Analysis / Nicholas Sparks

• Sparks displays a complex attitude toward dieting and exercise, best summed up in Two By Two but hinted at in other works. In general, when a character is overly concerned with maintaining their figure, usually demonstrated by avoiding indulgent food and/or regularly visiting the gym, the reader is meant to take this as a sign of Vanity. On the flip side, when a character scoffs at lighter fare in favor of a hearty meal or sugary snack, we are meant to take this as a sign of a relaxed attitude and lack of self-consciousness. It is also acceptable for their preferred form of exercise to be an outdoor activity, such as running or a water sport. The only circumstance under which a character is not judged for losing weight through their diet is when they are undergoing too much emotional strain to choke down food. All that said, no matter how much deep-fried seafood they eat, very few Sparks hero(ine)s are more than a few pounds overweight at any given time; the man is usually a Hunk and the woman usually has Curves in All the Right Places. They just can't be shown to put too much effort into looking so good.

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