Safe Haven
by Nicholas Sparks
I already knew I didn’t like Nicholas Sparks’s writing before I picked up Safe Haven. I’d read The Notebook, loathed it, and hated almost every movie adaptation of his books. The exception was the movie of Safe Haven; I thought it was riveting and clever. So, I thought he deserved a second chance, and I picked up a copy at my favorite used bookstore.
My goodness, I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by a book! I guess the last time was when I read the novel of Chocolat and discovered that the entire character of the Comte de Reynaud didn’t exist. If that omission bothered you, you won’t like the book of Safe Haven. Without spoiling anything, there’s a huge, shocking plot twist in the film involving David Lyons’s character, and in the novel it doesn’t exist. That plot twist was my favorite part of the movie, and the reason why I thought it was so clever. Since Nicholas Sparks didn’t even think of it, I have to give credit where credit is due: screenwriters Dana Stevens and Gage Lansky.
The story follows a damaged young woman in search of a fresh start in a small town. Since it’s a Nicholas Sparks book, the setting is in beautiful North Carolina, and after you read it, you’ll probably want to head over there for a visit. Of course, the young woman meets a young man and falls in love, but when her past catches up with her, she has to decide if she’ll confront it or run away again.
My main problem with this novel is the same problem I had with The Notebook: I don’t think Nicholas Sparks is a very good writer. His tone is cold and clinical, and when he writes, it doesn’t conjure any images in the reader’s imagination. He also writes with a very masculine tone, which gives readers a hint that he won’t write female feelings or motivations very sympathetically.
“Retrieving a basket, she saw Alex approaching. He waved at her, and though it made no sense she had the feeling that she was really seeing him for the first time. Though his hair was gray, there were only a few lines around the corners of his eyes, but they added to, rather than detracted from, an overall sense of vitality. His shoulders tapered to a trim waist, and she had the impression that he was a man who neither ate nor drank to excess.”
For those who are anxious to see the movie—which I do recommend—I won’t spoil what gets spoiled pretty early on in the book: Nicholas Sparks wrote a particular character who has a violent temper, and the way he wrote the character’s thought process and behavior is unrealistic. Anyone who has known a truly violent man knows that his motivations are completely different. I know my opinion is in the minority, since his books continue to be best-sellers. But, in case you read Safe Haven and didn’t like it, you’re not alone.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Nicholas Sparks's novel The Notebook here!
My goodness, I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by a book! I guess the last time was when I read the novel of Chocolat and discovered that the entire character of the Comte de Reynaud didn’t exist. If that omission bothered you, you won’t like the book of Safe Haven. Without spoiling anything, there’s a huge, shocking plot twist in the film involving David Lyons’s character, and in the novel it doesn’t exist. That plot twist was my favorite part of the movie, and the reason why I thought it was so clever. Since Nicholas Sparks didn’t even think of it, I have to give credit where credit is due: screenwriters Dana Stevens and Gage Lansky.
The story follows a damaged young woman in search of a fresh start in a small town. Since it’s a Nicholas Sparks book, the setting is in beautiful North Carolina, and after you read it, you’ll probably want to head over there for a visit. Of course, the young woman meets a young man and falls in love, but when her past catches up with her, she has to decide if she’ll confront it or run away again.
My main problem with this novel is the same problem I had with The Notebook: I don’t think Nicholas Sparks is a very good writer. His tone is cold and clinical, and when he writes, it doesn’t conjure any images in the reader’s imagination. He also writes with a very masculine tone, which gives readers a hint that he won’t write female feelings or motivations very sympathetically.
“Retrieving a basket, she saw Alex approaching. He waved at her, and though it made no sense she had the feeling that she was really seeing him for the first time. Though his hair was gray, there were only a few lines around the corners of his eyes, but they added to, rather than detracted from, an overall sense of vitality. His shoulders tapered to a trim waist, and she had the impression that he was a man who neither ate nor drank to excess.”
For those who are anxious to see the movie—which I do recommend—I won’t spoil what gets spoiled pretty early on in the book: Nicholas Sparks wrote a particular character who has a violent temper, and the way he wrote the character’s thought process and behavior is unrealistic. Anyone who has known a truly violent man knows that his motivations are completely different. I know my opinion is in the minority, since his books continue to be best-sellers. But, in case you read Safe Haven and didn’t like it, you’re not alone.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Nicholas Sparks's novel The Notebook here!