SUMMARY & REFLECTION
3 Weeks With My Brother is the only non fiction book that Nicolas Sparks has ever written,a memoir.It talks mainly about his world tour with his brother Micah reminiscing family memories.Most of the travelers find their closeness unusual.Two brothers traveling together instead of with their wives.It started one day when Nicky was checking his mails and got an invitation.At that time,he finds it impossible to have that kind of luxury with 5 kids in hand plus tons of work and deadlines to finish.But he still thought about it so he brought it up to his wife Cathy.Of course,she would choose to stay home and look after their children instead of going around the world.She would love to go with him on a tour but as a mother,she would prioritized her kids.He picked up his phone and asked his brother Micah if he would like to travel with him for 3 weeks.Of course being the enthusiastic and traveler that he is,Micah thought it was an excellent idea.Nicky feels guilty and not at ease leaving his wife and kids behind while touring and having a good time but his loving and understanding wife convinced him to go and have a good time.And for three weeks,Nicky and Micah traveled around the world phoning their wives from time to time for updates. This book is hard to describe. "Three Weeks with My Brother" starts off in a quiet unassuming manner that in no way prepares you for the heart wrenching insights into the Sparks family history. Let me warn you now, you will need more than one hanky to read this book. This book made me cry so much!It begins with how the round the world trip for the brothers evolved. Next the Sparks' brothers describe in brief detail some of the places they visited. Sometimes it was the history of the place and others it was their reaction to it. That's how all the chapters started, but they always end in a revealing tale from one or both of the Sparks' past. As a writer I liked learning how Nicholas Sparks got started on his writing career and where he got his inspiration for some of his novels. I both enjoyed and was horrified by the stories from their childhood. I loved reading how they met their wives and learning about their children. As I read over this I realized I still haven't told you the book also has a lot of humor running through it. Yes,memories has this effect on us like it can make you cry or smile in just an instant.They remember their childhood days and sometimes it makes them laugh thinking about it.Their parents married at a very young age.Their father was a working student while their mom look after them.They never experienced any sort of luxury while growing up as they lived in total poverty.Micah being the eldest,Nicky the middle child and Dana the youngest.Micah and Nicky have been best friends since childhood.His older brother was always the daring and unfearful person.He protects the family.He looks after his younger siblings.Nicky look up to him as some sort of super hero.Dana was very close to her mom.As they grew up,she played a great role in her brothers lives too specially matters of the heart.They were close since they were young.They talk and spent time together.During their teen years,Micah spent time with his peers more and lesser with his family.Seems Nicky's life is interesting and very adventurous.Nicky did his best academically to impress his parents specially his father thus he was always an honor student.He joined track and field so he can get College Scholarship.He was admitted at the University of Notre Dame taking up Business Course like his brother.He did his best to excel in track and field but no matter how hard he tried,he didn't win the race.He was a fast runner and there's no doubt he is very competent but running is not it's not for him.He encourage his brother Micah to join which he did.Nicky's friends became Micah's close friends too.Again,the brotherhood friendship restored and got deeper ever since. Nicky sprained his ankle due to intense practice which means no more running for him.It depressed him so much.He went home.He was so bored doing nothing so her mom suggested him to write a book to cover the boredom.He did try for the shake of making himself busy.He wrote a book that was never published.On the other hand,his brother Micah was busy working and studying at the same time.But he made it a point to come home during weekends to visit them.During Spring break,she met a beautiful woman that captivated him the first time he saw her.It was so romantic how the moment he saw her,he said to himself someday he'll marry her and he did.He was the first one to get married at age 23 while his brother Micah and sister Dana go with one relationship after the other.He and his brother became business men.Micah on the other hand finally decided to settle after he met Christine.He's got two kids. It was really heart breaking to read his autobiography specially revealing the unfortunate series of events in his personal life.A few weeks after his wedding,his mother fell off her horse causing her death.Then they were really worried about their dad as he shut down everyone after their mothers death.Apparently,their father dealt with his grief by shutting people off his life.But still his kids check on him from time to time.After 2 years,his father finally recovered and started dating.He dated a younger woman but it was too bad because the woman was in marital trouble that she only used their father.Most of their father's frustration and anger was vent out on Nicky.After sometime,his father met an accident and died too.After a few tough family moments,Dana was diagnosed with Cancer.Dana was a College drop out.She later had twins during the time she as diagnosed with Cancer.She was on and off for medication and therapy.It was a huge revelation for me to know that A Walk To Remember was written inspired by his sister.At age 34,Dana died since there's nothing much the doctors can do anymore.It was really too hard to read the book straight without crying not to mention his first baby died as well.Then after sometime,Ryan his second son was diagnosed with ADD or possible autism.And in the end,he realized the only first family he got now was his brother Micah.He was thankful regardless how hard their lives were,his parents was really so good to have raised their kids close to each other.Sparks considered it an extra ordinary parenting skill.He and his brother Micah has a deep love and admiration for her mother.He also adored his sister.That would explain the characterization of the women in all his books. They were poor but got tons of beautiful happy memories.I think the best thing was his brother as his best friend and his hero ever since.What a colorful childhood life experience.I know the feeling of having nothing but Nicky did say it never occurred to him that they were poor at that time.Guess her mom handled the situation greatly.It makes me emotional .My heart feels beautiful sadness.I was crying and admiring them all at the same time.In fact,I'm in deep envy of Dana for having two brothers who loved and protected her and was there for her always.I guess,it was Dana's story on the last part of the book that I cried the most.I was crying so hard for her.It was really hard to take and I honestly admire how the Sparks brothers handled everything in their lives so well. Wow,what a very inspiring story! Now, I fully understood why he wrote his books that way.What could I say.I really regret not buying this book first over the others.This book answered all my questions to Nicolas Sparks writing style and theme.It saddened me to know that in just a short time,he lost 4 loved ones in a row and it must be so heart bursting! He's gone a deep hellish life but still to him everything is a blessing.He was right,there were still lots of things to be thankful about despite the tragedy and hardships he had experienced.Having both his caring and understanding wife and brother on his side probably outweighs everything.I must say his wife is one of the strongest woman who ever lived.I really must buy this book!.Too bad,I had it read first on Ebook.I've got to have a copy of my favorite romance author's autobiography.I always cry and smile and cry in the end again to all the books he's ever written but it doesn't tire me.Of all the books he has written,this is the only book that made me cry the hardest and the most.I was crying in almost an hour at dawn! It was painfully beautiful and far way very inspiring in terms of career,love life,family relationships and even in our faith in God! What a beautiful life story to share and always remember!
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February 2014
"People will tell you most of the story,and I've learned that the part they neglect to tell you is often the most important part.People hide the truth because they are afraid"
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