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Critic's Corner
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BOOK
REVIEW: "Is love at first sight truly possible? "Sitting in his living room, he turned the question over in his mind for what seemed to be the hundredth time. Outside, the winter sun had long since set. A grayish sheen of fog was visible through the window, and aside from the gentle tap of a branch against the glass, all was quiet. Yet he wasn't alone, and he pulled himself up from his spot on the couch and walked down the hall to peek in on her. "He thought again about the path that had brought them together. Who was he then? And who was he now? On the surface, those questions seemed easy. His name was Jeremy; he was 42- years-old, the son of an Irish father and Italian mother; and he wrote magazine articles for a living. . . He sometimes wondered whether he should add something more . . . " With this rather haunting beginning Sparks draws readers into the sequel of his novel, "True Believer, published earlier this year. Once more we are drawn into Jeremy Marsh's world, into his new life in Boone Creek, North Carolina. A life not as new or shiny as it was when last we met. He relates how he traveled from New York to North Carolina five years ago to investigate a mystery. How he fell in love there, not once but twice that year. "At First Sight" begins five years after "True Believer" ended. Through Jeremy's remembrances, we take a trip back to the time when Jeremy is packing to leave New York and move permanently to Boone Creek. Alvin, best friend to Jeremy, questions the hasty move and marriage to a woman his friend hardly knows. "You're going for the big ‘I do' before you've even figured out whether you two are right for each other. You barely know Lexie," Alvin says. Alvin's speech doesn't convince Jeremy to change his plans. For him, it's on to Boone Creek and full steam ahead on the good ship Matrimony. So, once again, we find ourselves in a sleepy little North Carolina village. Back again is Mayor Gherkin as color-blind as ever—still wearing his purple polyester slacks, yellow shirt and paisley tie, and full of ideas on promoting his little corner of the world. Also on the scene is Doris McClellan, owner of Herb's restaurant, grandmother of Lexie Darnell, the town librarian and fiancee to Jeremy Marsh. We must not forget Jeb, the giant of a man who runs Greenleaf Cottages, the only place in town for strangers to stay. Jeb is also a taxidermist among other things. Then. there's Rachel, who is now dating Deputy Rodney Harper, once the wanna-be lover of Lexie. Oh yes, they are all very much still in the story. Each has his or her own idea about Jeremy and Lexie's story and how two people from different worlds brought together by seemingly supernatural events fell in love and were at this very moment planning their wedding. A wedding, some say, is too soon, others a bit belated considering Lexie appears to be in a family way. Everything was going so well, too, until Jeremy got that first
E-mail. "How do you know the baby is yours?" But it was the second one
that sent this love story spinning into dangerous waters — "Has she told
you the truth? Read Doris' journal. You'll find the answer there." Sparks in his own special way brings us a novel that captures all the heartbreak, tension, romance, and surprises of those who are newly married. But "At First Sight" does all that and more. This is also a story about endings that bring new beginnings . . . tragedies that lead to unexpected joy . . . and, most of all, the magic of everlasting love. Nicholas Sparks is the author of many New York Times bestsellers. "True Believer," "The Rescue," and "Nights in Rodanthe," as well as "The Notebook," "Message in a Bottle," "A Walk to Remember," "A Bend in the Road," "The Guardian," and "The Wedding." Sparks lives in North Carolina with his wife and five children. Copyright Patricia Ann Jones
Save Up to 30% on this book at Amazon.com Jones is a published writer and book reviewer for Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com |
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