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kumquat9's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
janedallaway's review against another edition
4.0
Not as much of a page turner as the first Jack Parlabane book but clever and funny nonetheless. Will probably read the next one too.
caitlind14's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
vandermeer's review against another edition
2.0
Das erste Mal, das ich das Buch vor vielen Jahren gelesen habe, fand ich es richtig gut. Dieses Mal weniger. Viel zu viel Hintergrund und Politik (auch wenn ich der gleichen Meinung bin, brauche ich es nicht alle drei Seiten um die Ohren geschlagen bekommen). Auch die Szene mit der Maus war unnötig und dumm. Jeder Elektrotechniker, der glaubt, dass das so funktioniert, sollte nochmals im ersten Semester anfangen. Habe etwa bei 65% aufgegeben.
guiltyfeat's review against another edition
3.0
Strong on plot but way over-written and desperately in need of a solid edit. The last third has some well-executed action scenes but there are simply too many explanatory flashbacks, and too many point of view sidebars. The first half of this was a real grind and it may be a while before I read another.
hcq's review against another edition
4.0
Again, good, good fun. This book seemed to spend more time on the story and characters around Parlabane, which works but was a little surprising; the author's gone to some trouble to set him up as a good character, I thought he'd use him more. But, this approach gives a broader view, as the reader gets more characters' points of view, so it's not a bad choice.
The violence seemed a little toned down, a little less loopy, but the politics are also clearer, sharper, and distinctly angrier. The style's still very funny, but Brookmyre's very clear in his contempt for the grasping amorality of higher politics. His sympathy for the little people, the destruction of whose lives and communities nobody powerful seems to care much about, comes through with strength, not sappiness.
I confess, I particularly enjoyed the scene in which a Conservative politician, forced to represent Scotland, is shocked, shocked, to find himself lustily and publicly booed at a football game, and fails to enjoy the experience.
The violence seemed a little toned down, a little less loopy, but the politics are also clearer, sharper, and distinctly angrier. The style's still very funny, but Brookmyre's very clear in his contempt for the grasping amorality of higher politics. His sympathy for the little people, the destruction of whose lives and communities nobody powerful seems to care much about, comes through with strength, not sappiness.
I confess, I particularly enjoyed the scene in which a Conservative politician, forced to represent Scotland, is shocked, shocked, to find himself lustily and publicly booed at a football game, and fails to enjoy the experience.
wendleness's review against another edition
5.0
Country of the Blind = ((Conspiracy + Fugitives) x (Parlabane ^ ranting)) + Spammy
This was my second Brookmyre book (anally chronological ftw). I found it more difficult to get into than the first book, but that was solely due to the long chapters. This was, however, the first time I experienced the soon-to-be familiar Brookmyre special of reaching a certain point in the book and justhavingtokeepreading.
In this book, Brookmyre does a good job of keeping the story going; keeping the action happening, while also setting up enough information for the back story of the plot. This meant the story never dragged; there was no point where I wished he'd just get on with it. So when 'the moment' came and I had to keep reading until I was finished, it didn't feel like the book was just getting going, it felt like the whole thing had just been turned up a notch.
Also, Spammy. I can't say enough good things about Spammy. He is my favourite. If I asked Brookmyre nicely enough, do you think he'd write a few "Parlabane and Spammy crime-fighting-while-crime-committing" books? …A girl can dream.
This was my second Brookmyre book (anally chronological ftw). I found it more difficult to get into than the first book, but that was solely due to the long chapters. This was, however, the first time I experienced the soon-to-be familiar Brookmyre special of reaching a certain point in the book and justhavingtokeepreading.
In this book, Brookmyre does a good job of keeping the story going; keeping the action happening, while also setting up enough information for the back story of the plot. This meant the story never dragged; there was no point where I wished he'd just get on with it. So when 'the moment' came and I had to keep reading until I was finished, it didn't feel like the book was just getting going, it felt like the whole thing had just been turned up a notch.
Also, Spammy. I can't say enough good things about Spammy. He is my favourite. If I asked Brookmyre nicely enough, do you think he'd write a few "Parlabane and Spammy crime-fighting-while-crime-committing" books? …A girl can dream.
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