Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Why did I read this book? Well, I was desparate for some mindless distraction on a long layover and flight to a wedding. The books I had brought were too much for my mind at the time. This book didn't disapoint, it was certainly mindless. It is typical of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Not a lot of heart, no complicated plot, no mystery and completely predictable. I think the man writes books FOR movies, I don't think they think he writes a good story and then turn it into a movie. One thing I found really weird is that the book is called Dear John, leading you to believe the book is filled with letters back and forth. It is not. He (John) describes the letters he and she write, but there are only a couple of passages from letters. Usually in a Nick Sparks book/movie someone dies. Well, no one really dies in this book, but someTHING dies. So no big surprise there. Very tragic story, as usual. But I didn't really "feel" the character of John. I didn't get him and I was left feeling sort of blah about him and the book in turn. It wasn't a page turner, other than the fact I wanted to finish it before I landed back in Seattle. BORING! But, I'll give him this...whoever makes his movies sure does know how to cast! I'll see the movie when it's available just for the fact that Channing Tatum is the lead. Much of why I liked The Guardian was because of Kevin Costner AND Ashton Kutcher. Whoa baby! See the movie, don't read the book.