Journal Entry 1 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Saturday, December 27, 2008

It is a bit unusual for me to end up reading two of Spark's books in a month as I am not particularly a big fan. I do however, like this a lot more than the other one I read, Nights in Rodanthe.

Nights in Rodanthe is about a magical weekend when two people fall in love. I found it somewhat unsatisfying: it's so easy to have a perfect love for one weekend. Dear John starts similarly with two people who meet by chance, cannot resist the magnetic attraction and feel that they have found the love of their lives, and it continues on to the not-quite-happily ever after, where we see the couple struggles as they return to real life. School, family illnesses, jealousy and insecurity... This gives me a much more authentic voice, and I feel so much more for John and Savannah as they try their best under the circumstances. Like most of Sparks' books, the plot is rather predictable but the strength of the story lies not in any creative plots but in the telling of a very blood-and-flesh story that most readers can relate to.

 

Journal Entry 2 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Thursday, May 07, 2009

Mailing off to Lizabeth86, who selected it from the It's Your Turn vbb. 

Journal Entry 3 by Lizabeth86 from Middletown, Connecticut USA on Saturday, May 16, 2009

Arrived today. Thanks Azuki. 

Journal Entry 4 by Lizabeth86 from Middletown, Connecticut USA on Wednesday, August 26, 2009

I stayed up well past my bedtime last night finishing this up. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book and than as per Nicholas Sparks' trademark, the story turned and I to prepare for the NOT happily ever after ending. But than again that is why Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors. He is not afraid to go against the grain and give us sad, more true to life endings.