Book and Movie Review of Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Safe Haven is about a young woman named Katie running from a dangerous past. She makes her way to the small town of Southport, North Carolina, and settles into a happy existence. Despite her attempts to remain isolated, she's drawn into new relationships: one with her neighbor, Jo, and the other with Alex, a widower with two small children who runs the local general store.
Alex sees not only who Katie is, but glimpses of what she's running from. Finding themselves quickly falling in love, Katie worries her secret will come back to haunt them. With Alex's support she finds new strength and when it comes time to confront her past, she does so with courage.
The thing I liked best about this book is that it was not a typical damsel in distress story. Katie is an intelligent, resourceful woman who relies on herself to escape a dangerous situation. Alex provides the support to give her more outward confidence and her love for him and his children makes her stand her ground when the past arrives unexpectedly. While Alex does help her when danger strikes, Katie is the one who ultimately rescues herself.
Sparks has gotten very good at multiple points of view, and his writing from Kevin's point of view filled out the story more and made Katie's strength and bravery show in a brighter light. As a survivor of abuse I couldn't help but find myself drawn into Katie's world and admiring the way she used her intelligence and quick thinking to rescue herself as well as the people she loved.
This is easily my favorite Nicholas Sparks book, followed closely by The Lucky One. I enthusiastically give this book:
In 2013, the book was made into a movie. As always happens, there were some changes and things left out. Most notably, the lengths Katie needed to go to in order to escape and the level of insanity that exists in Kevin. Alex's character was also changed, altering his past somewhat. In the book, he realizes what Katie was running from almost immediately after meeting her due to his military service in the CID.
For the most part, the movie was faithful to the book and I loved it. The only difference that confused me was the change of Alex's daughter's name from Kristen to Lexie. But, as Lexie is the name of one of Sparks's daughters, the choice of name isn't entirely strange.
This has become one of my very favorite movies, both because of my own past and because I find Katie to be an inspiring character. Her confrontation at the end exhibits her strength and intelligence and she wins the confrontation all on her own.
I give this movie:
Alex sees not only who Katie is, but glimpses of what she's running from. Finding themselves quickly falling in love, Katie worries her secret will come back to haunt them. With Alex's support she finds new strength and when it comes time to confront her past, she does so with courage.
The thing I liked best about this book is that it was not a typical damsel in distress story. Katie is an intelligent, resourceful woman who relies on herself to escape a dangerous situation. Alex provides the support to give her more outward confidence and her love for him and his children makes her stand her ground when the past arrives unexpectedly. While Alex does help her when danger strikes, Katie is the one who ultimately rescues herself.
Sparks has gotten very good at multiple points of view, and his writing from Kevin's point of view filled out the story more and made Katie's strength and bravery show in a brighter light. As a survivor of abuse I couldn't help but find myself drawn into Katie's world and admiring the way she used her intelligence and quick thinking to rescue herself as well as the people she loved.
This is easily my favorite Nicholas Sparks book, followed closely by The Lucky One. I enthusiastically give this book:
In 2013, the book was made into a movie. As always happens, there were some changes and things left out. Most notably, the lengths Katie needed to go to in order to escape and the level of insanity that exists in Kevin. Alex's character was also changed, altering his past somewhat. In the book, he realizes what Katie was running from almost immediately after meeting her due to his military service in the CID.
For the most part, the movie was faithful to the book and I loved it. The only difference that confused me was the change of Alex's daughter's name from Kristen to Lexie. But, as Lexie is the name of one of Sparks's daughters, the choice of name isn't entirely strange.
This has become one of my very favorite movies, both because of my own past and because I find Katie to be an inspiring character. Her confrontation at the end exhibits her strength and intelligence and she wins the confrontation all on her own.
I give this movie:
Photo Credit: Katherine Elizabeth
Stars Image Credit: lovethenerddesigns
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