Search - The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud

Oh how I loved this book! The writing is so lyrical! I knew by the end of the first paragraph that this was going to be a wonderful read and it was. Intriguing story that will leave you thoughtful and stay with you a long time. You will soar with this book!

This is a wonderful story about life, death, life after death and love. Charlie feels bad about his brother dying, so he becomes the caretaker for the cemetary so he can be close to his dead brother. But then he falls in love. His love is in danger and can he, with his special powers, save her before she goes to the other side. This story still stays with me long after I was done reading it.

Cute love story with an interesting twist!

A great read that was emotional and at times downright confusing - the author Ben Sherwood would only unload a few details at a time. Sometimes it was frustrating not being completely in the know, but after I was put in the know - I was certainly glad that there was a delay in knowing all the facts.

After thoroughly confusing you, to be simple - I am glad I read this book before I watched the movie. I always like to read the book first because I would rather a movie be ruined and I love to compare how the director's take the book and translate it onto the big screen. I absolutely love it when I have no idea it is a movie and I get to completely make up what the characters look like, this was not the case as I knew that Zac Efron would be Charlie, but I am interested to see what Tess will look like in the movie.

I would absolutely recommend to all who are interested in watching the movie to read this first. This book was definitely on the girlier side of my reading habit. As I will be watching the movie soon, you will see a post reviewing and comparing what I liked and didn't like.

When Charlie St. Cloud was fifteen years old, a tragic accident that involved "borrowing" a neighbor's car, a trip to a ballgame, and an encounter with a semi-trailer on a bridge led to the death of his three years younger brother, Sam. In fact, Charlie was technically "dead" for minutes before his heart started beating again--no one knows for sure, but this might be why Charlie lives the life he does.

For Charlie, now twenty-eight, taking care of Waterside Cemetery is more than just a job. He's able to help the inhabitants of Marblehead through their grief, care for the eighty-acres of land, live in the caretaker's cottage, and play baseball every night at sunset with his brother, Sam. Yes, the one who has been dead for thirteen years. Somehow, Sam and Charlie have a bond that has defied death, and the promise Charlie made to his younger brother that long ago night--"I'll never leave you"--has held, even though one of them is no longer alive.

Then one day Charlie meets Tess Carroll, a woman who builds sails and is planning for an around-the-world solo boat trip, at her father's grave. Immediately Charlie and Tess spark a connection, and quite soon realize that they may have found their soul mates.

Unfortunately, not everything is at it seems. It's actually hard to tell a lot about this book with giving away the spoilers that would ruin your enjoyment. Suffice it to say that THE DEATH AND LIFE OF CHARLIE ST. CLOUD is unlike any book I've ever read before--it's a character study of human nature, of brotherly love, of the ingrained desire in most people to help their fellow man. It's about miracles--sometimes the kind that half the world notices, and sometimes only the kind that an individual can discover on their own.

You won't go wrong with this uplifting, inspirational tale. I'll forever be glad I read this book, which reminds me in some ways of THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN. Two great books, lots of miracles, tons of love.

This is one of the greatest books I have read ever! The story had a nice flow, there were parts that made me smile, laugh out loud and cry. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!