Title: Message to Sparks: Take a Class
Product review: Someone should tell the author of "Message in a Bottle" that a description of someone grilling steaks is NOT the same as exposition! I read "Message" after hearing much praise for Sparks's first novel. What a waste of time! While fiction requires "the willing suspension of disbelief" on the part of the reader, this piece of fiction used up my willingness far too soon and gave too little in return. Nothing about this novel makes me want to believe--not the characters, not the far-fetched plot, not the use of dialogue where description would do.Perhaps Mr. Sparks can spend a fraction of his writing income to attend a good fiction-writing workshop and then try again. In the meantime, I will stick to Booker short-list titles.
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