Review: Three Weeks With My Brother
In 2002, Nicholas Sparks received a pamphlet in the mail from Notre Dame, his alma mater, about a three week, around the world trip they were sponsoring. The trip looked wonderful, and Nicholas couldn’t get it out of his mind. He knew that he and his wife couldn’t go, since they had five small children, so he decided to invite his brother. In January and February 2003, the Sparks brothers – Nicholas and Micah embarked on the journey of a lifetime.
In Three Weeks With My Brother, Nicholas and Micah open each chapter with a story from their trip that made them reminisce about their past. Since their father was a student when the Sparks children (Micah, Nicholas and Dana) were born, they were poor for most of their childhood. Nicholas didn’t know that milk came in a liquid form until he started school. Their mother was vibrant, charismatic and loving, but she raised her children with few rules, causing them to grow up very close. The family had to move several times over the years and the moves were always much easier for outgoing Micah than they were for introspective Nicholas. Nicholas and Micah have had more than their share of tragedies in their lives, but they’ve also had great triumphs and have learned to appreciate the small things in life.
When I found out that Nicholas Sparks was coming to town, I knew I wanted to try to meet him, so I asked the biggest Nicholas Sparks fan I know, Sheri to fill me in and give me some great questions to ask. Sheri came up with some fantastic questions and suggested I read Three Weeks With My Brother, by Nicholas and Micah Sparks to learn more about him. I found this book to be very readable, enjoyable and emotional. I never knew how driven and hard working Nicholas is. He received a track scholarship to Notre Dame, but he’s the first to admit that he’s not a natural athlete, but a very hard working one. Nicholas and Micah are very close and they’re both family men – dedicated to their wives and their children. From the emotion that comes through in this book, I get the feeling that Nicholas writes from the heart. I recommend this book to all Nicholas Sparks fans and those who enjoy memoirs.
I’ve read a few of his books. They always feel like they are trying a bit too hard to make me cry, but they are easy reads, nevertheless. Plus he IS quite attractive! This premise sort of reminds me of the book “Honeymoon with My Brother” which was about a guy getting jilted at the altar and taking his brother on the prepaid honeymoon instead.
I did not even know that he wrote a memoir. This sounds quite interesting!
I’ve only read a handful of memoirs but this sounds like it would be a good read. Nice review!
I think I will check out this memoir. I like his writing.
Great review. Thanks.
Great review Kathy. I really loved the audio version of this book. I’m not a huge Sparks fan, but this memoir was great!
I’m not a Sparks fan, but after reading your interview, I learned that I would probably like Sparks the person — I’ll keep an eye out for this memoir.
I’ve had a hit and miss relationship with Nicholas Sparks’s novels, but the idea of this memoir is VERY appealing. I like the idea of learning more about him personally, and the travel part is great, too!
I think the memoirs would appeal to me because I love reading other people’s stories. I used to really like Sparks’ writing, but after a few books I didn’t care for the emotional manipulation so much. My mother-in-law loves his writing though.
Hmm, I can’t say I’m the biggest Nicholas Sparks fan, but this sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review!
I am looking at this book right now on my shelf. Such handsome brothers and I am sure I will like reading their book! Great review.
I have given you an award! Come by and pick it up!
You know I love personal memoir! I’m adding this to my official wish list (now at LibraryThing, forget those scraps of paper I’d always lose!)
So great that Sheri helped you out with interview questions and the suggestion of this book.
How neat to hear about such a well known author’s ‘real’ life.
I’ve never read Nicholas Sparks, (I know, I know…..) mostly because I usually want to go jump off a building after seeing one of his movies. They’re so damn depressing…Message in a Bottle, Nights in Rodanthe…what is it with this guys’ determination to kill off one of his characters??
So, I passed on this one as well, but it does sound less depressing than the aforementioned movies were.
What can I say… I love a good love story. Nobody delivers ’em up like Nicholas Sparks. I’m glad you read this book. I hope that it gave you a bit more insight on him as a person for the interview. Again… loved the interview post.
Sheri
This sounds lovely… (though I can’t help but think of his wife, going, “Wait… we can’t go together so you’re leaving me with the kids and going with your brother!” 🙂
I love memoirs. I will have to put this on my want list. I haven’t had the opportunity to read any of his books yet. This would be a nice start.
Thanks for the recommendation.
I have enjoyed the Spark’s books that I have read but I have to admit that when I saw this memoir on the shelves it didn’t grab me. I am so glad you did a great review, it actually isn’t what I thought it would be and you have changed my mind about reading it. Thanks.
This sounds like a great book. I will be looking for it tomorrow when I stop at the library!!
Well I never knew about this at ALL…Time to find this one 🙂
I haven’t read a good memoir in awhile and I like Sparks (though more often than not his stories make me sad) so I may pick this one up. Hope you enjoy meeting him!
Thanks for highlighting this! I’m not a fan but would sure love to read this memoir. I do have a few of his books in my TBR and read a few.
Love the idea of Nicholas Sparks writing non-fiction. this looks like a memoir and travellogue combined in one.
I do like memoirs so I will probably look for this book. The main reason I want to find it, however, is because it sounds like he is one of the really nice guys in this world. I felt that from your interview with him and now this book seems to confirm that. Thanks for the heads-up on this one.
I definitely recommend reading this book. As I mentioned in your Nicholas Sparks give-away, I attended junior HS with him and his brother. I felt that the descriptions of themselves were accurate–just as I remembered them (does that make sense)? I doubt they remember me though LOL.
I had almost forgotten about this book. I read it a long time ago now and really liked it!
I haven’t read many Nicholas Sparks books, but I know many people who are huge fans. This book sounds really interesting. Thanks for reviewing it.
I read this when it first came out, and I think it’s my favorite of all his books. It was very emotional and very interesting.