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Dear John
by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)
by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)
Spoiler Alert - Though it started out really well, I hated the ending! In typical Sparks fashion, your not left with a happy ending. Though I have been a fan of his (The Notebook is one of my favorites), I am growing weary of these endings. I just don't like to invest my time and the roller coaster of emotions he sends you through only to be left unsatisfied. (If you've seen the movie Cold Mountain, you may get what I mean. I felt the same way at the end of it, "Hello...I spent 3 hours watching this movie for this!) Anyway, I felt like this could have been a really good book had it ended differently. I mean the poor guy is left with absolutely nothing, while (thanks to him)she goes off into the sunset with another man. Yes, it was a great selfless act that he did, but it doesn't make for a great ending. Did I mention the man was left with nothing! hehe
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Jodi
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 10, 2009 01:10pm
I feel the same way!
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I totally disagree. He's a genius writer. Some endings don't turn out as we want but it's still a good book.
That's what makes this book so good! Life is never like we think it's going to be. Sometimes we don't get what we want. The entire book was about John and how he was selfish and angry. Savannah helped him become unselfish and learn to love others. He might not have got the girl in the end but he came away with something much more valuable. He came away with the ability to love.
The reason Sparks does this is because life won't always end with your own happily ever after. Sometimes, you have to give your happily ever after to the person you love the most, even if it doesn't include you.
I agree, life isn't always picture perfect, in fact it rarely ever is and we shouldn't walk around wearing rose tinted glasses, but almost all his books end this way. It's too fatalistic and it gets annoying after a while. I understand what you mean Erin and agree 100%.
I actually loved this book.. And I was very happy with the ending. I didn't care for Savannah's character in this book, I thought that she was a tease. And even though John was left with nothing at the end I think that he grew. Being in the Army and then having Savannah go off and marry someone else. Even though he was left with no one at the end doesn't mean that he wasn't happy. To me, I thought he was happy. He gave Savannah what she wanted. And in my mind I see him living a happy life.But this is just me. :) Everyone has their own opinions. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents out there..
I hate the fact when she says in one of the letters if you break you're promise you will break my heart she broke his heart I wouldn't even go looking for her
I felt the same way! I despised Savannah. It's all her fault. If she didn't get marry, maybe it will be a happy ending.
well, if you feel like seeing a happy ending to the story go see the movie..... Tim dies and Savannah and John get together.
yes, but let me tell you...neither one died!!! that is definitely a plus, it always sucks when a main character dies, like in a lot of his books. I was expecting that john and savannah were not going to end up together after her last letter to him, but when he finally comes back into her life and find her circumstances grim, I think...maybe there is hope, but know Nicholas Sparks better than that. I thought the way it ended was so sad made me cry and cry, but part of that wasn't because I was sad, but touched that he would be so brave and loving to allow goodness to come of a bad situation and often times that means sacrifice. not to say that I don't like happy endings, but this one was more heartful than a lof of his books. It was more of a loving sacrifice than a terrible love tragedy..this is why I liked it better than some of his others.
I actually felt the ending of this book was the very definition of unconditional love. John loves Savannah so much that he is willing to help the man she loves even it means she will never be with him.I love this ending and was very disappointed that the movie changed the ending.
i saw the film adaptation of A walk to Remember, The Notebook, The Last Song and Dear John but the only thing I read of Nicholoas Sparks is Dear John and I swear I will just watch the movie rather than read another N. Sparks novel. I don't think I could take another one of his books that sounds almost the same and written almost the same with characters dying. Yup one Nicholas Sparks novel and I know what the rest is all about.. Just see the films.
