Thursday, January 21, 2010

Dear John - Nicholas Sparks


It's been a while since I've read a book by Nicholas Sparks. My last one was Message in a Bottle. Sparks has found a winning formula as he has eight New York Times bestsellers to his credit.

My experience has been that they all tug at your heartstrings and Dear John is no exception.

John Tyree is home on leave from the army when he meets Savannah Curtis. Their time together is short lived, but they quickly fall in love. John must return to his squad, but Savannah vows she will will wait for him. His time is almost up when 9/11 strikes and John re enlists. Can their love survive further time apart?

I listened to this in audio format. Holter Graham was the reader. I'm not sure if he naturally speaks with a Southern accent, but once in awhile I would find it slipping. He played John with a slow southern drawl that at times made him seem simple. Savannah's voice was easily identifiable, with a slightly different southern accent and a quicker manner of speaking.

I think the story is an excellent one, especially in today's times, when this scenario is being played out in many lives. Sparks finishes his tale with a different twist, again designed to make you reach for a tissue.

Now this is purely personal and I'm sure there will lots of dissenting opinions, but... I just didn't like Savannah. I found her overbearing, manipulative, selfish and too much of a know it all. I often wonder if in listening to an audio book, you form a different picture of a character than you might have in reading the book. I then watched the movie trailer and with the characters played by Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried , think I may change my mind again.

So, yes if you're looking for a heart string tugging read, this is definitely one for you. I'm more of an action girl myself, so found some of it a bit repetitive and slow going but I did enjoy the story.

Listen to an excerpt of Dear John. Or read an excerpt of Dear John.

11 comments:

Christy {SparklesandSpinach} said...

I love Nicholas Sparks! He has been once of my fav Authors for quite some time. I think I may have to pick this one up the next time I'm out. Thanks for the review!

bermudaonion said...

Nicholas Sparks does follow a formula when he writes, but books like that are great for me when I need a comfort read.

Kori said...

I will have to check it out! I too stopped reading him a while back. They were getting a little sappy for me. I will try again. Kori xoxo

Marie Cloutier said...

Sounds like a good heartwarmer :-)

Mrs Suvi said...

I think I need a book like this! I'd rather read it than see the movie..

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

Been a while since I have read a Sparks book. Thanks for the reminder!

Bill ;-)

Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-giveaway-plum-pudding-murder.html

GretchTM said...

Dear John was definitely a good book and the ending was a crazy twist. But, honestly...I think I accepted how it ended because it really does show us how love can evolve in so many different ways.

Dana said...

I just finished this book today. I agree with you about Savannah - I found her character to be kind of annoying. But the movie does look so good!

Anna said...

I didn't like Savannah either, and honestly, this is one of my least favorite of his books. Still, it wasn't a bad read.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Watch Dear John Movie said...

I do really like and love Nicholas Sparks novels like The Wedding, The Notebook and Dear John. It's so really touching love story. :)

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