Rating: 
Summary: Shallow and Disappointing
Review: It's hard to deny that MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE is a tear jerker. The problem is that Nicholas Sparks goes about it in such an artificial way. The entire book is set up in such a way that feelings of sadness are pumped out of the reader. Obviously, this is how most books work, but never on such a blatant level as we see in Nicholas Sparks's MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.The story of the love between out of luck and depressed Theresa Osborne and the enigmatic Garrett, Theresa finds the eponymous message in a bottle while out running one morning. Inside is a mysterious, haunting love letter. As her heart pours out to the writer of the message, she finds herself on a quest to find the author, and plunges into a revitalizes relationship that seems to transcend time and all that is important. If there is one glaring weakness in the writing of Nicholas Sparks, it would be his overall lack of ability. Though making it easier to read, the third grade level writing of Sparks's stories come across as being slightly hollow and empty. At no point can readers lose themselves in sweeping fits of romantic narration, but always seem to be floating along the surface. The romance is left up to the reader, and, thusly, is cold and lifeless. As for the tears wrenched from readers of this uninspiring book, the mechanism of an unsurprising, twist of fate, will not surprise most readers, but will leave them with bitter feelings and a general sense that seven dollars could have been better spent elsewhere. All in all, it's hard to recommend this book to anyone. Watching the movie might prove to be a better investment, and a cheaper one, at that.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicholas Sparks couldn't write his way out of a paper bag
Review: Who thinks up this convoluted drivel, a love story between an extremely pathetic woman and a guy who sounds about as exciting as a trip to the dentist? We are first expected to believe that Theresa, a successful columnist, is so desperate for a man that she finds some empty bottle on the beach, reads this five-hanky letter and is off to North Carolina to ring him in (under the pretenses of covering a good story, of course). Then we are actually expected to root this couple on even though the dialogue stimulates nothing but an occasional yawn. The sad part is that Mr. Sparks is by now a millionaire, this page is full of rave reviews, and somebody thought this plot would make a lucrative movie. I can only wonder at what most people consider an entertaining book. I put this book down after I reached my limit of patience. Apparently, I missed a very "tragic" ending which I, of course, know about by now. The ending sounds like the perfect sickeningly sappy ending to the most icky sweet book I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste 90 minutes of your life!
Review: This might have made a fine short story. All of the filler was sooo boooring! Stupid woman, stupid man. What a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Sparks is Brilliant...
Review: although i was torn up by the ending, i fell in love with garrett... oh my god! anyone who hasn't read this book, even if you've seen the horrible movie version, MUST MUST MUST read this book! and on a side note, i've read all three of sparks books (and am eagerly anticipating his new novel which i have yet to purchase!!!) and you will NOT be disappointed by him AT ALL!!! so be sure you read message in a bottle!
Rating: 
Summary: Love lost
Review: This is the story of two people who met, by the help of the sea. It was the message in the bottle that drove Theresa to seek for Garret, and inevitably, she falls in love with him. A new relationship may be in the offing, if not for Garret's reluctance. The memory of his dead wife keeps getting in the way, partly because of guilt, despair and of course the promise of undying love. The story was lightly written, giving description of the beautiful sea and life in that little sea town. It makes one's heart float and smile in the course of the story then dramatically breaks your heart as the story ends. A rather tearful ending for what could be a promise of new love. Makes me want to believe that Catherine claimed her love after all. Once more I have proven that a book is still better than the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the Movie
Review: As almost all books are! The worst thing is I wish I would have read the book first. The film ruined the novel. Spark's created wonderful characters with Theresa and Garret, emotional, real people. There's something about life that a book can capture that a movie can't, and its a person's thoughts. Even if you've already seen the movie, read the book. You'll understand the character's more, and their story.
Rating:
Summary: A So-So Sob Story
Review: I thought this book would be better than it really was. After all, they had made a movie of it (which I did not see) so it must have been pretty good, right? Well, not exactly. There were several things I didn't like about this book. One was the character of Theresa. What kind of person gets so taken in by a letter in a bottle she finds at the beach that she tracks the guy down? Sounds like a stalker to me! Also, she used her company time and lied about her intentions to try to track the guy down and find out where he lived! How unprofessional. The second thing that I disliked about this story was the character of Garrett. The guy was still not over his wife's death. WHY did Theresa think he was such a hot catch? She should have thrown THAT fish right back into the sea! (Then again, maybe two such dysfunctional people actually were meant for each other -- just don't try to pass it off as the love story of the century). The third thing that I did not like about the story was the ending. Without giving it away, I'll just say it was very depressing. Geez!The whole thing was like Sap City with a Stalker-Like Twist. Think I'll skip the movie version if the book was this bad!
Rating:
Summary: A tear jerker
Review: Message in a Bottle is one incredible book. The plot of the story is whimsical and will have you dreaming that maybe someday you'll find a love as strong as these two characters in this novel. Basically this is one sad book, and the people who rate it low, are only doing so because this book doesn't have a cheerful "happily ever after" ending. While I read the book, especially the end, tears slowly streamed down my face as I tried to understand why the story went the way it did. The fact that Garrett was able to love his wife with so much emotion, just shakes you to the core because it comes to the point of obession. Message in a Bottle is a story about a woman named Theresa Osborne, a newspaper columnist, who finds a bottle washed up shore one day. She proceeds to read the letter inside and there a history of unforgotten love unfolds. Garrett Blake, trying to cope with the lose of his deceased wife, Catherine, writes letters to her and send them out to sea, hoping that one day they'll reach Europe. As the story progresses, Theresa finds Garrett and they give into the emotions that are growing between them and fall in love with each other. But Garrett isn't ready to let go of his deceased wife yet, so the problem is introduced... read the story and you'll be crying but still happy at the same time. This book teaches us about the aspect of love and how it's possible to love once more even though you think that you'll never be able to love again. And the fact that love is solid, and so much stronger than simple lust. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Teary?
Review: I'd decided to give the movie a miss, thinking that it was "one of those soppy AND predictable stuff" and it never crossed my mind to read the book until I read Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. I already had a gist of what the story would turn out to be (thanks to a reviewer on Amazon.com who gave the story away) but decided to sit through it anyway. Again, like The Notebook, I found it a captivating tale which made me want to continue to read and read and read. A lady giving herself another chance at love, together with a man who lost his love of a lifetime, is something that a lot of us can relate to. Nicholas had stirred our hearts and minds by putting together very touching prose which speaks of a love so great and beautiful that it makes one wonder, just where can we find a love like that? The plot is nothing brand new but still, the tale holds you and makes you ask for more. Theresa and Garrett are both very believable and realistic characters who are torn between very human issues. My heart went out to them, albeit I found it a little strange that they would have such dilemmas at the crossroad of their union. A very heart-warming book but you can save those tissues. The Notebook is far more heart-wrenching.
Rating:
Summary: Message in a Bottle is an outstanding book
Review: I'm not a big reader, but happen to read an excerpt of another book of Nicholas Sparks in Good Housekeeping. Then I purchased Message in a Bottle. This is the best book I think I ever read. He keeps you interested throughout the entire book, and he ends them in the most unexpected way that you could ever imagine. His writing technique makes you feel what the characters feel. I could feel the way Teresa felt throughout the book. This is a real tearjerker. If you love romance with some suspense, you'll love this book. I cried my eyes out while reading this. If Nicholas Sparks is anything like his characters in his books, then he must be a wonderful person.
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