Skip to main content

A Comforting, Safe Haven

 A familiar story for my liking! I'd originally only seen the movie a handful of times (I've mostly only seen Nicholas Sparks movies as opposed to books) and was interested in reading this book. I appreciated the film adaption and was looking forward to comparing it to the written version (although the word is always better) and I wasn't disappointed!

It was easy to follow the love story that unfolded between Katie and Alex, just as easy as watching it in the movie. Obviously the ability to know what was happening between either character due to the third person, omniscient narrator worked in the reader's favor as well. The description of Kevin was done up to par as well, almost too up to par because some instances were disturbing. Reading about the abuse was different from viewing it in a movie, also the movie hadn't shown as much of the abuse--it was merely apart of flashbacks that simultaneously occurred. Kevin also focused increasingly on sex. The idea that Katie was making love to another man constantly and comparing the act between either men. The idea that her goal was to accomplish physically being with someone more than Kevin and that'll be how she makes it in her new life with new belongings. Then there's the biblical portion that is brought into the novel, something I noticed Nicholas Sparks do often in his writings (as opposed to the film adaptations). Kevin's reasoning for incorporating bible verses into his thought process was frustrating, but introducing "Jo" as Katie's friend throughout the book to inevitably tie in her presence as something of wonderment and the belief in something "far beyond but near".

The attention paid to details, settings, and character description was done exceptionally well. Sparks' novel was an easy read, flowed nicely and I'd have to highly recommend as one of his top reads!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We need to read AND write

So I went to Barnes & Noble the other night (needed some retail therapy) and ended up wandering aimlessly around the aisles for over an hour. I must have hit every section before I made my way over to the children’s corner. Not sure if I was feeling nostalgic or just curious as to what the youth of today was starting out to read. As I scoured shelves looking for old time Nancy Drew or Where the Sidewalk Ends , I heard this couple enter the area and couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.             “I just want to look for a book for her, just one. Can ya’ give me a minute?” The woman sounded exasperated, almost as if she couldn’t comprehend why her companion wasn’t understanding the need to look for the perfect book . It was his response that caught me, even though I shouldn’t have been so stung.             “You do realize kids today don’t read, right? What’...

The Express Review

A known crime fiction novel by millions, Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express  is not only intriguing, but initially a thrilling ride that keeps readers in tune and guessing up until the very last page (no pun intended on the "thrilling ride" comment). With the infamous protagonist Hercule Poirot taking charge on leading the investigation, the entire plot was based around a single man being murdered by a suspect (or suspects) on a train traveling throughout Europe. It was interesting being introduced to Hercule Poirot for the first time reading this, considering I've never read any Agatha Christie crime novels before. I find the steps that Poirot takes when solving a crime very strategical and can be recognized as a specific method used initially by him and him alone. This novel is structured into 3 parts: The Facts, The Evidence, and Hercule Poirot Sits Back and Thinks. I feel a majority of people are intimidated by the intellect a detective can hold when s...

A Witch-y Summary!

Shelby Mahurin's fantasy novel, Serpent and Dove, is one wild ride between two polar-opposite individuals, both coming from backgrounds that reveal they're more alike than most others they consort with. Both Louise (Lou) and Reid come from different lifestyles, Lou being the daughter of one of the most powerful witches known to men and Reid being the head captain of the Archbishop's team of witch-hunters. Both Lou and Reid collide (literally) in an unfortunate incident that causes a public conflict of interest. In the end, both Lou and Reid agree-to-disagree and are bound together as husband and wife. They have to learn how to co-exist with each other, along with surviving among fellow witches and hunters. Readers are shown the intimate details of both Lou's and Reid's lives. Friendships and past relationships are brought to light, familial boundaries are pushed and secrets are revealed. Both Lou and Reid become the ultimate husband-and-wife duo when fate cat...