Amanda and Dawson are teenage sweethearts in the town of Oriental, North Carolina. He's from the wrong side of the tracks, with a violent and lawless family, she's from a wealthy and well connected family. When family pressures intervene to keep the lovers apart, Dawson gives in and tells Amanda that she must go to make the future that's within her grasp and leave him behind. So far, so standard.
After Amanda has left Oriental for college, Dawson is involved in a road accident that changes his life for ever. Unable to forgive himself he, too, leaves Oriental and makes a life on oil rigs until he receives a summons to return to Oriental for the funeral of the one mentor who stood by him in the dark days. When he arrives, he finds that Amanda has also been summoned. Neither of them has forgotten their young love but Amanda is married, with a family.
What happens next is mostly love story and partly ghost story. Are the lovers reconciled? Well, you'll have to read the book!
Nicholas Sparks is, arguably, that rare male author who can write about love authentically. I would guess, from both his writing and his dedication to his wife on the fly-page, that he's a true romantic and not simply writing about love because it sells. Still, although love themes sell books, it's difficult to incorporate excitement or action into these stories so they can seem a bit tame. For lovers of love stories, this is for you; for readers who prefer a bit more pace, you probably won't like this.
'The Best of Me' is published by Sphere Original, ISBN 978-1-84744-321-2.
No comments:
Post a Comment