A Walk to Remember

Almost if not everybody has seen the 2002 film adaptation of this Nicholas Sparks' novel. I saw it a few times since I was in high school and have shed, in total, a mug of tears over it. It was only recently that I've actually read the book, though.

The story tells of Landon Carter, a 17-year-old rich boy and Jamie Sullivan, the preacher's daughter. When plain, unpopular Jamie, who always carry the Bible wherever she goes, asked Landon to promise not to fall in love with her, he instantly agreed. But God had a plan...

"When I told you that I prayed for you, what did you think I was talking about?" -Jamie Sullivan

There are certain differences between the book and the movie. In the book, Jamie was blonde but in the movie, she had brown hair. Also, upon reading it had I only understood why it's entitled 'A Walk to Remember'. On the wedding in the movie, Jamie walked perfectly down the aisle; In the book, she barely made it to the altar. She struggled but succeeded, making it in every way, a memorable walk.

Sparks wrote it simply but beautifully- No flowery words, no deep metaphors. Upon research, I found out that it was roughly based on Sparks' sick sister's real life. I guess every story has an underlying story then. This is an inspiring novel that literally comes with a warning from the start: First you will smile, and then you will cry.

And that, my friends, is exactly what I did.

-Martha