Book Review: “Message in a Bottle” by Nicholas Sparks - Love After Grief

Source: Nicholas Sparks

“I am lost without you. I am soulless, a drifter without a home, a solitary bird in a flight to nowhere. I am all these things, and I am nothing at all. This, my darling, is my life without you. I long for you to show me how to live again.”

Message in a bottle is a tear-jerking novel. Which makes you realize the heartbreaking fragility and the enormous strength of love. It takes the readers on the quest for the truth about a man and his memories of his lover. How Theresa Osborne, a journalist wary about love and romance finds true love again. 

Introduction

Book’s Name - Message in a Bottle

Author’s Name - Nicholas Sparks

Genre - Romance

Adapted in – Message in a Bottle (movie)

Language - English

Synopsis - Spoiler Alert!

Theresa Osborne is divorced and disillusioned with romantic relationships when she finds a love letter addressed to "Catherine" in a bottle on the beach. She embarks on a search for this man who would change her life, driven by the mystery and feelings she doesn't completely comprehend. What happens to her is surprising, even miraculous.

Theresa was moved by the letter's warmth and decided to start on a mission that would change her life forever. Theresa flies to Wilmington to find this mysterious writer after much convincing from Deanna, a close friend, after discovering and reading the other two letters from other persons who had found a letter each, written by the same author and for the same recipient. 

It doesn't take her long to track down Garrett, the enigmatic author. Garrett's sadness for Catherine continues to limit the two's chemistry as they begin a steamy affair.

Their relationship is tested by the discovery of his letters in Theresa's drawer, which she had found earlier but never thought it possible to talk about. Garrett storms out of Theresa's flat that night, taking his letters with him, enraged at what he perceives as dishonesty and an affair based on lies. As time passes, the two are faced with the realization that one of them will have to change his or her life for them to be together

After going back to Wilmington, Garrett tries to work through the problem by telling his father, Jeb, who believes Garrett may have mishandled the situation. On the same day, Jeb has a visitor, a young woman whom he assumes to be Theresa. Theresa later broke off the relationship, claiming that she could never compete with Catherine, who continues to have a significant influence on Garrett.

A few days later, she receives an unexpected call from Jeb in Wilmington, instructing her to come immediately, which she did. In Wilmington, she was met with the grief of Garrett's death. Garrett had set sail on the prized asset Happenstance on a fateful day when a difficult-to-manage storm struck.

 He died after dropping the last message in a bottle into the water. Theresa replies with her letter of forgiveness, which she tosses into the sea, proclaiming her undying love for Garrett, after receiving Garrett's letter asking for her forgiveness.

About the Author/Writer

Nicholas Charles Sparks is an American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist. He has published twenty-two novels and two non-fiction books, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 115 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages.

Eleven of his novels have been adapted to film, including The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven (on all of which he served as a producer), The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in the Rodanthe, Dear John, The Last Song, and The Notebook.

Sparks lives in North Carolina, where he contributes to a variety of local and national charities. In 2011, he launched the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages.

About the Book

Message in a bottle is a second romance novel written by the bestseller novelist Nicholas Sparks. It is a story with a romance theme and how two grieving people find love. Set in the  mid-1990s in contemporary Wilmington North Carolina. 

It was adapted into a movie with the same title in 1999, starring Robin Wright and Kevin Costner. In a conference held in school, Nicholas Sparks had said that the story was inspired by his parents.

Self Analysis

The plot is tragic, and if you prefer happy endings, the climax may disappoint you. Though it is not one of the best love novels I have read, the writer has captured the sensations so effectively in this book.

The plot moves along nicely without becoming tedious, while there is some unnecessary material that detracts from the overall mood.

When you read them, you have butterflies in your stomach because of how wonderfully the private moments and their relationship have been traced out. Overall, if you enjoy romantic stories and believe in love, this is an excellent book to read.

 Famous Quotes

1. “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Remember that.”

2. “True love is rare, and it's the only thing that gives life real meaning.”

3. “Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face – I know it’s an impossibility, but I cannot help myself.”

The Bottom Line

Message in a Bottle gets you just so involved that I felt angry at the tragic ending. But reading the last letter written by Garrett it was just so heart-wrenching. This novel is something I would recommend, especially if you are going through a bad breakup.

My ratings for the book - 3.5 on 5

Get your copy from Amazon - Message In A Bottle

Written By - Melita Pinto