The WISH : fulfilled
Library is always my favorite ‘go to’ place. I feel very comfortable and recharged when I visit any library. Woodbridge township library was my first library experience in the United States…I won’t lie, but I was completely lost when I entered this library. Thousands of different types of books, magazines, newspapers! First 30 minutes I was just wandering in the isles trying to get the hang of the place … completely lost… not sure where to start from!! 30 minutes inside a library and I didn’t even touch a single book!
Still lost and trying to figure out what genre I wanted to jump into and suddenly my eyes fell on this thick hardcover book that was sitting on a cart, waiting to go back into the shelf. Very subtle white and blue colors, a young couple drenched in the rain. Certainly it was some romantic novel. Finally knowing the genre I was ‘ok’ to start my reading with, I grabbed that book. THE NOTEBOOK, it said in bold letters, by NICHOLAS SPARKS, followed after the title. That was my first introduction to the writer, Nicholas Sparks! This was back in 2009.
I checked out this book from the library, came home and started reading. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t wait to read all the 214 pages in one go! That may be because it had a detailed description of small town life. I had recently moved to the USA and had no idea about any small towns out here. Nicholas Sparks literally introduced me to ‘American’ people, their culture, their thought process and most importantly the landscape. Not just the characters from the story but their surroundings were also described in detail. Noah and Allie were the first American people I got to know here!
Very soft love story with lots of details about the location and characters and a super twist at the end … that’s typical Nicholas Sparks. After The Notebook I got MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Again such a different love story! I mean, who will think of putting a note into a bottle, tossing it into an ocean and that’s where a love story begins! The way his stories unfold, the characters react or even that one twist is just amazing. We can not escape any details when we imagine the place or the way the characters talk to each other. Though at some point all these details get way too lengthy, we just get involved in the story, as if we are there around those characters… and of course keep waiting for that one twist at the end! Most of his stories are from small towns from the south. By this time I had not seen much of America but if I say Nicholas Sparks showed me (or any of his readers) a true flavor of American small town, then that won’t be a lie!
After MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE came A WALK TO REMEMBER, THE GUARDIAN, A BEND IN THE ROAD, THE WEDDING, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, AT FIRST SIGHT, DEAR JOHN … pretty much everything that Nicholas published! Trauma that soldiers go through after war, American wedding plans, having a dog as a guardian, single parenting, fire fighters, friendship, love, secret admirer every story has its unique flavor with lots of emotional ups and downs… definitely ‘my type’ of fiction.
After this point I started to buy his books to make my own collection. I started to follow his news and kept track of any new book release. I also pre-ordered a few of his books. I just didn’t (still don’t) want to miss out on any of his novels.
Then came a big wave of a movie library, the NETFLIX! And there he was!! Most of his books were made into movies. The Notebook, Dear John, A Walk to Remember, Message in a bottle, The longest ride, The last song all these movies are ‘based on Nicholas Sparks novels’
But somehow I always follow this quote “don’t judge a book by its MOVIE” I watched few of those movies but the flavor that we get from a book is not always conveyed in a movie. The depth, the characterization, locations are all unmatched or rather when you read a book, you tend to use your own imagination and make your own ‘movie’ in your mind. I always feel that imagination power is lost when you watch a movie! So when it comes to Nicholas Sparks, I always prefer a book over a movie.
As I started following him on social media for his upcoming novels I got to know about his tours he plans during his book release. I saw that New Jersey was always included in his tours but some place very far from where I live. So the thought never even crossed my mind to attend any of his ‘meet the author’ events.
Then came the year 2020! The year of pandemic, lock down, quarantine etc. Life had come to a complete halt. Nothing was happening in person. The entire world was trapped into the digital world. Everything was virtual.
2021 rolled up just like that and things started to open up a bit… slowly. New events started to show up on social media. Around May-June the ‘new novel’ post started popping up on Nicholas Sparks social media page. As always I was very excited and started following more for the release date or a date to open for pre-order. By July, his book release tour itinerary was released and this tour for his new novel had 2 events in New Jersey! Without a second thought I checked both the event locations and the very next moment, I booked the ticket… without even thinking of driving an hour away, weekday evening or looking for a company to join with me. Event was on September 28th… three months away… I immediately blocked my calendar.
THE WISH was the new novel. Slowly social media was filled with the ‘WISH’ excitement. All the events at all the locations were sold out, the novel cover page was revealed. I was more excited because the ‘signed copy’ of the WISH was included in the ticket. Owning a book that is signed by the author himself is something I feel is a precious possession and I was very soon going to own one signed by Nicholas Sparks himself! I know how popular he is and how the event was all sold out, so I was not very sure how the ‘meet and greet’ will actually be, considering the pandemic age, social distancing and the crowd etc. Any typical book release events that I had attended back in India were something like this… we sit in the auditorium, the author and a few other chief guests are on the stage. After lots of speeches by all the guests on the stage a book is opened from the cover. Dozens of photographers block the view of the stage. Sometimes there is a Q&A session with the author and done! I was expecting something similar with the WISH.
As I was counting days, I received an email saying that my ticket was upgraded with a chance to take a picture with the author himself. Now my excitement level was hitting the roof while imagining the event. Crowd is going crazy, lots of media, paparazzis and what not. Afterall he is the all time favorite storyteller with over 105 million copies sold all over the world! That too in this digital world! He has always been the New York Times Bestseller author. More than meeting Nicholas Spark himself I was more excited to hear him talk about the new novel. Me being a super introvert, I knew I was not going to cut through the crowd and tons of photographers and actually meet the author. As long as I see him on the stage and hear him talk about the new story I was going to be happy. And of course, a signed copy of the book was the kicker … until someone from my friend circle commented,”Is he really going to sign all these copies? Nah! His secretary will stamp his signature. Who has time to sign so many copies personally?”
As the event got closer, I was getting anxious… thinking was it all worth it? Driving so far, during a weekday, late evening… to get to a super crowded place, just a glimpse of ‘The Nicholas Sparks’ and a signature stamped copy of his new book! But I already had a ticket and the plan was made three months ago so I had to give it a shot. If nothing, I was going to get the novel and a solo long drive (that means, some ‘me’ time)
Finally it was September 28th! I don’t remember how the day went by. Event was at 6.00pm and it was an hour long drive from my workplace. I left work at 4.00pm with mixed feelings… excited, anxious, happy, doubtful, all planned to post a picture of Nicholas Sparks on my wall etc… if not my picture with him, at least with the signed copy of the WISH.
I reached this small town named Manasquan, New Jersey around 5.00pm. It’s a very small, cute town… perfect place for Nicholas Sparks to be, just like all his characters. My GPS brought me to a small parking lot between a tiny post office and a small (single screen type) theater.
The town has to be very ‘arty’ to have this kind of theater these days. Parking lot was relatively small and also pretty empty. Thinking I was too early to reach the venue, I parked the car and planned to wander around till I see people coming to the theater. As I came out of the parking lot, to my surprise there was a long line outside the theater! Of course I dropped the plan to wander and went and stood in the line. The line was so long that it literally went around the theater and out on the road! Minutes ago I was thinking I was too early but now I wished I had left the work place earlier. Standing in the line I was observing the crowd, the Nicholas Sparks fans, just like me. Most of them were women (as expected, his love stories and emotional stories can easily attract women fans!) Could see a few men we could count on fingers, mostly accompanying their better halves. But the age range of his fan following is very wide. I didn’t see any other ‘Indian origin’ though. Wondering why, I went through all the comments all my Indian friends had… going alone? Driving that far? For book release? Stamped copy? Crowd? Why don’t you just watch a movie? Why can’t you just order the book? He is not going to meet his fans personally .. etc.. etc.. etc. Whatever it was, I was the odd one out there.
After 10-15 minutes, the line started moving and finally I entered the theater. Masks were still mandatory indoors. At entrance the organizing team was ready to take the temperature, to make sure everyone was wearing masks, to check the tickets and hand over a ‘signed copy’ of THE WISH. There were 6-7 carts near the entrance with about 300 copies of the blue covered book. Looking at so many copies, the first thought that came into mind was, surely it has to be a ‘stamped copy’ and not ‘signed’! Why will he spend so much time signing so many copies? I couldn’t resist and opened the book while entering the auditorium. The sign was actually looking like a handwritten sign! Yay!! I was holding a copy of a novel, personally signed by Nicholas Sparks!
I found a seat near the aisle and the first thing we do these days is ‘check in’ on Facebook. I am no exception! I opened Facebook to ‘check in’ for the event and right then the event popped up on Nicholas Sparks Facebook page, along with his picture where he is sitting on a desk near the entrance (that we just passed), surrounded by those carts and he is signing the books! Personally! All the 300 books!! That’s it.. I thought.. paisa wasool! First doubt about the stamped copy was ruled out.
Within a few minutes the auditorium was full. Lights were dimmed and one of the organizers came on the stage to welcome everyone and to go through some rules and regulations, thanks to the pandemic period. He told us that after the event, Nicholas will be outside near the exit where the team will set up a stage for pictures. Beginning from the last row they will call out the numbers and we can meet him personally. Dang! Is this really happening?? But I was sure there would be a lot of chaos for his meet and greet with tons of paparazzis pushing each other, people going crazy to take pictures and meet him. I decided to wait and watch. I had got my signed copy, now anything else I would get was a bonus for me.
The stage was set up with very simple decor. A big poster of the book cover, one flower pot and 2 pumpkins…. Apt for the fall season… along with a small table and 2 chairs. At 6.00pm the host interviewer climbed up the stage, introduced himself, boost some extra energy in the audience and called for the celebrity of the day. Nicholas Sparks entered the stage and the audience went crazy! Claps, whistles and screams filled the auditorium. For the first time I realized the craze and saw the crowd actually going crazy. It took a few minutes for the organizers and Nicholas himself to calm the audience and the interview began.
Nicholas Sparks told everything about how he started his writing career, about his family, about his challenges, his experiences, his anxiety with first book release, his team and of course about THE WISH. The NIcholas Sparks foundation that he started to support education in rural areas is an incredible way to give back to the community. The foundation believes in the power of education and works towards improved school systems by providing scholarships, curricular set up and mainly improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages. He truly wined the hearts and minds of each and everyone present.
One hour just passed by and the event got over. Now it was time for the photo session. I still was skeptical about the whole process. So many people and the storyteller himself was at the venue. Even if I get a chance to meet him, who is going to take the picture? I was alone there. Nobody was accompanying me. I kept waiting until they announced my row number. We all went outside and stood in the line that led to the main exit. As we approached the main lobby, I could see lots of light at one of the walls that was covered with a step and repeat banner. Nicholas Sparks was standing near the banner. A transparent glass divider was set next to him. It was hardly visible but had to be there to keep safe social distance to fight against Covid-19. One by one or in the groups fans were standing across the glass partition. The author was meeting each and every one of the fans present there. There was a lot of excitement but the whole process was so smooth! There was no chaos, no confusion. A team of photographers had set up a camera to click pictures. As I approached the main stage one of the volunteers handed me a card with a website URL and a unique code. I was told that I could download the picture from this site. I didn’t have to worry about clicking the picture and only focused on meeting the man himself. People were patiently waiting for their turn. Little meet and greet and a quick picture and the line was moving really fast. They had to accommodate 300 people after all! Even after the back to back events and traveling etc Nicholas was standing there patiently, meeting each one of his fans, being very polite and being thankful for being there. The whole experience was so new. No media attention, no line breaking, no traffic jams, no paparazzis. It was pure appreciation from fans to their favorite story teller and vice-a-versa. I do not remember how and when I reached home after this super experience. By the time I reached home pictures were already uploaded on the given website and I could download them with the given code. I am not sure what impressed me more, the excitement to meet the author and his new novel or the management of this entire event! It was a very pure and cherishable experience I had had in a long time. Can’t wait for yet another new novel now!
- Gayatri Jadhav
