Review:
Dear John isn't the book I normally read. I read the Notebook and really didn't like it, but I know that Sparks is a great author and my wife reads everything he writes. So I decided to read Dear John because it's a short easy read, my wife read it, and Sparks is a good author. I'm a sucker for a good romantic movie, so maybe I'd like a romantic book.

The book opens with a prologue about John Tyree and it appears to be set in the present. My first thought was that this prologue gives away way too much of the plot. Then chapter 1 begins seven years earlier. John Tyree is a high school kid without direction. He's had an okay life, being raised by his emotionless father, but senses he wants more. This causes him to join the Army and the Army redirects his life and gives him focus. He quits smoking and partying and becomes an excellent soldier. At home on leave in Wilmington, North Carolina, he meets Savannah and they instantly become friends. Savannah is a Christian girl two years younger than him that is beautiful and John falls for her. I don't know what women readers think of John and Savannah, but John is a little rough around the edges, but chilverous and kind. Savannah, is perfect, a pretty, kind, moral girl who any guy would fall for.

I've read a few Christian novels in my time and the first half of the novel starts out like one, with Savannah the Christian girl and John the rough Army soldier. Of course, this isn't a Christian novel and I didn't expect it to be. However, Savannah does make some choices that I wish were explained better. It's not that they aren't realistic, but the story is told from John's point of view, and it would have been nice to be inside Savanah's head for some of the novel so the reader could see her motivations for her action. As a character, she had everything together. Occasionally she acts on impulse, or seems too. I'd like to know more about her thoughts before some of her actions in order to make them more believable.

Sparks has stated that he is a writer of love stories, which he defines as stories with a tragic element. Dear John is well written, with great characters and a good plot. But to know that Sparks writes tragedies kind of spoils the fun. I asked my wife and she said all his stories have an element of sadness. Sparks would be a great author too if he added a few happy or at least bittersweet endings. The plot of Dear John felt convoluted, like Sparks had to add some unrealistic twists in order to give the story an appropriate sadness. Still, I understand his appeal. I raced through this novel like few others. Another minor complaint: Sparks believes characters can have a love that is so strong it can force people to ignore marriage vows or moral principles. That subject comes up in this novel, and (I promise I'm not giving anything away) characters seem to be ready to excuse certain behavior in the name of love.

Conclusion: Dear John is a good book and I can see why Sparks is a bestseller. John and Savannah are great characters as is Tim and John's father. I recommend this book to anyone who likes tragic love stories. Since I don't, I probably won't be reading more of Sparks any time soon even though I enjoyed his writing and characters very much.

Where to buy:
You can find this book on SALE right now on Amazon