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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
DNF - if you love Goodfellas and the Sopranos, you will love this book, especially if you listen to the audiobook that is magnificently narrated. I suppose I just wasn't in the mood for another Irish/Italian wiseguy mob story. I see this coming out as a movie, though, which I will definitely see, but I just couldn't get through it as a novel. For me, it was too cliche and full of violence, swearing, and sex - a typical Godfather-ish trope - but for me, not much of substance.
The first in a trilogy, the three books are Don Winslow’s last fiction books (which is fine! He’s had a great career and a lot of good books to read). This one’s a kind of retelling of The Iliad, but told via a 1980s mob war in Providence between Irish and Italian families.
Winslow’s got his usual propulsive writing here, carrying the narrative incredibly quickly (I read the 350 story pages in just a couple days). That said, it needed about 30 pages shaved off the back end as everything becomes incredibly obvious. I did guffaw a little when a character named Cassandra showed up who’s telling people when things are a bad idea, but they don’t listen.
But also, holy Hannah, this book needed a dramatis personae. There are probably like 25 characters named John and Sal and Danny and Jimmy and Paulie and Peter, etc, and it was hard to keep track of who was which with which family. Also, I do wish I knew The Iliad a little better, so I could map who was who; some are obvious, some not so much.
Winslow’s got his usual propulsive writing here, carrying the narrative incredibly quickly (I read the 350 story pages in just a couple days). That said, it needed about 30 pages shaved off the back end as everything becomes incredibly obvious. I did guffaw a little when a character named Cassandra showed up who’s telling people when things are a bad idea, but they don’t listen.
But also, holy Hannah, this book needed a dramatis personae. There are probably like 25 characters named John and Sal and Danny and Jimmy and Paulie and Peter, etc, and it was hard to keep track of who was which with which family. Also, I do wish I knew The Iliad a little better, so I could map who was who; some are obvious, some not so much.
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Well written book - excellent characters - author clearly inspired by Mario Puzo’s The Godfather
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, where to begin? At first, I struggled with all the names (Winslow loves the letter P doesn't he?), but then the plot took off quickly and never stopped! I appreciate Winslow's straightforward writing, but there were moments I wish he had spent more time on. I needed more of Pat, Jimmy, and Danny. Their dynamic was more telling instead of showing, so Pat's death wasn't as much of an emotional blow (as last for me). Made me grimace while reading though.... I loved the family dynamics within each family, and the moral struggles present throughout. Although Danny is the protagonist, you learn a great deal about other side characters. I'm hoping they come into play later in the series...Madeleine and Cassie I'm looking at you . Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see where this series goes. I have a feeling crazier shit is about to go down and this is just the beginning.
I didn't want my prediction to come true, but here I am. An utter fool. Terri's death tore my heart out. Poor Danny has been through enough.