Dear John

by: Nicholas Sparks

Published by: Warner Brothers

Reviewed by Susan Palmer

Sometimes you don't realize the true sacrifices men and women of the military make--that is, until you read Nicholas Sparks' Dear John.

John Tyree has been in the army since graduating from high school, and on a two-week furlough in Wilmington, North Carolina, he meets the love of his life, Savannah Curtis. Savannah is in Wilmington all summer with other teenagers, building houses for needy families. These teens spend their first weekend on the beach. John has been in the same area surfing that weekend, too.

Savannah is standing on the dock with friends when her purse falls into the ocean. John, being the gentleman and seeing this, dives off the dock to get her purse. As they introduce themselves, it is love at first sight for both. The romance blossoms during John's two-week furlough. When it is time for John to go back, he and Savannah promise to write to each other and also promise to further the romance when John gets out in two years.

For Savannah and John, there is no happily ever after, especially after 9/11. With his two-year end of army life approaching, 9/11 occurs and John re-enlists for another four years. He feels the need to do what his army buddies have done, and he does not want to be considered a coward. He calls Savannah after he has re-enlisted and the two must wait another four years before they can be together and get married.

Soon the letters and phone calls begin to slow between John and Savannah. After a six-week period of fighting in Iraq, John returns to Afghanistan with a letter from Savannah waiting. It turns out to be a "Dear John" letter--and Savannah tells John that she never meant to fall in love with someone else, but that she has.

Nicholas Sparks tells this story though the eyes of an army man. The reader experiences all of the ups and downs that John and Savannah have. By the end of the book you realize what it means to be truly in love and what scarifies John makes to achieve that.

Armchair Interviews says: Another touching story from Sparks.