Monday, April 6, 2015

Review: The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17407748-the-longest-ride
The Longest Ride
by Nicholas Sparks
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Publication Date:
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: February 24th 2015
ISBN: 9781455584727
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance | Chick Lit
Source: Library

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Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.
(Goodreads)
I did not intend to write a review for this book, but one paragraph turned into five, and I had a full review on my hands. So I figured, why not post it???

I am not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. I find his books to be either hit or miss for me. There have been a few that I have really enjoyed, and a few that I have not enjoyed so much, much like the last book that I read of his. However, I found The Longest Ride to be a very enjoyable read, and I will have to admit, it’s definitely one of the more liked books for me.

There are two completely different, yet somewhat alike, stories in the novel. One story is about Ira and Ruth, the other is about Luke and Sophia. While the lives of these couples are so completely different, while you read the book, you start to realize how similar they really are. And in the end, they intertwine in the most wonderful of ways.

While I enjoyed Luke and Sophie’s story, which takes place in the present day and was super romantic, I also enjoyed Ira and Ruth’s story, with is told through the past, on their journey from when they first meet and fall in love, to up to the time when they are old and gray. I appreciated their story so much more, because I felt I really got to know so much more about them. That being said, Luke and Sophia’s story was just as great, and had more of a romantic quality to it.

To be honest, I was really, really worried about how this book was going to end. The last book I read by Sparks’ had a bit of a disappointing ending for me, one that caught me off guard and I didn’t enjoy it at all. So I worried about the end of The Longest Ride. Thankfully, it’s a good ending, and while I would have loved just one more chapter from Ira, I love how everything came together in the end.

Overall; for me, this is one of Spark’s better books. I enjoyed it. I’m not sure I would have even picked up the book if it weren’t for all the hype about the movie, which I’m definitely curious to see, mostly because Scott Eastwood is playing Luke. *Yum*. But I am glad that I did read the book, it’s made me even more excited for the movie.

 
 
 

5 comments:

  1. Great review! I also really had no intention of reading this book, but I really want to check it out before I see the movie. I adore Scott Eastwood (!!!), so that's what initially sparked my interest in this book as well. I'm glad to hear that it is one of Sparks better books. His novels have been hit or miss with me as well. Sound like I should give this one a try!

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  2. I am so glad you did this review! I have been going back and forth on reading this book because, as you, the last few Sparks books have been major disappointments for me. He used to be one of my favorite authors - the one author I bought every hardback book the minute it was released. And after his last few duds, I stopped. This book is the first one I didn't buy in hardback, but I do own in eBook. Now I'm more excited to read it! Thanks for posting this!

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  3. Love your review!! I love Nicholas Sparks and I can't wait to read this book. I'm going to see the movie Thursday. Can't wait :D

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  4. I wasn't going to read this book either but the movie made me curious about it and one of my friends said she liked the book so I am currently listening to the audio version. I'm relieved to know that you think it is one of the author's better books as I've been disappointed by his books in the past too. Nice review!

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  5. The Longest ride is one of my favorites by Nicholas Sparks. The Best of Me was a huge disappointment for me so I was worried about picking up The Longest Ride but I really enjoyed it. I also want to see the movie just to see Scott Eastwood.

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