The Longest Ride.

The Longest Ride.

Nicholas Sparks.

Publisher: Central Publishing.
Publication Date:September 17,2013.
Genre:Contemporary Romance.
Format|Pages:Hardcover|398.
Source: Goodreads| Library

☆☆☆☆☆

GOODREADS SUMMARY
Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage. 

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first. 

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart. 

 
Like his other novels, The Longest Ride took my breath away and in process has become one of my favorites. This novel was slightly different than ones that he had written through the years. The Longest Ride was focused on two different couples. Ira and Ruth and Sophia and Luke. While Ruth and Ira are reliving, remembering their lives together, Sophia and Luke starting one together. I saw how different their lives were, and how each one of them had a hard time letting something go. Each couple fascinated me, had me curious how it all was going to end. I felt connected to them all, even Ruth though she wasn’t really there. 


Luke, Sophia & Ira, Ruth : Ira & Ruth’s story started a bit slow for me, but it picked up fast and once it did, I found myself smiling, crying at some parts. I found myself afraid for Ira, I was afraid that nobody would find him and he would die in that car. Because of their age, and their love for one another for so many years, it reminded me a lot of my grandparents who were married for many years. Just the way that Ira and Ruth loved each other, reminded me of them. I believe that it was because of Ruth, that Ira lasted till Luke and Sophia found him. What made this a bit different, is that most of their story was told through their conversations with one another, instead of descriptions. It made it seem even more real, more realistic to me. Ruth is what kept him on hanging on. I was sad when he did die, but at same glad that he got to be with her again. Now Luke and Sophia, I was fascinated with their story right from start. At first, I did feel like that maybe Luke was more of rebound relationship for Sophia, considering how upset she was about Brian, up till she met Luke. It did feel that maybe she was going too fast. Then I saw how she acted around him, I could tell that she loved him. I was happy to see her with someone who loved her for who she was. I was afraid as Sophia was when I found about the secret Luke been keeping, I was sure that something bad was going happen. I felt afraid for him, when he went riding again, and hoped that he would change his mind. Hoped that they would end up back together. I never imagined that it would be Luke and Sophia who would find Ira, and how important he will become to both of them. 


Loved how country like this novel was. Horseback, farm and bull riding. I always loved any novels that had do with country, especially western. The Longest Ride was like that, even if it took place in North Carolina. That’s one of things that made this novel different. I have a close friend who done bull riding and I learned so much more about, through the novel. I could picture it, I could see how terrifying it must been for him. For his mom, who was afraid every second for her son. Even I felt afraid for Luke, I was hoping that he would give up and quit. The Longest Ride seemed to have much more drama, more action and every page kept your attention, kept you on reading till you reached the end. 


I been a fan of Sparks since I was 17 years old, and since then there hasn’t been single book I didn’t enjoy. I know that he’ll be my favorite for years to come. The Longest Ride is another great addition. If you a Sparks fan, it’s a book you won’t regret picking up.