A Bend In The Road
Description
Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. Missy had been his first love, and Miles fervently believes she will be his last. As a deputy in the North Carolina town of New Bern, Miles Ryan not only grieves for Missy, but also longs to bring the unknown driver to justice. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews. The second grade teacher of his son, Jonah, Sarah had left Baltimore after a difficult divorce to start over in the gentler surroundings of New Bern. Perhaps it's her own emotional wounds that make her sensitive to the hurt she first sees in Jonah's eyes, and then his father's.
Tentatively, Sarah and Miles reach out to each other. Soon they are both laughing for the first time in years . . . and falling in love. Neither will be able to guess how closely linked they are to a shocking secret -- one that will force them to question everything they ever believed in . . . and make a heartbreaking choice that will change their lives forever.
In A Bend in the Road, Nicholas Sparks writes with a luminous intensity about life's bitter turns and incomparable sweetness. His affirming message carries a powerful lesson about the imperfections of being human, the mistakes we all make, and the joy that comes when we give ourselves to love.
Did You Know
The final draft of A Bend in the Road was 30,000 words shorter than the first draft?
Most of the places described in the novel are real?
The main character was named after Nicholas's two oldest sons, Miles and Ryan?
Description
Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. Missy had been his first love, and Miles fervently believes she will be his last. As a deputy in the North Carolina town of New Bern, Miles Ryan not only grieves for Missy, but also longs to bring the unknown driver to justice. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews. The second grade teacher of his son, Jonah, Sarah had left Baltimore after a difficult divorce to start over in the gentler surroundings of New Bern. Perhaps it's her own emotional wounds that make her sensitive to the hurt she first sees in Jonah's eyes, and then his father's.
Tentatively, Sarah and Miles reach out to each other. Soon they are both laughing for the first time in years . . . and falling in love. Neither will be able to guess how closely linked they are to a shocking secret -- one that will force them to question everything they ever believed in . . . and make a heartbreaking choice that will change their lives forever.
In A Bend in the Road, Nicholas Sparks writes with a luminous intensity about life's bitter turns and incomparable sweetness. His affirming message carries a powerful lesson about the imperfections of being human, the mistakes we all make, and the joy that comes when we give ourselves to love.
Film/TV Sales
Film and TV rights were optioned, but are now available again.
Background Info
I had hoped to start writing the novel in January of 2000, but a couple of things happened that month. My third son was born, and I found out that the drugs my sister was taking to control her cancer were no longer working and that time was beginning to run out for her.
I spent the first six months of that year flying back and forth across the country to visit with my sister. Though I'm glad I did it, it was just about the most heartbreaking thing I've ever gone through. Every time I went (every ninth day, I flew out for four days), my sister was a little worse. Yet, she always smiled, she never bemoaned her plight. She was certain she would beat her cancer, right up until the end. Unfortunately, she didn't, and she passed away in early June.
During those six months, I tried to write a novel, but it wasn't working. With my new son and my sister's situation, I couldn't concentrate long enough to make any writing worthwhile. Though I finished about 200 pages, there wasn't enough of a story to justify continuing with what I'd written, unless I solved the problems inherent in the story. So I asked my editor to come down to help me with the problem.
Even working together, we couldn't solve the problem and my editor finally suggested we come up with a new plot. "In the past," she said, "you've always drawn on your family for inspiration. Who are you thinking about now?" "My brother-in-law," I said. "Here he is, a nice young guy and suddenly he's a widower who has to raise his kids on his own." "Let's work with that," she said, and the first character became Miles Ryan, a widower, who had to raise a son on his own.
The basic idea for the story flowed from there and by the end of the day, I knew exactly what the story would be.
Notes on Writing the Book
Coming soon
Reviews
Sweet, accessible and uplifting, the latest love story from Sparks (The Notebook) leaves the reader with one burning question: Why is this consummate beach book being published in the fall?. . . expect instant best-sellerdom.
-- Publishers Weekly
Love and death are constant companions in Sparks's books and this one is no exception. . . Once again, Sparks brings a tale of true love to fruition, proving that love stories can be sweet without being cloying.
-- Booklist
This poignant tale of love lost and found. . . resonates with an emotional vibrancy that will enchant readers.
-- Bookshelf
Love and death are constant companions in Sparks's books, but A Bend In The Road is a cut different... in that it gives a story that not only includes love and tragedy, but one filled with guilt and a longing for justice... Sparks includes mystery into his mix of emotions ... A Bend In The Road is like a safe harbor compared to the roiling seas that threaten to swamp our daily lives.
--Tulsa World
A smothly written and satisfying novel.
--Romance Reviews Today
Nicholas Sparks. . . will not let you go. His novel shines.
-- Dallas Morning News
Sparks. . . gives the reader another novel rooted in tragedy with a redeeming and stunning act of forgiveness. It is a moving tale of love that will stay with you for a long time.
--Abilene Reporter-News
A five-star writer. . . a story you will cry through and remember for a lifetime.
-- News Chief (Winter Haven, FL)
FAQ
Why the two narrative voices?
To add the necessary conflict to the relationship between Miles and Sarah. See Notes on the Writing of A Bend in the Road.
This was the first novel with a "bad" character. Why did you do that?
The theme of this novel is love and forgiveness, and the plot itself required the introduction of a "bad" character to keep the conflict from coming to a premature conclusion.
Unlike your previous novels, this one didn't make me cry. Why?
Perhaps because of the theme, love and forgiveness. Forgiveness usually doesn't make people cry. The ending wasn't tragic, but it wasn't exactly happy either. It was bittersweet.
Why didn't you tell us more at the end?
I originally wrote a longer ending, one that more fully explained what happened to Miles and Sarah. However, my agent, my editor, and I all felt that it should be cut. This wasn't the sort of novel where tying up the end and "putting on a fancy bow" was appropriate. The theme and ...
How much of this story was true?
Very little. Aside from being inspired by my brother-in-law (who isn't a sheriff, but is a young widower raising two sons), everything else was made up.
Are the places described in the novel real? And is there really a Ghost Walk?
Most places were real. The location and name of Rhett's Barbecue were changed for the story, so was the elementary school. The Tavern was a composite of a couple of different bars, but other than that, most places were real. There is a Ghost Walk in New Bern.
Was the ghost story told by Mrs. Hawkins a real story that you'd heard?
It was a blend of ghost stories I've heard in this area. I changed parts to make it more compatible with the story.
Book Club/Discussion Questions
- In the opening scene, an unknown narrator makes his first appearance. Were you surprised that his story wove throughout the rest of the narrative? How would the novel have been different had this not happened? Did you know who the narrator was? When did you know?
- The novel deals with the theme of love and forgiveness. How were the major characters -- Miles, Sarah, Brian, Charlie, and Jonah -- forgiven? How did love play a role? What else played a role? Is forgiveness and act, or is forgiveness and on-going process? Explain.
- New Bern is described in detail. How does the setting play a role in the story? Could this story have occurred in a larger city? Why or why not?
- Miles lost his first love and yet he's ready to move on by the time he meets Sarah. Does Miles believe in the idea of eternal love?
- Sarah is a wounded character when the novel opens because she can't have children. How does Jonah influence the relationship between Miles and Sarah? Would they still have fallen in love had Jonah not been around?
- In this novel, as in A Walk to Remember, there are scenes that take place in the cemetery. What is the significance of the cemetery in this story? How does it play into the theme of the novel?
- Miles watches family home videos in the privacy of his home but refuses to share them with Jonah. Think about the memories that Miles has of Missy. What is Miles's vision of Missy and how does that play a role in how he views Sarah?
- Charlie plays a central role in the investigation and is Miles's boss. He also plays a central role in Miles's life as a father figure. What is there relationship like? How does Charlie view Miles? How does Miles view Charlie? Is this typical of father/son relationships?
- Describe Jonah's character. Is he believable as a young child?
- The narrator confesses to stalking Miles and Jonah without their knowledge for almost a year. Did this make him a more sympathetic character or less? Why? What does this tell us about him? What do his memories tell us of Miles and Jonah before the story opened? Was this information important?
- Toward the final third of the novel, the narrator makes an appearance and confesses to having been involved in Missy's death. Was Sarah's response believable? What would you have done if the same situation had happened to you? Knowing what she knew, did she make the right decision? Was Miles's response justified?
Foreign Sales
- Albania / Bota
- Brazil / Geracao
- Bulgaria / Editions & Marketing
- Croatia / Algoritam
- Czech Rep / Ottovo
- Denmark / Egmont Wangels
- Finland / WSOY
- France / Laffont
- Germany / Heyne
- Greece / Ellinika Gramata
- Hungary / General Press
- Indonesia / PT Gramedia
- Israel / Pisgat Idit
- Italy / Sperling & Kupfer
- Korea / Golden Owl
- Latvia / Artava Ltd.
- Netherlands / ECI/House of Books
- Norway / Hjemmets
- Poland / Albatros
- Portugal / Presen�a
- Romania / RAO
- Serbia / Naroda Knijiga
- Slovakia / Ottovo
- Slovenia / Mish
- Spain / Salamandra
- Spain (Catalan) / Enciclopedia Catalana
- Sweden / Wahlstrom & Widstrand
- Taiwan / Lin Pai
- Thailand / Matichon
- Turkey / Alfa Publishing (Paper Back)
- UK / Time Warner
Published: 2001