Crying at fiction?

I don't know whether I've just been reading these happy books where everything turns out well for the characters, only I've never cried at a book. Well, that was until I read one book.

In it's 38000 words, I managed to tear up - something I'd never done before. I mean, I cry at a lot of stuff, you know, films and TV programmes - life, but not at books for some reason.

Yet, for once, I was lying in bed and warped in a beautiful, compelling story that was about to pull at my heartstrings.

As the novella progressed toward its conclusion, a lump caught in my throat.

"I wait. Her words will hurt me. They will tear a piece from my heart and leave a scar."

"'Who are you?'"

And with that, I was gone. I felt like a piece of my heart was burning with this deep sympathy for Noah Calhoun. If you hadn't guessed, the novella I am referring to is 'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks.

When I started reading this, I did have some vague recollection of what was to come of the two lovers in their future, except, it still hit me when it happened. The romance of Noah and Allie's is so beautiful and the best way to tell the story is through the style of Nicholas Sparks. The combination of the story of a couple dealing with one's Alzheimer's and the way Sparks writes, makes the novella a must read.

The story starts in the care home where the story will end, set around WW2. A man is about to read from a notebook to Allie, who is suffering from Alzheimers. The notebook recounts the romance of Noah and Allie in their childhood and how they were separated by Allie's parents, who made her move away. They live their lives separately. Noah spends his time sending unanswered letters to Allie, fighting in the war and then restoring his house while Allie is to be married to another man, Lon. About to be married, Allie visits Noah and they rekindle their love. Allie has to make a difficult decision between Noah and Lon, but of course, that's a pretty easy choice to the reader. When the choice is made, the story returns to the beginning. That is where the heartstrings are plucked.

It's amazing how something that took me a few sittings to read evoked such emotion. And I cried more than once! The last couple of chapters did it for me. I did feel a bit silly, crying at fictional characters. Yet, I'd pay good money to someone who managed not to cry at this story.

I feel the story exceeds because it is real. I mean, of course, it's fictional and the characters don't exist. Only, they do. Their are people out in the world who are suffering mental disorders, such as Alzheimer's and dementia which affects not only them, but the people around them, the people that love them. Sparks based his story on the romance of his wife's grandparents, who were married for 60 years. The pain Noah feels, is being felt by people in the world right now.

I wasn't too thrilled about the last couple of lines of the novella as old people canoodling isn't necessarily something I enjoy reading (although it wasn't explicit - thank goodness!). Nevertheless, the story as a whole is amazing. I loved it. If you haven't already read the novel, I'd highly recommend it. But make sure to have a few tissues at the ready.