By MELISSA SORIA

Pharos-Tribune lifestyle writer



Nicholas Sparks is the king.

Of writing great love stories that is.

“The Notebook” was his first novel to get nationwide recognition with the release of the popular movie based on the book starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.

But for me it wasn’t the greatest love stories he has ever written.

“A Walk to Remember” is my favorite Nicholas Sparks’ novel.

It was so beautifully written from start to end that I had to mention this great love story.

The book takes place in North Carolina and it features Landon Carter, a smart-aleck teenager who is amongst the popular crowd at Beaufort High. Landon loves getting into mischief and making fun of his classmates.

Jamie Sullivan is a quiet outcast who carries around a bible and is a “school nerd.”

In any other instance, these two would have never been a couple.

But when they do in “A Walk to Remember,” it’s beautiful.

When a prank goes wrong and Landon puts a classmate in the hospital, he is required to do some community service, which includes participating in the Spring play at the high school.

Landon is forced to work with Jamie, who is the lead actress of the play. He also needs her to help him with his lines.

In the beginning, Landon continues to make fun of Jamie. He doesn’t understand what she is all about.

The reader doesn’t understand her either at first. She continues to carry around her bible everywhere she goes and kids continue to make fun of her.

Why does she carry this bible? Why is she so different?

You’ll understand as you read the book.

Landon and Jamie’s relationship slowly develops into love. The kind of love that has no boundaries. The kind that is unforgettable and indescribable.

And the ending...

Well, you’ll have to read.

All I can say is that the ending relates to the title of the novel.

I think that not only is this an awesome love story, but it also deals with not judging those whom are different.

I also thought that this book was cleverly and humorously written. You’ll laugh at Landon’s character throughout the first half of the book. His thinking is hilarious. However, you will be crying during the last half. You won’t get off that easily.

I would recommend renting the movie as well (after you read the book), although it doesn’t quite compare to the book. But what movie ever does?

However, the acting by Shane West who plays Landon is wonderful. There is nobody better than West, who was recently seen in the NBC drama, “ER,” to play Landon. He is exactly how I pictured Landon when I read it. Everything he does to his mannerisms is Landon Carter.

I didn’t exactly imagine Mandy Moore as Jamie when I was reading, however, she doesn’t do a bad job in the movie.

I was reading this book on a train traveling to Michigan. I got through the entire thing in that five hour train ride. I couldn’t put it down.

I remember that the train was packed with passengers. But it didn’t stop me from getting extremely emotional as I read.

Even though this book is written from a teenager’s standpoint, I recommend anyone who likes a good love story to read it. It will make you reminisce about your own youth and the first person you truly fell in love with.

The story of Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan is one of my favorite all time love stories. And Nicholas Sparks does such a wonderful job of writing this, that it makes you think that this is Spark’s own story based on his life. It’s not.

I can’t say enough about this book.

Go read it.



Want to know more?

Log onto www.nicholassparks.com to read about the author and get a list of all of his novels.