Author: Erin K.

Welcome to the fourth and final discussion of Julie & Julia. (Available to download as an ebook or audiobook.)

Were any of you surprised that Julie was actually able to finish the challenge in a year? I was really surprised. I definitely thought she was going to get too discouraged and would eventually stop. I’m glad she finished the project, though. It’s always so inspiring when people complete a big goal. 

This last section started with Julie attempting to make crepes. I couldn’t believe how strenuous the whole process seemed. I was a little confused about how she was able to make crepes so effortlessly at the beginning, but then as she continued, she struggled. Do successful crepes rely heavily on a well-oiled pan? I did think it was fascinating that she oiled her pan with a piece of bacon. I have definitely heard of greasing a pan with bacon grease, but I’ve never heard of someone using a piece of bacon in that way. Since Julie mentioned that Julia Child used to fling crepes in the air on her television show, I knew I needed to find a video of Julia’s crepe making process before I could really understand the chapter. Luckily, Smithsonian Magazine has a video of Julia Child making Crepe Suzette. Make sure you watch the video, so you can better understand why Julie had such trouble with crepes. 

What did you think about all of the attention Julie started getting from the media at the end of the challenge? It’s crazy that she was interviewed by so many major publications. I find it hard to think that a blog could receive all of that media coverage in this day and age, but I guess things were different in 2002 and 2003. After reading about the CBS interview, I really wanted to find the video, but I was unable to. I did find an article that features a still photo from the interview, and the picture, although it’s pretty grainy, did help me picture Julie’s kitchen a little better. Although I couldn’t find any cooking videos from Julie during the challenge, I did find a video from years later that helped me imagine how Julie would have looked as she cooked her way through the challenge. Check it out below if you want to get a taste of Julie’s cooking style.

One thing that I did think was interesting was that Julie seemed to have a great experience with people leaving her blog comments. When she lamented the fact that she was turning 30, many people gave her encouragement through the comments section. And they encouraged her through the whole project. I don’t usually read comments on the internet because they can be a little nasty, so I was surprised that she received so many positive comments. Do you think she got so many comments because it was still the early days of blogging and there weren’t as many internet trolls around? 

Were you impressed by Julie’s ingenuity when she described how she was able to cook with a flashlight under her chin when there was a blackout? Were you grossed out completely when she described how there were maggots under her dish rack? I think the maggots part was just horrifying. I really had a hard time reading after that section. I just kept thinking everything in her kitchen was probably tainted. What part of the book was the hardest for you to read? What was your favorite part? 

Julie kind of touches on the fact that her blog was a little polarizing. It was really popular, but her writing style and subject matter did draw some critics. One of her critics was Julia Child—a fact that Julie touches on at the very end of the book. If you want to read more about some of the criticisms for Julie’s blog, check out this article on ABC News. Make sure you notice the comments that Julia made about Julie’s project. 

At the very end of the book, Julie and her husband go to Julia Child’s kitchen exhibition at the Smithsonian. Julie leaves some butter—a detail that I thought was pretty funny. I thought it was a nice homage to Julia. If you want to see the exhibit for yourself, check out this video.

What are your final thoughts about the book? Did you enjoy it? Do you think you’re going to watch the movie after reading? Are you going to attempt any of Julia Child’s recipes? If you enjoyed the book and are looking for more titles like it, check out this list I made. Let me know if you end up reading anything on my list!

I hope you enjoyed reading along with us this month! Make sure to leave a comment to let me know how you enjoyed the book. And make sure you join us next month as we read Five Feet Apart. I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section. 

Welcome to the third Online Book Club discussion of Julie & Julia. (Available to download as an ebook or audiobook.)

How was your reading experience this week? Did you find yourself wanting to head into the kitchen after reading about Julie’s escapades? I confess that reading this section did not make me want to cook; instead, it made me feel a little stressed out. I just felt for Julie with all of the dirty dishes and plumbing problems. I can’t imagine cooking in that kind of space. Do you think you would have been able to keep up with the project after encountering any of the obstacles she encountered? 

Julie starts this section by talking about Samuel Pepys, a man who religiously recorded his life for nine years. Had you heard of him before? If you’re curious about his life, check out this quick biography on BBC History. And, if you want to read some of his diary entries, check out pepysdiary.com. I can’t really imagine recording everything about my life for nine years, but I admire those who do. Do you keep a diary? Do you think you’d be able to keep a diary without missing a day for years? 

Early in these chapters, Julie mentioned going to a grocery store called Western Beef. Had you ever heard of this chain? I had never heard of the store, but Julie made me think that it was a worthwhile place. Check out their website to see their interesting mascot. To me, the mascot doesn’t really scream grocery store, but I appreciate the creativity. Whenever Julie mentioned going to the grocery store, I couldn’t help thinking that grocery shopping in the city sounds impossible. I imagine that it would be so hard to get groceries home using mass transit, and I can’t imagine all of the lines and crowds. And I can’t imagine how much money she was spending on all of those supplies. The cuts of meat she used had to be really expensive. I was glad that she started getting some financial help on the blog by the end of the chapters we read. It’s interesting how early blogs could have a donate button so that readers could directly support the blogger. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that on a contemporary blog—it seems like blogs are self-sustaining with sponsored content and advertisements. 

Obviously, Julie spent most of these chapters talking about the food she made. Did any of the recipes stand out to you? The aspics sounded horrible. I wasn’t even sure what an aspic was, but it sounded like something I definitely didn’t want to eat. Every time Julie talked about it, I had a vision of cat food in my head. If you’re curious about what aspic is or what it looks like, check out “What is Aspic?” to learn more. I can definitively say that I will not attempt to make aspic, but I was intrigued by some of the desserts Julie mentioned. Julie mentions making a Bavarois à l’Orange, and her description sounded tasty enough that I ended up finding an online recipe for it. I don’t think I will actually make it because it feels past my skill level, but it looks like a gorgeous dessert. You might be more courageous than I am, though, so feel free to check out the recipe on La Cucina Italiana. Do you remember when Julie attempts to take that Charlotte Malakoff au Chocolat to work but drops it on the sidewalk and breaks her pan? I thought the Charlotte Malakoff sounded really good. Check out this blog post with the recipe—the dessert looks delicious, and the blog post contains pictures of Julia Child making the recipe. Based on the pictures in the post, it doesn’t seem like Julia Child was too fussy in her baking. She had some broken ladyfingers, too, but she still presented her dessert with pride.

The aspic chapter was gross, but I think the hardest chapter to read was the lobster chapter. I just don’t think I could cook a lobster, and I definitely know that I couldn’t cut into a live one. What did you think of the parts where Julie was describing killing the lobsters? Do you think she was being dramatic? Do you think you could follow one of those recipes? 

Near the end of these chapters, Julie almost abandons the project but decides to keep going. I admire her commitment to the project, but I wonder if she is really doing it for herself or if she’s doing it for the validation she receives. What is your take on her motivation? Do you think she would have lasted more than a couple of weeks if she hadn’t gotten positive comments? I just feel like the project adds so much stress to her life, and I’m not seeing that it adds much joy. 

Has this section convinced you to watch the movie yet? Do you want to see how all of Julie’s mishaps play out on screen? If you haven’t seen the movies and are curious about what it took to get all of these dishes to the big screen, check out this article from LA Weekly about the movie’s food stylist. 

Before you head into the last section of the book, take a moment to watch this video in which Julia Child cooks with Martha Stewart. 

I hope you enjoyed these chapters and are excited to finish the book for next week. Make sure to leave me a comment to tell me a recipe that you would like to try. Or, tell me a recipe that you would definitely skip! I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section. 

Welcome to Week 2 of the Online Book Club discussion of Julie & Julia. (Available to download as an ebook or audiobook.)

Did you enjoy reading the first five chapters this week? I found the reading to be really easy, but I didn’t always enjoy the writing style. What did you think of Powell’s writing? Did you enjoy the way she talked about things, or did you find her candor off-putting? When I was first reading, I was a little confused about the little vignettes about Julia Child. At first, I assumed those scenes were taken from Child’s writings, but when I looked at Powell’s author notes at the beginning of the book, I realized she imagined those scenes from research she did about Julia Child. What did you think about those scenes? Did you notice the author’s note? 

In this first section, Powell talks about her day job often, and at one point, she mentions how the company she worked for had the responsibility of figuring out what to do with Ground Zero, the area left behind after the Twin Towers fell. She doesn’t mention the government agency by name, but she does mention that her company ran a memorial site called the Family Room. I could not imagine what this room really looked like, so I immediately attempted to find pictures of it online. Luckily, I found that the New York State Museum has an online exhibition of the space. Make sure you check out the panoramic virtual tour because I don’t think you can really understand the breadth of this memorial without taking the tour. The space is so overwhelming, but I can see how it could provide a sense of connection and closure for people who lost a loved one in the September 11th attacks.

One thing I thought was really interesting was Powell’s first blog post. She recounts her entire post at the very end of the first chapter—it’s a short little post, and it feels completely different than blogs we have now. From what I understand from reading the blog archives, Powell didn’t include any photos in her original posts. Can you imagine a blog now that didn’t feature a lot of visuals? I think readers now would expect a photo of each recipe attempt. Do you think Powell’s blog would have gained as much notoriety if it had come on the scene now instead of in 2002? 

What did you think of the chapter in which Powell recounted how hard it was to find a marrowbone? Do you have any idea how you would go about getting a marrowbone? I don’t have the first clue how I would go about getting that kind of ingredient. But getting the marrowbone didn’t end up being the worst part of the process. I think the worst part was actually cutting the bone apart to access the marrow. Have you ever done any complex cooking that would require sawing apart a bone? I definitely haven’t, and I don’t think I could do it. What’s the weirdest ingredient you’ve ever cooked with?

Did you have a hard time picturing the apartment that Powell and her husband moved in to in this first section? It didn’t seem like a very pleasant place. But, hearing about her small kitchen made me remember that so many cooks make great things in really small spaces. I read an article about Joy Wilson, creator of the website Joy the Baker, a long time ago, and I found it really inspiring that Wilson was able to create so many recipes and bake so many things in such a small space. Don’t you love looking at people’s kitchens? I really do. To see pictures of Julia Child’s kitchen, check out this post on Bon Appétit‘s website. 

Were there any other things in this section that really stood out to you? I’m really excited to see how the project gets more complicated as the book progresses. Do you think Powell will struggle with anything in particular? 

I hope you’ll check back next week as we discuss chapters 6–10. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the next section. Before you go, check out Julie Powell’s list of top kitchen tools. Do you have all the tools needed to start cooking like Powell? 

I’m excited to hear from you in the comments section!

Welcome to April’s Online Book Club discussion. This month, we’re reading Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. (Available to download as an ebook or audiobook.)

The Online Book Club, if you’ve never joined us before, is a book discussion group that takes place entirely online. Each week, I write a new blog post that talks about different aspects of the book, and you can interact directly with me and other readers by leaving your comments. Check back each week and see what new topics we’re talking about.

Julie & Julia is a memoir in which Julie Powell recounts her experience of working through Julia Child’s cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. For her project, Powell attempts to cook every single recipe in the cookbook in only one year. Throughout her journey, Powell learns much more than just cooking skills and recipes—she also learns a lot about herself and her relationship with her husband, and finds a new purpose in life. 

If you want to follow along with us but you aren’t interested in reading the book, you can always watch the movie version starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. Check out the trailer above if you want to get a feel for how the story plays out on the screen. Feel free to still leave comments on the blog posts, even if you’re only watching the movie and not reading the book.

Next week, we’ll be discussing the first five chapters, so make sure to read through the chapter “…To Make an Omelette” before reading the blog post next week. I hope you’ll check back for the blog post, and I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section.

Welcome to the final Online Book Club discussion of The Firm. 

Were you physically exhausted after reading the ending of this book? I felt like I had been tracked by the FBI just like Mitch. Which part was the most stressful for you? The part on the dock was the hardest for me to read. 

I think my favorite part of this section was that Tammy worked as a cleaner so she could get closer to all the secret things happening in the law firm building. I can’t believe she was so happy to do all of those jobs, and I hope she realized that Mitch would have been killed without her. We know, too, that he would not have been able to escape without Ray. It was really lucky that Ray was with them and not still in prison. 

How shocked were you that the FBI actually allowed Ray to leave prison? I was surprised that they allowed him to leave, but I was more surprised that he left by “escaping.” I think I believed that they would just let him go, like he was paroled. I never expected him to have an assisted break out. 

Did you ever believe Abby and Mitch had really separated? I thought that her being away was part of their final plan, but I did wonder if maybe she had had enough of Mitch and his work. I wasn’t sure about the status of their relationship until they finally met up. Was there a part of you that thought that they might not end up together? 

Obviously, the FBI informant hurt Mitch, and the information the informant leaked forced Mitch to escape earlier than he thought he would. He’s lucky he was so organized and was able to drop everything and put his plan in motion. I was confused why Mitch decided to run instead of go to the FBI, but by the end of the book, I saw how his escape was all part of his plan to live life after the firm under his own terms. Did you believe, at any time, that Mitch was going to take the FBI’s money and not give them any information? I definitely thought that was a possibility. 

Mitch got money from the FBI, but he also stole from the firm, right? He did a money transfer of $10 million, and then transferred $1 million each to his mom, his in-laws, and Tammy. I’m glad Tammy was rewarded, since she was so helpful.

I flew through the pages in which Mitch, Abby, and Ray were hiding and recording because I was so worried they were going to be found. I really expected to read a bloody shootout scene. Thankfully, we didn’t have that. The dock fight was enough for me. 

Did you imagine that life after the firm would end up the way it did for Mitch. I didn’t expect them to end up sailing around and living life on the run. Do you think they will ever come back to society? Do you imagine that the would be able to hide from the Mafia forever? I feel like money would eventually run out, but I don’t really have any idea what it would be like to have millions of dollars. Were you satisfied by the ending? What would you have done differently? 

If you liked the book, you may not like the movie. I found the movie to be really, really different than the book. To see more about the differences, check out this article from Entertainment Weekly. It explains how screenwriters adapted the story. You might also want to check out this article about the filming locations for the movie, if you’re curious to know how much of the movie took place in the settings mentioned in the book.

Finally, make sure to check out the John Grisham Room at Mississippi State University. You can see pictures of some of the memorabilia they have, and some of his papers, too.  

If you liked reading The Firm this month, check out this list of similar books and movies that I created. Make sure to tell me if you check out anything on the list!

Thanks for following along with us this month. Next month, we’re reading Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. I hope you’ll join us then!

Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Firm. 

This section was intense, wasn’t it? So many things happened, it feels almost impossible to talk about the chapters! I was really glad once we finally realized what illegal activities in which the firm participated. Once I knew about the Mafia and money laundering, I finally understood why the firm was so intent on sending lawyers to the Cayman Islands all the time. What other pieces clicked into place for you once you realized the firm was helping the Mafia? 

Lomax was a pretty sad character in this section. At the beginning of the section, he lets Mitch know that the deaths of the lawyers are suspicious. But, then, he is assassinated. His death has to be connected to the firm as Tammy, the secretary suggests. It’s so sad that Lomax was killed—he was just trying to help out Mitch. 

Tammy was my favorite character in this section. First, she rents that office space so she and Mitch can make copies of Mitch’s files. Then, she seduces Avery and drugs him so she can make copies of the secret files. She and Abby were so brave throughout that whole scene! Tammy showed no fear when talking to Avery or when walking back and forth with the documents. Finally, she flies back and forth with the files and organizes them for Mitch. He could not have done anything without her.

A lot of this section follows Tarrance and Mitch as they iron out the details of Mich’s deal.The FBI wants copies of files and bank documents, so they can build a case against the firm. Mitch, at first, just wants money and assurance that he and Abby can walk away from this whole experience safe. But, he eventually decides that he wants the FBI to break his brother out of prison. It seems like the FBI will pay Mitch however much money he wants, but they are resisting getting Ray out of jail. Do you think they’ll end up doing it? 

Which of Tarrance and Mitch’s interactions did you think was the most stressful? I thought the time when Tarrance approached Mitch out in the open in downtown Memphis was the most concerning. Why would Tarrance put Mitch in so much danger? The firm was so suspicious of that encounter, even though Mitch tried to play it off like he wanted Tarrance to leave him alone. I also thought their meeting on the Greyhound bus was pretty cool. All of their evasive tactics to lose Mitch’s followers were pretty ingenious. 

Did you feel like Mitch was being honest with the FBI in this section? Did you ever feel like he might double cross the FBI? There’s just something about his demeanor and actions that makes me feel like he’s hiding something. Do you think he’ll end up helping the FBI in the end? 

This section ends with an FBI mole telling the firm that he will give them information about Mitch. How do you think this will come to affect Mitch? Do you think he’ll be able to escape before the mole rats him out? 

Are you enjoying Grisham’s writing style? If you’re curious about his writing process, check out the video below. He talks about his regimented routine, which I find fascinating. 

I’m sure I missed so much in this section, so make sure to leave a comment to tell me about your favorite part that I skipped over. 

We’ll be finishing up the book next week. I hope you’ll join us then!

Welcome to Week 2 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Firm by John Grisham. 

How did you enjoy reading this first section? I was hooked from the beginning. I thought the book started in an interesting way with Grisham simply describing Mitch and why he was such an attractive candidate to the firm. It made sense that the firm wanted Mitch since he seemed to be such a successful student and all around nice person, but I was immediately suspicious. Why were they so generous from the get go? The firm offers Mitch lots of incredible things including a generous salary, bonuses, a low-interest mortgage, country club memberships, and a new BMW. Which of those perks would you be most excited to receive? Later in the chapters, the firm pays his student loans as well. Can you imagine getting all that from your employer? 

In this section, I was most surprised by how much Mitch worked. I could not keep up with those hours. He was like a machine. I was also shocked when he learned he got the highest score on the bar exam. Weren’t you expecting him to fail since he never got time to study? 

What clued you in to the fact that the firm wasn’t quite what it seemed? Abby’s first lunch with Kay Quin struck me as odd. Kay mentions that the firm doesn’t forbid women from working outside of the home, but they don’t encourage it. She also mentions that the firm encourages lawyers to have babies. It seemed strange and concerning to me that the firm was so interested in the personal lives of the lawyers. Can you imagine what an HR nightmare those conversations would be today? 

I think the story took a sinister turn in chapter 3. We first hear about the wire tapping, and we realize that the firm was listening to everything the McDeeres did when they were in Memphis. Were you surprised by this reveal? What could the firm be using this audio data for? Later in the chapter, DeVasher makes a comment that “New York” is getting suspicious, and they want to “eliminate” a couple of people. Who do you think “New York” is? Why would a law firm need to kill some of its lawyers? In chapter 4, these lawyers who were mentioned in chapter 3 just happen to die in a boating accident. The accident totally wasn’t an accident, right? It was a planned murder. 

Mitch has no reason to be suspicious of the firm, but in chapter 9, he spends a lot of time looking at the portraits of the lawyers who have passed away. He must suspect something because he keeps their names and dates in a drawer. Why do you think he’s suspicious even before he’s approached by the FBI? Were you surprised when Tarrance from the FBI met him? I wasn’t, but I didn’t expect him to immediately notify the firm about it. I would have been scared to mention it, because it would make the firm watch me more closely. Mitch pretends he’s not suspicious after hearing from the FBI, but we know differently since he hires Eddie Lomax later. When he’s in Grand Cayman, he talks to Mr. Abanks about the explosion that killed the 2 lawyers. From these incidents, we can see that Mitch took the FBI seriously, even if he’s not talking to them yet. 

This section ends with the firm talking about the inappropriate pictures they took of Mitch and that woman on the beach. It definitely wasn’t good for Mitch to have that interaction with that lady—especially since now it seems like that interaction could get him blackmailed. 

Did you feel like you could picture Grand Cayman after reading Grisham’s description of Mitch’s trip? If Grisham’s descriptions weren’t enough, make sure to check out the Cayman Islands tourism website. See the Seven Mile Beach that Mitch and Avery walk on, or check out the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. And, if you really want to get a sense of the comfortable accommodations Mitch experienced, check out the Palm Heights. I think I could get comfortable and relaxed in a room like this. 

Before you go to read the next section, check out the video of John Grisham below. In the video, he gives a glimpse into his office and tells about how he got his start. I always love to understand how writers start their careers, so I really enjoyed this video. You’ll also get a little glimpse into the ballparks that Grisham owns. Did you know that he has fields for Little League players?

This section was chock full of interesting details, so I’m sure I missed something. Make sure to leave a comment to tell me what things I missed. And, leave any guesses you have about the firm and why the FBI would be interested in their dealings. 

I hope you’re able to read chapters 15–28 before checking back next week!

Welcome to March’s Online Book Club discussion. This month, we’re reading The Firm by John Grisham.

The Online Book Club, if you’ve never joined us before, is a book discussion group that takes place entirely online. Each week, I write a new blog post that talks about different aspects of the book, and you can interact directly with me and other readers by leaving your comments. Check back each week and see what new topics we’re talking about.

The Firm follows Mitch McDeere as he starts his career as a lawyer at a private tax firm in Memphis, Tennessee. After two of the law firm’s partners die in a suspicious accident, McDeere realizes that the money and benefits of the firm may be hiding something more sinister. Soon, the FBI is involved, and the story becomes thrilling and suspenseful. Once the action starts, you’ll want to keep reading to figure out what is really going on. 

If you want to follow along with us, but you aren’t interested in reading the book, you can always watch the movie version starring Tom Cruise. Check out the trailer above if you want to get a feel for how the story plays out on the screen. Feel free to still leave comments on the blog posts, even if you are only watching the movie and not reading the book.

Next week, we’ll be discussing the first 14 chapters, so make sure to read those before reading the blog post next week. I hope you’ll check back for the blog post, and I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section. 

Welcome to the final Online Book Club discussion of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. 

How did you enjoy the end of the book? If I’m remembering correctly, the ending of the book is different than the ending of the movie. Did you think the ending of the book was believable? Was it a satisfying ending for you? I appreciated that we got to see Allie and Noah when they were elderly, but I wished we got to read about their reunion after Allie read the letters. 

The very beginning of the book, when the two older people were introduced, was vague, but I guessed that the people were Allie and Noah. Did you? It made sense that Noah didn’t tell Allie who he was since it made her so sad to realize how much she had forgotten. 

Did you think the story was believable? It was inspired by Nicholas Sparks’s wife’s grandparents. If you want to read more about the inspiration for the story, check out Sparks’s website. Make sure to look at the book FAQs at the bottom of the page! 

Letters certainly played an important part in Allie and Noah’s early romance, but letters were special in their later romance as well. What did you think of the later letters Allie and Noah sent each other? Allie’s final letter, showing how much she had lost through her illness, was really heartbreaking.

What stood out to you the most in the final chapters? For me, it was Noah’s steadfast love. He was so persistent to keep loving Allie, even when she couldn’t remember him. 

Was there anything in this final section that I didn’t mention that you thought was really important? Make sure to let me know in the comments section!

Did you know that The Notebook is going to be a Broadway musical? Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson wrote music for the Broadway adaptation, so I’m sure it will be great. Watch Michaelson’s announcement below. I don’t think an official cast has been announced, but I’m anxious to see who will be in the Broadway cast. 

If you enjoyed The Notebook, you might enjoy the books and movies on this list I created. Make sure to let me know if you check out and enjoy anything.

I hope you enjoyed reading along with me this month. Next month, we’re reading something with a totally different vibe. We’re reading The Firm by John Grisham. I hope you’ll join us. 

Make sure to leave a comment, so I know how you enjoyed this month’s selection!

Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Notebook. 

How did this section treat you? Did the drama and tension go the way you thought it would? Were you surprised by anything that happened in this section? I wasn’t—I knew that Allie’s family and Lon had to make more of an appearance in the story. 

When this section starts, Lon is trying to call Allie, but he can’t get an answer. Lon was immediately suspicious, which I thought was interesting. I was surprised how quickly he guessed Allie was visiting Noah. It seemed pretty convenient that he was able to recall all the details he had heard about Allie and was able to deduce that she was in New Bern. Were you surprised that Allie’s mom had mentioned Noah to Lon? 

Even when Allie learns that Lon has been calling, she doesn’t seem concerned. She doesn’t call him back, and she doesn’t think there’s any way that he could figure out where she is. Why do you think she underestimated Lon so much? How could she change her feelings for Lon so quickly? 

Noah takes Allie to see swans. That isn’t what I was expecting, but it sounded like an incredibly beautiful place. The iconic scene in the movie was not shot in New Bern, however. The scene was filmed at Cypress Gardens in South Carolina. It looks like an incredibly beautiful place, and they offer swamp boat tours of the gardens and backdrops from the movie. This article from Trivago Magazine tells how you can visit other locations from the movie. 

Right after we read about Noah and Allie spending the night together, Lon postpones a trial to come to New Bern. From that short Lon chapter, we know that Noah and Allie aren’t going to just be able to be together easily. And then, Allie’s mom Anne shows up on the scene. Did you expect her to show up? Did you think it was going to be Lon at the door? 

Before she leaves, Anne gives Allie all of Noah’s letters. How do you think the letters are going to affect Allie’s future decisions? This section ends with Allie driving away from Noah, but there are still several chapters left, so I’m sure this isn’t the end for the pair. How do you think the story is going to come together? Do you think there will be a showdown between Noah and Lon? Will we see Lon and Allie fight about the future? 

If you’ve seen the movie version, you probably can’t imagine anyone other than Ryan Gosling playing Noah. The movie studio wasn’t too sure about him at first, however. Check out this article from Vanity Fair to learn how he got the part. 

Are you curious how Nicholas Sparks got his start with writing and publishing? In this interview clip, Sparks discusses how surprisingly easy it was for him to get his first book published.

I hope you enjoyed this section and are excited to finish the book for next week. Make sure to leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts. I can’t wait to talk about the ending with you all next week!