Helpful Score: 2
Great story. Really makes you stop & think about the way you live your life. May need some tissues towards the end.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved it!...great story on human nature.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent story. I could not put this book down. It was a very quick read. I would highly recommend it. It tells the story of a man whose live changes and he makes decisions based on his new status. Then he gets some bad news. Makes you think about what is truly important.
Helpful Score: 2
A good story in the genre of "Its a Wonderful Life". I just saw this movie with Rob Lowe and it stayed close to the book. You'll love it.
A family twisted with the success of the writer Dad; great book.
A family twisted with the success of the writer Dad; great book.
Helpful Score: 1
First time read for this author and thought it was pretty good book. Will be checking out other books by Evans soon.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent story about an author that discovers having what he always thought he wanted isn't enough if you lose precious things along the way!
Helpful Score: 1
What a wonderful book! It kept me mesmerized and is one of the few books I wouldn't mind reading again! This will grab your heart and not let go, even after the book is done. It makes you think about life and the choices we make.
I love all of Richards books and I have read them all. Looking forward to his new one that is coming out in May, Road To Grace. I think "The Gift" was my favorite but have them all in my little library.
Helpful Score: 1
A great book about death. It is viewed in a very sensitive manner. I did a book study on this book and learned a lot. Very good story line and easy to read.
Helpful Score: 1
Not the best Evans book I've read, but still worth reading. Fans of Og Mandino would like this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Good read!
I am almost done with this book and am really enjoying it unfortunatly it has alot of skips and I will not repost it like that.
Robert Harlan is a humble writer whose first novel soars onto the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list within weeks. David La Graffe's voice exudes joy when he depicts Robert and his wife, Allison's, unexpected publishing success. He also excels at characterizing the emotional costs of selling the book, especially the grueling travel for what their daughter, Carson, calls, "book tour," a euphemism for "daddy's always gone." In a compelling characterization, he distinguishes Harlan's descent into hubris until the moment of his epiphany, when his voice turns somber and husky. This unusual story, with its warm ending--a complete surprise--is one you will long remember.
Another wonderful book by Richard Paul Evans! It is a book about learning what your priorities are and should be. A man has his dreams come true with a best selling book about his wife's life. What looks like the best thing that could ever happen to him isn't all that great. He loses his priorities in the middle of his new exciting life. It goes down hill from there for him but the sweet twist that brings this book to an end is great! I recommend it for everyone.
From Publishers Weekly
Almost 10 years ago, Evans's first novel, The Christmas Box, became an enormous bestseller, thrusting him into the international spotlight. In his present novel, good guy protagonist Robert Harlan writes a novel titled A Perfect Day, about his wife, Allyson, and her relationship with her beloved father. The book comes out to popular acclaim, rockets up the charts and thrusts Robert into a new life of fame and fortune. An extended book tour, constant interviews, the adulation of millions of women, and a greedy Hollywood agent soon begin to erode his perfect marriage to the patient, loving, beautiful Allyson. There have been other books about authors self-destructing after great success-Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk, to name a notable example-but it's a story that seems timeless, still able to enthrall readers. Evans freshens the material by bringing in a hipster angel with attitude ("Actually, angel folklore is the height of nonsense, right up there with the Easter Bunny") and some bad news for Robert: in 40 days he's going to die. Robert begins to see his life in a new light, realizing that his pre-fame love for his wife and daughter is what he has wanted all along. But is it too late? Robert learns man's purpose on earth ("It's about learning how to love") and returns to hearth and home, hoping Allyson will take him back before he dies. The inevitable twist is clever, the writing throughout assured, the sentiment unapologetic and the author confident that he knows just what his readers want and that he's the man to give it to them.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From AudioFile
Robert Harlan is a humble writer whose first novel soars onto the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list within weeks. David La Graffe's voice exudes joy when he depicts Robert and his wife, Allison's, unexpected publishing success. He also excels at characterizing the emotional costs of selling the book, especially the grueling travel for what their daughter, Carson, calls, "book tour," a euphemism for "daddy's always gone." In a compelling characterization, he distinguishes Harlan's descent into hubris until the moment of his epiphany, when his voice turns somber and husky. This unusual story, with its warm ending--a complete surprise--is one you will long remember. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Almost 10 years ago, Evans's first novel, The Christmas Box, became an enormous bestseller, thrusting him into the international spotlight. In his present novel, good guy protagonist Robert Harlan writes a novel titled A Perfect Day, about his wife, Allyson, and her relationship with her beloved father. The book comes out to popular acclaim, rockets up the charts and thrusts Robert into a new life of fame and fortune. An extended book tour, constant interviews, the adulation of millions of women, and a greedy Hollywood agent soon begin to erode his perfect marriage to the patient, loving, beautiful Allyson. There have been other books about authors self-destructing after great success-Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk, to name a notable example-but it's a story that seems timeless, still able to enthrall readers. Evans freshens the material by bringing in a hipster angel with attitude ("Actually, angel folklore is the height of nonsense, right up there with the Easter Bunny") and some bad news for Robert: in 40 days he's going to die. Robert begins to see his life in a new light, realizing that his pre-fame love for his wife and daughter is what he has wanted all along. But is it too late? Robert learns man's purpose on earth ("It's about learning how to love") and returns to hearth and home, hoping Allyson will take him back before he dies. The inevitable twist is clever, the writing throughout assured, the sentiment unapologetic and the author confident that he knows just what his readers want and that he's the man to give it to them.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From AudioFile
Robert Harlan is a humble writer whose first novel soars onto the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list within weeks. David La Graffe's voice exudes joy when he depicts Robert and his wife, Allison's, unexpected publishing success. He also excels at characterizing the emotional costs of selling the book, especially the grueling travel for what their daughter, Carson, calls, "book tour," a euphemism for "daddy's always gone." In a compelling characterization, he distinguishes Harlan's descent into hubris until the moment of his epiphany, when his voice turns somber and husky. This unusual story, with its warm ending--a complete surprise--is one you will long remember. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Well written, quick read. I really enjoyed the escape!
Robert sees a dream come true, but has to decide if the sacrifice is worth it.
In his present novel, good guy protagonist Robert Harlan writes a novel titled A Perfect Day, about his wife, Allyson, and her relationship with her beloved father. The book comes out to popular acclaim, rockets up the charts and thrusts Robert into a new life of fame and fortune. An extended book tour, constant interviews, the adulation of millions of women, and a greedy Hollywood agent soon begin to erode his perfect marriage to the patient, loving, beautiful Allyson. There have been other books about authors self-destructing after great success-Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk, to name a notable example-but it's a story that seems timeless, still able to enthrall readers. Evans freshens the material by bringing in a hipster angel with attitude
An excellent read
Writer's thirst for success causes him to lose focus on family that sustains him. He makes some missteps but a stranger's mysterious message about the brevity of his future helps him discover the truth about himself and what it will take to find what he lost.
I loved this book! Richard Paul Evans does not disappoint!
Robert Harlan loves his wife, his daughter, and his writing. However,
his thirst for success causes him to lose his focus, and forget what truly matters to him. A mysterious message about the brevity of life,
his life, causes him to do some real soul-searching. It is then he realizes it just might be too late to "fix" what's wrong in his life... or is it??
Robert Harlan loves his wife, his daughter, and his writing. However,
his thirst for success causes him to lose his focus, and forget what truly matters to him. A mysterious message about the brevity of life,
his life, causes him to do some real soul-searching. It is then he realizes it just might be too late to "fix" what's wrong in his life... or is it??
Simply wonderful read. As usual with his books...I cried. Several times. It makes you stop and think about life and what it's about (or should be and rarely is).
Loved it. It will change your perspective on life.
Another heartwarming, tear-jerking book from Richard Evans
A novel set in Salt Lake City. It is filled with all kind of human emotion, intrigue, and twists and turns. A great read!
Very good book with a great lesson! Be careful what you wish for...
What an eye-opening book! This was such a good read for me. It not only opened my eyes to what I should expect as a best selling author, but it opened my eyes to what other lives that other people sometimes lead and the important things they tend to forget along the way. One thing that you tend to forget although it's the last thing that you want to forget (or intend to forget) is your family. For some of us, when the fame hits us, that's all we can see. We get a little full of ourselves and think we are more important because of what we have become. We tend to forget about our spouses and our children that are changing every day, the important changes we are not able to see. This book emphasizes this fact and teaches the author in the story a little bit about that. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes Richard Paul Evans other books. I think this one was even better than his other Non-Fic books that I've read in the past.
As usual, Richard Paul Evans grabs your attention on the first page and doesn't let it go until the last. I suggest reading this one on a weekend when you don't have to put it down. I would recommend this book highly.
Robert is finally getting his life's dream...a best selling novel, and the success many just dream of. He enjoy's his success but at a price. His travels and life of a famous author leads him away from the two people he loves the most-his wife and daughter. Will he make the right choice between love and success?
This was a great read. Read it in one night.
All of his books are SO GOOD!
A wannabe novelist hits the big time after appropriating his wife's story of her last days with her dying father, and their supposedly perfect union begins to dissolve under the pressures of celebrity.
Didn't care for the readers voice at first.. but the story was so intriguing that I became engrossed. Really touching relationship and story of ordinary guy who becomes a celebrity. Family and Friends suffer when he searches for ways to celebrate his good fortune
2/20/04-2/3/04
