Back in 2005...

Before I begin this late night book review, we have to take a quick journey back nine years. Nine years ago, I was a a very shy, awkward, 12-year-old struggling to walk around the school without being mocked or called out on a flaw I already was aware I had. I spent every lunch period hiding my face in a book, spending those peaceful 30 minutes in my own fantasy world. Other girls my age, were talking about the latest gathering or boy crush that arose overnight which was something way out of my comfort zone. I told myself that I would one day have that romantic book relationship (which I do currently) that would make me see what all the hype was about. That was when my best friend suggested reading one of the most well-known romance writer’s books: Nicholas Sparks. I was more than willing to take the suggestion but then a situation arose. The librarian, who became a friend after how many days I spent in the library, informed me that Nicholas Spark’s books are not written for the young mind due the material that was more mature. I respected her decision. When I was told this little piece of information, I told myself that I would put on my bucket list (12-years-old with a bucket list?) to read all of Nicholas Sparks books. I am now 21 and being that Sparks continues to write more novels, I refuse to fall behind. I decided that I would get started on this little item on the list. At the time, I thought how hard could it really be? Then I learned that there are 25 books that I have to read without being distracted and tempted by other appealing novels.

Now that the journey is over, I can move forward with the book review. As you have learned from the story above that the author of choice for this book review is Nicholas Sparks. Out of all the books I could have pulled off the shelf, I decided that I would read The Lucky One. Ahh The Lucky One! Every teenage girl and woman knows about this one. Heart throb Zac Effron walking around the screen shirtless strutting his abs. What most people don’t understand and a very common misconception is that the book and the movie are rarely the same. Hollywood loves to alter little details to make the movie seem more appealing. Personally, I will always support the books more than the movies. After reading the book, I can definitely say that book is twenty times better than the movie.

The Lucky One revolves around three main characters:

• Elizabeth or Beth: an overly worked teacher, mother and kennel owner who is trying to balance her home, work and personal life. Her son, Ben, is very shy and doesn’t fit in with normal boy norms which makes her home life slightly more challenging. She accepts her son for who he is and encourages him to be who he wants but his emotionally abusive father has contradicting feelings.
• Keith Clayton: Beth’s ex-husband and also the sheriff of Hampton county. Most people are afraid of Clayton because he has that abusive tendency that shows he can lose control at any point in time. He thinks that Beth has brainwashed his son into liking things that are not normal instead of letting the boy be who he wants to be. He pushes his jobs limits and takes very unnecessary risks. He has one weakness: Logan Thibault.
• Logan Thibault: he comes across as the mysterious. He arrived in the town for a very determined reason. He recently served in the marines with a high honor placed on his shoulders but he came across a photograph of a woman who has kept him safe in the remainder of the service. He considered himself lucky. He walked across the country determined to find the woman in the picture and that was when he ended up in Hampton, South Carolina with his German Shepherd. He befriends Beth and her son but also gained an enemy (Keith Clayton).

This book really revolves around the thought of luck and fate. Do you believe that fate and luck control the outcome of how life plays out? When Logan served in the marines, he witnessed things that can be seen as luck. What Logan didn’t understand was the thought that the photograph he held close to him on his journey, was another soldiers. A soldier who lost his life in the blink of an eye. Logan found the picture in the dust and he posted it around the station to see if it belonged to someone but nobody claimed the photo. That was when he decided that he was going to hold on to the picture. In the beginning, he wasn’t going to track the woman down but it was his friend who inspired the journey. His friend lost his life, not during his service but in a casual boating accident. After Logan lost his best friend, that was when he decided that it was his fate to find the woman. His intention was to return the picture to the owner and pay the respect. He didn’t have the intention of falling in love and being close to the family. When he walked to South Carolina, he came across Keith Clayton taking inappropriate pictures of college and high school girls swimming in the creek. Logan kept undercover by working in the dog kennel of the woman in the photograph. When Keith finds out Logan has been building a close relationship with his ex-wife, all hell breaks loose. Keith will do anything to manipulate Logan and Elizabeth. Ben grows close to Logan but when the real purpose of Logan’s journey becomes known, he has to take the extra step to prove to Elizabeth that he is worth the love that he has to offer not only to her but also her son. Logan has to fight Keith.

I am not giving away any spoilers for this book because I have learned that romance books are awful when the ending is spoiled. You will see what is coming from the very beginning instead of getting that eye opening surprise at the end. As much as I enjoyed this book, the ending was not as exciting as I was hoping for but then I have to remember that I don’t follow interest in the romance of normal girls.

One Nicholas Sparks book down, 24 more to go.