[Review] Dear John - Nicholas Sparks

Title of Book: Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Warner Books
Pages: 276
Genre: ChikLit, Young-Adult
English Novel


An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life. 


*****


My review:

[Spoiler Alerts]

But instead I stay where I am and stare up at the moon as well. And for the briefest instant, it almost feels like we're together again.

Always loved Nicholas Sparks's books :*

Told about John Tyree, as usual Nicholas Sparks's books always told us about natural beauty of character's region. John and her father was as different as two people could possibly be. so many differences between them. This story rolled until John in university. He left college and chose to joined the American army. He got a job in Germany.One day, he got a summer vacation and met with Savannah Curtis. They decided to build relationship. Long distance relathionship became a true love. Savannah was willing to waited John. John was faced with two choices, country or love? Until John returned to his hometown, and must faced the harsh reality.

It was strange, but as much as I loved her and remembered our time together, I found that as summer turned to autumn, then changed again to winter

I love you, not just for now, but for always, and I dream of the day that you'll take me in your arms again.

I slipped my hand into hers knowing that I loved her not only more than the last time I'd seen her, but more than I would ever love anyone.

and this is the letter Savannah has wrote to John. Which is the core of the story or the origin of the title.


Dear John,




I'm writing this letter at the kitchen table, and I'm struggling because I don't know how to say what I'm about to tell you. Part of me wishes that you were here with me so I could do this in person, but we both know that's impossible. So here I am, groping for words with tears on my cheeks and hoping that you'll somehow forgive me for what I'm about to write.




I know this is a terrible time for you. I try not to think about the war, but I can't escape the images, and I'm scared all the time. I watch the news and scour newspapers, knowing you're in the midst of all of it, trying to find out where you are and what you're going through. I pray every night that you'll make it home safely, and 1 always will. You and 1 shared something wonderful, and I never want you to forget that. Nor do I want you to believe that you didn't mean as much to me as I did to you. You're rare and beautiful, John. I fell in love with you, but more than that, meeting you made me realize what true love really means. For the past two and a half years, I've been staring at every full moon and remembering everything we've been through together. I remember how talking to you that first night felt like coming home, and I remember the night we made love .I'll always be glad that you and I shared ourselves like that. To me, it means that our souls will be linked together forever.




There's so much more, too. When I close my eyes, I see your face; when I walk, it's almost as if I can feel your hand in mine. Those things are still real to me, but where they once brought comfort, now they leave me with an ache. I understood your reason for staying in the army, and I respected your decision. I still do, but we both know our relationship changed after that. We changed, and in your heart, 1 think you realized it, too. Maybe the time apart was too much, maybe it was just our different worlds. 1 don't know. Every time we fought I hated myself for it. Somehow, even though we still loved each other, we lost that magical bond that kept us together.




I know that sounds like an excuse, but please believe me when I say that I didn't mean to fall in love with someone else. If I don't really understand how it happened, how can you? I don't expect you to, but because of all we've been through, I just can't continue lying to you. Lying would diminish everything we've shared, and I don't want to do that, even though I know you will feel betrayed. I'll understand if you never want to talk to me again, just as I'll understand if you tell me that you hate me. Part of me hates me, too. Writing this letter forces me to acknowledge that, and when I look in the mirror, I know I'm looking at someone who isn't sure she deserves to be loved at all. I mean that.




Even though you may not want to hear it, I want you to know that you'll always be a part of me. In our time together, you claimed a special place in my heart, one I'll carry with me forever and that no one can ever replace. You're a hero and a gentleman, you're kind and honest, but more than that, you're the first man I ever truly haved. And no matter what the future brings, you always will be, and I know that my life is better for it.




I'm so sorry,
Savannah


So sad in this section:

"I love you, Savannah, and I always will,” I breathed. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You were my best friend and my lover, and I don't regret a single moment of it. You made me feel alive again, and most of all, you gave me my father. I'll never forget you for that. You're always going to be the very best part of me. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but I have to leave, and you have to see your husband." 

Hiks John oh John!

I sold the collection because I finally understood what true love really meant. Tim had told me—and shown me—that love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be. I'd left Tim's hospital room knowing that he'd been right. But doing the right thing wasn't easy. These days, I lead my life feeling that something is missing that I somehow need to make my life complete. I know that my feeling about Savannah will never change, and I know I will always wonder about the choice I made.