Books I Loathed discussion

If you look at my ratings for books I've read, you can tell I'm fairly easy on most books and after I read a book I generally come away from it somewhat satisfied. But the Notebook was SO BAD. It's an insipid love story about some really annoying, predictable and unremarkable characters. I bought it on sale without really knowing much about the story, but after reading it (I actually didn't finish it) I'm really amazed they made a movie out of it. I haven't seen the movie, has anyone else?

I've heard that the movie is as insipid a piece of dreck as the book. I've neither read the book nor seen the movie - and can't imagine I ever will. Teary romance just doesn't do it for me.

The movie was terrible. I couldn't watch it to the end.

I've been fortunate enough to never read any of his books. Not my cup of tea, at all.

I'm with you.. anyone who thinks Nicholas Sparks is a good writer needs an introduction to Fitzgerald or something. The movie was corny, but SO much better than the book.

Nicholas Sparks is simply a hack with a gimic: a guy who writes chick lit. Read 2 of his books and don't actually remember which, but I'm pretty sure that The Notebook was one of them. Both total throw-aways.

okay, so i actually liked the movie, but only because i'm okay with sappy chick flicks. i am NOT, however, okay with sappy chick lit. after watching the movie, i knew i would rather shove pipe cleaners in my eyeballs than actually read one of nicholas sparks' books.

I've never made the slightest movement of my inner intention meter toward reading one of his books. The needle is on zero.

Is it as bad as Bridges of Madison County or Tuesdays with Morrie?

I liked Bridges and Morrie. Go figure. At different stages of life I've liked books that I would have detested at other stages. Maybe someday I'll be provoked to pick up a Sparks book. Maybe not.

Elaine, NOTHING is as bas as Tuesdays with Morrie. I actually liked the Notebook, but I read it with my husband when we were newlyweds. I guess it got the juices flowing. :)

After hearing friend after friend rave about the movie – I tried to do the intellectual thing and read The Notebook. I think my friends spent too much time looking at Sparks’ picture on the back of the novel and never got around to reading it. Never watched the movie. Tuesdays with Morrie is a tragically bad book which caused me a lot of arguments with my friend’s mothers, who adored the ‘sentimental’ in the book. I feel like Lifetime really missed out on some book-movies.

My 21-year old daughter said the movie was wonderful. Well I knew I would not like it because we are opposites in that regard. I hated it! I really have no desire to read the book, though I inherited it from my step-mom. It's one of those books that I have bordered on getting rid of, but I still have it because books are one thing I actually don't like to get rid of.

And not to be argumentative, but when was it intellectual to read a non-intellectual book?

When I was pregnant I was on complete bed rest for about 2 months, lots of time to read, I tell you and one of my well meaning friends brought me a copy of A Walk To Remember, boy I kept waiting to for it to get any better and, guess what ... it never did, after that never touched anything by Sparks.

Nicholas Sparks is a bit of a favorite son around here in coastal North Carolina, since he lives in the area and sets his books here as well. I've never read any of his books despite the local connection, as sappy romantic stories don't appeal to me--give me a grizzled detective on the trail of a serial killer. But if they're anything like "Bridges of Madison County," then they must indeed be very bad.

"Bridges" was so manipulative. Its message was basically "Hey, you're just a frumpy housewife in Iowa, but maybe someday a handsome world traveler could show up at your door and see you for the beautiful, fascinating woman you really are and fall deeply in love with you." Please.

Anyway, I am sure I'll never regret my decision to avoid Nicholas Sparks books, or movies made from his books.

I was trapped in south Florida at a summer program in the middle of a hurricane and couldn't leave the building. I had already burned through all of my books, so my roommate and I swapped. She got Dr. Zhivago- I got The Notebook. I would have rather gotten hit in the head by a palm tree in the storm than be stuck with that drivel.

I actually really enjoy the movie, but probably because my name is Allie and at the time the film came out I was in a relationship with dynamics very similar to that of Allie and Noah's. And my ability to tolerate and even enjoy chick flicks is unbelievably high.

Sometimes a sappy romance just suits my mood and the film caought me on just one of those lazy afternoons. It helped that I also like just about all of the main actors and some of the photography was gorgeus.

Foolishly I let that lull me into thinking that I might enjoy the book.
Oh Lord what a mistake!!
The screenwriter had slightly changed the plot turning something plainly predictable and boring into something enjoyably corny.
But worst of all was the writing. I don't accept that standard from ESL high school students.
YUK YUK Yuk. His editor, if he has one, needs to bash him over the head and send him to a writing workshop.

I don't think it's fair to hold a romance novel up to the standard of a literary classic. I read both, and I don't think there's anything wrong with light and fluffy literature, when you're in the mood for light and fluffy distractions.

That said, I didn't like The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks because of the author's simplistic language, and the way he didn't trust his audience to understand things without spelling them out. It irritated me as a reader.

The movie was very well done and managed to have more depth and be less cheesy than the book, although it was obviously a romantic movie. It also seemed less predictable than the book.

Sparks is a hack who happens to have a knack for writing Harlequins with enough plot that the Lifetime network makes movies of his drivel. Nice work if you can get it.

I'm acutally in the process of reading this now. I stumbled across Sparks by chance. I read The Last Song and I loved the book. But every other book of his that I have read hasnt' stood up to that one.

So far, The Notebook is rather boring. It's his first book too I believe, so I could have guessed it woudlnt be that great. And so far, it's not that interesting. I LOVED the movie when it first came out, but now, I can hardly ever watch it. I just have to be in the right mood to want to watch it anymore.

I haven't been able to bring myself to read Sparks.

And now I feel I don't have to! *sigh of relief*

I saw on the news that "The Notebook" was based on his grandparents journals from their romance.

All I have ever heard about this book and movie is that it is so good and you have to either watch or read this "awesome" (their term not mine) book and movie. Seriously? Is something written by Sparks who I haven't been able to read through without wondering why on earth had I started it in the first place? Except for The Choice which I enjoyed...until my Mom told me in great detail every possible spoiler about the ending and what happens in the end. Yeah, now she told me I will never ever ever watch The Notebook because....she wouldn't tell me. It's not like I would anyway. He loves to capture my heart then my eyes then when he has done that then it is time to drag on and on about whoever until the ending then I am released from this prison to live life again.

I hate the movie and I'm definitely not going to waste my time reading the book. I could find way better romances to read.

Like for instance the classics: Pride and Prejudice, Little Women and...um....Jane Eyre, I find that nowadays writers don't really look back fondly on the classics especially when it comes to love stories. I have yet to find a good, clean, heart-warming love story worth my time and effort to read.