I can see why so many Nicholas Sparks books are made into movies: entertaining story, nice (& beautiful) people, not always a "happy" ending, but a satisfying one, emotional at times. This one was no different. Two different love stories, developing during two different time periods, that merge at the end. Actually, I waited and waited for the two to merge, and it really didn't happen until the very end! I knew that one would "save" the other, and I knew it had to do with the art collection, but I certainly couldn't figure out how until it was laid out for me in the end. Throw in bucking broncos, a ranch, a handsome cowboy with a life-changing injury, money problems, college (including a sorority house and all its relationship antics), a jealous ex-boyfriend, an art history major, an old man slowly dying in a car accident, a dead wife who talks to him, two romantic relationships, and a world-class art collection....and you have a story!! :)
I probably enjoyed reading about Luke & Sophia's relationship more than Ira & Ruth's, but that might have been because I felt so incredibly sad for Ira and his situation. It made his story harder to read. Then again, sometimes when I was reading about the college "angst": hurt feelings between best friends, angry ex-boyfriends, cheating boyfriends, sorority life, I felt old - and very glad I am done with all of that! A phrase that often came to mind: "Good grief". ;)
I have never understood why people want to ride bucking broncos - any more than I understand why people want to box or do extreme fighting. All I can think of is CONCUSSION!! Our bodies aren't made to withstand that kind of punishment. Too much permanent damage that will effect your brain for the rest of your life!!
I loved the ending. Nicholas Sparks doesn't always have his main characters live, so I wasn't sure who would die, but I figured someone would. I also wasn't sure how the ranch could be saved with a realistic solution. This ending was very satisfying for me. Now I plan to see the movie!
Wendy's Rating: ****
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Sunday, July 12, 2015
The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett
This book reminded me of Shadow of the Wind, which I loved. Both books are about books - ancient books, forgotten books, mysterious books. The main character in both books has an obsession about a particular book - and there is a mystery surrounding the book, including murder and mayhem. ;)
I very much enjoyed this book. I thought it was an intriguing read, with three different stories ranging in time from 1592 (Shakespeare's life) to 1875 (Phillip Gardner's life) to 1995 (Peter Byerly's life). The details of how forgeries are made - and discovered - were fascinating. I knew that not everyone thinks William Shakespeare was the author of "his" plays, but I didn't realize the lengths people have gone to in order to prove or disprove it. I also didn't realize that you can re-bind an old book. What a painstaking process!!
This is one of those books that after you finish it, you should start reading it again. Since there are three very different times and three different stories, and you don't know how it is all going to tie together until the end, I think you would pick up a lot more by starting at the beginning again. With this book, knowing the ending certainly does not detract from the enjoyment of reading the book. I thought it was written in a page-turner style, with the mystery of the Pandisto being the central point, but certainly not the only point. There was a lot of information, and historical references, but written in an easy reading style. Now that I know who everyone is, and how they relate to each other, I can see re-reading it. (Not now though! Too many other books to read!)
I liked the story of Peter and Amanda, although there was a lot of sadness there too. It is sad that everything seems to end with her - at least the bloodline. Why did she have so many serious issues? Their "scenes" reminded me of The Ghost Whisperer! Replace Jennifer Love Hewitt with Peter and you have a TV show! I was afraid that Liz had died when Peter started "seeing" her too! This paranormal stuff actually didn't bother me in this book, which in other books it would. I thought it was well-written.
Wendy's Rating: *****
I very much enjoyed this book. I thought it was an intriguing read, with three different stories ranging in time from 1592 (Shakespeare's life) to 1875 (Phillip Gardner's life) to 1995 (Peter Byerly's life). The details of how forgeries are made - and discovered - were fascinating. I knew that not everyone thinks William Shakespeare was the author of "his" plays, but I didn't realize the lengths people have gone to in order to prove or disprove it. I also didn't realize that you can re-bind an old book. What a painstaking process!!
This is one of those books that after you finish it, you should start reading it again. Since there are three very different times and three different stories, and you don't know how it is all going to tie together until the end, I think you would pick up a lot more by starting at the beginning again. With this book, knowing the ending certainly does not detract from the enjoyment of reading the book. I thought it was written in a page-turner style, with the mystery of the Pandisto being the central point, but certainly not the only point. There was a lot of information, and historical references, but written in an easy reading style. Now that I know who everyone is, and how they relate to each other, I can see re-reading it. (Not now though! Too many other books to read!)
I liked the story of Peter and Amanda, although there was a lot of sadness there too. It is sad that everything seems to end with her - at least the bloodline. Why did she have so many serious issues? Their "scenes" reminded me of The Ghost Whisperer! Replace Jennifer Love Hewitt with Peter and you have a TV show! I was afraid that Liz had died when Peter started "seeing" her too! This paranormal stuff actually didn't bother me in this book, which in other books it would. I thought it was well-written.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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