Picture Credits: Depop
Contemporary high school is inherently hierarchical in nature. However, it isn’t so contemporary at all, as this embedded hierarchy has existed for decades now. The hierarchy may differ circumstantially but essentially, they share one common element: the extremely popular and the extremely unpopular kids.
These two categories remain so far-fetched from each other that a mere interaction between them could spark monumental conversations. In such rigid confines where interaction is rare, how would it look like if one popular kid starts to fall in love with the unpopular kid?
Introduction
Book’s Name - A Walk to Remember
Author’s Name - Nicholas Sparks
Genre - Romance, Drama
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler Alert!
Set in the 1950’s, the story revolves around Landon Carter, a 17-year-old high school senior. Although he’s a popular kid and is best friends with Eric Hunter, one of the most popular kids in school, Landon is aided by issues at home, most noticeably the absence of his father in his life. Reclusive by nature, Landon still manages to rise up the hierarchy and establish his popularity at the top.
A reluctant dance date with Jamie Sullivan, an oddball by Landon’s perspective, steers the story to unanticipated territory. While Landon is a charismatic, good-looking chap and the student body president, Jamie is religious by nature, carrying a Bible with her at all times and adorned in an over-sized, dull sweater.
But when the contrasting worlds of these two people collide, new experiences and perspectives surface. Inevitably, the difference in their hierarchy makes its way to the foreground, but it isn’t the only thing that acts as a hindrance to their relationship.
As Landon learns about Jamie’s leukemia, the story evolves into something simple yet profound, real yet surreal.
About the Author
Nicholas Charles Sparks is one of the most recognized and beloved American novelists and screenwriter, currently residing in North Carolina. Mostly famous for his bittersweet, coming-of-age love stories embedded with a larger than life and love defeats all narrative.
He has twenty-one novels and two non-fiction books under his belt. Second to known, all of his books are New York Times bestsellers, translated into more than 50 languages worldwide.
One of the few novelists to transcend mediums, his novels have been widely adapted to film, including but not limited to The Longest Ride (September 2013), The Best of Me (October 2011), Message in a Bottle (April 1998), Dear John (October 2006), The Last Song (September 2009), and The Notebook (October 1996).
A philanthropist by nature, Sparks launched the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a non-profit working to facilitate cultural and international understanding through global education.
About the Book
Set in Beaufort, North Carolina, A Walk to Remember was written by Nicholas Sparks while he was living in North Carolina itself. His third novel, Sparks worked on manuscripts for the book in the summer of 1999. It was published in October 1999 by Warner Books.
The novel spent a total of ten months on the bestseller list: six months on hardcover and four months on paperback. It received a set of contrasting reviews, with The Sunday New York Post, African Sun Times and New York Daily News expressing positive sentiments, while Entertainment Weekly and Publishers Weekly expressed their dismay, among a multitude of reviews with varying fandom.
The film adaptation, also named A Walk to Remember, premiered on 25th January, 2002, starring Mandy Moore (Jamie) and Shane West (Landon). It was directed by Adam Shankman, as an adaptation set in the 1990s to make it more relevant to present young generations. It was produced by Denise DiNovi and Hunt Lowry for Warner Bros.
Background Inspiration
Sparks took inspiration for the novel from his sister, Danielle Sparks Lewis, who tragically died of cancer later in June 2000. A lot of the fundamental characteristics of Jamie Sullivan were borrowed from real life experiences of his sister, the popularity or rather the lack of it, the Bible-carrying and the staple over-sized sweater being most prominent. In addition, just like Landon, Danielle’s husband proposed marriage to her despite her sickness.
In every possible way, A Walk to Remember was an advance tribute to the life and times of Nicholas Sparks’ sister. In his eulogy, Sparks said, “...I suppose I wrote this novel not only so that you could get to know my sister, but so that you would know what a wonderful thing it was that her husband once did for her.”
Famous Quotes
"I'm sorry she never got her miracle.
She did get her miracle, Landon, her miracle was you.""She was, in other words, the kind of girl who made the rest of us look bad, and whenever she glanced my way, I couldn't help but feel guilty, even though I hadn't done anything wrong."
"It was, I remembered thinking, the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. In every way, a walk to remember."
"But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it."
The Bottom Line
While diseases have come to be romanticized on various occasions in contemporary literature, it is important to remember that this book is what started it all. Despite all romantic cliches, nothing defines ‘happy-sad romance’ better than A Walk to Remember!
My ratings for the book - 3.5 on 5
You can buy a copy from Amazon - A Walk to Remember
Written By - Kristi Mazumdar
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