Page Count:  356

Author:  Nicholas Sparks & Micah Sparks

Publisher:  Warner Books

ISBN:  0-446-53244-4

Category:  Non-Fiction

Genre:  Autobiography/Memoir

Dove's (Personal) Review:  This is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I've ever encountered. In this incredibly moving memoir, Nicholas Sparks - and his brother Micah - travel around the world in three weeks. They visit Guatemala, Peru, Chile, Cook Islands, Australia, Cambodia, India, Ethiopia, and Norway.
     During their trip, a lot of their time is spent reflecting on their childhood, remembering good times as well as bad. We learn about their days in school (ranging from grammar school to the college years), their employment history, their dating adventures, their marriages, and their children. They also share utterly heart-breaking stories regarding the loss of their mom, their dad, and their younger sister, Dana, and the intimate details of how the deaths affected both their lives.
     I've read all of Nicholas Sparks' fiction through the years. He's become one of my favorite authors. As soon as a new book comes out, I rush to the store to get it. His stories are always very touching, and I've often wondered how he makes that happen so easily in each and every one of them. After reading this memoir, now I know... he's based much (if not all) of his fiction on "actual events" from his own life. The "raw emotions" he experienced during the deaths of his parents and sister were placed directly into his stories.
     And fear not -- this memoir is not just "sad" stories. There are many laugh-out-loud moments as well, while the two brothers raise hell together in their childhood... and also during their trip around the world as adults!
     This is one of those rare books that require multiple readings. I'll definitely be keeping this one in my "To Be Read" pile for years to come!
     TWO-THUMBS-UP!!! GOLD STAR!!!!!!!!!