The Sunflower

A Novel

By: Richard Paul Evans

Narrated by: Campbell Scott

Just a week before their marriage, Christine's fiance calls off the wedding, leaving her heartbroken. With hopes of helping her through a difficult time, Christine's best friend Jessica enrolls them both on a humanitarian mission in Peru, to work at an orphanage called El Girasol, The Sunflower.

It is while working at the orphanage that Christine meets Paul Cook, a successful and charismatic American doctor who has fled the States after one fatal day took away his career, his faith, and the woman he loved.

Unplanned events lead Paul and Christine into the jungle of the Amazon, where Christine must confront her deepest fears, and she, and Paul, must both learn to trust and love again.

©2005 Richard Paul Evans (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division.

you learn something new everyday

excellent book about American doctor who finding himself helps children in Peru at an orphanage and an American traveling group that he needs and how they're interactions and his attachment to one person changes both of their lives forever

Engaging story

Where does The Sunflower rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great story, likeable characters, excellent perforance by Mr Scott.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Sunflower?

Watching main characters go through their struggles and challenges and come out on the other side better people.

What about Campbell Scott’s performance did you like?

He has a smooth, comforting voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction but author is so descriptive you can imagine yourself in every scene.

Any additional comments?

Another great read by this amazing author.

I loved the story maybe a bit predictable, but I

Loved it! Thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was fairly predictable.
The story reminded me of my trio to the Amazon!

sunflower

I loved this book! I've read it many times. it was nice to hear someone else read it.

Simple but memorable

This is a simplistic story, but incredibly hard to put down. In the end, this book stayed with me and inspired me more than I thought it would. I strongly recommend it.

Great love story

Would you listen to The Sunflower again? Why?

I would listen to the story again because as a nurse, I plan to retire and provide care and love to others. In this story, the protagonist does that out of love and healing for himself.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the female protagonist came back to be with the love of her life.

Any additional comments?

Will be reading The Promise by same author next.

easy read

I enjoyed this book. It's pretty short and I didn't want it to end. Very pleasant to listen to. Made my ride fly by. Just a good story.

I Love Richard Paul Evans

This book will stay with me for a long time. Sensitive, joyful and full of hope, it hooked me from the first page. I loved it!

I have re-read this bookover again.

loved it. I listened to the book recently and found it as fascinating as when I read it previously. Generally I enjoy the book and then listen to it or see the movie. The book almost always is my favorite. I really did love the audible as well.

Interesting reader

This novel was written in the voice of an observer and the reading style appropriately reflected this. Scott's rather flat presentation included minimal voice variations for the dialogue. It worked for me.

The Sunflower was set in South American and amounted to a travelogue mingled with romance and the themes of life paths and choices. Added to this was the perennial issue of third world poverty and first world guilt: is there any point helping 5,000 children when a hundred million children need help. Christian values are a subtle backdrop to a the novel's resolutions of the Big Questions. I must say I liked his analysis of a tendency to litigate rather rather than take personal responsibility (in this case, blame the doctor rather than lifestyle).

As a narrative it was pleasing, the settings were interesting and the romantic interest was, well, only just ok. In the end I felt that a well crafted formula constrained an idea that had unrealised potential. For all that, it was a worthwhile listen.

By the way, I enjoyed the cameo appearance of the Australian firefighter -- good accent and good text!