|
Finding Noel: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Paul Evans
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy Used: $3.16
You Save: $16.79 (84%)
New (32) Used (37) Collectible (5) from $3.16
Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 8377
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0743287037
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780743287036
ASIN: 0743287037
Publication Date: October 3, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When I wrote my first novel, The Christmas Box, I never imagined it would become an international bestseller. It was a story for my two (then) little girls. But as I wrote, I realized that it was also for my mother -- to ease her pain over losing a child. My mother was my staunchest supporter and my biggest fan. A receptionist at a doctor's office, she would sell my book (sometimes by the case!) to patients in the waiting room. When The Christmas Box hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, no one, including me, was more excited than my mother. I lost my mother on Valentine's Day of 2006. After weeks of struggling with my grief, I decided I would write a story for her. As she loved Christmas, I chose to write a Christmas novel, my first since The Christmas Box. Finding Noel is about how people come into our lives for a reason. It is a love story about Macy and Mark, two young people from different worlds. I'm sorry that this Christmas, for the first time since I became a writer, I won't be able to present my mother with a copy of my book. I think she would have enjoyed reading it. But, then again, I'm not certain that she hasn't. As you read Finding Noel, I hope that you enjoy the journey and feel the same powerful emotions I felt as the story came to me. Fondly, Richard Evans
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 56 more reviews...
The Real Story May 7, 2008
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
The irony of fictional writing is that it works best when it comes from a real place. According to author Richard Paul Evans, the background story of his novel "Finding Noel," is drawn from the real-life story of Celeste Edmunds, a woman with whom he used to work.
As with his previous books, this is a personal work for Evans; he uses family names, origins, religion, illness and little slice-of-life things like recipes, traditions and tips to give a homey feel to his characters and story.
"Finding Noel" is also the first book of fiction that features a character diagnosed with eye cancer. Through the character Joette, Evans exposes millions of readers to this rare disease - only 2,000 adults are diagnosed each year - in a way that mainstream media and the inaccessible medical literature have not. For that alone, Evans and his fictional work are the real deal.
A Well-Crafted Holiday Tear-Jerker November 15, 2006
35 out of 41 found this review helpful
"And perhaps after all the songs and poems and stories of the season, Christmas is really no more than that--humanity's search for the familiar. Every year we bring out the same songs, partake of the same foods and traditions, and share the things that make us feel that there's someplace we belong. And in the end all any of us are looking for is home." -- (My favorite passage) From the book
I admit it--I'm a sucker for Christmas stories. Skpping Christmas (a delightful story), The Christmas Train (a forgettable tale), A Redbird Christmas (another wonderful story)--I've read them all.
As Christmas draws near, I stay on the lookout for holiday heartwarmers found either at my local bookstores or at the library.
I came across Finding Noel at the library, not realizing that it was a new release. (Admittedly, Richard Paul Evans was unknown to me up until this book.)
Sadly, the author lost his mother on Valentine's Day 2006 and after weeks of struggling with his grief, he decided to write a story for her.
I, for one, am glad he did.
Although Macy and Mark are the central characters in this story, Finding Noel shares the universal struggles of *several* compelling characters, delving into areas such as emotionally detached parents, making ends meet, looking for meaning, surviving child abuse, terminal illness, sudden death of a loved one, and finding a soulmate who accepts and loves unconditionally.
Once I began reading Finding Noel, I couldn't stop. Several times--including the last few chapters--I had to put the book down for a good cry. At first, my worried husband looked over at me and asked "Are you OK?" (My first husband died of leukemia and my present husband understands how tales about any kind of death can really rip me up.) I said "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a great book with some major heartwarming moments..."
He smiled in that knowing way as I put down the book every so often to absorb what the author had written.
While I tend to be a book critic--especially with non-fiction books--tales like Finding Noel totally bypass this analytical part of my personality and hit me right in the heart. One reason is because of the author's flawless prose, but another is because he gets the characters *so right*. Anyone who has experienced the shocking, sudden loss of a loved one due to accident or the stinging cruelty of verbal or physical abuse perpetuated by a parent will recognize the authenticity of the characters that grace this book.
But don't think this book is a downer! Oh no--it's not. Yes, some difficult things happen therein and yes, we see humanity in naked, vulnerable states. But we also see the potential GO(O)D that humanity can do when they aspire to BE good--offering forgiveness, a smile, a helping hand, or seeing past appearances. In the book, Mark's character muses to himself "Man's extremities are God's opportunities" and "Be kind to everyone--you don't know what cross they're bearing and how sweet that kind word might ring."
A heartwarming tale of triumphing despite adversity, finding one's place in the world, living with optimism, and giving people a chance (or more than one!), Finding Noel delivers a bittersweet (mostly sweet!) Christmas tale sure to melt the heart of even the iciest of Scrooges.
Thank you, Mr. Evans, for penning this poignant story (and my condolences on the loss of your Mom.) Finding Noel has reminded me of the importance of the "little things"; personally, I will try to remember to offer understanding or a smile when I'm tempted to be not-so-nice when irritated, tired, or impatient...because, really, we don't really know what's going on "behind the curtain"...
Finding Noel has more of everything... October 4, 2006
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Finding Noel has more of everything I have come to know and love about Richard Paul Evans' writing. It's seems as though he has taken even more time to develop and enrich his characters, which I love. He has taken me back to the snowy winters of my college days and made me feel those still tender, poignant feelings of being so far from home and family, of searching for something I could not find. And then he takes, once again, my heart in his hands and shows me the way to go home. I saw so much of my life in this book and that, to me, is what makes this writer golden. What a joy to have another tale from Richard, but especially, another tale of Christmas.
Evans' best book to date October 23, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I've enjoyed all of RPE's books, but none as much as Finding Noel. I read it all in one day, putting off a long list of other things I had on plate. It's a captivating story and one that deserves a wide audience this Christmas. His descriptions are better than ever and his dialogue really pops. He took a risk with another Christmas novel (after the stunning, historic success of Christmas Box) but he's absolutely delivered with Finding Noel. Two thumbs and a toe way up, as Ebert would say.
A Real Page Turner...You'll Love It!! November 20, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
"Usually, life's greatest gifts come wrapped in adversity." -from the book.
As I began reading this book last night, I had planned to read a few pages and pick it up again later, the next day. Boy was I wrong! A little while later, I looked down at the page number and realized I was on page 76, by then I was too far gone to stop reading! This is a great story. It will tug at your heart. I am so impressed with how the author pulled off so much story in such a short book. (I say short as in it's probably a 5X7 in size, even though there are 300 pages. It really only takes a few hours to read.) Each chapter begins with a short entry or quote from Mark's Diary. The story goes along with what is going on, and then you'll hit a chapter that will take you back in one of the character's past. It's all woven together beautifully.
I hope you'll read this book and after you do, I'm sure the story will stay with you.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
