Message in a Bottle

Rating:
Summary: Not The Notebook, but....
Review: The problem with following up a largely successful second novel is that whatever follows will be compared to it until novel number three comes along to set the record straight. I'm guilty as charged for comparing #2 to #1. I loved The Notebook and was captured heart and soul by its emotion and sincerity. I *believed* it. Message in a Bottle, to me, was a quick, enjoyable read. I wanted to keep reading it just to find out how it would progress. Yet, I found it predictable (of course when she tracks him down this total stranger who's message she found in a bottle on a beach, they'll fall madly in love) and unbelievable (would one really travel 1000 miles and have such luck finding someone who's first name is the only thing one knows about them?) I guess I am a romantic, which is why the ending surprised, disappointed and satisfied (yes, both disappointed and satisfied, in that order) me. This did not end all neat and tidy as a diehard romantic would hope and come to expect. I didn't experience the emotional draining that The Notebook caused me, but I'll recommend MIAB to my bookworm friends. It's a great summer read.

Rating:
Summary: A Hard Act to Follow
Review: Having loved The Notebook and Sparks' unique and beautiful way with words, I found myself embarrassed for him while reading this trite book. The most interesting character was Jeb (Garrett's father) who spouted wisdom and wit worth reading. The story line was predictable, too wordy and, as I said before, embarrassing. One part in particular, when Theresa's best friend, Debbie, suggested she go on the trip to get more exposure for her career (after encouraging Theresa's and Garrett's relationship to this point) was out of character. I am sorry to say I didn't cry, because I love books that let me cry. I'm trying to think of one thing I got out of the book -- Sparks does have a way with words, but the plot was shallow and the water too deep.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully captivating from beginning to end!
Review: This being my first book by Nicholas Sparks, I didn't know what to expect, a friend suggested the book because it looked interesting, she's yet to read it(but she will soon).The touching love story, steals your heart and grasps your attention from page one. The beauty of the love shared between Theresa and Garrett touches you in a way that incomprable. In the wonderful way that Nicholas Sparks writes you are able to see the complexity and simplicity of love all at the same time. The end of the book takes it to a whole new level, I was crying so hard the last 20 pages my husband was starting to worry about me being able to breathe, keep the tissues handy.

Rating:
Summary: Does not live up to Notebook
Review: While Notebook wrenched my heart and was, I truly believe, a beautiful love story, Message was a bit trite. The topic was meaningful but the story fell short--I did not shed a tear. I have lost a spouse to death also and while the situation touched me, the characters did not. I know Nicholas Sparks can do better than this and next time I hope he will.

Rating:
Summary: If you believe in Soul Mates - then this book is for you
Review: Nicholas Sparks know how to immediately capture his reader into this wonderful romance which reiterates the fact that there is someone out there for you. Taking place in a sleepy NC town of Wilmington - you experience the emotions of love, passion and sorrow of Theresa and Garrett and Catherine. If you love romance, sailing, and the coast this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Falls short of The Notebook
Review: Sparks'second novel falls short of The Notebook. While it held my attention I must say that the dialogue and writing were full of cliches. At first I thought I had picked up a book belonging to the romance genere. By the time I had read the first 200 pages I thought "I've had enough". Theresa came across as devious in my eyes, and Garrett a weak victim. BUT, thank goodness I read on for the end saves the story. This tale could have been told in a shorter format without a lot of useless descriptions. The letters found in the bottles were very moving and all-in-all the story sends a powerful message about learning to let go.

Rating:
Summary: How lucky can we get! A private reading by the author.
Review: Nicholas Sparks paid a surprise visit to the Nicholas Sparks Book Club 3-3-98 and read us the first message Theresa finds in the bottle. Are we excited about this book? You bet we are. No, you can not compare it to "The Notebook" is has its own merit as a "tear jerker for romantics only". Enjoy! NSBC Jo-Anne & Dee

Rating:
Summary: Nicholas Sparks Book Club-JoAnne Garside
Review: The NSBC is going strong. Thanks goes to the devoted club members, our supportive author, and his enthusiastic readers. We are pleased to hear "Message in a Bottle" will be released in early April. Kevin Costner will star in the film. Shooting starts 4-6-98 in the Carolina's. The interest in our author and his work is growing. We receive inquiries on his books, club events, and New Bern everyday. Best news of all is there are even more in the works!

Rating:
Summary: Box of Kleenex is a must
Review: The letters written by Garrett Blake to Catherine broke my heart. They were incredibly powerful and emotional. With every word, you felt the love,sorrow,and longing he had for his wife. I cried so hard when I read this book. Be prepared with a box of tissues because you'll need them. Fantastic,moving,emotional book by Nicholas Sparks. Just incredible.

Rating:
Summary: Should come bundled with a handy Kleenex purse-pack.
Review: I should qualify that I've never actually read a Harlequin Romance, but I feel now like I have.
It reads as though it were written by a very earnest 19-year-old, who's aced every creative writing class in his high school, and is currently taking more in junior college. A 19-year-old who's watched so many movies that he's filled the novel with cinematic cuts that fill romantic movies, but are just confusing and jarring on the page.
The dialog is pretty clumsy as well: does ANYONE know a twelve-year-old who'd actually say "He's pretty cool. For a grownup." Most of the dialog between the lovers is the flirty nonsense that's fun when you say it, but you'd be completely embarrassed to hear yourself saying. And, it does nothing to advance the plot.
And, much of the action and observations just don't make a bit of sense:
"He was an expert sailor, and an even better swimmer." Better than expert, huh?
The protagonist, Teresa, is an experienced newspaper reporter, but looks on with awe as her boss figures out how to call another newspaper to get some local information. (Never covered that in journalism school. I guess.)
"The winds were strong and steady, but weren't yet unpredictable." (are steady winds ever unpredictable?)
"Show, don't tell" is the oldest bit of writing advice there is. But he relies on telling, telling us that "as she talked, she became more excited" rather than showing us.
The book is full of constructions like "somehow she knew" or "something told him." The point of a novel about psychological development is to have some insight about how she knew, what told him. It's harder than falling back on those clichés, but that's what good writing is all about.
He seems to be completely unaware of the past perfect form, and when you might use it. He mixes his metaphors ("the storm was "gathering steam, like a slowly burning fuse, ready to explode.") fails to keep verb-object agreement, just hurtles on, captivated by his muse.
The odd thing is that this book was published after his "The Notebooks" which was a New York Times best-seller, and actually had some interesting insights about the tragedy of Alzheimer's Disease. I can only conclude that he wrote this book years before, and dug out the manuscript when his publisher needed a follow-up. But geez, people, are editors that expensive? (During the dramatic storm scene, the expert sailor counts the seconds between lightning and thunder - two and a half minutes, 25 miles. Wow - on this side of the country, it's only five seconds per mile!)
I guess I made the mistake of reading this book shortly after "White Oleander" a first novel as razor-sharp and moving as this one is soft-focused and lachrymose. But as someone, perhaps Abraham Lincoln is supposed to have said, "for those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they'll like."