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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Highly captivating and engaging, although it goes quite a bit more into detail on certain things than really needed. Having seen the movie first and not too long ago, they actually coincide pretty closely. There is one crucial part at the end where they differ substantially, and the movie seemed to focus on aspects that were pretty brief in the book. If be willing to check out other books the author has written.
This was my first book by Winslow. I loved the action and the characters. It was well written and fast paced. My only complaint is the occasional switch from "standard novel writing" to that which you might find in a script - it was effective in setting the scene but was distracting at times.
Unfortunately, Savages is nowhere near the level of The Winter of Frankie Machine or The Power of the Dog, but it does appear to be Don Winslow's most read book by the simple virtue that there was a movie adaption. I liked the main characters well enough, but this book is a little bit on the short side and they lacked a bit of depth. Also, Winslow's doing some weird experimental writing style in this book and it sort of detracts from the overall enjoyment.
Plot (Story / Pacing / Ending): 4/5
Characters (Characters / Development): 4/5
Writing (Prose / Dialogue / Style): 2/5
Other (Enjoyment / Read Pace / Worldbuilding / Etc): 3/5
Plot (Story / Pacing / Ending): 4/5
Characters (Characters / Development): 4/5
Writing (Prose / Dialogue / Style): 2/5
Other (Enjoyment / Read Pace / Worldbuilding / Etc): 3/5
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this book. It was so fast paced I felt like I could hardly catch my breath. It was funny, and awful, and heartbreaking, and ridiculous. I think I experienced every emotion during the last two days reading it. Love Don Winslow.
SAVAGES by Don Winslow. Not as epic in scope or brilliant in execution as his last couple of novels but still a hell of a good ride.
Two beach bums-turned-weed growers go head-to-head with the Baja cartel in this fast paced, funny romp. It has all the classics of Winslow's books - his grafitti prose, tons of set pieces, hideously amoral characters. Great fun.
Two beach bums-turned-weed growers go head-to-head with the Baja cartel in this fast paced, funny romp. It has all the classics of Winslow's books - his grafitti prose, tons of set pieces, hideously amoral characters. Great fun.
Whichever reviewer said this is about bad guys and badder guys summed it up perfectly. Savages was surprisingly fast, dirty and unnervingly funny and perfect for what it was, a quick summer read. Probably the least offensive qirky style "quip" writing I've read in a while, or at least since it's become the new obnxious trend in NYT Bestseller novels. The novel is graphic, but in a violent, fast paced way. Winslow doesn't linger on the violence or the sex, which itself fits right in with the storyline.
I genuinely enjoyed the characters, but I can see how if you don't - if you find them too one-dimmensional, shallow, or unrealistic, you might not find the novel as gripping. I doubt too many people reading Savages find themselves relating to former-army-hydro-dealers-what-have-you, but Winslow delivers some high quality escapism.
I genuinely enjoyed the characters, but I can see how if you don't - if you find them too one-dimmensional, shallow, or unrealistic, you might not find the novel as gripping. I doubt too many people reading Savages find themselves relating to former-army-hydro-dealers-what-have-you, but Winslow delivers some high quality escapism.