Love Hurts, Love Heals

Book Review on Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again. — Nicholas Sparks

Her smile was faded, Her hope was broken, Her dream was shattered and she was living on her own. Running from pillar to post, she knew deep within her heart, that one day he’ll find her. She didn’t have courage but with time, she emerged as a tower of strength. That power came from within. It never disappeared and gave her a new life, a new direction, new love, and family.

Katie- Her story touched me immensely. Nobody knew about from where she came to Southport? What did she do? Why did she come? How long will she stay? Was she married or single? Nobody could have answered all these questions except Katie. Her character has been portrayed as a young beautiful lady with a low profile in the town.

She didn’t have best of the childhood and her parents were alcoholics. She started working at a very tender age as a waitress. Her journey of life was smooth till the time she didn’t come across Kevin. The guy who promised the world to her made her life like hell. She cursed herself for the day when she met him on her way home. They fell in love and got married.

She didn’t know how hard-hearted he could become. He forced her to leave the job and raised his hands on her. He never allowed her to visit any friend and neighbors. Her home was not less than a cage. She cooked for him, washed his clothes, and served the food. He always looked for reasons to beat her up with a look of vengeance in his eyes. She didn’t have any other option but to escape.

Jo- She was the first person to whom Katie made her friend when she moved from Atlantic City to Southport. She had an amazing sense of humor in impressing others. She was inquisitive as well. Her favorite hobby was to enter into other’s minds and making them feel light at heart. She knew since the genesis that Katie doesn’t feel like interacting with people. She hasn’t shared her story with anyone.

She’s the one who loves to be on her own and can go on like this forever. Jo’s nature was a lot more different than Katie’s. Her idea of one night stay at Katie’s home helped her in knowing her better as an individual and a friend. The story which Katie cooked up as for one of her friend’s, Jo knew that it was her own.

Jo had an amazing quality of nodding her head without making someone realize that she knew the truth. Her first and foremost feature was to be friendly and a good listener to others. Everything was unique and incredible about Jo. She raised things at the right time for the right person with Katie.

Alex- He’s the most lovable and admirable character of this book. He lost his wife Carly after five years of blissful marriage. She died and left him alone along with two beautiful kids Kristen and Josh. Both were equally sweet and cute. He’s an awesome father, an honest husband, and an arduous person. He’s running his store at which Katie comes for buying daily household things.

For the first time, when he meets her, he feels in the same way when he met Carly. He’s not spotting for girls because he still has feelings for his dead wife. He never gets angry. He is always calm and composed no matter how hard the situation becomes. When days turn into months, he confesses his feelings to Katie and she admits that she loves him too but couldn’t marry him.

She spends quality time with his children and they make a small loving family once again. Alex has been shown as an imaginary character which every girl would love to get married to.

Kevin- I wonder why on earth such morons exist at all? He was not a man. I don’t count him as a man at least. He was insane and atrocious. He always pulled her hair and made her realize unwanted in the house. There wasn’t a single day when she slept with peace in her mind.

He treated her like an animal. He counted her as one of the most miserable creatures on this earth. I believe you have to pay a heavy price for falling in love at times. She cried many nights before she finally came up with a plan of running away from him. She was scared to hell and changed her real identity from Erin to Katie. He forced her to be unfaithful and acrid in their marriage.

He was knave and minion. He chased her and died on his own. Still, she had a heart of gold which cried even after he died.

Excerpts

“I just tell people what they already know and are afraid to admit to themselves”.

“Love doesn’t mean anything if you’re not willing to commit”.

“I truly believe while love can hurt, it can also heal”.

“There are dreams that visit us and leave us fulfilled upon walking and there are dreams that make life worth living”.

Final View

I have explored one more expression of love in an entirely different manner. I truly believe love can heal us, it can hurt us, it can make us weak and it’s the only thing which can make us stronger. I pity those souls on this earth who doesn’t value what they have in their life. They’re living in an illusion and their journey of life will be a lost game.

I have thought about Katie as a very courageous and kind-hearted woman who gave countless chances to Kevin. He didn’t change, he didn’t respect her, and he didn’t even care at all. Looking at Alex, I’m amazed that people like him do exist. He’s happy in his world and blessed with kids. He knew that she’s running away from someone but didn’t ask her.

He proposed her for marriage and left the decision on her. Jo didn’t leave me stunned either. I re-read those pages and realized that I just finished off reading a masterpiece.

Hats off to Nicholas Sparks for writing such a stunning novel.

*This blog was first written on 30th March 2012.

Gurpreet Dhariwal is the author of “My Soul Rants: Poems of a Born Spectator”. Her eBook is now available at Google PlayStore, Amazon, and Kindle.. Connect with Gurpreet on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Youtube.