Nicholas Sparks has penned some of the world’s biggest bestsellers, many of which have made their way to the big screen. And while he has certainly received his fair share of blockbuster adaptations, there is this one film that remains closest to his heart.
While his fans may think they have a fair shot at guessing which one it would be, there’s a high chance the guess would come out wrong. In a recent conversation with People, Sparks revealed that despite the heavy success of most of his books’ movie adaptations, the one film that’s most significant for him is ‘A Walk to Remember‘. Here’s why.
Nicholas Sparks Reveals His Special Connection With ‘A Walk To Remember’
Sitting down for an interview recently, Nicholas Sparks shed light on the legacy that ‘A Walk To Remember‘ carries. He revealed that the book is not only a favorite among readers but also for him. He admitted that he has watched the film version of this book the most.
“The one I’ve seen the most is A Walk to Remember,” Sparks said. “When I had my kids growing up, they hadn’t yet read a novel [of mine], and they’d say, ‘Oh, can we see what you do?’ I’d say, ‘I’ve got the movie for you,'” the acclaimed author added.
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With five kids, Sparks found himself watching the 2002 tear-jerker starring Mandy Moore and Shane West multiple times. “That movie was great. It just works,” he added.
While ‘A Walk to Remember‘ tugs at heartstrings, Sparks also acknowledged ‘The Notebook‘ as an “iconic” adaptation that will “stand the test of time.” Yet, his fond memories of working with Moore and West make ‘A Walk to Remember‘ a standout for him.
“They were so excited,” he recalled, describing Moore as “such a nice young lady“.
Nicholas Sparks Says The Difference In The Book And Film’s Climax Was Intentional
In fact, ‘A Walk to Remember‘ also gave Nicholas Sparks’ 10-year-old son a small role. “He ended up in the final cut of the movie in the little church scene,” Sparks revealed, joking about his son’s hilariously perfect miserable expression for the scene.
To this day, Sparks is still close with Moore and West. “We’re still good friends,” he shared. “It’s been great to see where their careers have gone.”
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Sparks also spoke about the most widely discussed differences between the book and the film — its ending. The film provided Jamie, played by Moore, with a definite fate, whereas the book does not, and things remain open to the imagination.
Sparks admitted that this was done deliberately in the film. “I just didn’t have the heart to write it,” he confessed, admitting he wanted to leave readers in a state of hope.
Sparks is currently busy promoting his latest novel, ‘Counting Miracles‘.
