Book Review: Dear John

In honor of the movie, I decided to go ahead and check out Nicholas Sparks’ book, Dear John. I’ve read several of his books, although I have to admit that most of the time, I enjoy the movies more. Since I haven’t seen the movie Dear John yet, I haven’t been influenced, so this is a pure review of the book and not a comparison of the movie.

The book is told from John’s point of view, which is characteristic of Nicholas Sparks. I noticed right off that although we start out learning about John’s history and that of his coin-collecting, meticulous father, it’s interesting. I followed along without being bored at all.

The book really picks up in pace when John meets Savannah. The two hit it off right away and the love story is charming. It’s more realistic than some of the usual flowery, fairytale romances. Maybe I’m just cynical, but after the first day or two into the relationship, it seems like things are going really fast and there’s not enough detail in the book. When John tells Savannah he loves her, you don’t really feel like it’s logical or that he even could so quickly. Had there been more detail, it’s possible that it would have been more believable.

John has to return to Germany, where he is stationed, so the two write back and forth. The letters are sweet and it’s charming to see the two so dedicated to each other. Savannah has also alerted John to the possibility of his father having a condition, which could explain his strange ways and the patterns of his life – ultimately urging John to have a better relationship with his father.

After 9/11, John signs on for two more years in the army, which puts a serious strain on the relationship. I don’t want to spoil the book or the movie, so I’ll say that there are some serious trials and tribulations that happen from here on out. Savannah has opened John’s eyes to the world and he sees things he has never seen before – considers people and feelings in ways he never has before.

Overall, the book is light and a fun read. There isn’t a lot of detail to the characters and it only took me a day to read, but I enjoyed it. I’m now looking forward to determining whether I like the book or the movie better – I’ll let you know! I’d give the book a 6 out of a possible 10.