The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Story [From Cover]

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his close buddies- he holds the vague conviction that s serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. This is until Gabby Holland moves in next door. 

Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the attractive redhead seems to have grudge against him.....and the present of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Still, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his neighbor and, his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage, and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heart-wrenching question of all: How far should you go to keep the hope of love alive?

My Thought

The Choice is my first read from Nicholas Sparks and I enjoyed it so much. Technically, The Choice consists of two parts together with prologue and epilogue. In the first part, in 1996 the story revolves around Travis and the girl next door, Gabby. The start with a little crappy argument about a pregnant dog which I think is funny enough to make me lough. And then they accidentally become friends again because the dog and just in a short while pop! the fall in love. Well, this might be the first Spark's book that I read, but I did watched two films adapted from his books, The Notebook and Dear John. All the characters are easily fall in love which I think not too realistic. They spend two or three days together and then saying "I Love You" to each other. Uh huh...It's just to good to be true. However, I do think that the love story between Travis and Gabby is amazing. They are sweet, they are funny, and they are great in many ways. But, here comes the conflict, will Gabby leaves her longtime boyfriend for a guy she hardly knew? She has to choose. The first part is very relaxing and easy to read because all thing seems so great and romantic. 

But, the second part of the book gives different perception. Everything is different. Eleven years after that, Travis is put under pressure. His world is crumbling apart and he just can't stop blaming himself for what had happened. He's left with a choice, and the choice puts him in a great dilemma. To defend his love or to just let go? This part is sure heartbreaking and I just have to control myself to not to shed tears because it's really sad. It's really hard for me to finish this part but I stay until the last page. I'm really impressed by the way Sparks create the story. He makes Travis vulnerable but strong at the same time. I admired Travis quite a lot and I also hated him for blaming himself. I do predict the ending, but my prediction is nothing but wrong.Well, I might love this book more if my prediction hitting the bull's eye. 

Well, if you ask me which one my favorite character is? I'll tell you it's Steph. I love this outspoken, understanding, funny, confident and ambitious girl. She also very supportive and always be there when Travis needs her.Though, she has to little of appearance throughout the story, but every time she comes out she gives quite an impact not just to other characters and the story, but me the reader as well. She's great! In a nut shell, The Choice is a novel worth reading. Got to get other installments by Nicholas Sparks.

Favorite Quote

"How far should you go to keep the hope of love alive?"

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4 1/2 cups of Coffee

Disclaimer: this review is linked back to Book Review Wednesday @ Cym Lowell

The Movie: The Kite Runner

Title/Year: The Kite Runner (2007)
Director: Marc Foster
Writers: David Benioff (Screenplay), Khaled Husseini (Novel)
Genre: Drama, Historical Fiction
Cast: Zekeria Ibrahimi (Amir), Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada (Hasan)
CoffeeNCrackers Meter: 5 cups of Coffee

Plot

Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, THE KITE RUNNER is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever.  It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament.  But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right..

Screen Shots

*******

My Comment

Beautiful! The cinematography is just so beautiful. I feel like I want to be there myself and watch the kites fighting in the sky and run myself of the ally ways. Marc Foster knows his job very well and the movie turns out great. I think the boys are awesome in acting, and they're cute too. Each and every characters give impact to me especially Hassan, Amir and his Baba. The friendship and betrayal, and an eternal love of father and son really moved me and even make me cry. LOL. All in all, this is such a great movie and I don't hesitate to give it a 5 stars rating. Highly recommended to all of you out there.

If you love this movie, you will also love the novel, The Kite Runner.

8th On My Wishlist

Her books are categorized under the chic-lit genre. But the fact doesn't stop me to read them. To tell the truth, I really love 'em so very much. P.S I Love You, Where Rainbow Ends, If I Could See You Now, and A Place Called Here, all are my favorites. I'm craving for more for Cecelia Ahern's novels. So, for this week On My Wishlist, I choose two books from  Ahern, The Gift and The Book of Tomorrow.

The Gift

Synopsis [Goodreads.com]

Lou Suffern is practised in the art of concealment. He is, also, always overstretched, trying to do too many things at once. His overburdened schedule gives him few moments of peace, even in his sleep. And when he spends time at home with his wife and family, he is always distracted, and, mentally, somewhere else. 

On a cold winter morning, Lou is on his way to work when he encounters Gabe, a homeless street dweller, sitting outside an office building. Lou is intrigued by him, and contrives to get him a job in the post room. But this act of charity rebounds on him, and Gabe’s presence begins to grate on Lou -- particularly when he discovers that the latter seems capable of being in two places at the same time. Christmas is drawing near, and before the season is over, Lou’s life will be irrevocably change by the casual act of kindness he has performed.

........ 

The Book of Tomorrow

Synopsis [Goodreads.com]

Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core. 

Awesome aren't they? Extremely love the covers also. Hope can get this two into my collection anytime soon. That's it for me! What bout ya? what are ya wishing for? *smile* may your wishes come true. Ciao..

Magyk by Angie Sage

What it's all about? [From Cover]

The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus? The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and hear.

My Thought

First of all I would like to praise this book for its great cover and illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Just love 'em and it helps me to imagine the characters. Credit to the illustrator, Mark Zug for such a well done work. OK, Magyk is really magic. I love this book and really enjoy reading it. The story begins with Silas Heap finding a baby in the snow and at the same time of his seventh son, Septimus is declared death.The baby, then named Jenna is not an ordinary girl because she is the heir of the murdered queen.  In this story, I keep on guessing who might be the real Septimus since there are two boys  who are claimed as Septimus. One is the apprentice of a Dark Necromancer and the other one is a young army boy, who knows nothing bout his family. So, basically, Magyk is about a quest of finding who is who with a great adventures and of course when we talk bout magical story, spells, charms, potions, and enchantments are bread and butter. Though the series is called Septimus Heap, the real star in this first book is Jenna the queenling.  Such a nice little girl. *lough* OK, For the start of a series, the characters is still developing and I think this is such a great introductory book written by Sage. All in all, Magyk is a fun-to-read book rich with adventures and magics.I'll definitely got to get the next books.

Favorite Quote

"Things do have a habit of working out. Eventually."

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4 cups of Coffee

Next book of the Septimus Heap Series is Flyte

The Friday 56: Water for Elephants

Title: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Series: Stand alone
Genre: Historical fiction
Details: PDF, 191 pages

"August stares for a moment longer, his eyes shiny and hard. Then his face transforms again, becoming so sloppy that for a moment I think he's going to burst into tears. He pulls her to him by the chin and kisses her full on the lips. Then he steers himself into the bedroom and collapses face first onto the bed." 

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The Friday 56 Rules

• Grab the book nearest to you. Right now.
• Turn to page 56 and find the 5th sentence.
• Post that sentence (or plus one or two others you like) along with this instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Story Time With Tonya and Friends.
• Post a link along with your blog post back to Story Time with Tonya and Friends.
• Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the closest.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Choice

Title: The Choice
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Details: Hardcover, 272 pages
Genre: Drama, Family, Love

"This. Today. Yesterday. Last night. All of it. Don't ruin it." -160

"Because," she said, "you have to show them that no matter what horrible things happen in life, you still have to go on. That's your responsibility. Who else is going to teach them that?" - 242

 ........

Teaser Tuesdays' Rules

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Movie: Wishlist #2

Title/Year: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999)
Director: Mick Jackson
Writers: Thomas Rickman (screenplay), Mitch Albom (novel)
Genre: Drama, Spirituality, Self-Help
Cast: Jack Lemmon (Morrie Schwartz), Hank Azaria (Mitch Albom)

Plot

Mitch became caught up with his career as a sport commentator and journalist. He ignored his girlfriend and did not make time to do things in life that are of the most value to a human being. Morrie was one of Mitch's professors in college and a famous scholar. One day Mitch was watching television and saw Morrie giving an interview stating that he is dying of Lou Gehrig disease or ALS. Reunite, Mitch and dying Morrie spending their Tuesdays together for the lesson of life and death. 

Tuesdays with Morrie Movie Trailer

I'm reading the book and It's great! Ciao...

Shall We Tell the President? by Jeffrey Archer

The Story [Goodreads.Com]
After decades of struggle, sacrifice, and personal tragedy, Florentyna Kane has finally attained her goal--the presidency of the United States. Yet even as she gives her inaugural speech, those who oppose her are plotting to silence her forever. Only one man knows when the assassins will strike, and even he doesn't know where, how, or most importantly, who they are. He has only six days to track down the senator at the heart of the cold-blooded conspiracy. Six days in which he can waste no time, leave no trail, and trust no one. One wrong word, one false move, and both a nation and a dream will crumble.

My View

Archer achieved what most authors dream about: writing a page-turner. The story and suspense flowed naturally through every page, until I'd finished the book and hardly realized it. I enjoyed the men-slaughtering, car crashing, assassinate plotting, and some romance . All seemed so real to me. It was like watching a movie. A live action! It was unbelievable that the agents can keep such a fatal secret (assassination)  from the President. Before I realized it, I keep asking the same question until last page. "Shall We Tell the President?" 

 Favorite Quote

"Shall we tell the President?"

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4 cups of Coffee