If you downloaded the audio book on 5-28, I recommend that you delete it and download it again. The original audio recording had several audio issues, including some really annoying buzzing (due to the proximity of a cell phone). These issues have been corrected in the files that are up as of 5-29.
Spoiler Alert!!! This post contains spoilers, don't read it if you haven't read the book!
The prologue of the book has a distinct language problem. I was just about ready to give it up, but after the prologue the bad language is minimal. If language bothers you, get past the prologue and it's not so bad.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a thriller in the classic sense, with the protagonist stuck in an alarming situation. It's one of those "I wouldn't even know where to start" situations. It kind of reminded me of the Harrison Ford movie "Firewall" in that way, and had several of the same elements.
There was nothing particularly surprising about the plot. However, what made this book quite a bit better than average, I thought, was the asymmetrical presentation. I didn't realize, for a while, that some of the events were in the past, and some were in the present. I didn't recognize right away how the different stories that were being told simultaneously were related. Had it been told, start to finish, it probably would have been a bit too easy, so I appreciated the style. In retrospect, I should have realized that this was going on as soon as the video surveillance reveals the make of the car to be a Mazda, since it was in the first sentence of the book, but it took me a while. Also, if it had been told start to finish, the protagonist would have been the wrong person (Hofer), and it would have been really weird when he died.
Even though some of the plot elements were basic, and perhaps even trite (how many times do we have to have a rogue cop who is just trying to do what they feel is right, only to get a promotion instead of discipline, in the end?), I thought the author really did a good job of portraying the sense of desperation of the father, Henry. The twists and turns were pretty gentle in this, but that can be overlooked because the surprises came from learning the history behind the plot little by little. I think it could have been a little better if the reader learned things as Henry did, rather than a little while before he did.
The multiple first-person narrative approach was interesting. However, with everyone thinking in terms of "I did this" and "I thought this", from time to time it took a while to know which character was talking, and that was a bit aggravating.
Okay, so Doug warned me that this book had some pretty bad language, but usually language doesn't bother me as much as sexual content, so I thought I would read it anyway. I thought the story was pretty good and I felt so sorry for the guy, but I kind of wish I hadn't read it. There are lots of good stories out there that we don't have to wade through that much bad language to get. I think if Dad had known how much language there was in that book he wouldn't have recommended it to everyone. But I love that we are doing this book club and I'm anxious to read everyone's choices. I'm going to try to read them even if I don't think I'll like them, but next time there is that kind of language, I don't think I will finish it. Anyway, happy reading everyone! Have fun with this! I love it, and I love all of you!
I couldn't listen to this book with the kids around! Way too violent and too much swearing throughout the whole book. I could barely stand to listen myself and the only reason I kept it up is because I was interested in the characters and the plot.
The author had an interesting story and a nice happy ending, but then he ruined it by putting in swear words and way too violent scenes. I didn't really want to feel how the bad guy was feeling when he was being bad (But I guess that makes for a good story).
The story ended without Henry going to help Amanda in jail! Without her help, he wouldn't have known where to go (even though he bungled that up by getting seen sneaking around by Hoffer). I expected him to get her the best lawyer or to set up something in her name to help her and others like her (for young people who made a tragic mistake that ended them in jail, to help them when they got out, or something) or at least mention that he visited her from time to time.
I don't think this book was for me and I would give it 2 stars. I would have given it one star but the story held my interest. I really don't tolerate needless swearing (and in my opinion, all swearing is needless!:))
Fun, quick read. I read it in about 2 days. Storyline keeps moving fast, but there was a lot of bad language. There were a couple of continuity issues that had me scratching my head, like when he got a call on a phone he had just purchased and it had his daughter's picture on it...hmm.
It was intriguing to try and figure out why some stranger wanted to do him in so badly, but I had it figured out way before I was supposed to, and then it just wasn't as thrilling as it should have been. Overall, decent story, and fun plot that never stopped running, though it ended somewhat abruptly, and the prologue was stupid. Glad I didn't listen to it, though, as it would have felt like high school again with all the swearing!
Okay, I thought we were doing a book every two months, so this is really late.
I wasn't crazy about this one. I thought the writing was pretty bad, and I didn't think there was anything surprising enough in the story to make it really stand out. Pretty basic, run-of-the-mill thriller.
This ebook is available in the dropbox, now. (If you have a kindle, use the mobi file, otherwise, epub). The audio files should be posted on 5-28.
ReplyDeleteIf you downloaded the audio book on 5-28, I recommend that you delete it and download it again. The original audio recording had several audio issues, including some really annoying buzzing (due to the proximity of a cell phone). These issues have been corrected in the files that are up as of 5-29.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler Alert!!! This post contains spoilers, don't read it if you haven't read the book!
ReplyDeleteThe prologue of the book has a distinct language problem. I was just about ready to give it up, but after the prologue the bad language is minimal. If language bothers you, get past the prologue and it's not so bad.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a thriller in the classic sense, with the protagonist stuck in an alarming situation. It's one of those "I wouldn't even know where to start" situations. It kind of reminded me of the Harrison Ford movie "Firewall" in that way, and had several of the same elements.
There was nothing particularly surprising about the plot. However, what made this book quite a bit better than average, I thought, was the asymmetrical presentation. I didn't realize, for a while, that some of the events were in the past, and some were in the present. I didn't recognize right away how the different stories that were being told simultaneously were related. Had it been told, start to finish, it probably would have been a bit too easy, so I appreciated the style. In retrospect, I should have realized that this was going on as soon as the video surveillance reveals the make of the car to be a Mazda, since it was in the first sentence of the book, but it took me a while. Also, if it had been told start to finish, the protagonist would have been the wrong person (Hofer), and it would have been really weird when he died.
Even though some of the plot elements were basic, and perhaps even trite (how many times do we have to have a rogue cop who is just trying to do what they feel is right, only to get a promotion instead of discipline, in the end?), I thought the author really did a good job of portraying the sense of desperation of the father, Henry. The twists and turns were pretty gentle in this, but that can be overlooked because the surprises came from learning the history behind the plot little by little. I think it could have been a little better if the reader learned things as Henry did, rather than a little while before he did.
The multiple first-person narrative approach was interesting. However, with everyone thinking in terms of "I did this" and "I thought this", from time to time it took a while to know which character was talking, and that was a bit aggravating.
Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
I can't believe you're already finished. I'm not reading your post yet.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I was just coming over to say that the book gets a lot less profane after the first couple of pages.
Okay, so Doug warned me that this book had some pretty bad language, but usually language doesn't bother me as much as sexual content, so I thought I would read it anyway. I thought the story was pretty good and I felt so sorry for the guy, but I kind of wish I hadn't read it. There are lots of good stories out there that we don't have to wade through that much bad language to get. I think if Dad had known how much language there was in that book he wouldn't have recommended it to everyone. But I love that we are doing this book club and I'm anxious to read everyone's choices. I'm going to try to read them even if I don't think I'll like them, but next time there is that kind of language, I don't think I will finish it. Anyway, happy reading everyone! Have fun with this! I love it, and I love all of you!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't listen to this book with the kids around! Way too violent and too much swearing throughout the whole book. I could barely stand to listen myself and the only reason I kept it up is because I was interested in the characters and the plot.
ReplyDeleteThe author had an interesting story and a nice happy ending, but then he ruined it by putting in swear words and way too violent scenes. I didn't really want to feel how the bad guy was feeling when he was being bad (But I guess that makes for a good story).
The story ended without Henry going to help Amanda in jail! Without her help, he wouldn't have known where to go (even though he bungled that up by getting seen sneaking around by Hoffer). I expected him to get her the best lawyer or to set up something in her name to help her and others like her (for young people who made a tragic mistake that ended them in jail, to help them when they got out, or something) or at least mention that he visited her from time to time.
I don't think this book was for me and I would give it 2 stars. I would have given it one star but the story held my interest. I really don't tolerate needless swearing (and in my opinion, all swearing is needless!:))
Fun, quick read. I read it in about 2 days. Storyline keeps moving fast, but there was a lot of bad language. There were a couple of continuity issues that had me scratching my head, like when he got a call on a phone he had just purchased and it had his daughter's picture on it...hmm.
ReplyDeleteIt was intriguing to try and figure out why some stranger wanted to do him in so badly, but I had it figured out way before I was supposed to, and then it just wasn't as thrilling as it should have been. Overall, decent story, and fun plot that never stopped running, though it ended somewhat abruptly, and the prologue was stupid. Glad I didn't listen to it, though, as it would have felt like high school again with all the swearing!
:)
Okay, I thought we were doing a book every two months, so this is really late.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't crazy about this one. I thought the writing was pretty bad, and I didn't think there was anything surprising enough in the story to make it really stand out. Pretty basic, run-of-the-mill thriller.
But I've read worse.
On to the next one! I'd better hurry.