The Final Note

Aug 30, 2012 Esti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ringkasan kisahnya seperti di sinopsis.
Aku selesai baca buku ini in one sitting. Mulai jam 10 malam sampai jam 01.30 dinihari. I can't stop.
Prisca nanya "Di skip-skip nggak?"
"Enggak."
Sebenarnya jam 12 udah mau selesai, tapi ga bisa tidur karena penasaran jadi diraih lagi deh tuh buku.
Kenapa aku kasih 4 bintang? Karena buku ini gue banget hehehe... *Banjir air mata deh.
Maksudnya aku bisa relate :)
I know how it feels
Mimpi-mimpi romantis kala realitas pernikahan dan hidup belum menghantam.
Rutinita...more

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May 10, 2011 + Dragonfly+ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Thanks first reads for me winning this book. A man and his wife through the years the ups and downs of life they thought they would have and notes along the way. Loved this book! Keven Milne wrote such a good story and this one is right up there with the last book I read by him, and loved that one too.

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Nov 15, 2012 Fiary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

’Uang tidak bisa membeli segalanya’

Novel ketiga yg saya baca ini mengetengahkan tentang cinta, pemaafan dan kesempatan kedua.

Berkisah tentang Ethan Bright, mahasiswa pasca sarjana yang mengambil bidang musik di Wina, Austria dan bercita-cita menjadi penulis lagu, yang demi menghidupi dirinya di kota musik klasik itu dia mengamen berbekal Karl, gitar tua, hadiah dari kakeknya. Tak dinyana, pada sebuah trem di kota Wina, dawai-dawai cinta dihatinya berdentang dengan nyaring kala tatap matanya terp...more ’Uang tidak bisa membeli segalanya’

Novel ketiga yg saya baca ini mengetengahkan tentang cinta, pemaafan dan kesempatan kedua.

Berkisah tentang Ethan Bright, mahasiswa pasca sarjana yang mengambil bidang musik di Wina, Austria dan bercita-cita menjadi penulis lagu, yang demi menghidupi dirinya di kota musik klasik itu dia mengamen berbekal Karl, gitar tua, hadiah dari kakeknya. Tak dinyana, pada sebuah trem di kota Wina, dawai-dawai cinta dihatinya berdentang dengan nyaring kala tatap matanya terpana pada seorang gadis cantik Amerika, Annalise Burke.

Cinta yang bersemi diantara keduanya kemudian dijalin dan diikat dalam pernikahan disertai dengan harapan dan janji-janji. Salah satu janji Ethan kepada Anna adalah membuatkan sebuah lagu. Di awal-awal pernikahan, mereka menghadapi kehidupan dengan optimis, saling cinta dan percaya, yang dibuktikan dengan kertas kecil berisi ungkapan hati Anna yang diselipkan di sela dawai Karl, gitar tua Ethan. Karir Ethan berjalan lambat, bahkan dia memulainya sebagai penulis jingle iklan. Pasang surut kehidupan mereka lalui bersama dengan penuh ketabahan, apalagi pada momen Anna mengalami keguguran hingga lima kali. Bahkan di saat Anna berhasil mempertahankan kehamilannya, yang ternyata melahirkan anak kembar yang cantik, takdir pun masih menguji mereka, karena hanya satu bayi mungil yang bertahan hidup.

Tapi kehidupan memang keras dan perlahan mulai menggoyahkan fondasi cinta mereka. Ethan semakin larut dalam pekerjaannya yang ternyata membuahkan hasil. Mereka hidup berkecukupan. Tapi ’kecukupan’ menjauhkan Ethan dengan Anna dan Hope (putrinya). Ethan diperbudak oleh pekerjaan, dan dia mulai melupakan/mengabaikan momen-momen indah dalam kehidupan anak dan istrinya. Anna paham betul dengan ’kelupaan’ Ethan, maka kado ulang tahun Hope yang seharusnya disiapkan oleh Ethan, Anna pula yang menyiapkan.

Sayangnya semua itu harus dibayar dengan sangat mahal. Anna mengalami kecelakaan, karena ulah seorang gadis yang menyetir sambil mengirim sms, dan kini Anna terbaring koma. Kecelakaan Anna membuat Ethan tersadar akan segala sikapnya selama ini. Janjinya kepada Anna, kekasih dan sahabat sejati yang amat dicintainya, untuk membuat sebuah lagu terabaikan. Apakah semua sudah terlambat ? Di tengah keterpurukannya, kakek Ethan menceritakan asal muasal Karl, sang gitar. Sanggupkah cerita kakeknya mengetuk perasaan dan sikap Ethan untuk bangkit kembali menata hidupnya dengan memprioritaskan keluarga?.

Novel ini sangat menggugah dan terasa membumi. Betapa di awal kala cinta tumbuh sangat indah, janji-janji mudah diucapkan. Kemapanan akan materi menjadi tuan bagi sang kepala keluarga dan berharap dengan uang semuanya beres. Dua insan yang penuh cinta, yang telah mengarungi hidup dengan pasang surutnya, kadang perlu sejenak menghentikan langkah agar bisa seirama kembali. Kadang perlu memberi ruang sejenak untuk menata dan saling introspeksi.
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Apr 30, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, thought-provoking

The Final Note: A Novel by Kevin Alan Milne

I picked up this book thinking that it was a super sweet romantic love story.Never did I think, I'd be blown away by the trials and tribulations, that this couple had to endure or go through. If anything, this love story, teaches you that true love can truly defy anything and everything. That with real love and the right person in your life, you can make it through everything that life throws at you, good or bad. And boy did this couple go through their...more

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May 31, 2011 Charity rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a new one for me and the author was someone I had never heard of. I did go to his website and I found that he is the author of several other books. Needless to say, after reading this one, I put them on my wish list:)

I was put through every type of emotion while I was reading this book. Kevin is an excellent writer!! My favorite character was probably Annaliese. She seemed so bent on helping Ethan and getting through life, even with all it's twists and turns. I loved how this book...more

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May 01, 2011 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful, wonderful book. It is filled with life's lessons, advice, and love. The title seems to have dual meanings....music and love. The book begins and end with both music and love and is sprinkled throughout with “love letters” from Anna and Ethan’s music.

Ethan and Anna met by chance in Vienna while she was on vacation and he was finishing his masters in music. It was a whirlwind romance, and when they returned to the states, they couldn't wait to get married. Their marriage was made...more

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May 17, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It was full of truisms and had a story that was realistic enough to break my heart. Bottom line - two good, young people fall in love in Austria. They play a little game where they meet up a couple times, Anna falls in love with Ethan, the musician, dreamer and idealist. Ethan falls in love with Anna, the artist, idealist, dreamer. They return to the states and he finds her in Moscow. That's Idaho. They hang out together with her dad, deeper lover develops and they marry.

Inevi...more

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May 03, 2011 Trinity Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Final Note by Kevin A. Milne is a wonderful, inspiring novel of love, forgiveness and loss. This is one of my most favorite books of 2011. The Prelude and Postlude are the most beautifully written ones I have ever read in any book. You will cry or rejoice with the characters in this charming book.
The Final Note is divided into 5 different parts. First verse, second verse, etc… Which I thought was really neat.
Ethan is a music major and Anna is an art major. Ethan wanted to write and sell hi...more The Final Note by Kevin A. Milne is a wonderful, inspiring novel of love, forgiveness and loss. This is one of my most favorite books of 2011. The Prelude and Postlude are the most beautifully written ones I have ever read in any book. You will cry or rejoice with the characters in this charming book.
The Final Note is divided into 5 different parts. First verse, second verse, etc… Which I thought was really neat.
Ethan is a music major and Anna is an art major. Ethan wanted to write and sell his songs, Anna wanted to write and illustrate children’s books. In The Final Note you will see if they got to do what they always dreamed of.
It seems in chapter after chapter they lost so much in their lives, but what ever happened they continued to love each other and look to the future.
One part of the book that I truly loved was whenever Ethan played his guitar for her she would leave him a love note in the guitar neck.
The title of the book is just wonderful and it fits in so well. The Final Note is just full of love and forgiveness.
Even though two people love each other dearly, you have to make time for each other and just do things together. That’s how a marriage grows. Ethan and Anna were drawing apart because of his job. He was never home and never had time to do anything. So they needed to remind each other what was the most important thing in a marriage.
After they had been through so very much, more than you can imagine Anna got in a horrible car accident. The last part of this book was just heart-wrenching. You have never seen such pain and suffering.
The parts on forgiveness are just wonderful. When you forgive someone you free yourself as well as them. This book The Final Note shows all of this and more. I would highly recommend this book and it is definitely a keeper.

I received my free copy from Sarah Reck at Center Street/HachetteBookGroup, for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

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Feb 12, 2012 Aly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really enjoyed this book from the moment I opened it straight through to the end. I loved the set up, each section labeled as part of a song, and the story was beautiful too. Ethan & Anna's relationship was so real. From an immediate spark to a growing adoration to settling into comfort and finally stressful lack of romance. Ethan started out so sweet and kind, and became so frustrating as the story went on. It made me like the story that much more because it was so real. I hated the deter...more I really enjoyed this book from the moment I opened it straight through to the end. I loved the set up, each section labeled as part of a song, and the story was beautiful too. Ethan & Anna's relationship was so real. From an immediate spark to a growing adoration to settling into comfort and finally stressful lack of romance. Ethan started out so sweet and kind, and became so frustrating as the story went on. It made me like the story that much more because it was so real. I hated the deterioration of the relationship, but recognized it as a common issue: man feels need to support family, family needs more time with man, man can't balance the two and still feel he's being supportive.

More than any of it though, I enjoyed Grandpa's story. I'm always a sucker for anything WWII related, and his story as an American spy captured in a concentration camp was harrowing. The friendship he found with Karl was incredible. Despite the fact that this particular story is a piece of fiction, there were millions of people who went into the concentration camps, it's helpful to think that out of all their suffering, there may have been a few who were given gifts the way Grandpa was.

I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the end of this novel though. While I was hoping that Anna would live through the coma and I'd enjoy a happy ending, by the time it came I almost felt the ending was happy enough. A change had happened in Ethan, he realized how to become a better father, a better man. And he and Hope seemed to be doing alright. I was ready to let her go. Then he sang her song, and she smiled (which of course I had already expected would be the game-changer if he would just play already!). Then Ethan & Hope were at a funeral. Then they went home to Anna who was sorry she missed Grandpa's funeral. It all happened quickly, and while I was so glad Ethan & Anna get to spend the rest of their lives together better than they previously had been doing... I feel a little cheated that I didn't get to see the moment when she woke up. That is a HUGE moment in a story like this, and the smile wasn't enough. Especially since everyone had already accepted her death. So basically 95% of this novel was wonderfully and truthfully written, and the final 5% was not the way it would go in real life, but makes for happy fiction.(less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Jenn O'Brien rated it 3 of 5 stars

Today’s lesson in life - never read emotionally draining books over your lunch hour. You come back to work puffy-eyed, splotchy faced, and you have a headache for the rest of the afternoon. I should have known better.

In fact I did know better. The reader knows from the get go you are investing in a roller coaster of emotion (even if you do predicted pretty far out how it was going end.) If you are a sap for Hallmark/Lifetime movies, then this is the book for you.

I really like the writing of Kevi...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Dion Yulianto rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sebenarnya, saya jarang membaca novel tipe roman seperti ini. kalau saja tidak menang kuis dan mendapat buntelan novel ini, saya hampir bisa dipastikan akan melewatkan kisah yang luar biasa dengan bumbu-bumbu musikal ini. Ethan Bright menemukan kekasih sekaligus sahabat sejatinya di kota tua Wina. Wanita itu adalah Annaliese, sang pujaan yang ternyata juga berasal dari Amerika Serikat. Berdua, keduanya saling jatuh cinta dan mengikrarkan diri di altar pelaminan, saling berjanji untuk selalu men...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Amel Armeliana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, romance

Ethan Bright selalu mengimpikan menjadi seorang penulis lagu yang sukses. Impian inilah yang membawanya ke Wina, Austria. Ditemani gitar tua bernama Karl yang diwariskan kakeknya, seorang veteran perang dunia ke II, Ethan melanjutkan sekolah di The University of Music and Performing Arts di Wina. Dalam semester pertama kuliahnya ketika persediaan uang sudah menipis, dengan mempergunakan Karl, Ethan mengamen di jalan-jalan di Austria dengan lagu andalan Bohemian Rhapsody.

Suatu hari di trem, Ethan...more Ethan Bright selalu mengimpikan menjadi seorang penulis lagu yang sukses. Impian inilah yang membawanya ke Wina, Austria. Ditemani gitar tua bernama Karl yang diwariskan kakeknya, seorang veteran perang dunia ke II, Ethan melanjutkan sekolah di The University of Music and Performing Arts di Wina. Dalam semester pertama kuliahnya ketika persediaan uang sudah menipis, dengan mempergunakan Karl, Ethan mengamen di jalan-jalan di Austria dengan lagu andalan Bohemian Rhapsody.

Suatu hari di trem, Ethan melihat seorang gadis cantik yang sepertinya sangat bersemangat dengan segala peninggalan sejarah di Austria. Ethan kemudian mengetahui gadis cantik itu bernama Annaliese Burke. Mereka lalu berkenalan dan selama Anna di Wina, Ethan bertindak sebagai pemandu wisatanya. Dengan mudah Ethan jatuh cinta kepada Anna. Tetapi kemudian Anna meninggalkan Wina dan Ethan menyadari dia tidak mempunyai alamat atau bahkan nomor telepon Anna. Karena itulah Ethan kemudian sangat terkejut dan bahagia ketika Anna kembali dan mengatakan dia ingin mendengarkan permainan gitar Ethan. Ethan memainkan Canon in D Major dari Pachelbel khusus untuk Anna. Anna kemudian menyelipkan pesan di senar gitar Ethan yang isinya mengajak bertemu di Salzburg. Pada hari yang sangat menentukan itu Ethan malah terlambat datang dan putus ada ketika dia tidak menemukan Anna di sana. Akhirnya Ethan memainkan gitarnya di sana dan ketika tiba giliran lagu Bohemian Rhapsody, Anna tiba-tiba muncul dan menegurnya. Di situlah Anna menanyakan kepada Ethan seberapa jauh jarak yang akan Ethan tempuh untuk mengejarnya dan Ethan menjawab, "tergantung sejauh mana kau berada".

Begitu selesai kuliah, Ethan langsung mengejar Anna ke Idaho. Tidak memerlukan waktu yang lama bagi mereka berdua untuk menyadari bahwa mereka sangat saling mencintai dan akhirnya menikah. Di hari pernikahannya Ethan mencatat janji-janji yang sudah dia ucapkan kepada ayah Anna, kakeknya, ayahnya dan terutama kepada istrinya, Anna. Ethan berjanji akan selalu bernyanyi untuk Anna dengan gitarnya paling tidak seminggu sekali, menuliskan sebuah lagu khusus untuk Anna dan menyanyikannya di ulang tahun pertama pernikahan mereka dan yang terakhir bahwa cintanya kepada Anna akan terus bertambah dari hari ke hari.

Sebagai pasangan yang baru menikah, segala sesuatunya masih terasa indah bahkan dalam keadaan mereka yang sangat pas-pasan. Ethan bekerja sebagai pengajar paruh waktu di toko musik dan Anna di swalayan. Dalam saat-saat senggang mereka dihabiskan Ethan dengan mengarang lagu-lagu dan Anna mengerjakan ilustrasi untuk buku anak-anak yang dia impikan suatu hari akan diterbitkan. Ethan selalu menyanyikan lagu untuk Anna dengan gitarnya dan Anna kemudian akan menyelipkan pesan cintanya di senar Karl. Saat-saat indah itu mulai berakhir ketika secara tidak sengaja Anna mengakibatkan kebakaran di apartemen mereka dan menghanguskan segalanya. Anna hanya sempat menyelamatkan Karl. Mereka terpaksa kembali ke rumah ayah Anna dan tinggal disana sambil berusaha mengumpulkan uang agar mereka kembali bisa mandiri. Anna kemudian hamil tetapi keguguran pada bulan kelima.

Pada ulang tahun perkawinan mereka yang pertama, Anna menepati janji dengan membuatkan sebuah lukisan untuk Ethan, tapi Ethan tidak bisa menepati janjinya membuatkan sebuah lagu khusus untuk Anna. Ethan kemudian diterima bekerja di sebuah perusahaan di California sebagai pembuat jingle iklan. Anna kemudian kembali hamil, tapi kembali keguguran. Berkali-kali Anna hamil tapi selalu keguguran, hingga ketika mereka mencoba untuk yang ke enam kalinya akhirnya Anna berhasil melahirkan anak kembar yang mereka beri nama Faith dan Hope. Tapi Faith meninggal hanya sehari setelah dia muncul di dunia ini. Sejak saat itu Hope menjadi tumpuan Anna dan Ethan. Kehadiran Hope membuat Ethan harus bekerja lebih keras untuk mencukupi kebutuhan mereka.

Ketika keadaan ekonomi di Amerika merosot dan pemecatan harus dilakukan di perusahaan tempat dia bekerja, Ethan malah mendapatkan tawaran sebagai GM karena sahabat dan mantan boss nya, Mark memutuskan untuk pensiun. Jabatan baru sebagai GM walaupun berarti jauh meningkatnya penghasilan Ethan, juga mengakibatkan semakin sedikitnya waktu yang bisa dibagi Ethan untuk Anna dan Hope. Ethan semakin sering bepergian dan selalu sibuk sepanjang waktu. Musik dan Karl terlupakan. Tidak ada lagi lagu yang dinyanyikan untuk Anna, yang berarti berhenti pula pesan-pesan cinta Anna kepada Ethan. Semakin hari Ethan dan Anna semakin sering bertengkar, bahkan untuk hal-hal yang kecil sekalipun. Puncaknya ketika Hope akan berulang tahun yang ke 8 dan Anna meminta Ethan menyediakan waktu untuk acara ulang tahun tersebut. Anna marah besar ketika Ethan belum juga membeli hadiah untuk Hope dan kemudian malah menyuruh Anna untuk membeli gitar sebagai hadiah karena dia "tidak ada waktu". Anna sangat marah dan mulai mempertanyakan perkawinannya dengan Ethan. Anna meminta Ethan berhenti bekerja karena dia menginginkan suaminya yang dulu kembali. Anna kemudian mengirim pesan kepada Ethan bahwa dia akan membelikan gitar untuk Hope. Tetapi Anna tidak pernah pulang dari perjalanannya membeli gitar karena dalam perjalanan pulang Anna kecelakaan. Mobil kecilnya ditabrak oleh sebuah mobil SUV yang dikemudikan seorang gadis yang lalai karena menyetir sambil mengirim sms.

Anna berada dalam keadaan koma dan para dokterpun pesimis dengan keadaan Anna. Mereka mempertanyakan living will Anna. Sebenarnya Ethan dan Anna memiliki living will, dimana mereka masing-masing berjanji apabila sesuatu terjadi pada salah satu dari mereka dimana mereka harus bergantung pada mesin untuk menunjang kehidupan, maka mereka memilih untuk melepaskan. Ethan merasa sangat bersalah kepada Anna. Dia selama ini telah lupa kepada janji-janjinya yang dulu kepada istrinya. Dia telah menelantarkan istri dan anak yang mereka dapatkan dengan susah payah dengan dalih semua yang dia lakukan untuk kesejahteraan keluarga. Dia juga tidak sempat menepati janjinya kepada Anna untuk menuliskan lagu khusus untuknya. Sekarang Anna terbaring koma, dengan harapan hidup yang sangat kecil. Sanggupkah Ethan merelakan Anna? Bisakah Ethan bangkit dari kesedihan? Ataukah dia akan seperti ayahnya dulu, yang menelantarkan dirinya karena terpuruk dalam kesedihan? Dan masih berartikah lagu yang akhirnya bisa dia ciptakan khusus untuk Anna?

The Final Note adalah salah satu novel yang "sangat indah" untuk dibaca. When you get started to read this, it's so hard to put it down. Kevin Alan Milne definitely going to be one of my favorite author. Kevin berhasil menggambarkan bahwa cinta yang begitu menggebunya pun bisa perlahan aus apabila tidak dipelihara. Kadang kita baru menyadari betapa berartinya seseorang bagi kita begitu kita sadar kita telah kehilangannya. Seperti Ethan kepada Anna. Lagu yang Ethan tuliskan khusus untuk Anna sangat indah, sangat menyentuh. Ethan said in his song ;
Take my life if you'd like,
Because I found what I came to find
Or leave me here for a while,
Cuz I found heaven....in her smile(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 L8blmr rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was prepared to write a scathing review of this book when I was about halfway through, but when it went on to affirm my belief that music is a powerful, miraculous force unlike any other, I relented. Though much of the story was painful, some of it a bit cliched, it moved me and reminded me of things I had filed in the dark recesses of my mind, pushed out of the way by the stresses of life. Now I have dusted some of those truisms off and put them back into play, at least until I need to be rem...more

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Mar 07, 2013 bakanekonomama rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pinjem

Apa yang paling dibutuhkan dalam sebuah pernikahan?

Pertanyaan itulah yang bermain di benak saya setelah membaca "Pesan-pesan Cinta". Pertanyaan yang tidak saya ketahui jawabannya, karena saya belum merasakannya. Namun, bukan berarti saya tidak memiliki pendapat sendiri, mengenai apa yang paling dibutuhkan dalam sebuah pernikahan.... Berdasarkan apa yang saya lihat, perhatikan, dan alami, menurut saya, yang paling dibutuhkan dalam pernikahan adalah: komitmen.

Komitmen dalam menepati janji di hadap...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Sulis Langsing rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, pinjem

read more: http://kubikelromance.blogspot.com/20...

Sebelumnya saya tidak kepikiran untuk membaca buku ini, baca beberapa review dari teman-teman mereka berpendapat kalau buku ini recomended banget terlebih buat yang suka cerita sedih. Karna alasan itulah saya enggan membacanya, saya lagi kepengen baca cerita yang happy. Kemudian saya melihat mbak Prisca Primasari merekomendasikan buku ini di Goodreads kepada saya, dia bilang bukunya sedih. Bikin saya penasaran. Kalau sudah begitu maka saya harus...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Oky Septya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-comedy

Gaya bertuturnya masih sama. Dalem, sederhana, tapi nggak berkesan menggurui. Saya suka. And it has more romance than Sweet Misfortune. Pertemuan Ethan dan Anna yang romantis di Wina, Romantisnya nggak ketulungan, begitu lulus langsung ngejar Anna ke rumahnya dan nggak lama kemudian mereka menikah muda.

Ethan bahkan bikin daftar janji-janji pernikahan yang sumpah kalo kamu cewek pasti kamu bakal ngiri banget. Si Ethan ini mirip-mirip Adam dalam Where She Went-nya Gayle Forman. Seorang musisi, ro...more Gaya bertuturnya masih sama. Dalem, sederhana, tapi nggak berkesan menggurui. Saya suka. And it has more romance than Sweet Misfortune. Pertemuan Ethan dan Anna yang romantis di Wina, Romantisnya nggak ketulungan, begitu lulus langsung ngejar Anna ke rumahnya dan nggak lama kemudian mereka menikah muda.

Ethan bahkan bikin daftar janji-janji pernikahan yang sumpah kalo kamu cewek pasti kamu bakal ngiri banget. Si Ethan ini mirip-mirip Adam dalam Where She Went-nya Gayle Forman. Seorang musisi, romantis, dan cinta mati sama perempuan yang kemudian jadi the love of his life gitu deh. That deep passion and love of Anna and Ethan... aaaww so sweetnya pasangan ini.

Salah satu janji pernikahan mereka adalah Anna, akan memberikan satu surat cinta.setiap kali Ethan memainkan lagu untuknya. Awalnya mereka masih idealis dan saling mendukung. Penuh dengan impian, dimana Ethan ingin menjadi pencipta lagu sedangkan Anna ingin jadi penulis buku. Namun realita tentu tak seindah mimpi. Tak ada satu pun dari mereka yang berhasil mewujudkan mimpi itu. Lalu kepercayaan diri pun hilang. Akhirnya mereka menyerah.

Dalam The Final Note ini terlihat adanya pendewasaan karakter setelah mereka melalui masalah demi masalah. That's what happens on marriage I guess, priority always comes first. Iyalaaah~ Mereka menyerah karena ada prioritas yang lebih mendesak.

Kecelakaan itu mengubah segalanya. Ethan nyaris depresi. Ia sangat takut kehilangan istrinya dan merasa sangat bersalah. Padahal ia belum sempat menunaikan semua janji-janji pernikahannya. Belum lagi ia marah sekali pada remaja yang menabrak istrinya hanya gara-gara SMSan sambil nyetir, astaga. Makanya, jangan smsan ya kalau lagi nyetir!

Banyak banget pesan moral yang disampaikan dalam The Final Note. Salah satunya adalah untuk bisa berbesar hati memaafkan orang lain dan diri sendiri, Memaafkan untuk membebaskan hati dari beban. Karena amarah itu cuma buang waktu dan sia-sia. Banyak hal lain yang lebih penting dari itu. So, please forgive.

Review lengkap di http://sinopsisuntukmu.blogspot.com/2...(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Daniela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I picked up this book thinking that it was a super sweet romantic love story about a couple who find each other after obstacles. Never did I think, I'd be blown away by the trials and tribulations, that this couple had to endure or go through. If anything, this love story, teaches you that true love can truly defy anything and everything. That with real love and the right person in your life, you can make it through everything that life throws at you, good or bad. And boy did this couple go...more Wow. I picked up this book thinking that it was a super sweet romantic love story about a couple who find each other after obstacles. Never did I think, I'd be blown away by the trials and tribulations, that this couple had to endure or go through. If anything, this love story, teaches you that true love can truly defy anything and everything. That with real love and the right person in your life, you can make it through everything that life throws at you, good or bad. And boy did this couple go through their ups and downs. Through miscarriages, losing all their belongings in an apartment fire, losing jobs, not having enough money, having to give up on their true dreams, losing a child, and then almost losing each other, I couldn't put this book down, because I really wanted to see where this couple would wind up. If they would make it through everything or if the horrors of bad luck would weigh down on them too much and they would part. Their love story makes you realize that even though we all want the lavish life, money or the nicest of things, that sometimes, you'd be willing to give it all up, just for the love and happiness of your family. Just to have your family and the ones you love with you at all times. In the end, the material things truly do not mean a thing. But, like this couple, you have to go through things to make you realize it. And when it does become a realization, would you give it all up, just to keep your family together?

I also loved the aspect of the narrators grandfather's input throughout this story and his mystery guitar "Karl". We finally get the truth and whole story about the guitar and what we learn isn't a peachy wonderful story. It's a heart breaking, but mind blowing story that still lives you in good faith. The grandfather's story teaches you about forgiveness and the fact that sometimes even those you consider your enemy will surprise you and become a friend. A friend that you can rely on forever.

Another great thing for me, was that the narrator was from the point of view of a male. I've often read point of view's from women, so this one was very interesting to me. As a woman,I obviously know what we go through and how we often think. But to see all of this, from a male's point of view was very refreshing and very knowledgeable. It made me realize so much more, what a male really goes through to keep his family happy. To make sure that his wife and children have everything and anything they want or need, even if it means sacrificing himself in the process. It was very moving, touching and maybe sometimes even frustrating what he went through and what he did to keep all of this going for himself and his family.

I'm a big lover of a music and it moved me to see that music played a big part in this love story as well. It was all together something I never expected to read, but am so glad that I did. A wonderful love story nonetheless....(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Lindsay rated it 3 of 5 stars

I probably would have given this book four stars if it wasn't so sad. And it wasn't the whole 'the wife might die' part that made me sad. It was the Grandpa part towards the end of the book, where he is telling the story of how he got Karl the guitar, which he gives to Ethan to play, so music plays a big part in this novel.
It was a good book. Like I sad, a little to sad for my taste, but the writing was great, flowed well and could easily be read in a day. Ethan meets Anna while on a trip in Aus...more

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May 14, 2013 Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars

Really liked this book right up to the ending. Wish the ending had been different but made me think about needing to be forgiving all the time. We never know when we might not have the chance to say good bye or forgive someone. We need to live our lives in the here and now not looking into the future or the mentality that I have time to make things right tomorrow. Tell the important people in your life that you love them and if you need to forgive or be forgiven get it done.

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May 01, 2013 Evilbarncat rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished this book in a day. It has been a very long time since I devoured a book like that. The Final Note had me gripped from the beginning and the story flowed beautifully. It made me smile, made me laugh and it was a wonderful read. I usually rate books 5 that I would read again. This book was marvelous but I never want to read it again because it hits very close to home and although it is something I'm glad I read, I don't want to put myself through it again.

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Jun 23, 2012 Ed rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was one of the more well-written, heart-wrenching, surprise books in a long time. I kept trying to figure out what the "note" was, and in reality, for me, the title was superb, as there were many "notes" it could have referred to. I know what the author left as the final note, but I interpreted it to have more than one final note. Tremendously engaging story everyone should read.

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Aug 24, 2012 Ling rated it 3 of 5 stars

As the description of this book writes, it is about love, loss, and treasure.

The story is nice for people who love love story. To me, the book describes the relationship between Anna and Ethan impressively.

Does author want to say that Guitar is the magic in the story? It connects the whole story pretty well. It you want to see how guitar connects Anna and Ethan together. Read the book!

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Jun 07, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was going to be like lots of others I have read with the husband getting busy at work and then neglecting his family and then figuring things out, but it had some added dimensions that made it a very good story. Music was a good part of the story and I believe that music can change how I feel about work or people or spirituality or love...anything really. It has great power. And I love the play on words in the title.

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Dec 10, 2012 Ayu rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: translation

mungkin karena terjemahannya kurang oke (menurut saya), atau saya hanya nggak suka gaya penulisannya. Tapi jangankan nangis, sedih aja nggak saat baca buku ini :p - tidak seperti rekomendasi dari salah satu penulis favorit saya (which is sebab kenapa saya membeli dan membaca buku ini).

anyway, karakter utamanya kenapa nyebelin ya...

sekian.

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Apr 08, 2013 Barbara Kinnecom rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and it took me only one day to read. I couldn't put it down. It was realistic and written as it was lived. There were many morales revealed and I found myself crying several times. It gave me hope and strength to continue to face adversities that life hands you.

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May 02, 2011 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: first-reads

This book was amazing and inspiring. I love how the stories were told and how the book seemed to be a story of an older man reflecting on his life. And in part, it told the stories of others around him. I feel like I stepped into Ethan's life and shared some of his life lessons with him. It was simply amazing and I highly recommend.

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Apr 08, 2012 Carlos rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely fabulous. It really tugged on my heartstrings. It had me thinking about true love the whole day. I read it in one shot. There are some books that will stay with you, like an experience, and this book is one of them.

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May 19, 2011 PK Reeves rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beautiful absolutely beautiful.... Get your Kleenex box ready and read Aisle B's review http://aisleb.tumblr.com/post/5628871...

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Feb 10, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

what is it with me choosing books about car accidents & brain injuries???
Not neat & tidy, as I usually prefer, but well written in my opinion

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Apr 05, 2012 Shannono Hincher rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book. Though it is very sad. It tells a wonderful love story. But it also teaches about loss, and forgiveness.

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title link	preview: The Final Note: A Novel
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The Final Note: A Novel

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