Another Winner from Nicholas Sparks

The essence of THE WEDDING, Nicholas Sparks's latest novel of self-discovery and self-redemption, is that a man can consciously effect change in himself. THE WEDDING is the story of attorney Wilson Lewis, the son-in-law of Noah and Allie Calhoun, the well-remembered couple made famous in Sparks's debut novel THE NOTEBOOK. Throughout THE WEDDING, Sparks refers to the relationship that endears his readers to the Calhouns. Wilson questions his own ability to romance his wife Jane when he completely forgets their twenty-ninth anniversary. For the next year, he plans an occasion she will never forget.

When Wilson and Jane's daughter Anna comes home with the news that she is to marry, Wilson finds the vehicle to effect his own plans for a renewal of the lost emotion in his own marriage. Anna requests a simple, quick wedding, but Jane rejects this. A compromise is reached to have the ceremony the following weekend, but it will not be the "go-to-the-courthouse, justice-of-the-peace" type ceremony that Anna had first outlined. With her husband's assistance, Jane helps Anna carry out plans for a small family-and-friends celebration.

Sparks effectively uses flashback techniques to keep the story line moving toward Anna's wedding day, the climax of the weeklong activities. Throughout, Wilson remembers his first date, first kiss, courtship, wedding and marriage with Jane. The realization that their relationship has changed, and not for the better, gives him the impetus to make changes in himself. Anna's wedding is the catalyst for effecting that transformation.

Wilson's close friendship with Noah, now widowed, is the undercurrent for the emotion he needs to move forward in his plans for a better marriage. Noah is a gentleman, now living in a retirement center. His and Allie's home remains in the family but is uninhabited. Noah spends his time at Creekside with food outstretched to a white swan that glides across the pool for his daily attention. The act gives him purpose, after Alzheimer's disease has taken Allie from him. Wilson is the recipient of his wisdom in the unfolding story.

Wilson becomes involved in Anna's wedding plans when he suggests that Noah's house be the chosen site. He arranges for the renovation and restoration of the interior as well as the rose garden, accomplished in a short week. He romances Jane as well during this time, becoming the family "chef" when her days are filled with shopping.

One wonders how Wilson can attend to his own business during the frenetic days following Anna's wedding announcement. But THE WEDDING is a story of renewed efforts to make a man's personal life better. Sparks has the ability to tell a simple story with rich emotion and give his readers a sense of fulfillment.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

Moving tale with a great ending

I've long been a fan of Nicholas Sparks (think MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE,
A WALK TO REMEMBER, etc.), so when I heard he had written a
follow-up to THE NOTEBOOK--his first novel--I anxiously sought it out.

THE WEDDING did not disappoint. It is the story of a man dearly in love
with his wife, but who has trouble showing that sentiment. He learns to
do so, in part because of the shining example set by his in-laws, Noah
and Allie Calhoun, and their 50-year love affair that was so movingly

recounted in THE NOTEBOOK).

I must admit that I don't cry often; however, this tale did cause me to
mist-up at times. A surprise ending further added to my enjoyment.

And because I'm roughly the same age as the main character, I
do believe that fact helped me further relate to his experiences. Also,
I've experienced some of what he went through.

Sparks' writing, as always, kept my interest. There were several
memorable passages; among them:

He smiled. "That's what I mean when I say that I did it for me. Every
time I read to her, it was like I was courting her, because sometimes,
just sometimes, she would fall in love with me again, just like she
had a long time ago. And that's the most wonderful feeling in the
world. How many people are ever given that chance? To have
someone you love fall in love with you over and over?"

Jane, however, had been making my plans difficult to keep. She seemed
to enjoy my company. She listened with interest, teased me playfully,
and always reached for my hand whenever we were together. The first
time she did this, I remember thinking how right it felt. Though if
sounds ridiculous, when a couple holds hands, it either feels right or
it doesn't. I suppose this had to do with the inter-twining of fingers and
the proper placement of the thumb, though when I tried to explain
my reasoning to her, Jane laughed and asked me why it was so
important to analyze.

This week, I hadn't been focusing on my problems and doing my best
to correct them. This week, I'd been thinking of her; I'd committed
myself to helping her with family responsibilities, I'd listened with
interest whenever she spoke, and everything we discussed seemed
new. I'd laughed at her jokes and held her as she'd cried, apologized
for my faults, and showed her the affection she both needed and
deserved. In other words, I'd been the man she'd always wanted, the
man I once had been, and--like and old habit rediscovered--I now
understood that it was all I ever needed to do for us to begin enjoying
each other's company again.

Recaptures Past Brilliance

A wonderful return to his earlier form, "The Wedding" recaptures the fast, easy to read pace of Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook" and Rikki Lee Travolta's "My Fractured Life." Although I loved "Message in a Bottle" and "A Walk to Remember", as Sparks moved forward in his writing many books lost that fast paced narrative that captured me with "The Notebook". I found myself partnering Sparks' later, slower works with those of other authors ("My Fractured Life", "The Time Traveler's Wife", "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" - all 5 star books also) in order to satisfy all my tastes. With "The Wedding" Sparks returns to his old form. It is a fantastic book.