B O O K S
By ANNABEL TAN
N
NIGHTS in Rodanthe is a story about pain The story is told in flashback through
eased by romance and lost time redeemed Adrienne’s voice as she attempts to comfort
by a renewed spirit. Likened to Robert her daughter, who is grieving the loss of her
James Waller’s The Bridges of Madison County, husband. Love and hope seem elusive until
Nicholas Sparks, author of Message in a she decides to housesit a friend’s bed-and-
Bottle and The Notebook tells the tale of breakfast inn in Rodanthe, a quaint town in
how Rodanthe, in Dare County, North North Carolina, changes things forever. Paul
Carolina, becomes a place of restoration and ends up seeking solace at that very same inn,
redemption for two hurting souls. It is a and their crossing of paths becomes a life-
bittersweet story about finding love again, at changing encounter for both. Each finds
an age when you don’t expect to. healing here and by helping each other
45-year-old Adrienne Willis finds herself discover a new take on life.
divorced with three teenagers after her Nights in Rodanthe offers poignant
husband leaves her for a younger woman. assurance that having the love of that one
Saddled with a bag of life’s burdens she special person can transcend the sadness of
never expected to carry alone– from a lifetime, and that as Adrienne puts it, “love
dealing with tough teens to caring for her (is) the essence of a full and wonderful life.”
chronically ill father – Adrienne struggles to While their physical relationship lasts
make sense of her world again. only a few days, the ramifications of what
Enter Paul Flanner, a 54-year-old they both share will last a lifetime. This
workaholic surgeon whose wife has left story gives wounded people a hope within
him. Bewildered by the hand life has dealt reach – that it is never too late for healing
Nights in Rodanthe
him, Paul sells his medical practice and to happen, and that unexpected divine
by Nicholas Sparks
heads off in search of some resolution for encounters can transform a season of pain
his soul. into new beginnings.
F
FOLLOWING one man’s journey from bestselling non-fiction title is, you’ll get
law school to a life of indulgence and the drift from its cleverly-titled chapters
debauchery, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell like “The Blowjob Follies” to “Tucker tries
is a no-holds-barred account of non-stop buttsex; hilarity does not ensue”.
drinking and fornication. Telling it like it Without question, immorality scars almost
is, author Tucker Max recounts his true every page. To set the record straight, Max
exploits that got him women – and many declares himself an “asshole” then goes on
other things besides. If you can tolerate the to paint himself as someone who boldly
unabashed sexist behaviour that is wildly challenges social norms and pushes the
celebrated here, you might find this book limits and boundaries. Beyond all the rakish
funny. lewdness and licentiousness, Max really
Lively interaction in honest conversations wants the reader to embrace the deeper
between the characters contributes to the meaning of this book: “Dare to be yourself!”
humour. Max succeeds in creating gripping But seriously, with the protagonist
interplay and captures comedy with intentionally pushing the status quo
witty lines. His storytelling can be quite without a care for what others think or
entertaining – probably more so for men feel is to do all this without sacrificing
than women. “integrity” the challenge? Really.
One weekend adventure leaves a hotel I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell unravels
lobby covered in faeces, while in another experiences that few dare to claim, and
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell incident, Max wets his own bed and for those few hours turning the pages, the
by Tucker Max manages to get a complete stranger to pay reader can indulge in Max’s “forbidden
for it. In case you are in any doubt about sins” vicariously. Good for a laugh – but
the type of book this New York Times little else.
expat | november 2008