THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER by Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is one of America's most popular novelists. He is a romanticist who creates stories with real emotional pull. Some of his bets known are THE NOTEBOOK, A WALK TO REMEMBER, THE RESCUE and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.
His latest book, THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER, is a non-fiction recounting of a three week trip he and his brother Micah made which took them around the world. It is a surprisingly personal book and one you will not want to miss.
On the surface the book appears to be a travelogue about the various countries the duo visited on their trip. However, once you get into the pages you find it is a reflection on their childhood. Nicholas Sparks delves into his very soul and comes up with an honest and touching account of the way he, Micah, and their sister Dana were raised.
Nicholas' parents were unique, to say the least. His mother was the caretaker while his father worked part time jobs and attended school. With money being in short supply, Mrs. Sparks soon had to find employment too. This meant the three Sparks children spent a lot of time on their own. For Micah and Nick this meant time to roam the neighborhood and sometimes get into trouble.
Both boys adored their sister and were protective of her. Still they sometimes resented the privileges and presents her parents gave to her because "she is a girl." Nick especially felt left out as the middle child. He was a good student, but this was rarely recognized in the home. He also forced himself to be an outstanding athlete even though it didn't come naturally. Both his grades and sports appear to have been his way of asking for attention.
Today Nicholas Sparks is a millionaire, a happily married man with a family of five children, and a successful novelist. Most would say he has had a charmed life, but those are the ones who do not know his life. When you read this book you learn of the hardships, the heartbreaks, the disappointments, and the discouragements. You also learn of his tenacity in the face of adversity, and his strong faith that helps sustain him.
For every celebrity there is a backstory which rarely gets publicized. To Sparks' credit he delivers his own backstory front and center. It is not a story that is always flattering to him, and it is especially not flattering to his family. But it is an honest and raw portrayal of two lives that have succeeded in spite of some bitter obstacles.
Nick and Micah Sparks are brothers in the best and most total sense of the word. They took the most positive attributes their parents offered and used them to forge success. They are still flawed individuals, and they still have setbacks; but with the help of each other they continue to succeed.
All of this is what makes THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER a great book. It is Sparks most personal book yet, and the one he was destined to write. Regardless of what the future brings, this is the book that will determine how he will be remembered by generations to come.
THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER is published by Warner Books. It contains 356 pages and sells for $22.00.