"Nights In Rodanthe" A Chat With Nicholas Sparks & A Look At The New Movie

Before I was asked to be part of a conference call interview with bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, for BlogHer, I had never read one of his books.  I knew of his books like, "The Notebook,"  "Message In A Bottle," "A Walk To Remember."  I also knew that to speak with a bestselling author would be a treat so I eagerly agreed.

With the Warner Bros movie, "Nights In Rodanthe" set to open tomorrow, I figured that was as good a place as any to get to know Mr. Sparks and his work.   The book was a quick read and the kind of lovely story that makes you do a little soul searching and maybe a little life altering. 

It's a love story about a couple, Adrienne Willis and Paul Flanner, who meet during a long weekend at an inn on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina in the town of Rodanthe.  They're both troubled and looking for comfort and they find it in each other. Since reading the book, I've had a chance to see the movie as well, but before I tell you about that, some snippets from the interview with Mr. Sparks.

When I mentioned to some women friends who have read his books, that I was going to be talking to Mr. Sparks, they almost all said they liked his women characters.  After reading "Nights In Rodanthe" I also felt the character of Adrienne was well drawn and realistic. Since not all male writers are good at that, I wanted to ask Mr. Sparks about it.

(Megan Smith):  How do you think it is that you're able to write such well rounded women characters?

Nicholas Sparks: That in all honesty is the magic question. I have not the slightest idea. I have a, I have a standard group of answers that I give whenever asked that question you know and they're all true. I had a wonderful mother. I married very well. All of the most important people in my life at the present time and throughout my publishing career have been women.

I have daughters. And yet none, and yet none of those fully answers the question. I suppose I just have an ability to create a character's voice that is, that sounds genuine and real. That's part of the magical writing process. It is what differentiates writers, the talent level of writers.

Certainly I observe the world. I've seen how my wife reacts in certain situations. I saw how my mom or my sister did it.

All of these things I'm sure play a role in that but it comes together in a way that is unique for me just as it is unique for everybody.

While reading about Mr. Sparks' work, one of the books I found most intriguing was "Three Weeks With My Brother," a non-fiction book about a trip he took around the world with his brother Micah.  The trip not only involved seeing exotic places but reconnecting with his brother and their shared childhood memories.  I asked Mr. Sparks about this part memoir, part travelogue.

(Megan Smith): What I want to ask is what was the hardest thing about the experience of taking the trip and writing the book? And what was the easiest?

Nicholas Sparks:  The hardest thing about it was, and I spelled it out in the novel or in the memoir. It was twofold. It was going, you know just going. I was at a point in my life when I was very, very busy. And then number two, finding a way to enjoy it. And that was really what the journey that I was going through was about.

It was, that was an important part of my journey. So that was the most challenging part, the most challenging part about writing it was reliving experiences that I'd rather not get emotionally close to again. It's, you know there were a number of tragedies that struck my family and I needed to go back to those places, put you back in there.

You really have to work to do that. That's a very painful place to be. It became very real for me again. So those were very, that was that. For the good things look, traveling the world with my brother is an experience that I'll never forget and it's something most likely we'll do again.

And the best part about writing it was the fact that I knew the story. I mean I knew it in and out.

(Megan Smith): Now when you say finding a way to enjoy it, tell me a little bit about that. Letting yourself go, to enjoy the trip?

Nicholas Sparks: Yeah. Both. I had a lot going on. It was not the time for me to take that trip. And so by the time I went it felt almost as if it was a burden to go. And that is a shame because that is, that reflects an imbalance in your life. And to correct that imbalance took time.

While answering questions from other bloggers, Mr. Sparks talked about "the efficiency of writing" that he tries to achieve.  Not just an efficient way of setting about writing, but an efficiency in the use of language while writing.

I believe that efficiency is underrated and it is incredibly important to develop in quality literature.  And that is very hard to do.

Mr. Sparks was a pharmaceuticals salesman when he seriously set out to write.  What got him started?

I had a midlife crisis essentially. I was 28 years old. I had two children, a wife, a mortgage and I knew by that time I did not want to sell pharmaceuticals my entire life. I didn't just want to be a sales rep my whole life.

And writing seemed like the perfect outlet. I had already written two novels, one at 19 and one at 22. So when I sat down at 28 I said okay, I'm going to give myself three chances to write a novel and if I don't succeed, I'll write three novels, if I don't succeed at all then I'll know I'm not cut out to be a writer.

Well of course we all know how that turned out.  I found Mr. Sparks to be a fascinating interview and could have easily sat down over a cup of tea with him to talk about writing.  One day hopefully I will get another chance. 

Now to the movie.

First off let me say if you liked the book, you'll like the movie.  The casting of Richard Gere and Diane Lane was spot on for several reasons.  Diane Lane is wonderfully natural as the mid-life woman who's trying to come to grips with a husband who cheated on her, two children, and the "what if' questions of postponed dreams.

Richard Gere is just fine as Dr. Paul Flanner, a workaholic who decides, after the loss of a patient, that his relationship with his adult son needs to take priority over everything else in his life he thought was important.

This is the third movie Gere and Lane have done together---"Unfaithful" and "The Cotton Club" were the others---and they have an easy on screen chemistry that makes you totally believe them as a couple.

In a nice case of color-blind casting, Adrienne's best friend Jean is played by black actress Viola Davis. Jean's family history in the seaside inn where the story takes place are nicely integrated as part of the overall setting and multi-cultural reality of that part of the south.  Director George C. Wolfe, a Tony Award winning theatre veteran and director of the HBO film, "Lackawanna Blues," makes his feature film directorial debut with "NIR." 

There are some differences between the movie and the novel, but nothing that does a disservice to the characters.  There's gentle humor in the scenes where Adrienne and Paul get to know each other while a hurricane approaches and in the scenes where Jean tries to advise her friend about some choices she needs to make.

And even more than the love scenes, which for my taste where a little thin, these are the scenes that make you believe in Paul and Adrienne's relationship.  Without giving away what it involves, my favorite is when Adrienne decides to clean out Jean's kitchen cabinets.   It was funny, and touching, and especially because of Diane Lane, very charming.

A couple of the movie's weaknesses?  Scott Glenn as Robert Torrelson.  Torrelson is the reason Paul Flanner comes to Rodanthe in the first place.   My problem was I couldn't get over the fact that Torrelson was played by someone like Scott Glenn who I associate with other kinds of roles.  An unknown actor in the role would have been more effective.

My other problem was the ending.  Not what happens, but the structure of how it happens.  There are several scenes at the end that appear tacked on and aren't quite satisfying.

Does it pass my "Is it worth $10" litmus test?  Let's put it this way, if you like Nicholas Sparks and his books and the movies based on them, the answer is yes.  If you're not sure, or you need more intricacy or action in your movies, then wait a little while and rent it for five bucks.

Nicholas Sparks' new novel, "The Lucky One" goes on sale September 30. 

 

Related Links:

Check out Shirl's Rose Cottage. She's posted vacation pictures and stories from Rodanthe along with links to local coverage of the movie shoot.

Mollz of Home Sweet Home is eagerly looking forward to the opening of the movie.

Tami Brothers has a review of the book here.

Cross Posted From BlogHer

 

When I mentioned to some women friends who have read his books, that I was going to be talking to Mr. Sparks, they almost all said they liked his women characters.  After reading "Nights In Rodanthe" I also felt the character of Adrienne was well drawn and realistic. Since not all male writers are good at that, I wanted to ask Mr. Sparks about it.

(Megan Smith):  How do you think it is that you're able to write such well rounded women characters?

Nicholas Sparks: That in all honesty is the magic question. I have not the slightest idea. I have a, I have a standard group of answers that I give whenever asked that question you know and they're all true. I had a wonderful mother. I married very well. All of the most important people in my life at the present time and throughout my publishing career have been women.

I have daughters. And yet none, and yet none of those fully answers the question. I suppose I just have an ability to create a character's voice that is, that sounds genuine and real. That's part of the magical writing process. It is what differentiates writers, the talent level of writers.

Certainly I observe the world. I've seen how my wife reacts in certain situations. I saw how my mom or my sister did it.

All of these things I'm sure play a role in that but it comes together in a way that is unique for me just as it is unique for everybody.

While reading about Mr. Sparks' work, one of the books I found most intriguing was "Three Weeks With My Brother," a non-fiction book about a trip he took around the world with his brother Micah.  The trip not only involved seeing exotic places but reconnecting with his brother and their shared childhood memories.  I asked Mr. Sparks about this part memoir, part travelogue.

(Megan Smith): What I want to ask is what was the hardest thing about the experience of taking the trip and writing the book? And what was the easiest?

Nicholas Sparks:  The hardest thing about it was, and I spelled it out in the novel or in the memoir. It was twofold. It was going, you know just going. I was at a point in my life when I was very, very busy. And then number two, finding a way to enjoy it. And that was really what the journey that I was going through was about.

It was, that was an important part of my journey. So that was the most challenging part, the most challenging part about writing it was reliving experiences that I'd rather not get emotionally close to again. It's, you know there were a number of tragedies that struck my family and I needed to go back to those places, put you back in there.

You really have to work to do that. That's a very painful place to be. It became very real for me again. So those were very, that was that. For the good things look, traveling the world with my brother is an experience that I'll never forget and it's something most likely we'll do again.

And the best part about writing it was the fact that I knew the story. I mean I knew it in and out.

(Megan Smith): Now when you say finding a way to enjoy it, tell me a little bit about that. Letting yourself go, to enjoy the trip?

Nicholas Sparks: Yeah. Both. I had a lot going on. It was not the time for me to take that trip. And so by the time I went it felt almost as if it was a burden to go. And that is a shame because that is, that reflects an imbalance in your life. And to correct that imbalance took time.

While answering questions from other bloggers, Mr. Sparks talked about "the efficiency of writing" that he tries to achieve.  Not just an efficient way of setting about writing, but an efficiency in the use of language while writing.

I believe that efficiency is underrated and it is incredibly important to develop in quality literature.  And that is very hard to do.

Mr. Sparks was a pharmaceuticals salesman when he seriously set out to write.  What got him started?

I had a midlife crisis essentially. I was 28 years old. I had two children, a wife, a mortgage and I knew by that time I did not want to sell pharmaceuticals my entire life. I didn't just want to be a sales rep my whole life.

And writing seemed like the perfect outlet. I had already written two novels, one at 19 and one at 22. So when I sat down at 28 I said okay, I'm going to give myself three chances to write a novel and if I don't succeed, I'll write three novels, if I don't succeed at all then I'll know I'm not cut out to be a writer.

Well of course we all know how that turned out.  I found Mr. Sparks to be a fascinating interview and could have easily sat down over a cup of tea with him to talk about writing.  One day hopefully I will get another chance. 

Now to the movie.

First off let me say if you liked the book, you'll like the movie.  The casting of Richard Gere and Diane Lane was spot on for several reasons.  Diane Lane is wonderfully natural as the mid-life woman who's trying to come to grips with a husband who cheated on her, two children, and the "what if' questions of postponed dreams.

Richard Gere is just fine as Dr. Paul Flanner, a workaholic who decides, after the loss of a patient, that his relationship with his adult son needs to take priority over everything else in his life he thought was important.

This is the third movie Gere and Lane have done together---"Unfaithful" and "The Cotton Club" were the others---and they have an easy on screen chemistry that makes you totally believe them as a couple.

In a nice case of color-blind casting, Adrienne's best friend Jean is played by black actress Viola Davis. Jean's family history in the seaside inn where the story takes place are nicely integrated as part of the overall setting and multi-cultural reality of that part of the south.  Director George C. Wolfe, a Tony Award winning theatre veteran and director of the HBO film, "Lackawanna Blues," makes his feature film directorial debut with "NIR." 

There are some differences between the movie and the novel, but nothing that does a disservice to the characters.  There's gentle humor in the scenes where Adrienne and Paul get to know each other while a hurricane approaches and in the scenes where Jean tries to advise her friend about some choices she needs to make.

And even more than the love scenes, which for my taste where a little thin, these are the scenes that make you believe in Paul and Adrienne's relationship.  Without giving away what it involves, my favorite is when Adrienne decides to clean out Jean's kitchen cabinets.   It was funny, and touching, and especially because of Diane Lane, very charming.

A couple of the movie's weaknesses?  Scott Glenn as Robert Torrelson.  Torrelson is the reason Paul Flanner comes to Rodanthe in the first place.   My problem was I couldn't get over the fact that Torrelson was played by someone like Scott Glenn who I associate with other kinds of roles.  An unknown actor in the role would have been more effective.

My other problem was the ending.  Not what happens, but the structure of how it happens.  There are several scenes at the end that appear tacked on and aren't quite satisfying.

Does it pass my "Is it worth $10" litmus test?  Let's put it this way, if you like Nicholas Sparks and his books and the movies based on them, the answer is yes.  If you're not sure, or you need more intricacy or action in your movies, then wait a little while and rent it for five bucks.

Nicholas Sparks' new novel, "The Lucky One" goes on sale September 30. 

 

Related Links:

Check out Shirl's Rose Cottage. She's posted vacation pictures and stories from Rodanthe along with links to local coverage of the movie shoot.

Mollz of Home Sweet Home is eagerly looking forward to the opening of the movie.

Tami Brothers has a review of the book here.

Cross Posted From BlogHer