Some years ago, I said, out loud even, that I was not going to read another Nicholas Sparks book as long as I lived. I said it. I meant it. I did, although I don't take as much umbrage with Nicholas Sparks as I do with that Grisham guy, that guy, his writing is truly atrocious. I will give him the credit of allowing the little guy to win in the end, and that's good. I work for attorneys in my real life job, and so I get that angle. Other than that, hey dude writer man, you are not above being edited and if the reports I hear are correct, that your wife is your editor, well, you need to rethink that.

No, Nicholas Sparks, in my mind, writes the same book over and over again, the character names may change, but it's seriously always the same book.

But you know, Mr. Sparks is doing alright. Better than alright. Look at the movies his novels have wrought. Well, okay, I've swallowed my arrogant words, not that I think The Lucky One is such a great novel miracle, oh no. I don't.

What I was aching for when I picked up this book was, plain and simple, language that all of us can relate to. Easy, uncomplicated, unstuffy, common language. Stuff we would all say, language we would all recognize and relate to. It was an exercise of sorts for me, just to see again how Mr. Sparks writes.

What I found in reading this book, is that it's just so simple with him. Language is easy. No hidden agenda, no formalization, no fear about words, just write it out and let the words fall where they may and let them work. Easy, no big struggle.

Now, I'm reading and I am gauging it all; the words dropping out casually, willy nilly even, seem to work for Sparks. Yes, he has a dynamite agent, but still...

I have to tell you I am enjoying this book. It's not heavy; it's not burdensome, it's not overly-intellectual; it's enjoyable.

Hmmm...what are you reading this spring? Are you reading critically or for enjoyment or both?