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gearsofted's review against another edition
4.0
Saw the movie first, then read this book. The book is a lot better. It makes more sense, and there was extra bits that weren’t in the movie, as well as some changes.
I read this very fast. This is Block at his best
I read this very fast. This is Block at his best
charity_froggenhall's review against another edition
4.0
The film was more thoroughly grim than this book. Not that grim stuff doesn't happen here, but it's leavened with humor, dark and otherwise.
lobo1tomia's review against another edition
5.0
Ha kézbe veszek egy Block regényt, akkor mindig biztos lehetek abban, hogy beszippant New York, a nagyváros és szívdobogást fogok kapni, amikor arról olvasok, hogy miféle sötét bugyrai vannak az emberi pszichének.
Volt az utolsó harmadban egy rész, amikor 5 percenként le kellett raknom a könyvet. Még meg is jegyeztem, hogy “Annyi a feszültség ebben a Scudder regényben, hogy le kellett tennem a metrón, mielőtt elpattanok.” Úgyhogy igen, megkaptam a szokásos szívdobogást is, amikor azon izgultam, hogy vajon mennyire fog sötétbe borulni ez az egész történet és hol meg hogyan fog jönni a feloldozás és mennyire fog tudni ezzel együtt élni Matt, meg az olvasó. Mert persze szokás szerint ott vannak az erkölcsi dilemmák is: az elkövetők büntetését kire kell bízni? S ezt megint Scuddernek és az olvasónak is el kell döntenie.
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2014/11/24/lawrence-block-sirok-kozott/
Volt az utolsó harmadban egy rész, amikor 5 percenként le kellett raknom a könyvet. Még meg is jegyeztem, hogy “Annyi a feszültség ebben a Scudder regényben, hogy le kellett tennem a metrón, mielőtt elpattanok.” Úgyhogy igen, megkaptam a szokásos szívdobogást is, amikor azon izgultam, hogy vajon mennyire fog sötétbe borulni ez az egész történet és hol meg hogyan fog jönni a feloldozás és mennyire fog tudni ezzel együtt élni Matt, meg az olvasó. Mert persze szokás szerint ott vannak az erkölcsi dilemmák is: az elkövetők büntetését kire kell bízni? S ezt megint Scuddernek és az olvasónak is el kell döntenie.
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2014/11/24/lawrence-block-sirok-kozott/
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
4.0
În ultima joi din luna martie, cândva între zece treizeci şi unsprezece dimineaţa, Francine Khoury i-a spus soţului său că dă o fugă în oraş, că are ceva de cumpărat.
— Ia maşina mea, i-a sugerat el. N-am de mers nicăieri.
— E prea mare, a zis ea. Ultima dată, parcă aş fi condus un vapor.
— Cum vrei, a spus el.
Cele două maşini, a lui, un Buick Park Avenue, şi a ei, o Toyota Camry, împărţeau garajul din spatele casei, o imitaţie de stil Tudor cu stucaturi din lemn situată pe Colonial Road între Seventy-eight şi Seventy-ninth Street, în porţiunea Bay Ridge din Brooklyn. Francine a pornit motorul Toyotei, a dat cu spatele din garaj şi a mers în marşarier până în stradă. La primul semafor pe roşu, a pus în casetofon o casetă cu muzică clasică. Beethoven, unul dintre ultimele lui cvartete. Acasă asculta jazz, genul preferat al lui Kenan, dar când se afla la volan punea muzică de cameră.
Era o femeie atrăgătoare, unu şaptezeci, 52 kilograme, lată în umeri, subţire la mijloc, şolduri bine şlefuite. Păr negru, luxuriant şi buclat, pieptănat pe spate, care îi lăsa faţa liberă. Ochi negri şi nas acvilin, gură generoasă, cu buze pline.
În fotografii, are mereu gura închisă. Am înţeles că avea incisivi superiori proeminenţi, că dinţii de sus călcau mult peste cei de jos şi că, din cauza aceasta, nu zâmbea prea des. În pozele de la nuntă, deşi radiază prin toţi porii, dinţii îi rămân nevăzuţi.
Avea un ten măsliniu, care se bronza repede şi în profunzime. Soarele verii lăsase urme deja; ea şi Kenan petrecuseră ultima săptămână din februarie pe plaja din Negril, în Jamaica. S-ar fi înnegrit şi mai tare, dar Kenan o pusese să se dea cu loţiune de protecţie şi îi limitase orele de expunere la soare. „Nu te avantajează”, îi spusese. „Pielea prea bronzată nu e atrăgătoare. Un bob de strugure care stă prea mult la soare se transformă în stafidă”. Şi ce era aşa atrăgător la boabele de strugure, voise ea să ştie. Sunt ferme şi zemoase, îi spusese el.
— Ia maşina mea, i-a sugerat el. N-am de mers nicăieri.
— E prea mare, a zis ea. Ultima dată, parcă aş fi condus un vapor.
— Cum vrei, a spus el.
Cele două maşini, a lui, un Buick Park Avenue, şi a ei, o Toyota Camry, împărţeau garajul din spatele casei, o imitaţie de stil Tudor cu stucaturi din lemn situată pe Colonial Road între Seventy-eight şi Seventy-ninth Street, în porţiunea Bay Ridge din Brooklyn. Francine a pornit motorul Toyotei, a dat cu spatele din garaj şi a mers în marşarier până în stradă. La primul semafor pe roşu, a pus în casetofon o casetă cu muzică clasică. Beethoven, unul dintre ultimele lui cvartete. Acasă asculta jazz, genul preferat al lui Kenan, dar când se afla la volan punea muzică de cameră.
Era o femeie atrăgătoare, unu şaptezeci, 52 kilograme, lată în umeri, subţire la mijloc, şolduri bine şlefuite. Păr negru, luxuriant şi buclat, pieptănat pe spate, care îi lăsa faţa liberă. Ochi negri şi nas acvilin, gură generoasă, cu buze pline.
În fotografii, are mereu gura închisă. Am înţeles că avea incisivi superiori proeminenţi, că dinţii de sus călcau mult peste cei de jos şi că, din cauza aceasta, nu zâmbea prea des. În pozele de la nuntă, deşi radiază prin toţi porii, dinţii îi rămân nevăzuţi.
Avea un ten măsliniu, care se bronza repede şi în profunzime. Soarele verii lăsase urme deja; ea şi Kenan petrecuseră ultima săptămână din februarie pe plaja din Negril, în Jamaica. S-ar fi înnegrit şi mai tare, dar Kenan o pusese să se dea cu loţiune de protecţie şi îi limitase orele de expunere la soare. „Nu te avantajează”, îi spusese. „Pielea prea bronzată nu e atrăgătoare. Un bob de strugure care stă prea mult la soare se transformă în stafidă”. Şi ce era aşa atrăgător la boabele de strugure, voise ea să ştie. Sunt ferme şi zemoase, îi spusese el.
johnnygamble's review against another edition
3.0
They seem to be getting a little vicious, but still worthwhile...
mirk's review against another edition
4.0
I half-closed my eyes during the violent scenes because I'm a real wuss, but they were few and effective. This is the first Block I've read and it won't be my last. It was a really solid read with good characters (I liked spending time with Scudder) and a well worked-out plot. Much of the plot is traditional detective work involving interviews, geography and police file research. He wrote this at the end of the 20th century, a couple of years before 9/11 so pay phones, beepers, and "classic" telephone hackers figure prominently. No google, no easy access via computers to secure files, and almost no mention/use of guns.
twilfitt's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
4.0
I'd already watched the movie "A Walk Among the Tombstones" not knowing it was based on the book of the same title by well known American author Lawrence Block. I was therefore very keen to buy the book and read for comparison. Already having Liam Neeson in my head as the main character, ex detective and private investigator Matthew Scudder, I was pleasantly surprised how much Liam's acting actually fitted with the written character, the mannerisms and dialogue being identical and in my opinion a brilliant and excellent choice of casting!
The book itself kept my attention, it had a really interesting plot line and contained some good characters. I liked Matt who was dry, straight talking and very knowledgable (apart from technology!) but for me young, black teenager TJ was the star of the show, street smart, funny and very endearing.
I was expecting quite a lot of violence, not sure why but there was very little apart from some bloody descriptions of victims injuries and because the storyline was based on kidnapped women it was obviously quite brutal but nothing was offensive and found it all in all a very entertaining story.
I've knocked a star off purely because I struggled at times with the local Brooklyn dialogue but that was just me. Having said that, it did add a definite authenticity to the story and made it very atmospheric along with the many local street and subway descriptions.
I'd happily read more by Lawrence Block, this book is apparently number ten in the Matthew Scudder series so there's many more to read and I'd certainly recommend "A Walk Among the Tombstones" both the book and the film.
4 stars
The book itself kept my attention, it had a really interesting plot line and contained some good characters. I liked Matt who was dry, straight talking and very knowledgable (apart from technology!) but for me young, black teenager TJ was the star of the show, street smart, funny and very endearing.
I was expecting quite a lot of violence, not sure why but there was very little apart from some bloody descriptions of victims injuries and because the storyline was based on kidnapped women it was obviously quite brutal but nothing was offensive and found it all in all a very entertaining story.
I've knocked a star off purely because I struggled at times with the local Brooklyn dialogue but that was just me. Having said that, it did add a definite authenticity to the story and made it very atmospheric along with the many local street and subway descriptions.
I'd happily read more by Lawrence Block, this book is apparently number ten in the Matthew Scudder series so there's many more to read and I'd certainly recommend "A Walk Among the Tombstones" both the book and the film.
4 stars