The Notebook

Written by:
Nicholas Sparks
Narrated by:
Barry Bostwick

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
273
Narrator
5
Release Date
August 2005
Duration
6 hours 4 minutes
Summary
Experience the unforgettable, heartbreaking love story set in post-World War II North Carolina about a young socialite and the boy who once stole her heart -- one of PBS's 'Great American Reads'.

Every so often a love story so captures our hearts that it becomes more than a story -- it becomes an experience to remember forever. The Notebook is such a book. It is a celebration of how passion can be ageless and timeless, a tale that moves us to laughter and tears and makes us believe in true love all over again . . .

At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle . . .
Reviews
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LYNDA Gardner

Absolutely loved the movie and thought the book would be even better as it usually is. I learned however opposite the movie, there was more history in Noah and Ally as an older couple than there was about them younger which after seeing the movie made me think that was the part of the story that really built up the type of love they had. Seeing them go through all they did when they were younger made the times the book focused on them being a part so much harder to bear that when they did get back together you found even more relief for the characters. The way the book is written lacked that affection from be but nonetheless was a good story and very well written. for the first time ever for me, i actually enjoyed the movie better. As far as the narrator he was very good but i definitely didn't like the music being played at parts while he was still reading. It was in my opinion, bad music and too loud that i couldn't focus on what he was saying at such an important part of the story because I was trying to tune out the music.

I did not enjoy this book. It did little to keep my attention and was focused on the end of their lives and not the enjoyment of their earlier lives together. Reading past love letters did not seem the best way to write a story.

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Mariah V

Good book. It's a fast book a great love story love this narrator he really does a great job.

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Melissa Barnes

Saw the movie first and absolutely loved it. But I always come back to the books. Books are good for the soul and Nicholas Sparks does such a wonderful job feeding mine. I love his books and always will. He brings romance to another level and I will forever wonder if that kind of romance exists as it does in his stories.

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Dorothy Georgia. 2014

I absolutely loved this. A beautiful love story. The movie was fantastic.

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truckerswife

Love Nicholas Sparks and love this book! Once again, he has managed to tug on my heart! Such a great read and tear jerker!

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LauraL

I love Nicholas Sparks and I enjoyed this book. I have seen the movie and it is one of my favorites, so I decided it was time to read the novel as well.

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Anonymous

I haven't seen the movie (I try to stick to reading the books first) which I hear is AWESOME. I really hope it is better than this sappy book. Where was the climax? I think maybe a lot of his books are this way but the movie hype had me expecting more.

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Bev

Excellent! Well worth the time listening! What a great storyline!

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J.Lowe

This is one of the best books I have listened to in a long long time. It is a great love story and done with great taste. I would recommend The Notebook to anyone. I enjoyed it tremendously.

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Anonymous

Very touching story. Didn't like the intermittent music too loud. And at times the reader was hard to hear.

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MKR

The Notebook is my all time favorite movie. I was excited to get to finally read (hear) the book but I was so disappointed. There was very little corralation between the movie and book. I found it very difficult to finish the book. The narrator was not good. There were breaks in the story that should not have been there. I love Nicholas Sparks as an author but I just can't say I enjoyed this book.

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Anonymous

The Notebook is one of my favorite movies, I also have read the book and enjoyed reading it and this narration seems so different than the book, the ending and how it went on and on. I will always love Allies and Noah's story, this narration wasn't my favorite.

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Marshel

The story was very romantic. The Author interview was a very big bonus. The only complaint I had was the sound / narrator combination. There were so many places where the narrator spoke far too softly to be heard and some lines were missed.

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Nan

I have to say that this was perhaps the sappiest, most melodramatic book I have ever read. I would have quit in the middle if it had not been so short. Don't these people work or do anything real? They spent all their time feeling and gazing and reliving old times--sighing while wondering at nature, anticipating a touch. Get a life already!!

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Gloria Nowicki

It was predictable, Sparks is a terrific writer and I personally enjoyed this story about enduring love . The story could have been developed more but I did like the characters. I would have liked to hear about Ally's return after telling Lon of her decision and not jumping into their Senior Years so soon. I did not care for the Narrator' droning voice

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Anonymous

I know a lot of people love this book. It was sweet, but very slow moving and boring at times. I have not seen the movie so I am not sure how it compares to that. It was a sweet story that could have been told a lot quicker.

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Anonymous

Could not stand the narrator. Maybe that is why I found the story so boring and very difficut to care about the characters or what happened to them.

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Anonymous

To some this book may be considered a real romance novel. To an extent I agree, but I felt that Sparks constantly repeated himself and it appeared he only knew two lines, "You are so beautiful" and "I love you." I was so sick of hearing the characters say this. It was a little nauseating. I also didn't see what was so great about the female character-why did he love her? What was so great about her? I didn't feel Sparks showed us why these two loved each other so much and I didn't feel the spark and connection between these two characters that could last 14+ years. Sparks is a terrific writer, but this book was too sappy for me.

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Cheryl Walker

This was a really good book, I could see the imagery clearly in my head and I really enjoyed it and would strongly recommend it to others.

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Jennifer

Beautiful story but a little slow moving for my taste.

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Joanna Deal

The best love story I have ever read. His description of Noah in old age, his physical feelings, his emotional feelings and how he acted on them was wonderful.

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Anonymous

This is an absolutely beautiful love story. The reader actually sounds a lot like the narrator in the movie. If you have seen this movie you need to listen to this book - it's fabulous!

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Anonymous

This is a wonderfully touching book about love that endures all adversity. Nicholas Sparks puts his experience and feelings into this masterpiece.

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Anonymous

This is an incredible love story. The Notebook describes the kind of love we all hope experience for ourselves and to have those we love experience. The book kept my attention and made the miles on the road much easier.

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Amy Hoskins

Oh, Pulease! The first part of the story captured my interest - then I lost interest at the 50 minute description of the sexual interlude, and it was all donwhill from there. Really lost interest at the last portion, in fact, it was so painfully boring and repetitious that I finished my walk in utter silence rather than listen to the narrator droll on. If you love to hear the same lament expressed about 1500 different ways - pop this CD in your player!

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Pamela Galvin

Unbelievable enchanting wonderful love story pulled you in and made you cry. I even rented the movie after and it didn't compare to listening to the book.

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Claudine

I think this is one of those cases where I would have preferred to read the book rather than listen to it - While reading, you can skim over the REPETITIVE parts. How many times can you decribe the same thing - or should you? And, may I mention, the narrator's use of pauses for effect get very tiring over time. He simply cannot do voices as expressively as other narrators, and I found myself sighing in frustration...a lot.

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Anonymous

I really enjoyed this wonderful love story. The movie was a bit different but it was worth reading the book. A little slow at first but it is worth it in the end.

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Catherine Mieczkowski

BOOOOOO. I have never hated a love story until I listened to this. Romantic to the point of discust- this book did not paint a true picture of love. not to mention, it MOVED EXTREMELY SLOW. I think I would rather have chewed my own arm off than listen to the unabridged. In most cases of alzhiemers, particularly the final stages, most patients are violent and downright nasty....so needless to say, it painted quite a sugar coated picture. I give this book two thumbs down.

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Cynthia Berhorst

This was a wonderful book. The plot was very well developed and the characters were fascinating. So very romantic and moving. I would recommend this book to nearly everyone that enjoys a wonderful book of true love.

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Terrie Randolph

I enjoyed this story. It's nice to here a true love story. But I should have listen to this first before watching the movie. After seeing the movie I had a lot of expectations. I loved the movie, and I love the way it ended. I also did love this book but wasn't crazy with how it ended.

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Judy S

This was one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever heard. The book is well written and keeps your attention. It is one of the few books that will make a lasting impact on you. I highly recommend it to both men and women.

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Anonymous

This was so slow I cannot imagine what the unabridged version would be like. The beginning and the ending were excruciatingly boring, and the 31 year old Noah sounded like an 80 year old Jimmy Stewart so I had a very hard time getting into this book.

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Beth Morris

A very sweet story. Nicholas Sparks has a way with telling a story, that keeps you coming back. If only everyone could find a love like that.

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Anonymous

I think this is the best love story of all time! I loved the movie; the book was a little different but still great. I recommend this to anyone.

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Morningdove

I enjoyed this story very much , it was slow at first but after you got into the story it keeps you interested. I really enjoyed the book better than the movie. The only thing that bother me was the narrator's voice I had to keep adjusting the volume to hear him. This was the first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more of Nicholis Sparks books.

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Anonymous

Don't get me wrong...this is one of Nicholas Sparks best books. If you liked the movie you'll like this book as well. I even popped cd 3 back in and listened to it again becuase that's the best part of the book. Definitely worth the time.

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Melanie Russom

What a FABULOUS look at the world of Alzheimer's disease. This story is WONDERFUL!

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Kim Todd

I've read a lot of this author and really enjoy his work. This book was a very nice read but made my heart ache because most relationships (including mine!) aren't even close to that level of simplicity, intimacy and commitment. It would be wonderful if there were actually more relationships like it. It IS very irritating to have to keep adjusting the volume of a story because of the reader's intonation, etc.

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Anonymous

The book was predictable and slow moving. However, for me, the reader made listening torture. Slow going and overly dramatic, I should have stuck to the movie.

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Anonymous

Very slow. Couldn't get past the 1st disc was so bored.

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Sue Asher

This brings you back to a more innocent time when there seemed to be more time to lend to relationships and life itself.

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Anonymous

This love story is too sugary to be believable. The narration is horrible, with such frequent and intense changes in pitch and loudness that one would have to keep adjusting the volume all the time. It is either too loud or completely inaudible. Maybe a better narrator would make this book more tolerable.

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Lynn from Canada

A wonderful love story...I was happy to be stuck in traffic listening to this. It never gets sappy, but definately can make your eyes water, causing a lot of blinking while driving. Its a smile, laugh and cry book...

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Anonymous

I really liked this book. It is a sweet story and im sure most people can relate to the characters in it. I have listened to it a lot and in fact have liked it so much I am considering buying a copy for myself.

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Rita Main

Awesome if you love a good love story! I commute an hour each way to work - hard to get out of the car!

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Cyndy Wescott

Notebook was a wonderful movie and the book was good. I would have like the book more if there was more passion in it. It may have been the reader but the story didn't have the passion and warmth I would have expected of a love story.

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Beth Paquette

Such a beautiful love story. Kept me wanting to read more and get to know the characters better. Bravo for this author for portraying that dedication and loyalty is the way a relationship should be. I'm looking forward to more stories.

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Anonymous

Great book and the reader was great. I saw the movie 1st and thought the book gave more detail that was nessasary to the movie. I would definetly read book 1st and watch movie later.

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Anonymous

It was a great story, but it would have been better without the music.

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Shelley Imeson

Very touching story. Reminds me of my grandparents love story.

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