Message in a Bottle

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Summary: Message In a Bottle
Review: If you're a sucker for love stories, then Message In A Bottle is the book for you! It's a quick read-- a page turner like no other. While the overall idea for the plot is good, an intelligent reader can't move past the cliches. I congratulate Sparks on his efforts to write a love story that will sell well, but as a thought-provoking novel--well, frankly, it stinks. I don't think I benefitted from it at all. Yes, it provided some brief level of entertainment, but, if you're looking for a book to raise your level of thinking, Message In A Bottle is not for you!

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Summary: A Different Kind of Message
Review: After reading a few books by Nicholas Sparks, I had pegged him as a hopelessly romantic writer who caters to women's wishes for love. After reading Message in a Bottle, however, I feel differently. I find nothing wrong with hopelessy romantic love stories... in this crazy world, everyone needs to have a little bit of delusional stuff to hold onto. But this book is not delusional... it is a delusional reality. Sparks paints the picture of a beautiful loves story but throws in a twist that I had not expected in one of his books. Rather than add this book to his list of obviously happy endings, Sparks ends this book in a bizarre, yet hopeful way that readers need to read. Delusional things are good, but a dose of hopeful reality is just as benenficial.

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Summary: Timeless love story or predictable tale?
Review: The obvious reason that anyone would read this book is that they are one of those souls that love the idea of love! They believe that love is the destiny of two individuals that meet when they least expect it. Well, if you are one of those people, this book is definitly for you.
However, on the other end of the spectrum, you have those who cannot stand to know whats about to happen on the next page of a novel. If you are one of THOSE people, this book is definitly not for you.
It is quite the sweet love story, but where is the reality in all this? Has anyone actually heard of such a thing happening? Meeting in high school, or by a friend is the norm for all "first meetings" for a couple. But by a message sent in a bottle by a lonely, distraught widower? I don't think so.
The story itself, however is quite nice, if you have a good imagination. It is deep and binding, and creates a great lesson for the soul. The story of love and loss. So it makes you wonder, is it really better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?

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Summary: Does Sparks understand his own writing?
Review: I will not waste your time going over the plot of this book as I am sure you have read other reviews of this book and have an understanding of it.
I'm not sure how to write my review of "Message in a Bottle" without giving away the ending. Therefore if you have not read this book and want no idea of the ending please stop reading this review, read the book, then read my thoughts on it.
While the first three quarters of "Message" seems to deal with Garrett trying to come to terms with the loss of his deceased wife Catherine, the last chapter seems to ask the question of whether or not Catherine can give up Garrett. However Sparks seems to have no clue that he has raised this question. If he does, he fails to let us know.
Throughout the book Catherine is pictured as now being in the ocean since her death. Garrett goes out on the ocean in his boat to give her his letters, on more than one occasion finds her in the fog coming in from the ocean, in storms several times, and Sparks even gives her the ability to control the ocean currents at the end of the book. How is it then that during Garrett's final battle against the sea, as he goes to tell Catherine he is moving on, Sparks seems to ignore all the time and energy he used in correlating Catherine to the sea? Are we simply to believe that the final storm is simply a freak of nature that Garrett somehow misreads? Does Sparks not understand that in this final battle that it is not Garrett who is having trouble resolving his issues, but that Catherine, through her guise as the sea, is trying to hold on to Garrett? In the end it is this lady who controls the ocean currents who cannot let her husband move on with his life.
The relationship between the living and our dead loved ones has been studied by philosophers throughout the existence of mankind and yet Sparks seems to refuse to tackle the question of whether those who have passed on want to let go of the living. Ironically, my wife and I discussed this question two nights before starting "Message" together and discussed how hard it would be for us to pass on knowing that the other would find another love. I don't understand why Sparks seems to overlook the chance to explore this question at the end of his book, especially since he set it up so well. Either he doesn't realize the question he creates or he doesn't think his readers are advanced enough to handle the question.
Finally I was surprised Sparks missed one final opportunity to bring out a few more tears at the end. After spending much time hinting of Catherine's pregnancy at her death, he makes no further use of it. How many tears would have been shed if Theresa had picked up her four month old daughter (named Catherine of course) as she she left the beach at the end of the book?

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: First of all, Nicholas Sparks is a great author. I really enjoy reading his books because of the style he chooses to write with. The use of flashbacks and the great amount of detail he puts into his stories provides for an interesting read. The book Message in a Bottle is a story about a woman named Theresa Osbourne who finds a bottle that had been washed up onto shore. Inside the bottle she found a letter written by a man named Garrett. This letter expressed how he still felt great love for his deceased wife Catherine. Theresa was so intrigued by these letters and this mysterious man that she decided to track him down because maybe he might just be the man she is searching for. As soon as she finds him, she falls in love; the only problem is he must learn to love again. I really enjoyed this book because there were really only two major characters. By focusing on a few characters, Sparks is able to go into great detail about how they feel at every moment and really gets you involved in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

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Summary: A MAN wrote this??!!
Review: I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book nor have I seen any of the adapted movies. After several people recommended Message in a Bottle, I , with a huge sigh of resignation, broke down and bought a copy. I finished in under two days. I was sucked in from the opening lines. It astounds me that such a poignant, tear-jerker of a novel was written by a MAN! When it comes to romance writing, leave that to us women. Shame on me! Sparks proves me dead wrong. His writing from the viewpoint of the main character, Theresa, was truly believable.
I was devastated by the turn of events in the final pages, but that's the way the story goes, so to speak. I was rooting for Garrett and Theresa all the way; I felt personally affronted by the sad ending. But a good tearjerker ( yes, damn it, I cried!) is good for a body sometimes. I recommend this book highly. It reads fast, the characters are genuine, and it touches your soul.

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Summary: My absolute favorite book - A MUST READ!
Review: This was my absolute favorite book. I have read A Walk to Remember, The Rescue, Nights in Rodanthe, and most of The Notebook and I think this book by far is much better then all of the others. I finished this book over a year ago and I still think about the characters and remember everything about the story. There are few books anyone can say that about. I was absolutely fascinated by this story. I was truly in suspense and couldnt wait to see how the story would turn out. I do not think you will be disappointed. After reading the book, I rented the movie... what a waste of money that was! The movie was terrible. I am so happy I read the book instead. Those who saw the movie already already know some of the storyline but seriously, the book is so much more intense and has such passion and suspense. I found the movie was boring and the actress was terrible. Her voice was so monotone that it killed the entire movie. One of the worst movies I have seen but the best book I have ever read. Please read the book instead of watching the movie!! I can't wait to read another one of Nicholas Sparks' books!!

Rating:
Summary: Message In a Bottle
Review: This was an excellent romance story. I found myself having trouble putting the book down once I started reading it. I have not read an entire book in years--I finished this book in less than a few hours. I loved it--you will too!

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Summary: Better book than movie!
Review: All I have to say is that this book is WAY better than the movie!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book!
Review: All of Nicholas Sparks books are good. I hope he comes out with more.