Bridget's Book Ramblings for my scrambled thoughts

Enjoyable listen. I am not a Nicholas Sparks fan, bought this on sale. Glad I did, this story has bite, mystery and romance. Well worth the listen. 

I am officially giving up after three months having read nearly 200 pages.

 

There is just so much damn dialogue about the most banal uninteresting things. There is absolutely zero chemistry between anyone. Everyone is so one dimensional and I have no idea how anyone found them interesting enough to pursue a relationship, let alone write about it. The romances were the most uninteresting, blasé things I have ever read, and I have no idea why anyone thought they would make a good book?

 

Maybe I’m too used to reading interesting (if sometimes Mary Sue) characters in my regular literature, but there is nothing interesting about any of the characters or their situations and resolutions. This book may as well be called ‘Life’ and it’s boring as fuck (it’s literally called ‘The Longest Ride’ because life is the longest ride). Regular issues that regular people go through? I don’t find that interesting in fiction.

 

But I watched the movie, so does that count? Also Scott Eastwood is gorgeous, so was the scenery, and I liked the changes the film made from the book, it made it a better, more coherent story.

 

Here’s some Scott Eastwood appreciation:

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Nicholas Sparks is the romance genius. He is able to create stories of people falling in love, like no author I have read a book from yet. He puts so much emotion and feeling into the pages, that after one of his books, reading another romance seems boring.

Having read almost all of his books, I decided to finish all the ones I haven’t read, and when I suddenly encountered this one in the library, I told myself – ‘’Hey, why not?’’

The synopsis was intriguing, as all of his books are, but unlike the others, Nights in Rodanthe left me disappointed. With his books – this was the first time I ever felt like that. And that is why I need to mention this.

First of all, the story is very predictable. Too predictable – even. I knew what was going to happen from the very first chapters, and I was expecting at least a little bit of a plot twist, but nothing really happened.

Secondly, the romance was fake. The falling in love part? I didn’t see it. I just can’t imagine people falling in love in three days. I am sorry – but it is impossible. Crush, interest, lust, someone paying attention to you, and you feeling goosebumps – I can understand it all. But in three days, I can’t imagine anyone falling so deeply for one another, that you can’t look at another person ever again, and they are all you think about, all day.

Honestly – how well can you get to know a person in three days? Will you get to know the real person? When you’ve never seen them sad, angry, how they behave in company, how they behave when drunk, when upset, when they are doing daily chores, like going at work (note – this all happened while they were sort-of on vacation).

I can remember how many summers I have spent going on vacation for ten days, and thinking I was in love with someone. I am sure you have gone through the same.

So, knowing all this above, I just couldn’t feel for these people as I used to feel with many from Sparks’s characters in other books. And don’t judge me, that this would be the sole reason why I rate this book the way I do. After all, it’s a romance novel.

On the other side though – it is an emotional novel. If you, for a moment forget how fast this romance happened and how unreal it is, the story is going to deeply hurt your soul, and crush you into pieces. Fake romance or not, you are going to shed a few tears for sure.

To wrap this up – I didn’t like it. I am not into fake, impossible romance. But this book seems to be a hit or miss, so if you like Nicholas Sparks – I still encourage you to read it. You never know, it might be your favourite book from him so far.

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Two By Two - Nicholas Sparks This is my first read by this author, Nicholas Sparks. It is a story about Russell Green and his family. Russ who always tried so hard to make his family happy and a hard-working guy. Vivian, a selfish, complaining and dominating woman who is so much into shopping.

It is a reflection of Russ's life and the vivid memories he has of their meeting and marrying Vivian. They never had a spark in their relationship especially when Russ quit the job and start his own advertising agency. The only bright spot of the book is the relationship between Russ and his daughter London which is developed day by day and it is so sweet. There are other characters too. Emily, Russell's ex-girlfriend. Marge, elder sister of Russ and her live-in partner Liz. Russell's parents who were busy with their own lives.

Russ is a guy in his early thirties, fighting to keep his life on track. He loves his daughter and wife but things have changed when London is almost six and his wife wants to go back to work because she thinks they need more money. She also loves her daughter and scared to lose her. But she is the only character one can hate the most. The way she does things and says in the book is hurtful. Russ is old-fashioned and does everything to please his wife even he knows he's doing wrong but he portrayed as helpless by the author. Emily's son Bodhi becomes London's best friend. Russ and Emily slowly renew their friendship as their children's lives touch. When Russ go through the divorce and don't know how to fix all things, Marge and Emily helped him a lot.

There is sadness, loss, and struggle but it is balanced by the love of family, friends, and renewed love. The relationship between Russell and London was well portrayed by the author. But the way Vivian blame his husband for everything and Russ who never stand for himself was a bit annoying. Russ always wants to please his wife and daughter no matter how much he got hurt in the process. I'm sure everyone wants at least once that Russell gives an answer to Vivian about his bad behavior but it doesn't happen either. It's an extremely long story and slow pacing. The first half about their same routine, again and again, was boring. I heard so much about the author but after reading this book I feel disappointed and the ending just made me roll my eyes. I certainly not recommend this book to anyone.