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Dear John
Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Time: 8:15 AM
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life - until he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into some kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in-love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read... and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love - and face the hardest decision of his life.
Review: It amazes me how a male author can write such a beautiful love story. Maybe it is because majority of the romance novels are written by women. Whatever the reason, I congratulate Nicholas Sparks on his ability to make me fall in love instantly with a fictional relationship.
The novel is written in first person by the protagonist John Tyree. There is something intriguing to me about a male protagonist in a love story. I guess it's a side I don't usually see. I love the vulnerability in Sparks' male characters, even in Dear John where we are presented with what could be a stereotypical macho character.
What I would consider to be Sparks' greatest triumph with this novel is his handling of John's father. It is honestly and beautifully done for me, in some ways, John's relationship with Savannah. Sparks ability to tell a story within a story especially through his portrayal of character relationships is wonderful to read.
My biggest issue with Sparks' books is the way he manages to make my heart ache. I always read one of his novels with a box of tissues close to hand. It is difficult sometimes to even enjoy his books because of his unshamed handling of human weaknesses.
What begins as a summer romance develops into a mature relationship in which choices that affect far more than just a love story. This novel built me up again. I give it 4/5. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. Except of course to refresh my tissues.Labels: Dear John, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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A Walk To Remember
Date:
Time: 7:19 AM
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Landon is a sixteen-year old high student of Beaufort High School, North Carolina. Being a son of Congressman, who he rarely see in their house is normal. Being with his friends Eric and Margaret are even normal for him, for he used to be with them since grade school. But being the Student Body President is another thing, whilst signing up for Drama Class is definitely not his thing. Jamie Sullivan is surely the last girl in the world Landon wanted to marry but absolutely not the last girl to ask as a date for the school's homecoming. As Landon's world becomes closer to Jamie's, he'll find a plan he never thought fated for him.
Review: I stumbled upon reading this love story book. A risk indeed to read a different genre especially when it exempts among the genres you always think about. Thus, it doesn't just take twenty gulps to risk for it but takes time and sweat to decide the dillema whether to give it a shot or not. Lately, I decided to widen my braced genres and I thought this book is worth the risk to try. So as a love story as the title represents, I am afraid that the further words I will emancipate may loosen up the tightness of the statement I previously, in my reviews professed.
I was sure then before I tried that I wouldn't like this book, though I was in the mood to read this kind of book. The moment I fixed my eyes onto the surface of the first page of the book's prologue, my feet as if set foot onto the world of what I was reading. I became the main character. Marvelous really it is to say how amazing the approach of the main character's perspective to me as a reader. Truly effective. A perfect thing to add up is that the perspective used in the story is from a guy's character, considering that it gives perfect justice to how guy thinks, utters and acts.
The story composes of just simple elements: the typical story of ugly duckling that turns into swan; typical story of a jerk guy who fell in love to the swan; and a typical story of a man who'll do anything for love. The magic of how it turned out to be good is the summation of all those factors. Moreover, Sparks really used the overused concepts perfectly during the shifting of events, which of course a positive move for the book to become better.
I was told that the movie is way better than the book. Granted, for I am one of those unfortunates who hasn't watched the movie yet. Yes, I did not itch to watch the movie the moment it had been shown in cinemas nor did I eagerly wait for it in movie cable channels. But I am very much glad, for I think choosing to read first the movie over over watching the movie is one way or another, a smart decision.
I honestly admire Sparks for writing down the solid description of Jamie Sullivan, yet unknowingly behind her image is a great mystery. That despite of the best answer a normal person could offer to the reason of her action, there is still hidden truth behind it that alters the nearest possibility.
The greatest thing I liked about this book is the profound messages of the story behind what are written, though some are already given. I like how faith works at Jamie, that even though everything has been taken from her, she dignifies how her faith still remains. I was also touched at how simply a very kind person could turn oppositely to what they were. There is even presence of the true effects of love, which it leads the in-love human to think either sane or insane. And the story, in a way, emphasises how humans should give attention, importance and deeper understanding on the things that surround them not until it's too late. And the best of all is how faith can bring out the miracle to the surface out of the deepest pit.
I admit that that there were many times the book led me on the verge of tears. For I reckon that this book, no matter how cold-hearted I am, is no wonder a heart-moving one.Labels: A Walk To Remember, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult Older Post
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Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life - until he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into some kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in-love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read... and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love - and face the hardest decision of his life.
Review: It amazes me how a male author can write such a beautiful love story. Maybe it is because majority of the romance novels are written by women. Whatever the reason, I congratulate Nicholas Sparks on his ability to make me fall in love instantly with a fictional relationship.
The novel is written in first person by the protagonist John Tyree. There is something intriguing to me about a male protagonist in a love story. I guess it's a side I don't usually see. I love the vulnerability in Sparks' male characters, even in Dear John where we are presented with what could be a stereotypical macho character.
What I would consider to be Sparks' greatest triumph with this novel is his handling of John's father. It is honestly and beautifully done for me, in some ways, John's relationship with Savannah. Sparks ability to tell a story within a story especially through his portrayal of character relationships is wonderful to read.
My biggest issue with Sparks' books is the way he manages to make my heart ache. I always read one of his novels with a box of tissues close to hand. It is difficult sometimes to even enjoy his books because of his unshamed handling of human weaknesses.
What begins as a summer romance develops into a mature relationship in which choices that affect far more than just a love story. This novel built me up again. I give it 4/5. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. Except of course to refresh my tissues.Labels: Dear John, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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A Walk To Remember
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Landon is a sixteen-year old high student of Beaufort High School, North Carolina. Being a son of Congressman, who he rarely see in their house is normal. Being with his friends Eric and Margaret are even normal for him, for he used to be with them since grade school. But being the Student Body President is another thing, whilst signing up for Drama Class is definitely not his thing. Jamie Sullivan is surely the last girl in the world Landon wanted to marry but absolutely not the last girl to ask as a date for the school's homecoming. As Landon's world becomes closer to Jamie's, he'll find a plan he never thought fated for him.
Review: I stumbled upon reading this love story book. A risk indeed to read a different genre especially when it exempts among the genres you always think about. Thus, it doesn't just take twenty gulps to risk for it but takes time and sweat to decide the dillema whether to give it a shot or not. Lately, I decided to widen my braced genres and I thought this book is worth the risk to try. So as a love story as the title represents, I am afraid that the further words I will emancipate may loosen up the tightness of the statement I previously, in my reviews professed.
I was sure then before I tried that I wouldn't like this book, though I was in the mood to read this kind of book. The moment I fixed my eyes onto the surface of the first page of the book's prologue, my feet as if set foot onto the world of what I was reading. I became the main character. Marvelous really it is to say how amazing the approach of the main character's perspective to me as a reader. Truly effective. A perfect thing to add up is that the perspective used in the story is from a guy's character, considering that it gives perfect justice to how guy thinks, utters and acts.
The story composes of just simple elements: the typical story of ugly duckling that turns into swan; typical story of a jerk guy who fell in love to the swan; and a typical story of a man who'll do anything for love. The magic of how it turned out to be good is the summation of all those factors. Moreover, Sparks really used the overused concepts perfectly during the shifting of events, which of course a positive move for the book to become better.
I was told that the movie is way better than the book. Granted, for I am one of those unfortunates who hasn't watched the movie yet. Yes, I did not itch to watch the movie the moment it had been shown in cinemas nor did I eagerly wait for it in movie cable channels. But I am very much glad, for I think choosing to read first the movie over over watching the movie is one way or another, a smart decision.
I honestly admire Sparks for writing down the solid description of Jamie Sullivan, yet unknowingly behind her image is a great mystery. That despite of the best answer a normal person could offer to the reason of her action, there is still hidden truth behind it that alters the nearest possibility.
The greatest thing I liked about this book is the profound messages of the story behind what are written, though some are already given. I like how faith works at Jamie, that even though everything has been taken from her, she dignifies how her faith still remains. I was also touched at how simply a very kind person could turn oppositely to what they were. There is even presence of the true effects of love, which it leads the in-love human to think either sane or insane. And the story, in a way, emphasises how humans should give attention, importance and deeper understanding on the things that surround them not until it's too late. And the best of all is how faith can bring out the miracle to the surface out of the deepest pit.
I admit that that there were many times the book led me on the verge of tears. For I reckon that this book, no matter how cold-hearted I am, is no wonder a heart-moving one.Labels: A Walk To Remember, Drama, Love Story, Nicholas Sparks, Romance, Young Adult
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