The
Choice ,
by Nicholas Sparks and Holter Graham (Narrator)
Life is full of choices, but some bear more serious
consequences than others. When they first meet, Gabby Holland
does not particularly like Travis Parker, and since she assumes
she'll become engaged to her college sweetheart, Kevin, she
certainly does not have any romantic feelings for Travis.
When she accepts his invitation to join him and his friends
for a barbecue, some boating, and a picnic she discovers that
Travis is a warm, sensitive family man and not the womanizing
cad she'd imagined. After several days of fun with Travis,
his sister, his friends and their children, Gabby begins to
question her decision to marry Kevin if he ever asks her.
Over time, Gabby and Travis' relationship as neighbors develops
into one of true and undying love, and because of that love
and of promises made to Gabby, Travis is forced to make the
most difficult choice a man could be asked to make.
Nicholas Sparks is the modern master of the love
story. His characters quickly become the friends we'd like
to have in our daily lives as we learn of their strengths
and weaknesses, and the scenes he sets for the unfolding plot
are vividly described. Gabby and Travis have adjoining property
along a North Carolina waterfront, and Sparks' description
of their first encounter is so skillfully depicted that while
hearing it, the listener is tempted to scratch at imaginary
mosquito bites. The reader, Holter Graham, is a splendid narrator
of this tale that deals primarily with the impact of the choice
Travis must make. He is able to portray both the gravity and
the joy of Gaby and Travis' love story.
The Choice is a book that asks the question,
"How far will you go in the name of love?" Nicholas
Sparks explores this question as he considers the emotions
people bring to different kinds of love-romantic love, family
love, love of friends and career satisfaction. While this
poignant book is intensely moving, it also has humorous moments
and makes a great choice for even the most cynical listener.
Ruth
Mormon
11/9/07
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