Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Choice-Nicholas Sparks

The Choice
Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central, Sep 24 2007, $24.99
ISBN: 9780446579926

In 1996 Beaufort, North Carolina, thirtyish veterinarian Travis Parker enjoys his swinging singles lifestyle until physician assistant Gabrielle Holland moved next door. At their first encounter, he is kind and welcoming, which frustrates her as she is angry with him. Exacerbated with his neighborly greeting, she angrily accuses him of letting his wandering boxer Moby impregnate her collie Molly. Besides that auspicious beginning, they are attracted to one another. However, Travis fears commitments will destroy his lifestyle while Gabby is seeing longtime boyfriend Kevin; her choice will impact his. Eleven years later, a car accident forces Travis to confront himself as he has a choice to make..

Told in two parts (1996 and 2007), THE CHOICE is a terrific look at a couple when they first met and a little more than a decade later. Travis and Gabby are fully developed so that the audience appreciates the ups and downs of their relationship as if these are close friends or family. The support cast like his father enhance how much the reader knows about the lead pair. Nicholas Sparks is at his best as he provides a strong character driven tale based on the premise that love’s survival depends on choices people make.

Harriet Klausner

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