This was an enjoyable read - nothing deep or exceptional though. I can see this being converted into a movie - which i think would be worth seeing as well. It's a book about second chances, miracles and letting go. Good summer read!

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This book caught my eye in the bookstore after I had seen the movie trailer on tv. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading but I was curious as to how the story would unfold. The story is about brothers and the bond they share... their relationship seems a little too perfect but maybe it is just the ideal. As Charlie grows up the story becomes more about loving and living. The more I read this story the more I enjoyed it!

Note: If you are Nicholas Sparks fan, read this book and get the Nicholas Sparks feel on a whole new level!

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SURPRISE! This is a great story, a little sappy, but great for a weekend read. Judging from the recent movie preview, I didn't expect such a good read, but it really was. It was nice to have Zac Effron to look at lying on my nightstand too. :)

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This is apparently a movie now, though I haven't seen it. If they stick close to the book, the movie ought to be a real winner! 4 stars!

From back cover:
In a snug New England fishing village, Charlie St. Cloud tends the lawns and monuments of an ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. After surviving the car accident that claimed his brother's life, Charlie is graced with an extraordinary gift: He can see, talk to, and even play catch with Sam's spirit. Into this magical world comes Tess Carroll, a captivating woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that propels her into Charlie's life. Their beautiful and uncommon connection leads to a race against time and a choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go -- and the discovery that miracles can happen if we simply open our hearts.

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This is a brillant, beautiful novel about the death and life of Charlie St. Cloud. It touches you so deeply that it stays with you long after you finish the story.

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I'm so happy no one told me this was 'life-changing'. That one statement almost ruined The Shack for me. I read this mostly because it looked and sounded interesting to me. And also because of the hype surrounding it. I don't always fall for the hyped up books - in fact, unless it does interest me in some way I couldn't make myself read it. Twilight and the rest? No can do. This was borderline for me. It seemed also to be borderline light fantasy and fantasy is something I've always tended to shy away from, even light fantasy. I probably only read this at this point in my life because my sister wanted it and I ordered and received it on PBS.
I expected slow and unrealistic and I got the opposite pretty much. Charlie and Tess are both characters you can really cling to and hope and wish for. Sam couldn't have been portrayed any better and the same can be said for so many, if not all, of the secondary characters. Tink, while a very odd name for a burly man IMO, is a great add-on character. He didn't play a huge part in the story but he brought a lot to the table.
I like Ben Sherwood's take on crossing over. I can only hope he's more on the mark than missing it. I very much liked the introduction and the author's note. The few pics of Sherwood on the movie set were an added bonus.
I'd certainly give a favorable opinion to anyone asking me my thoughts on the story and I'd even recommend if the opportunity arose. I doubt I'll see the movie even though I've been told, by more than a couple people, that it's good because I'm not big on t.v./movies anyway and in my experience the movie - most movies - aren't anywhere near as "good" as people say. I'd like to remember the story as I remember it now.
I think this may be one I'll keep a copy of for Julia when she gets older. I'd be interested in her opinion on it eventually.

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Loved this book. This is one of those books that make you feel entwined with the characters. I didnt want it to end

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Beautifully written. Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud is a must read. The books touches on some sensitive topics but does so in a way that it is unobtrusive to the reader. You feel a part of the story and start to love the characters. I found this book to be quite cathartic in its final chapters.

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Just finished this book. It was great! This was a five star. This is a romance and also a fantasy full of ghosts and what happens when you and your brother decide to hold on to each other even after death. Put it on your wish list. This is a very unusual book.

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