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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An immersive experience.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- the iliad but it's irish vs italian gangsters in providence, ri
- (i've never read the iliad so unable so comment on how well this actually works as an adaptation/inspiration)
- anyway it was fun to follow the twists and turns and strategizing of the two gangs but there was just something missing. perhaps in terms of characterization? perhaps in terms of pacing? perhaps a combination thereof?
- danny was supposed to be the main character (i mean, the series is named after him) and yet i closed the book feeling like i knew more about many of the side characters than i did about him. he felt like a blank slate. which is weird because i think don winslow did a really great job of fleshing out some of the more minor characters (sal and liam for example)
- also the book takes place over 2ish years, picking up with the characters whenever something of note happens. i'm not sure whether this was the best decision. instead of building tension gradually throughout the book, it fluctuated, which was a bit of an odd reading experience
- i also didn't love the inclusion of danny's mother and her backstory, felt like the author giving himself an easy out for later. but for all i know it's necessary setup for something that happens in a later book
- anyway i'll continue with the series but i hope the next installment is tighter
First time in a bit that I've read something and then thought, I need to read more by this author. I really enjoyed the casual flow to this story. The way the mob activities were made to not be glamorous or thrilling was enjoyable. I liked the commonality to the whole plot and pacing.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like the way Winslow writes - quick and to the point, for better or worse. This thing moves REAL fast, but everything that happens is very clear. Some of the plot points would've hit harder with more character development, but the story is engaging and I'm definitely in for the rest.
City on Fire is the first in a trilogy. It opens with Danny Ryan and his wife, Terry, on the beach, and they see a beautiful woman coming out of the surf. Immediately, Danny knows she is trouble. The book involves conflicts between the Irish and Italian mobs who control the streets of New England. Danny wants to move away, but Terry wants to be near her family. When the beautiful woman becomes a part of their lives, the mobs attack each other. Set in the mid 80s with flashbacks to the 60s and 70s, this is a well written and gritty crime drama. I can't wait to read the next 2 books, and will likely read Winslow's back catalog.
adventurous
tense
fast-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:
Complicated