Available Reviews & Commentary

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Kirkus BookList Publisher's Weekly
Library Journal Member Reviews
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From Kirkus:
Sparks's debut is a contender in the Robert Waller book-sweeps for most shamelessly sentimental love story, with honorable mention for highest octane schmaltz throughout an extended narrative. New Bern is the Carolina town where local boy Noah Calhoun and visitor Allison Nelson fall in love, in 1932, when Noah is 17 and Allie 15 (``as he . . . met those striking emerald eyes, he knew . . . she was the one he could spend the rest of his life looking for but never find again''). Allie's socially prominent mom, however, sees their Romeo-and-Juliet affair differently, intercepting Noah's heartrendingly poetic love-letters, while Allie, sure he doesn't love her, never even sends hers. Love is forever, though, and in 1946 Allie sees a piece in the paper about Noah (he's back home after WW II, still alone, living in a 200-year-old house in the country) and drives down to see him, telling the socially prominent lawyer she's engaged to that she's gone looking for antiques (`` `And here it will end, one way or the other,' she whispered''). And together again the lovers come indeed, during a thunderstorm, before a crackling fire, leaving the poetic Noah to reflect that ``to him, the evening would be remembered as one of the most special times he had ever had.'' So, will Allie marry her lawyer? Will Noah live out his life alone, rocking on his porch, paddling up the creek, ``playing his guitar for beavers and geese and wild blue herons''? Suffice it to say that love will go on, somehow, for 140 more pages, readers will find out what the title means and may or may not agree with Allie, of Noah: ``You are the most forgiving and peaceful man I know. God is with you, He must be, for you are the closest thing to an angel that I've ever met.'' An epic of treacle, an ocean of tears, made possible by a perfect, ideal, unalloyed absence of humor. Destined, positively, for success. -Kirkus

From BookList:
With a huge first printing and a major advertising campaign, Warner is clearly hoping that Sparks' first novel will duplicate the success of Robert James Waller's "Bridges of Madison County." Written in the opaque language of a fable, the novel opens in a nursing home as 80-year-old Noah Calhoun, "a common man with common thoughts," reads a love story from a notebook; it is his own story. In 1946, Noah, newly returned from the war, is trying to forget a long-ago summer romance with Allie Nelson, the daughter of a powerful businessman. Allie, soon to be married, feels compelled to track Noah down. One steamed-crab dinner and a canoe ride later, they fall madly in love again. We then learn that Noah, now aged and infirm, is reading his notebook to Allie in an attempt to jog her memory, severely impaired by Alzheimer's disease, and, miraculously, he succeeds, much to the amazement of the hospital staff. There is something suspect about a romantic relationship that reaches its acme when one of the partners is in the throes of dementia, but then, this is well within the confines of the romance genre--love conquers all, even Alzheimer's, leaving the medical experts (and this reviewer) confounded. If you want to read a novel in which the romance is grounded in something real, and the magic is truly magical, read the work of Alice Hoffman. If you want to read an upscale Harlequin romance with great crossover appeal, then read "The Notebook". -Joanne Wilkinson

From Publisher's Weekly:
In 1932, two North Carolina teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks fall in love. Spending one idyllic summer together in the small town of New Bern, Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson do not meet again for 14 years. Noah has returned from WWII to restore the house of his dreams, having inherited a large sum of money. Allie, programmed by family and the "caste system of the South" to marry an ambitious, prosperous man, has become engaged to powerful attorney Lon Hammond. When she reads a newspaper story about Noah's restoration project, she shows up on his porch step, re-entering his life for two days. Will Allie leave Lon for Noah? The book's slim dimensions and clich-ridden prose will make comparisons to The Bridges of Madison County inevitable. What renders Sparks's (Wokini: A Lakota Journey of Happiness and Self-Understanding) sentimental story somewhat distinctive are two chapters, which take place in a nursing home in the '90s, that frame the central story. The first sets the stage for the reading of the eponymous notebook, while the later one takes the characters into the land beyond happily ever after, a future rarely examined in books of this nature. Early on, Noah claims that theirs may be either a tragedy or a love story, depending on the perspective. Ultimately, the judgment is up to readersbe they cynics or romantics. For the latter, this will be a weeper. Major ad/promo; first serial to Good Housekeeping; movie rights to New Line Cinema; Warner Audio; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections. (Oct.) -Publisher's Weekly

From Library Journal:
5_Sparks, who coauthored the self-help parable Wokini (Random, 1994), weighs in with a romantic novel that will receive a substantial marketing push. -Library Journal

BarnesandNoble.com Member Reviews

WHEN NOAH MADE IT DOWN THE HALLWAY TO ALLIE.
It was great to think noah never gave up on Allie. And further more IT's also nice to see Allie coming to her sinces when it came to her love for Noah.What more can I say about this book except It's the most romantic book I've ever read.MR.SPARKS keep these great books coming. I could not put this book down..I LOVED IT... -eddiess

The last letter
I have never read a book that has captured my emotions so totally. It was as if you were there and you could see the pain in this mans face and the joy when he was able to reach his only love. The last letter that Allie wrote to Noah is a letter so detailed with emotion. You could just picture the way she sat and looked as she wrote this letter. I wold recommend this book to any one and everyone. -Iliad

I don't like love stories, but....
I loved this book!! It was realistic and romantic, but not mushy. Although it is a relatively short book, the description of the characters is so detailed that you feel like the book is 1000 pages long. And the last sentance of the book is so different, it gives you a whole new perspective of the entire book with just one line! Definately worth reading, even for non-fans of love stories! -Kristinln

The size belies the greatness of the story
I couldn't put the book down once I began to read it, and I haven't stopped sharing with other what a wonderful story it is. I recommend it highly. A wonderful love story. -smoose

This is a wonderful book!
This is one of the most touching stories I have ever read. I would recommend it to anyone. -PPPP

Memories
When the book opened in a nursing home I was unsure of what to expect. The next 90 pages enraptured me. I was consumed by pictures of the past. I felt joy at the telling of a couple's summer love, my heart was torn to pieces by their seperation, I became sad when the author returned us to the nursing home, feelings of releif and joyed filled my soul when the lovers reunited, and utter pain visited me at the book's heart-wrenching end. -Misanthrope

The kiss in the nursing home
What a beautiful love story. -mwgs

When Noel takes Alie in the canoe to see the ducks The beauty of life's small but wonderful moments and how they remain in the human mind and heart is swiftly conveyded in this story of love and courage. Savour it and let a few tears roll! -aseret

the best
and it's written by a man based on a true story. For a good, long cry, pick this one up! -hutanne

THE RECOGNIZATION OF ALLIE FOR LON
THIS IS MY PICK FOR THE BEST BOOK OF THE SUMMER. I FOUND MR. SPARK'S CHARACTERS TO BE WELL DEVELOPED AND BELIEVABLE. I THINK IT IS RARE TO FIND A MALE AUTHOR WHO WRITES WWITH SUCH DEPTH OF FEELING. I HAVE PUSHED THIS BOOK ON ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN TO ME TELL THEM HOW WONDERFUL IT IS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT READING THIS BOOK HAS MENDED A LOT OF BROKEN HEARTS FROM CHILDREN AND SPOUSES WHO HAVE LOVED ONES IN A NURSING OR ADVANCED AGING SITUATION.I CAN'T WAIT FOR MR. SPARKS NEXT BOOK. -pudney

When Allie unbuttons his shirt at the end I found this to be a very moving book, especially to those who have known, loved, and lost friends and family to Alzheimers. Read this book in one setting and wish there had been more to it. -clove1

When Allie enters the hotel to confront Lon This book was a little corny and sappy; however, it did bring a tear to my eye several times. It is a story of true, romantic love and seems a little hard to believe, even though it is based upon a true story. Even though I found it to be a little "hokey," I must admit that I enjoyed reading it and found it difficult to put down. -heidrick

And an Interview with the author as he publishes another romantic tale, this time of self-discovery, Message In A Bottle, a delightfully romantic tale of a divorced journalist who uncovers a bottle on the beach with a beautiful love letter tucked inside. She sets out to find the author and upon meeting him, falls hopelessly in love. What follows is a tender account of meshing two lives and the result coming full circle. Not as realistic as "The Notebook" in my opinion, but a lovely story nonetheless.