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sir_scott's review against another edition
3.0
Truly a 2.5 star. Death Wish is actually a statement on how idealistic optimism isn’t able to protect individuals, families, or society. The story focuses more on the man’s struggle in realizing his liberal views and practices led him to feel good about himself while avoiding the realities of real problems and how that ideology actually rewards evil doers at the cost of creating more victims and then dismissing the victims as not really suffering cruelty and loss.
On a critical negative note, unlike the film, the criminals in the book are mostly thieves and drug addicts—- where as in the film Paul only reacts to violent crimes in progress.
On a critical negative note, unlike the film, the criminals in the book are mostly thieves and drug addicts—- where as in the film Paul only reacts to violent crimes in progress.
imsam's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
drewdietsch's review against another edition
4.0
Far more nuanced and knowingly ugly than the movie adaptation. An intriguing look into what makes someone decide to murder for what they believe are the right reasons. A chilling and still relevant little crime story.
mpetruce's review
3.0
Death Wish is an ugly movie that more or less thinks ahead one step and stops there, without any further consideration for the complexity of the world and how actions fit together and play off of one another (the film also completely missed, or willfully misrepresented, the point of the book; so much so that the author repudiated the film). Death Wish the book does not go too far along that logical What If path in the events it depicts either, but it compels the reader to do that thinking themselves. And it does it really subtly.
Every thought Paul Benjamin has, every action he performs, is a small step toward becoming a person he was not before. And every one of those things is something that, even if you disagree with it, is something you can empathize, sympathize, or at least understand, coming from a person in Paul's situation. Paul himself has his character flaws, but he also has good points. In general, he could be anyone, any one of us.
And that's how the book really does draw you in, and causes you to ask the question: Whether you feel Paul's actions are right or wrong, is this what we want? Where do you draw the line. Every vigilante no doubt would feel they're right. Eventually, some are going to be wrong, or inept, or sloppy. What will the consequences be? Some would use it as a cover to be actual criminals. Where does that leave us? Who vigilantes the vigilantes (sorry for turning vigilante into a verb)? Paul himself goes from a person who is, understandably, terrified and angry, to someone who is out and out stalking prey, moving from self defense when people are trying to do him harm to a final action that is arguable in its need for deadly force, that is met with a saddening judgment:
The book slows down near the end where an entire q&a with a psychologist goes on to give a complete psychological profile of Paul and what led him to his actions, in case you couldn't figure it out from reading the preceding 185 pages, and helpfully asks the questions you should have been asking yourself. I suppose that's not a bad thing, but it really does kind of arrest the pace of the book.
Overall, a good read. And one that hopefully spurs thoughtful consideration of a complicated issue.
Every thought Paul Benjamin has, every action he performs, is a small step toward becoming a person he was not before. And every one of those things is something that, even if you disagree with it, is something you can empathize, sympathize, or at least understand, coming from a person in Paul's situation. Paul himself has his character flaws, but he also has good points. In general, he could be anyone, any one of us.
And that's how the book really does draw you in, and causes you to ask the question: Whether you feel Paul's actions are right or wrong, is this what we want? Where do you draw the line. Every vigilante no doubt would feel they're right. Eventually, some are going to be wrong, or inept, or sloppy. What will the consequences be? Some would use it as a cover to be actual criminals. Where does that leave us? Who vigilantes the vigilantes (sorry for turning vigilante into a verb)? Paul himself goes from a person who is, understandably, terrified and angry, to someone who is out and out stalking prey, moving from self defense when people are trying to do him harm to a final action that is arguable in its need for deadly force, that is met with a saddening judgment:
Spoiler
The act of vandalism that Paul kills three teenagers for committing -- teenagers who are not aware of his presence and are not directly threatening him -- is indeed potentially deadly, but is it the same as a guy lunging at you with a knife? And the anonymous policeman who turns his back on Paul (after symbolically removing his hat -- a little heavy-handed I know) stands in for an entire system that has decided to abandon the law and order it was created to maintain.The book slows down near the end where an entire q&a with a psychologist goes on to give a complete psychological profile of Paul and what led him to his actions, in case you couldn't figure it out from reading the preceding 185 pages, and helpfully asks the questions you should have been asking yourself. I suppose that's not a bad thing, but it really does kind of arrest the pace of the book.
Overall, a good read. And one that hopefully spurs thoughtful consideration of a complicated issue.
luminesse's review against another edition
3.0
Disturbing and also very interesting. I read an article that led me to believe this was an anti-vigilantism book but that is not exactly clear to me. it was a quick and simple read with a very masculine, just-the-facts-maam, non-flowery writing style that matched the character and the era. it definitely harkens back to the 70s/early 80s. apparently there's at least one sequel. not sure if I'll check it out.
kellynylon's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
nigellicus's review
5.0
The book that inspired the film, this is a slim, thoughtful meditation on grief and loss and anger that leads to violence as the only rational response to a dangerous world. Whether it's a moral response is left ambiguous. This isn't sleazy or exploitative or even sanctimonious. Mostly it's just sad story about a man transformed into his opposite by a horrible loss.
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