childbirth and her father Hegbert never really got over it. Jamie is a kind soul that relys on God's word and works through his eyes. She donates her time whenever possible and prays for everyone to see the light, she is a one of a kind and sees good in everything and everyone. Landon on the other hand is the typical Senior kid who only wants to have fun, and will do it at anyone's expense even Hegbert because why not?

So Landon's father who is a Congressman and lives in Washington, D.C. ninety percent of the time decides Landon needs to do something to pep up his college application to his father's Alma Mater, the University of North Carolina. So his father asks him to run for Class President, which of course Landon has no interest in but ends up running to please his father. Since he is best friends with the star jock of course he wins the race, and now has to head up the Homecoming Dance which he realizes that he has to find a date because being the President means you have to attend. So he begins calling potential dates, but of course he has waited to long and now the only possibility is Jamie, who yes he sees in a different way then before but knows he is going to hear it from all his friends. The next day he goes through the motions of going to her house and asking her to the dance, which to his surprise she says YES! He is sure Hegbert is not going to be happy, but knows that he will only want his daughter to be happy and asks Landon to come early the night of the dance. Landon shows up a half an hour early, to only have Hegbert give him a lecture on making sure this is not a ploy to hurt and embarrass his daughter. Of course he tells Hegbert it is not his intention and they off are their merry way. Jamie and Landon dance, talk and have fun until Landon's ex-girlfriend shows up and he is accused of staring at her by her boyfriend. Of course Jamie jumps right in and saves the day, only defusing the situation. Then the ex-girlfriend gets sick from the alcohol she has consumed and Jamie and Landon are forced to clean up the mess and take her home.

This is when Landon really sees Jamie in a totally different way, a way that even in the hardest situation she just walks into it and lends a helping hand. This to me is the real beginning of what is about to erupt into a totally different relationship that Jamie always saw coming, but Landon never thought could be possible until now. And now Jamie is asking him for a favor by playing the lead in the play. He feels obligated to do it after what Jamie has done for him, and now his friends are harassing him but for the first time it really doesn't bother him.

This story is a true story of kindness and I think true love that will evolve into something Landon never saw coming. I think Jamie always knew Landon was special and finally she can prove it by showing him the "light".

Onto the second part!!!

Happy Reading!!

A Walk To Remember

For our next book I have chose A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I watched this movie years ago and absolutely loved it and since books are always better than the movies I can only imagine how good it will be.


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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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.

Happy Reading...

** Spoiler Alert **

"Three Cups of Tea"

Chapters 8-23

Greg continued on his journey by meeting his wife Tara, and getting married after 6 days and then leaving to go back to do his work. She supported him in everything he was doing so even though he was gone for months, she stood by him. He continued through the hard times with his biggest supporter and friend passing away, and him making sure he saw the school that he gave them money to build the first school. He took care of him and was there to the end, meanwhile now they had a child to care for and moved to Montana to be closer to Tara's family. He had an office downstairs and started the CAI and was determined to continue on with his work. He worked many hours and took little pay to do it. He was a man of his work and wanted to inspire all around him, and did.

Unfortunately times began to change, he was kidnapped and taken hostage for a small while but thankfully after considering who he was and if I remember right the help of his friends, he was released and thanked for all that he does. Although he truly thought this was one of the moments, he was a goner as not many people get released from such a situation. Then times continued to change and 9/11 happened while he was out of the country. They were closing borders and his passport was ripped, so that made it not authentic so now he had to get a new passport which wasn't easy in those times, plus continue to make people trust him while trying to flee for his life. Americans weren't at the top of the Muslims list and even though he was working with them, when Afghanistan was invaded it made it even harder and he saw what we all knew that reporters were making up stories to make things more interesting. But Greg was more determined than ever to make things right, and to make the American people as well as all people realize that educating women and children was the best way to avoid terrorism.

So he continued on even with all the obstacles that he had to overcome, to continue his work and Parade magazine featured him on their cover story which caused many people to open their eyes and hearts to want to help. This was a fragile time that I think most Americans wanted to help fight terrorism in most any way. The article helped the CAI and people wanted to do more, so the money finally came through and for the first time Greg was able to pay his people and rent a space that was so badly needed. This article was the change that he needed and everything fell into place to continue his work of building schools and helping other countries, which I feel in turn helped us by educating those who otherwise might fall into the wrong hands.

So if you are looking for an inspirational story, this is definitely worth the read but can be dry at times. I personally can't say I thought it was a bad book, just something different that I am not sure I would ever read again but with that said, I think that's what Adriane and I set out to do was to broaden our horizons and to expand both our love for reading.

Happy Reading!!

Until our next book........not sure what we have in store yet, but it will be coming soon!!!

Adriane and I read this book, not as a Book Club book but she had read it first and then while I was visiting her in GA, I saw she had the movie and then it came about that her and Kenny had read the book which peaked my interest....so to make a long story short, I borrowed the book and read it in 3 sittings, and also watched the movie with Adriane.

So with that said, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in a relationship, married or not as something that opens your eyes to how we take the one's we love for granted, expecting them to always be there. And I am not going to lie, when I watched the movie first, I saw my life in a way right before my eyes and how my relationship has evolved over the last 13 years. Now don't get me wrong I love Bryan with all my heart, but we take each other for granted in so many ways and I can see our path crossing the same one that Cat and Caleb had. It's easy to let life and so many other things get in between our lives, and it gets easier to do once you have children. Now Bryan and I are not religious people, but we believe that God has a purpose for each one of us and only one thing is guaranteed, that one day it will be your day of reckoning and hopefully when that day comes we will be ready and strong enough as a couple to get through the hard times.

I guess I could post about the book and what it's about like we normally do, but actually what I would encourage anyone who is looking for a good book that has wonderful meaning, is pick up a copy of "Fireproof" and read it independently or as a couple because it's definitely worth the time. And in my opinion a book that you won't be able to put down, and if you have read or do read it, let me know what you think. Did you love or hate it? Do you think it has a good meaning to help in relationships? Just curious what everyone else thinks.

Happy Reading!!!