Book & Movie Review: "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks

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I read this book in less than 48 hours and then tonight I saw the movie. The book was a really easy read compared to Infidel, I think I was ready for something simple like a silly girly romance. It's not a favorite book but I wanted to read it before seeing the movie because I love comparing. One of the best parts of going to the movie is pretending you're a critic -- have you ever heard that Dane Cook skit? If you haven't you should watch it, he gets into the critic stuff around 7:20... anyways I'm getting off topic now.

My Rating (via GoodReads): 3/5 stars
Kobo Price: $6.99

I feel like maybe I'm being a little generous with 3 stars but I really wanted to like this book.  I needed some mindless reading -- it was that, there was nothing too elaborate, it was very straight forward and somewhat predictable. Typical "battered woman escapes from husband" plot. There was a little twist at the end which made it unique. After reading it I was very interested to see what they would do with the movie. WELL, let me say the only thing shared between the movie and the book was the name. I've seen many movies based on novels and I'm fully aware it's not usually how you picture it but this, this was ridiculous. In the book, the main character, I'll call her Katie (even though her real name is Erin) was so understandably vulnerable when she escapes to this small town, her "Safe Haven" if you will, it takes her ages to open up and even be able to look at another man. In the movie however, Ms. Julianne Hough (the actress who plays Katie) is more of an exhibitionist and is openly affectionate from the very beginning. Aside from the acting, there were plot points that were completely different and really unnecessary changes. Not that it really matters but why would you even bother changing stupid little details not shown in the movie when you could have just as easily have it been the same as in the book, such as where the other main character, Alex is from? In the book he was from Spokane, WA in the film he was from Wilmington, I mean what's the point? It's not like they showed where he grew up or elaborated anymore than that single sentence, why not leave it to have some fluidity between novel/book. There was even a scene with a canoe and the rain (not in the novel of course) that was literally identical to a scene from the Notebook...The whole thing was sort of stupid. Since going to film school, I think I've become more critical of movies, which is sort of odd since now I have a way better understanding of how much work and effort goes into each minute of film, but there were just so many problems, where was the script supervisor?

Basically what I'm saying is the book wasn't horrible and the film, it was horrendous. But I laughed with good friends and I ate popcorn, so I had a good night anyway!