Dear John - N. Sparks

In Sparks' novel we meet John Tyree, a homegrown North Carolina boy whose enlisted in the army after finding himself on the fast track to nowhere after high school. Home on leave for a few weeks in the summer, John meets Savannah Lynn Curtis. Savannah is a college student working Habitat for Humanity during her summer vacation. She has a strong Christian foundation, beautiful, smart, and an all around good girl. Of course the two fall madly in love with one another. With Savannah's help John sees his father's quirkiness in a whole new light. Ultimately, he and his father enjoy a relationship that neither of them thought possible.

Fast forward a bit - John returns to Germany while Savannah returns to school. The two countdown to John's tour of duty overseas and his eventual release from the Army; however, in the aftermath of September 11th John decides to reenlist to serve in the war everyone will soon know as Operation Iraqi Freedom. While this will prolong John's time overseas Savannah is understanding and willing to make it work.

While fighting in Iraq John receives the goodbye letter from Savannah - she's met someone else, fallen in love, and moving on. With nothing to go home to John re-ups for another tour in Iraq....but returns home briefly due to the death of his father. While back in NC, John visits Savannah to find that not only has she married, but she's dealing with problems of her own. So do we get our happy ending here in this Sparks novel? Well not exactly. In the end - everyone is happy but it's not tied up in a pretty red bow like some of his other stories.

The book had enough in it to keep my attention and though it was an easy read...the story wasn't complex and neither were the characters. It was a breath of fresh air to find a Sparks story where the story doesn't have the ultimate warm fuzzy feeling at the end, but in the end it wasn't a show stopper. I've been reading a lot of his novels lately...mostly because they're easy reads and they're decent stories. This novel is also being turned into a movie to be released some time in 2010. My recommendation - pass on this one for now unless you're hard pressed for a book to read.

I'm picking up "What I Thought I Knew" today....Happy Reading!!!

At First Sight - N. Sparks

At First Sight is a follow up to Sparks' "True Believer".
In True Believer, Jeremy Marsh is a scientific/paranormal debunker who went to investigate the eerie lights of the Boone Creek cemetery in NC. While investigating the lights Jeremy falls madly in love with Lexie Darnell (the town librarian).

The last time we saw Jeremy Marsh we learned that he is moving from NYC in exchange for the small town of Boone Creek and he's going to be a father. As Jeremy adjusts to his life in the small southern town he is plagued by the inability to write while second guessing his relationship with Lexie.

In this book Jeremy and Lexie are preparing for the arrival of their first child, buying a home, and planning a wedding. The stresses of life are overwhelming Jeremy and putting a major strain on his ability to write. It doesn't help when mysterious emails arrive casting doubts on his relationship with Lexie; Jeremy begins to wonder is the child really his, how much does he and Lexie really know about one another, and what other secrets is Lexie keeping??

In At First Sight love does conquer all, but it definitely doesn't offer the typical Sparks ending (Boy meets girl and lives happily ever after). We learned a lot about Lexie and Jeremy in True Believer and in this follow up book you watch them move onto the next big adventure together. I think between the two books you really become attached to the central characters and you want Jeremy and Lexie's relationship to work out; I guess it's almost something you expect. So, in the end, I think the twist will be a bit surprising but very touching. I had to hold back my tears a couple times...

Happy Reading!

The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

The much anticipated follow up to the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons....THE LOST SYMBOL.

Our favorite symbologist Robert Langdon is back. Upon being summoned by his mentor Peter Solomon to Washington DC to deliver a speech last minute, Robert finds himself in the middle of a terrible kidnap, murder, mystery plot surrounding one of the oldest and most secretive groups in the world - The Free Masons.

In this novel we learn about symbology and it's importance in Washington DC architecture as well as to this country's founding fathers. As Robert begins to unravel the mystery set before him, we're pulled into the deepest secrets of free masonry and it's highest degree along with their most highly guarded secret.

At first I wondered what is really going on here. First we meet the mysterious tattoo'd man with his wealth, secrets, and makeup...I wasn't quite sure what was going on. As the story picks up we follow the plot to save Peter while we also watch Katherine desperately try to save both herself and her work.

If you were enthralled by the complexity of the Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons then you'll be stumped here in The Lost Symbol as well. Running around DC after Masonic secrets and theoretical pyramids - throw in the whole issue of who can be trusted and of course a madman to rival Silas of Da Vinci and you have your the Dan Brown suspense mystery you love so well. I enjoyed the book but I think the ending let me down...to the point where I say it's simply okay. Yes, it was riveting BUT....in the end it wasn't as profound as the "Holy Grail" reveal. Even after our plot and subplot resolution, the last few chapters seemed to build even more supsense as we wait for Katherine and Robert to open a door for one last surprise.

And as I read those last few pages I did find myself a tad bit disappointed. Though the main plot resolution wasn't what I expected it to be; I could live with it. However, after the FINAL reveal...I was disappointed. But this is a best seller and the meat of it has enough to keep your mind spinning!

Happy Reading....

The Rescue - N.Sparks

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks details the trials and tribulations of Denise Holden...giving up teaching, struggling as a waitress in a small town, moving into a run down home - all in order to dedicate her time to her young son Kyle. Kyle has trouble learning and in particular he does not speak. The book opens with Denise and Kyle driving back from one of his many Dr.'s appointments in a terrible storm. After narrowly hitting a deer, Denise loses control of her car and crashes into the dense and marshy forest. After losing consciousness, Denise realizes Kyle has wandered off. Her only hope is the stranger who found her - volunteer fireman Taylor McAden. As Denise is whisked from the scene in an ambulance, Taylor and a small group of local fireman search the marsh amidst one of the worst storms in NC history.

So what happens? Of course Taylor finds Kyle...and falls in love with Denise BUT OF COURSE - Taylor's past makes him unwilling to allow himself to be loved.

In true fashion, Nicholas Sparks writes in the back drop of a slow North Carolina town. Do we get the happy ending...Yes.
But was the story touching, riveting, or profound? Not really. I read the book mostly becuase it was based upon Nick's own family experience with his own challenged son.

I read the book in one day...it was short, easy and entertaining read. At least Nick has always been able to keep my attention regardless of how little attachment I have to the story or characters. So if you're looking for a great read - Pass. If you just want something with a little drama, suspense, mystery, and a love story with a happy ending...then give it a go!

Happy Reading.

Up on deck:
- N. Sparks Dear John
- N. Sparks At First Sight
- D. Brown The Lost Symbol

The Thorn Birds - Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds was written by Collen McCullough in the late 1970's and was later adapted into a tv series. The book is nearly 700 pages detailing love, life, and tragedies of the Cleary family. Though you meet many Cleary family members and characters throughout the book, the main characters include:

- Fee Cleary: the family matriach
- Meggie Cleary: the only daughter amongst the Cleary family
- Ralph de Bricassart: Catholic priest
and later you meet
- Justine O'Neil: Meggie's oldest child and only daughter

We follow the Cleary family from their humble beginnings on a small farm in New Zealand - to inheriting the largest property in Australia - Drogheda. Though men are obviously more important to society and the Cleary's, the real story is about the women.

We watch Fee struggle with various losses in her life - the loss of her husband, Frank, and Stu. She has an iron clad personality; showing little emotion towards almost all her family members.
Then you have Meggie who falls in love with Ralph, but marries another man since Ralph won't leave the cloth. Again, another Cleary woman who has to deal with loss and struggle. She has no idea how to love her daughter or talk to her own mother.
And finally there's Justine, who like the other Cleary women keeps her emotions in check. As an actress she can hide herself behind a character - always keeping her distance from any type of emotional attachment.

There is a lot of hardship, tragedy, and death in this book. Some of the deaths surprised me and made me sad; however, I was never really too attached to any character. Though its a nice story - it definitely felt a bit dated to me. Though the ending isn't tragic, I guess I always hoped that somehow Meggie and Ralph would find a way...but alas it wasn't meant to be. But I think the true importance of the book is about love and family - and finding your own way.

So what's the significance of the title? Well there's a poignant story in the book about a thorn bird - "a legend, about a bird that sings just once in its life. From the moment it leaves its nest, it searches for a thorn tree... and never rests until it's found one. And then it sings... more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. And singing, it impales itself on the longest, sharpest thorn. But, as it dies, it rises above its own agony, to outsing the lark and the nightingale. The thorn bird pays its life for just one song, but the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles."

Could any character be classified as a thorn bird? I think yes - Dane (Meggie's son), and maybe each of the Cleary women. In their old age they are able to rise above their own agony to find a relationship with one another at last.
Would I recommend this book? Probably not, but I'm glad I read it nonetheless.

Her Fearful Symmetry - A. Niffenegger

Another one down - after reading Time Traveler's Wife, I figured I'd have to read Her Fearful Symmetry by Ms. Niffenegger.

This book follows the life of identical twins Valentina and Julie as they inherit their dead Aunt Elspeth's London flat and money. Upon learning of their inheritance you find that there is some sort of history between Aunt Elspeth and their mother. The will stipulates that the twins MUST live in the apartment for at least 1 year before they can sell it, and that their parents (Jack and Edie) can never set foot in the flat. So what's the bad blood for - no one really knows BUT you do learn that Elspeth and Edie are also identical twins. So why haven't they seen or spoken to one another in almost 20 years?

So the twins embark on their journey to London - move into the flat and meet their neighbors: Martin and Robert.

Martin - he's an obsessive compulsive whose wife has left him since she can no longer live with the madness.

Robert - he's the young lover of Elspeth, working on his thesis while providing tours of the cemetery across the street.

As time passes the twins acclimate themselves to London but at the same time grow apart. Valentina wants to become her own person, go to school, and wear black...but Julie is the stronger personality and Valentina simply never stands up for herself. So what happens? Valentina comes up with the craziest plan to free herself from the bondage of "twin-ness". Does it work out - well read it for yourself.

What did I think about the book? I'm on the fence. It definitely kept me interested because I wanted to know 1) What is this family secret and 2) Is Valentina's plan really going to work? I did get answers to both questions so that's a plus!

However, I was dismayed at the direction that Niffenegger decided to take with Robert. At one point in the book he is VERY mad at Elspeth and says "I will never forgive you". But apparently he does and goes on to live his life with the Elspeth.

You see, something happens between Elspeth and Valentina and I didn't think Robert would be willing to overlook Elspeth's actions. But he does!!!

In the end Niffenegger sorta fixes it. She makes it apparent that Robert is bothered by Elspeth. BUT still - I was really mad at how it all went down and though the book doesn't say Elspeth did it on purpose....it was DEFINITELY on purpose. Something about the last quarter of the book left me with bad feelings.

So should you read it? Pick it up....If the mystery surrounding the story is enough to keep your attention then keep reading. But come back and let me know how you felt at the end.

Happy reading!

The Last Song - N. Sparks

Yesterday, I finished another Nicholas Sparks novel. You're probably wondering - is it a love story? Yes. Does the couple end of together? Yes, of course.

Again, Sparks doesn't disappoint. In each of his books you're always looking for the happy ending and YOU GET IT. Do you always want a happy ending - of course not. But every now and then you just need it. You need it because:
1) You've read too many books where it just doesn't work out in the end
2) You're looking for a good pick me up
3) You need to be reminded of love and romance

Anyway - for this book the main story isn't really about Will and Ronnie falling in love. It's more about family, friends, mistakes, and time. Ronnie (and her younger brother) are sent to spend the summer with their dad (Steve) in North Carolina. Ronnie hasn't spoken to her father since he left the family almost 3 years ago...and now she has to spend an entire summer with him. Talk about awkward!

Of course while in NC, Ronnie starts to hang out with the wrong crowd until she meets Will the volleyball player/aquarium volunteer/mechanic (inside joke from the book) . As the summer progresses the two fall in love realizing the summer is winding down, Ronnie has to return to NY while Will is off to Tennessee for college. But always in the background the larger story is that - Ronnie is starting to get along better with her father. Although she still won't play the piano or let her father play the piano - their relationship is far better than its ever been. So what's the catch??

This book offered a lot of sadness - you can sorta see it coming if you read the book. I had to hold back tears a couple of times. I actually liked this story - and come to find out it is also being made into a major motion movie starring Miley Cyrus....dunno how I feel about that.