“The Notebook,” by Nicholas Sparks, c 1996, is advertised as fiction. However, Sparks does write that some of the story comes from his life. To me, that statement could be argued for most books. An author’s life can have some influence on fiction and non-fiction.

This was a magical book for me to read. It’s about love between a man and woman in North Carolina. The man is Noah, who lives with nature. The woman is Allie. She grew up in a city.

Allie has plans to marry Lon Hammond, Jr., a successful lawyer. That’s what her folks expect her to do. But a few weeks before the wedding, she drives to the country to see a friend she dated when she was younger — Noah. They can’t keep their relationship on a friend basis and then say good-bye.

They first knew each other when Allie was 15 years old. Now she’s 29.

They are both thinking deeply about their lives, and they decide to walk by the river. As they walk, they share how their lives have been since they knew each other. He served three years in WWII. Since last December, he’s lived on this place. Allie tells him she’s engaged, and her wedding in November is in three weeks.

As they visit, he tells her he reads poetry. She remembers that years ago when they were together, he read poetry to her. The sky is turning orange as they walk back to his house from the lake.

Allie decides to stay longer, and not leave right away as originally planned. She helps him cut up vegetables to fry. He is working on cooking the crabs he’s caught. This house is where his dad died.

When Allie left Noah years ago, she gave him a painting she had done. It’s now hanging by the fireplace on a mantle. As they visit, Allie realizes that he didn’t receive the letters she wrote to him because her mother held on to them.

After eating the meal, they sit in rockers on the porch. He recites to her poetry passages from Whitman and Tennyson and other poets.

When she leaves, Noah cries. The next day he goes out on the river in his old kayak. He usually does this every morning and takes a couple of biscuits to eat. When he gets back he looks at Allie’s painting.

When she comes back to be with him, she brings the items she bought to draw and paint again.

Important scenes are when Allie’s mother comes and brings the letters. Lon arrives later and tells Allie to leave here so they can be married. Her response is no.

Now the story describes their lives at Creekside Extended Care Facility. They sit by each other most of the time, and eventually Allie can’t talk.

“Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. This is the great paradox” (p. 179).

Soon, “the sun downing has come” (p. 192).

Many of Nicholas Sparks’ books have been made into films, and your Marshall-Lyon County Library has several in the Nicholas Sparks Binge Box: five movies in one check-out including “The Lucky One,” The Choice,” “Safe Haven,” “Last Song,” and “Dear John.” You might recognize some actors early in their careers including Amanda Seyfried, Channing Tatum, and Liam Hemsworth. There are many more Binge Boxes to choose from, including “I Love New York,” “High School is Hard,” and “Legal Eagles.” marshallyonlibrary.org