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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
One of my favorites. The love story aspect of it is so unique.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The structure of this book is the best thing about it, it's breathless, fast and precise.
Don Winslow doesn't waste words in his snappy paragraphs, giving the impression that it's almost as if he's writing a screenplay.
Then of course he intercuts actual portions of screenplay text. Which makes you visualise that specific scene, imagining character narration and Scorsese-style smash cuts. And Winslow actually says smash cut several times, like he's describing his own Tarantino tribute shot.
It's cool, but up to a point.
I had a touch of "enough now Don" at times.
Then there are his character descriptions and narrations which are all snappy quips to make himself and the characters appear cool, hipster and "savage".
Because, y'know, they just don't give a fuck.
Many of these paragraphs in which he displays clever word play, geographical and metaphorical puns are fun to read at the start - but I got tired of it very quickly, hoping he would just move on and tell the story. But he sticks with that for the entire book, making me cringe more often that gripping me into the world.
It's an engaging read whose structure turns a really basic been-there-done-that plot into a page turner. But the cringey writing detracted from that a little.
I get that it was a stylistic choice, and that very style was itself a representation of the "badittude" of the characters, but ultimately, it wasn't to my taste.
I didn't care about any of the characters (apart from the Cartel boss, Elena) and saw the ending coming very early on with his Butch Cassidy reference.
Winslow clearly knows his shit, and this seemed like a bit of wild experimentation from him - but I'm now super intrigued to check out his Cartel trilogy.
3/5
Don Winslow doesn't waste words in his snappy paragraphs, giving the impression that it's almost as if he's writing a screenplay.
Then of course he intercuts actual portions of screenplay text. Which makes you visualise that specific scene, imagining character narration and Scorsese-style smash cuts. And Winslow actually says smash cut several times, like he's describing his own Tarantino tribute shot.
It's cool, but up to a point.
I had a touch of "enough now Don" at times.
Then there are his character descriptions and narrations which are all snappy quips to make himself and the characters appear cool, hipster and "savage".
Because, y'know, they just don't give a fuck.
Many of these paragraphs in which he displays clever word play, geographical and metaphorical puns are fun to read at the start - but I got tired of it very quickly, hoping he would just move on and tell the story. But he sticks with that for the entire book, making me cringe more often that gripping me into the world.
It's an engaging read whose structure turns a really basic been-there-done-that plot into a page turner. But the cringey writing detracted from that a little.
I get that it was a stylistic choice, and that very style was itself a representation of the "badittude" of the characters, but ultimately, it wasn't to my taste.
I didn't care about any of the characters (apart from the Cartel boss, Elena) and saw the ending coming very early on with his Butch Cassidy reference.
Winslow clearly knows his shit, and this seemed like a bit of wild experimentation from him - but I'm now super intrigued to check out his Cartel trilogy.
3/5
Very interesting/enticing writing style! A riveting story line that had me at the edge of my seat. Graphic, could be triggering. Great action packed book
So this turned out to be a completely guilty pleasure. The writing was rather insipid and reminded me of some of the pedestrian Maxim articles I've read in my lifetime. The testosterone and machismo was dripping off of each page, but that was the conceit that must be made in order to enjoy the book. That said, the story was very compelling and addictive enough that writing eventually faded into the background. An extremely fun story that would have been a crime to leave in book form. It seems to be the quintessential cross country flight type book.
I read this because Sarah Weinman, whose opinion I respect, raved about it.
Turns out, it's not my cup of tea. Maybe I'm just a prude; this book comprises about 300 short chapters, all of which are about sex, drugs, violence, or some combination of the above.
Winslow is the anti-Elmore Leonard. The plot is similar to a typical Leonard (bad guys with good hearts vs. bad guys with bad hearts all chasing a big bag of money), but instead of rich characters and tack-sharp prose Winslow uses distractingly flowery prose to describe flat characters.
Truly awful.
Turns out, it's not my cup of tea. Maybe I'm just a prude; this book comprises about 300 short chapters, all of which are about sex, drugs, violence, or some combination of the above.
Winslow is the anti-Elmore Leonard. The plot is similar to a typical Leonard (bad guys with good hearts vs. bad guys with bad hearts all chasing a big bag of money), but instead of rich characters and tack-sharp prose Winslow uses distractingly flowery prose to describe flat characters.
Truly awful.
fast paced. This book was surprisingly funny in places and a blast to read. The characters were unlikely ones you found yourself rooting for.