Helpful Score: 6
This style of this book sometimes takes sidetrips that take you a moment to switch gears, but once you get into the book, you will know it is worth the effort at the beginning. A beautiful story of love, hope, life, and dying. If you have read any of Charles Martin's books, you know that you will be treated to wonderfully lush descriptions of places, people, and feelings.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a wonderful love story. There is a sticker on the front, "warning: this book may break your heart." So, you know from the start it is going to be sad. However, the story is so full of love and beauty that it offsets the sad parts. The characters are well developed and the story line held my interest from start to finish. You will learn a few things about Charleston, the St. Marys River, famous artists and their paintings, and most importantly the struggles and challenges of dealing with cancer.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly and highly recommend this as a good read.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly and highly recommend this as a good read.
Helpful Score: 3
This is as much a story of a great, though seemingly improbable love, as it is the tale of a couple's final canoe trip down a fabled Southern river, the St. Mary's. The author intertwines the two, telling us about this fictional couple and their great love, and their effort to do all of the things on her "bucket list," as it were, during their shared final voyage. Theirs is an enduring love, one that endures both family pressure and personal agony, to the very end of their trip together. The book also offers glimpses into the life of the South, as seen through the eyes of this traveler while on the trip, and through what she shows him as she opens her world to him. And it speaks of the heart and mind of the artist he is and will become. Be prepared, however: this book offers a lot of detailed description of the river and its life, its history and how navigating this waterway is not simple and certainly never easy. Still, reading this book is well worth the trip. You will be changed by the voyage.
Helpful Score: 3
This book is masterpiece. It is well written. The author uses such detail to describe the wife's health and the people they meet along the river. It is a type of book, that when you finish, you wish that it would go on forever. I highly recommend this book for any one that wants to curl up and read on a cozy winter day.
Helpful Score: 3
When Doss, a struggling artist, rescues Abbie from a would be rapist, he has no idea how his life will change because of it. Although Abbies father, the past govenor and present senator from Charleston does everything he can to discourage Abbie from becoming involved with Doss, they fall in love and marry. After many years of a wonderfully happy marriage, Doss discovers a lump in Abbie's breast and life crashes from there. Abbie's last wish is to take a trip down the river in a canoe and to check off 10 items from a wish list she has made. Doss does everything he can to make her wishes come true. The characters are well developed and the story is one that I'll definitely remember and recommend to others.
Helpful Score: 2
An amazing love story, and the disclaimer on the book is accurate - it will break your heart. Somehow though, that's what makes the story incredible. A must-read!
Helpful Score: 1
I would have liked this book more if I had read his interview in the back of the book first. He basically says that he wrote the main character as the husband that he would like to be; otherwise, the husband is the only person who gets it: how to treat the dying wife, etc. not the nurses, sorry my daughter is a nurse and the patients rip her heart out on an almost daily basis. I think the book would have been better if the husband had been a little less perfect and the rest of the people a little more so. read (the story) as a what if and remember to live each day as though it may be your last.
Helpful Score: 1
The book has a great ending, it just took a while to get there. I feel he wrote a lot of words to get to a point. I was going to stop reading it a couple of times but something kept me reading it and I'm glad I did.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a verying inspiring book about true love, loss and undying devotion. A man's dedication to his wife dying of cancer is very touching and beautiful. A great story you won't soon forget.
Helpful Score: 1
This was another book club read for me. I imagined that it was going to be a book in the style of Nicholas Sparks which I used to love but have come to dislike. In a way itt was a little like that, but did have more added dimension. He really vivdly described the landscape. I liked this one a lot. A story about dedication and unending love.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book! Can't wait to read more of Charles Martin's books.
Really enjoyed listening to this on a recent trip back from Savannah. It's a heart wrenching story and It made me cry in a few places. I recommend it.
Beautiful, a warm story, the end takes your breath away !
I normally love Charles Martin's books, but this one was difficult for me to get through. It seemed to move slowly - getting through the whole river journey.
Don't even think about reading this book without getting a box of kleenex - but do read it. Never have I read a more moving love story. I love all of Martin's books, but this may well be the most powerful.
I have read several of this author's books and loved every one of them. He's a great writer who writes from the heart. His characters are worthy of respect and admiration. The characters in this story are no exception, and the trials they go through to achieve a goal are unbelievable. This story is full of of adventure, love and loyalty, with a good deal of controversy thrown in for good measure. I'd read it again.
My rating on this book would be a 5 star. It is a very touching story of Love, determination, and acceptance of lose. Many tears shed on this book.
Thanks. I am passing it on to friends to read.
Thanks. I am passing it on to friends to read.
A sad, moving, uplifting story that moves you to tears. Stays in your memory long after you've finished it.
Not my favorite by this author, but not a bad read all in all. I got annoyed at the male character's over-the-top, sticky sweet, risk going to jail for, unending love for a woman who's love, in return was sarcastic and mediocre at best. It just didn't seem believable to me, and it got annoying. And her weak helplessness on a treacherous journey just bugged me.
I loved the book. Due to my circumstances I found it very sad. I have cancer and it made me very emotional.
Every book Charles Martin writes I like more than the previous one and they are all great! Intricate, emotional, loving--super read.
A favorite new author on my list! Book was exceptionally well written.
I had just finished "Water from My Heart" by the same author when I ordered this one. I dove (no pun intended) right into it as soon as it arrived. I was not disappointed. Will be looking for more by Charles Martin!
Once I knew this was about cancer I put it down, I don't read medical stories either
Charles Martin books are always good.
One of the best books I have read in a long, long time!
