Nicholas Sparks - The Longest Ride.

Nicholas Sparks – The Longest Ride

Rating: 4 out 5 Stars.

Hi Everyone! Today it is 1 month since I started my blog and set up my Instagram. I did this because I wanted to gush about books and talk about literature and maybe even share some of my own work anonymously. It’s going so well and I’m so proud of all of my reviews, I’m proud of the photos I have taken and shared and I’m proud that I have found a way to post my thoughts and feelings. Thank you to everyone that is reading what I’m putting out there.

Enough of the soppy now. Here is my newest review. It is on The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. I read this book after I saw the film. Usually I refuse to watch adaptations unless I’ve read the book first, this is one of those rare occasions where that did not happen. I loved the film, and I loved the book even more. It is beautiful and real. It shows the trials that life throws at people, and gives hope that love is enough to get through it. Here are some more in-depth spoiler free thoughts on it.

Synopsis:

Ninety-one-year-old Ira Levinson is in trouble. Struggling to stay conscious after a car crash, an image of his adored – and long-dead – wife Ruth appears. Urging him to hang on, she lovingly recounts the joys and sorrows of their life together: how they met , the dark days of WWII and its unrelenting effect on their families.

A few miles away, college student Sophia Danko’s life is about to change when she meets the young, rugged Luke and is thrown into a world far removed from her privileged school life. Sophia sees a tantalising future for herself, but Luke is keeping a secret that could destroy it all.

A little about the author:

With over 100 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. His novels include twelve number one New York Times bestsellers. All Nicholas Sparks’ books have been international bestsellers and have been translated into more than fifty languages. Eleven of his novels have been adapted into major films – The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, The Last Song, Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook.

A little about the story:

The story is set in two time periods, sort of. We have Sophia and Luke set in present day. And Ira who is experiencing flash backs and memory fragments, while he is trapped in his crashed car.

Luke and Sophia come from two completely different worlds, he is a bull rider and works on his family ranch, and Sophia has moved across the country to go to college and get an education. But love conquers all. Despite everything telling them they logically shouldn’t be together, we as readers get to watch and follow along as they fall for each other and navigate the trials that come with it.

Ira is trapped. He crashed his car and is in and out of consciousness. While this is happening he sees his late wife Ruth and the life they had together. Again these are two very different people that just so happen to fall in love. We are given flashbacks of the most significant moments in their relationship. The real make or break stuff that defines who they are together.

The main characters are Sophia, Luke and Ira. Perhaps Ruth could be included in this too despite her being Ira’s hallucination. And the main things all of these characters had in common is that they fell head first in love.

With Sophia and Luke, there are so many factors that suggest they just shouldn’t be together. From her education and I guess it could be described as privilege, to Luke being raised on a ranch, lives on a ranch, works on a ranch, and rides bulls. They are polar opposites. This isn’t the problem they run into though. The problem is Luke’s omission of truth about his health and not being completely honest with Sophia.

Ira and Ruth honestly have a bit of a similar issue. The main issue in their relationship was down to Ira’s health and something that was completely out of either of their control. This causes significant upset and unsettlement for both of them and is the do or die moment for them.

My favourite character is Sophia. Plainly because of how driven she is. She knows what she wants and works for it. I could learn a little bit from her. Also, she isn’t afraid to tell Luke when he’s being an idiot. She is more than vocal about her feelings when he is doing something he shouldn’t be.

I loved this book. It is the first and only piece of Sparks’ work that I have read. And I’m so glad that it lived up to my expectations. Love stories aren’t usually my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for it, but not if it’s the main focus of the book. I’m more of a fight scene and magical lands kind of person. But this was a heart-warming read.

My favourite part of the book is when Luke finally comes around and puts his health first. He see’s everything that could be at stake if he doesn’t, and he chooses the right decision. That sentence probably makes 0 sense without spoilers, so I’m sorry if you’re baffled.

My least favourite part of the book was what happened to Ira. I preferred the way his story played out in the film to how it played out in the book. Ira and Sophia’s relationship in the film was such a fundamental element, so I’m a little sad that it didn’t happen like that in the book.

I would recommend this book to a hopeless romantic. The type of person that believes love can fix everything.

And that is it. My review and recommendation for The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks. I hope this post gives you the push you needed to pick up the book and read it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

Stay Curious!

J x