The Lucky One

For me to truly love a book, I must first love the style of writing, the prose. And I absolutely loved Nicholas Sparks' storytelling in The Lucky One. I have only read one other Sparks' book, A Bend in the Road, which I also liked a lot, but The Lucky One is my favorite of the two.

What I liked/loved most: *It is a great story. It may not be the most original storyline, but what makes it unique is the way Sparks tells this story. It is a story that I can relate to because it felt real, like something I could easily encounter or deal with in everyday life. I appreciated the sensitivity with which Sparks interweaves the story of war and its effects on the men and women who serve so faithfully. I was almost brought to tears, and when I am emotionally touched like that when reading, I know it's a good read.

*I like the themes of luck, fate and destiny, which is central to the story. It made me grapple with my own understanding of and belief in the terms.

*The characters seem real. I could relate to them. The developing relationship between Logan (Thibault)and Elizabeth (Beth)was plausible, and they had great chemistry. And the secondary characters fit the story perfectly. I loved the grandmother's (Nana)wit and wisdom. And I fell in love with Zeus, the faithful German shepherd. I even learned a little about dogs and kennels -- to the point of considering the adoption of my own dog! How's that for effective writing.

What I found lacking -- for lack of a better term: *And this may be a spoiler, so SPOILER ALERT. In the end, during the fatal storm, I could not understand how Ben, a child, could struggle through the elements of the storm and make it to the tree house, when Beth, Logan, and Clayton had such difficulty. I also found this particular scene a bit drawn out and dramatic. *Nor did I quite understand the redemption of Clayton. It seemed a drastic change in his character to at one moment be threatening his ex-wife and the next sacrificing his own life to save his son -- a son whom he had never shown any great affection for in the story. I suppose as a reader, I am to take a leap -- to somehow believe that deep down in his soul, Clayton...well, had a soul and it revealed itself when most needed. And left a legacy for his son, Ben, that would transcend the lack of love he failed to show during his life. Well, at least that what I assume. But I wish Sparks had given me a glimpse of Clayton's goodness, so that I could believe such an conclusion.

End of "possible" spoiler.

Nevertheless, these minor "flaws" don't detract from my still considering this a good read, an excellent story and one that I would highly recommend. Last night I saw a trailer for an upcoming movie based on this book. I didn't know when I was reading that it would be a movie. Based on the the little I saw, I'm not sure if I want to see the movie, for it might not live up to what I've just finished reading. And I simply don't want to spoil the experience.

Nicholas Sparks has been known for his amazing love stories, like "The Notebook" and "Dear John". His novel "The Lucky One" is no different from the others. It is a great love story like "The Notebook", but also shows the military aspect of how many service members deal with their experiences and life after war like "Dear John". This novel shows how friends can influence decisions that we ourselves would not have made otherwise and how love can be found in the most unusual places. Initially, the story seems a little farfetched because how can someone seek a complete stranger out simply because he is lead to believe that the stranger's picture is his lucky charm. I think that any military member will tell you that a simple picture can make a difference when they are placed in a war zone and that is the only thing that they have that is close to their heart. In the novel "The Lucky One", a prior Marine named Thibault seeks out a woman whom he has never met simply because he finds her picture in Kuwait and then somehow survives several missions in Iraq. This alone does not influence Thibault's decision to seek Elizabeth out, but when his close friend is killed in a boating accident in front of him, it changes everything. I think that one situation changed Thibault even more than all the experiences from war and several deployments. Thibault follows his friend Victor's advice to seek the woman out to pay her back for simply "saving his life" through the many deployments and missions. The description of how Thibault walked from Colorado to North Carolina to find Elizabeth is amazing about how he walked through many obstacles with his dog Zeus simply to find her. This devotion and dedication alone would make anyone to know about how this man that is lost and in need of something he cannot put his finger on, find his way. This novel is not only about the love story that develops between Thibault and Elizabeth, but about how each of us as individuals require certain things to rediscover ourselves and who we are. Thibault figures out how to deal more with the loss of his friend and Elizabeth finally discovers what she needs to become herself again after many years. Sparks shows that after the discovery of why Thibault is actually in Hampton, Elizabeth is reminded of her brother and his strange attachment to that very picture. Thibault feels he needs to keep Elizabeth and her son safe from her ex-husband since he "owes" her his life. The ending is very surprising how the picture eventually keeps Elizabeth's son safe, but allows for the "bad guy" to be removed from the story for a happily ever after ending. I think the way Sparks describes this situation and the events that follow, makes the reader feel like it could actually happen. The way Sparks describes how love can come out of a strange situation and overcome many things, makes any reader feel that love does conquer all. The main idea about a man seeking a woman in a picture he found and is lead to believe is his lucky charm seems a little strange, but Sparks does a wonderful job making me feel it could actually happen. I think that anyone that is put in a very stressful situation such as war can be lead to believe that a simple picture could be a lucky charm and keep them safe. Thibault's walk from Colorado to North Carolina is strange, but given the situation can be found normal as a form of therapy to help him cope with the loss of his friend. Sparks does a great job showing how love can easily develop when two lonely people finally find that person to share silence with and is easy to talk to. He also shows how many service members today deal with many things post war that most of us that make up the population can never fully understand. I think this book is a great addition to the Nicholas Sparks collection and should be read by those that love his books and new readers that love a good love story.

I love Nicholas Sparks' books - enough to read them more than once. I read this gem when it first came out a few years back and enjoyed it just as much this time around.

This is a story of war and its effects - during and after. It's also a story of destiny and luck, a tale of love and obsession. And redemption.

There was quite a bit to be packed into one book but this story has it all - realistic characters I loved including a canine one, a character that was easy to hate, a mother's love, love for your child, friendship, romantic love.

The story moved quickly and definitely kept my interest the whole way through and like most of Sparks' books, this one tugged at the heartstrings and I found myself on an emotional roller coaster, up and down, while reading it.

This book was good enough that in a few years I will probably pull it out again and re-read it. And I very seldom re-read books. Oh, and there's a movie based on this book that I will definitely have to see -

The Lucky One, by Nicolas Sparks is a Romantic novel that follows the story of Logan Thibolt and Elizebeth Green. Nicolas Sparks has written many other books such as Dear John, A walk to Remember, The Notebook, and The Last Song. Sparks is a romantic Genious and can make you connect with the characters in a way that only skilled authors can. In the Lucky One he he tells the story of fate and destiny.

Logan, a loner Marine, found Elizebeths picture in Iran and after no one claimed it, he kept it for himself. After he found her picture he began winning poker matches and had a near death expeirence that killed two of his fellow marines. His friend convinced him the picture was his lucky charm and when he came back to the states he set off to find the women in the picture with his dog in tow. He found her at a kennel she ran with her mother and soon learned she was a divorcee with a son named ben. The main problem that kept getting in the way of their love was Keith Clayton, elizebeths' ex husband.

Two strong themes in the novel are fate and destiny. Logan was lucky to live during his time in Iran when many of his platoon mates didnt. It was fate that he came across the picture in Iran and that he found Elizebeth out of all the people in the US. You can say she was a needle in a haystack.

Nicolas Sparks writes the book on the idea of fate, so readers may find some of the situations unrealistic. Although some may think that some situations may not happen in real life, I think that deep down everyone hopes that they find a love that was destined to be like Logan and Elizebeths. Sparks described their love when he wrote they were "lost in a world that felt as though it had been created for just the two of them."

Being a hopless romantic myself, I felt that this story was realistic and could actually happen. Now, it may be extreamly hard to find a woman just by a picture, but since their love was fated he was ment to find her. I feel that this book can give hope to single mothers that think they wont have a second chance at love, since Elizebeth was a single mother herself. Sparks makes his readers believe that there is someone out there that is destined to be with them. Readers feel the two were meant to be together when Sparks wrote, "When a man is that special...you're certain that no matter what happens, there will never be another one like him."

I have read other Sparks books, including The Notebook and The last song and Sparks never seems to disapoint. Like other Sparks books the book ends in a sad twist, but The Lucky One also ends on a happy note. I really enjoyed this book and recomend it for women of ages randing from teen to adult. The book makes you believe that your true love is out there and fate will bring you together.

I have become a big fan of nicholas Sparks. After reading Dear John and the last song..Now im starting to try and read every book he has written. The lucky one was an excellent read...I just could not wait to pick up this book and carry on reading and had to finish it.. the last few chapters kept me up pretty late as I had to find out how this wonderful story would end.. Nicholas did not dissapoint he is a great writer. The ending was very intense and I must admit I had tears as always when you read a sparks book... But the story line was wonderful getting to know all the characters. Logan, an ex marine who finds a picture of a girl and somehow believes it brings him luck...and goes on a journey to find her after leaving the marines..they are a few twists in the story along Logans journey... some good, some sad... Beth, Nana, Ben and Clayton are all good characters...and Vincent who told him to go look for this girl to thank her for bringing him luck...but the ending had me gripped and after I had finished reading this story, The next day writting this review I am still picturing the last few chapters in my head...Now I can start reading my next Nicholas Sparks book... The Choice..I wonder where this will lead me......

This book is quite nice and it kept me interested to go on with my reading.

I usually don't read books that are so dramatic or on the boring side but the way Sparks wrote the story, while having a fairly plain characters, is not boring at all that kept me interested until i finished the book.

If you read the preview story, you will get a 'stalker' kind of love story but it is not. A man finds a picture of a lady whom his best buddy believed to be his lucky charm. When he finally gets out of their complicated situation, he walked miles and miles just to find this girl to thank her for saving his life only to find himself falling in love with her.

I like the character of Logan Thibault (t-bow) , the character who walked from Colorado to Hampton to find his lucky girl, because he is a very kind person but knows how to fight for himself and for people he loves by being a witty and wise person in his strategies to address the issues surrounding their lives (including Beth's and Ben).

Keith is also a very good villain in this story because you become irritated with his behavior making you dislike this person so much. He is a brat from the start as being part of the first family of their town makes him all the more arrogant and conceited.

Beth, the book's damsel in distress, two thumbs up for this woman, she races Ben on her own, helps her grandmother and teaches in their local school. She's independent but still needed someone to share her life with. While bullied, in a way, by her ex-husband, she's strong enough to fight for the man she loves.

The only thing I disliked in this book was the fact that someone died in the end making it a short cut for Sparks to end the story.

While I like this book, i kept thinking of how the story was told in the movie where Efron and Schilling played the roles of Thibault and Beth, respectively, i found the two mediums told the story differently. But don't get me wrong, both are wonderful and maintained the plot. However, the movie, of course created lines that are unbelievably sweet and romantic. While the book on the other hand had complex lines but had simple meanings about appreciating life.

Though I am not into the romantic novel type of books; however, it seems this author (Nicholas Sparks) seems to have specialized in this genre. This story is interesting and even unique in that a former U.S. Marine (name of Logan) who is trying to work out his personal issues after losing so many of his friends in war.

While on the beach he sees a photograph in the sand of a woman and decides to search for the woman and return the photograph. No one seems to know who the photograph belongs to and makes a decision to keep the photograph for luck.

After he is finished with his military time he decides to continue searching for the woman in the photograph and of course is successful in locating the woman. I never give away too much information when reviewing any novel or movie (note: this book was also made into a movie) but if you are into Nicholas Sparks romance novels this is a book you will enjoy reading. Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Zen Poetry Moments: Haiku and Senryu for special occasions).