If you know me then you know how much I love Nicholas Sparks’ novels. He is one of my favorite authors of all time. He’s on my auto-buy list; If he writes it, I will read it. I don’t even need to read the blurb, I just know that I’m going to enjoy reading it. So I decided to host a challenge to get more people to read his novels; to share the love, if you will.
I know Nicholas Sparks may not be for everyone. His love stories do not always have a HEA. In fact, most of them don’t. But as the saying goes, Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. If you like a good love story, one that will capture your heart, take your breathe away and tug on your heart strings, then he is the man for the job. So what do you say – are you up for the challenge?
Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge
hosted by The Book Vixen
Details:
- Runs January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011(books read prior to 1/1/11 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime – Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
- The goal is to read or re-read as many Nicholas Sparks novels as you’d like. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
- Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
- Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine.
- You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.
- Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge. Please include a link back to this post so readers can join the challenge too.
- You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. You can keep tabs on books you’ve read for this challenge on Goodreads or LibraryThing if you’d like (maybe make a shelf for “Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge”). If you are not on either of those sites then you can list the books you read for this challenge in the comments on my wrap-up post, which will be up at the end of 2011.
Levels:
First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels
Going Steady – Read 5–8 Nicholas Sparks novels
Engaged – Read 9–12 Nicholas Sparks novels
Married – Read 13–16 Nicholas Sparks novels
List of Nicholas Sparks novels:
The Notebook
Message in a Bottle
A Walk to Remember
The Rescue
A Bend in the Road
Nights in Rodanthe
The Wedding
The Guardian
Three Weeks With My Brother
True Believer (read this first, before At First Sight)
At First Sight (read this after True Believer)
The Choice
Dear John
The Lucky One
The Last Song
Safe Haven
If you need recommendations – like books with a HEA, or books geared towards a YA audience – let me know!
(why yes, that’s my personal collection of Nicholas Sparks books)
Review Link Up:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Sign Up:
When you sign up, please put the name of your blog and the direct URL link to your blog post where the level you selected and your books will be listed, not a link to your blog’s home page.
I would like to know which one is your ultimate favourite?
ReplyDeleteI think I'm gonna have to sign up for this one :)
ReplyDeleteI totally bought At First Sight at Wal-Mart randomly a couple years ago and I never realized there was a book to read before it. I couldn't get into it to be honest. I might have to try True Believer to see if it helps :)
Marce - That's like asking me to pick which of my children is my favorite. I just can't do it. LOL If you're looking for a recommendation for a place to start, let me know what you're looking for (i.e. something gears toward a YA audience, HEA?).
ReplyDeleteOkay, I got the link right this time. :)
ReplyDeleteThese challenges are going to be fun!
Sorry, I meant your favourite Nicholas Sparks book, lol
ReplyDeleteMarce - I knew what you meant :) I can't pick one favorite NS book so I'll pick a few:
ReplyDeleteThe Notebook
Message in a Bottle
Dear John
The Lucky One
Thanks for your comment and yes I could use some suggestions. I have wanted to read him but haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteBLHmistress - You don't have an email on your Blogger profile so I commented back on your blog.
ReplyDeleteFun challenge, I love Nicholas Sparks also.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I too love Nicholas Sparks!
ReplyDeleteI've read everything he's written.
Great Challege! I will definitey be participating. He is my number one fav author and like you, I CANNOT pick a favourite. I love all his books for so many different reasons. I re-read his books all the time and now I have a great reason to re-read them again.
ReplyDeleteThe Notebook is the first book I remember reading that made me sob, not cry, but SOB!
ReplyDeleteI love Nicholas Sparks' books! I'm excited about this challenge - count me in.
ReplyDeleteI've read all of them! I think my favorite is probably Last Song, only because it was much more than a love story. It was also about love between a father and daughter. And i love turtles!
ReplyDeleteIve read One Nicholas Sparks book a while back..and really liked it. It seemed in depth, and it "drew me into the story". I look forward to joining to this Challenge,..its my first challenge that I will be posting on my Book Blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://readingnks.blogspot.com/
Love your blog!!! Just signed up for this :)
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh Im so excited to do this challenge!! I love Mr Sparks...Ive read ALL of them but will reread them...:D
ReplyDeleteHave you read the new one Safe Haven yet?? Very different for a Sparks book. My Fav is A Walk to Remember and Dear John
I've been wanting to read his books for so long, and this will definitely encourage me to do so! Can you suggest any that are geared towards YA? Thanks. (:
ReplyDeleteTina - I have Safe Haven but haven't read it yet. I'm thinking it's going to be like The Guardian. I haven't read The Wedding or Three Weeks With My Brother yet either. My favorites are The Notebook and Dear John.
ReplyDeleteKayla - I would recommend:
A Walk to Remember
Dear John
The Last Song
Thanks for hosting this fun challenge!
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read several of his books for a while now, but they keep getting pushed back for one reason or another...
ReplyDeleteThis challenge will motivate me to get them off my "to be read" list! :-D I'm going for the "first date" level because (I won't lie) the only thing I know about his writing comes from the movie "The Notebook." I enjoyed the story, so I'm hoping that I'll enjoy his writing as well.
I LOVE this idea!! Unfortunately, I accidentally posted the link to my home page by accident, so I'm going to link up to my post...sorry! Feel free to delete #47, if you can.
ReplyDeleteKristin :)
Keenly Kristin
Kristin - I deleted entry #47
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book, but I have seen a couple of the movies. I'm ready for this challenge! I just downloaded the first audio book and have several on the wait list!
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Nights in Rodanthe as the first book in the Nicholas Sparks challenge. You may read my review on my blog My Bookshelf . I will be reading The Lucky One as my second in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the middle of the 2nd Jeremy Marsh book, At First Sight. I am liking the character of Lexie less and less with every page. I'm about halfway through the book (on audio) Anyone else?
ReplyDeleteI don't want anyone to give any info away. I just hope there's a good reason for the way Lexie and Jeremy are acting.
ReplyDeleteI finished! Woo!
ReplyDeleteI love the Notebook most, hands down. I just finished reading The Rescue. Wow, memory lane hear I come. Thanks for letting us join.
ReplyDeletehttp://postadaychallenge2011.com/
ReplyDeletefor some reason the new #8 did not link to my site for reading Nicholas Sparks books - so I added another one...sorry but this was the one that DID link to me. Thanks for your help. Jackie
I just read and review Message in a Bottle. You can read my review here: Message in a Bottle Review
ReplyDeleteMy Bookshelf
Hey! I have read 4 NS novels this year and I am reading one right now- Safe Haven. Can I link all my reviews to your event? I am a bit confused as how to do it. Let me know. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Jyoti
ReplyDeleteI have review link ups for each month (see this post for the links). I hope that answers your question :)
I can't wait to read this latest book of Nicholas Sparks. He is a favorite of mine too.
ReplyDeleteNicholas' books and writing is new to me.. Wanted to sign up (saw ur blog thru Jyoti's blog).. Do let me know how we could take it further.. btw, am hoping Nicholas writes fiction stuff, am not so much into non-fiction, yet ! :-)
ReplyDeleteKalyani
Join me in GFF - a 100-day Global Food Festival here
New event all this November: Flavours of China
@Kalyani
ReplyDeleteHe writes fiction with the exception of his Memoir Three Weeks With My Brother.
Are you going to continue hosting this challenge in 2012?
ReplyDelete@DreamyObsession
ReplyDeleteIt'll be on hiatus for 2012 but I'll probably bring it back for 2013.