kind of hard to believe that the movie from this book could succeed in top it awfulness . the plot be so contrived and unbelievable . . . start with lay a ton of guilt on a small child to spare her pain . then we have the collusive behavior of at least six and maybe more people ( include clergy ) involve in what be a crime everywhere . next we have a wife who seemingly in the length of a ferry ride go from be comparatively happy to very shortly kick over the trace . a very unpleasant and coo coo mother and aid and abet and support by a politically correct group of friend . move the setting from an island off the coast of south carolina and do not help the story although it may have help the film maker budget . the very beautiful building supposedly housing the monastery do not seem to logically suit an island small enough to need golf cart and such a small ferry service . kim basinger whom i do really like be painfully thin in this movie and her hairdo certainly belong in another decade . also there be simply no chemistry at all between her and either of the male lead . i thoroughly dislike the book from which this be take but do read it all . the movie i keep surf back and forth to and have to leave whenever that saccharine music get too much . unless you like an unbelievable story and wooden acting and a contorted mixture of religious or mythological or allegory my advice be to skip this one . oh and maybe a small carping criticism and but wouldn not a care father have a life jacket on a small child on a small boat . the best part of this movie be the scenery .