"He had the strange feeling that in the future, whenever he thought about her, this would be the image he recalled. She was too beautiful, too refined and exotic, for this country setting, but when she broke into that wide, friendly smile, he felt something clear inside, like the sun breaking through the mist."
-Luke's thoughts, from the novel
You can count on Nicholas Sparks for a great love story! Of the 17 titles listed of his other works, I have read at least 10, but probably more. Most involve very touching love stories with a number of tear-jerkers among them---what a male member of our Page Turners group would call "chick lit"!
I have to admit this one was a little different with two love stories alternating for most of the book. To begin with, Ira Levinson is an old man, injured and trapped in his wrecked car which is being blanketed in snow, while waiting and hoping for rescue. He begins to hallucinate the presence of his dead wife, Ruth, and the two of them reminisce about their history. I had a personal reaction to the revelation that Ruth had been a third grade teacher who went far beyond the classroom in positively affecting her students. As a retired teacher, I hope that some of my former students remember me that way! In chapter 2 the reader meets Sophia, a college art history student, and Luke, a handsome bull-riding cowboy who rescues her from a troublesome situation. As expected they become an unlikely twosome. The way in which these two love stories finally intersect is both touching and somewhat surprising.
I enjoyed this one; I will rate it a 4. The book jacket says that Sparks has had 8 of his novels adapted as movies and I predict this will be the 9th. I can imagine a country music soundtrack and maybe Carrie Underwood as Sophia. North Carolina, Sparks' home state and the setting of many of his books, will make for a beautiful movie location. If you enjoy a good love story without the gratuitous sex, try this one!
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