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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Such an amazing book. First of all, I liked how the writing style was something completely different than what I'm used to, it really was a refreshment.
I loved the characters though O could've been a bit better or at least have some kind of characteristics that didn't involve shopping.
I watched the movie first, that's probably why I only gave it 4 stars. It would have been interesting to see how much I enjoy it without knowing the whole story.
Anyway, I am so happy that there is a prequel to this!
I loved the characters though O could've been a bit better or at least have some kind of characteristics that didn't involve shopping.
I watched the movie first, that's probably why I only gave it 4 stars. It would have been interesting to see how much I enjoy it without knowing the whole story.
Anyway, I am so happy that there is a prequel to this!
To quote a modern inspiration of mine, (partially): This is either the most brilliant thing I’ve ever read...or it could be one of the worst, and I’m not sure, because it goes back and forth. It took me exactly 2 days to read this, by far the fastest I’ve ever finished a book that was 300 pages or longer. And I don’t think that was on accident. Read this because I’d seen the movie trailers and had not known it was a book until years later. Every rule I thought about writing and story telling was thrown into the wastebasket with this...and on some level...I kinda like it (ew)
Basically, it’s usually not a good sign when your narrator has more personality than the characters. This was written like it should’ve been in first person, but it wasn’t. It definitely felt at times like it was a sixteen year old’s first draft. But perhaps that was on purpose to create this one-of-a-kind, unique style.
The story itself felt very barebones and surface level, and it could’ve just used a little more meat IMO. I guess the main characters felt a little dumb and cheesy at times (kind of like this was sort of a fantasy for what the author wished his life maybe could’ve been like at that age). And the bad guys...didn’t feel very bad or intimidating. They were just...eh, they were there. I really wonder if not having any sort of a movie or movie trailer to reference in my head would’ve altered the experience. If I had to rely totally on my head canon.
B s c l y _ W n S l w _ l e v s_ s_ m c h _ b l n k _ s p c _ n _ t s _ n r r t v_ t h t_ u_ 1/2_ 2_ f l_ n_ da_ g a p s_ w t h_ y r_ m n d. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and I can definitely understand how this whole style can get cloying after a while. I think if this was done at about 70-75% of what it was, you could really have something potentially earth shattering. But alas, it was the full 100%. This was like Ice cream. It’s great once in a while, but for every meal, no. Plus, the ending left me incredibly perplexed.
This was my first Winslow book, and from what I understand, this style is unique to this book. I’m curious to read his others, maybe, if this is dialed back just a bit, but still has some of this same bite and edge here and there, I might love those books. Either way, I wasn’t turned off, I was just so damn intrigued, and in fact, it makes me want to read his stuff MORE. Never has a writing style gotten me to think about it for days on end after I finish the book. Never. So props for that. I’ll never knock anybody for out-of-the-box thinking and execution. Winslow had balls with this one. Did it always work? No. But he just went for it anyway, and I have to respect that. I know now that any book can get published. ANY book after reading this.
I can’t even give this a star rating, because I don’t know. On some levels, it’s a 5, on others, it’s a 1 or 0. 2 or 3 just doesn’t feel right. This was so different than any rating at all wouldn’t be appropriate. I’d recommend this simply because of its uniqueness. If you’re looking for a book that you’ll never experience anywhere else (good or bad) and something that challenges the way you’ve always thought that books should be written, then read this. If nothing else, you’ll be done in 3 days with it.
Basically, it’s usually not a good sign when your narrator has more personality than the characters. This was written like it should’ve been in first person, but it wasn’t. It definitely felt at times like it was a sixteen year old’s first draft. But perhaps that was on purpose to create this one-of-a-kind, unique style.
The story itself felt very barebones and surface level, and it could’ve just used a little more meat IMO. I guess the main characters felt a little dumb and cheesy at times (kind of like this was sort of a fantasy for what the author wished his life maybe could’ve been like at that age). And the bad guys...didn’t feel very bad or intimidating. They were just...eh, they were there. I really wonder if not having any sort of a movie or movie trailer to reference in my head would’ve altered the experience. If I had to rely totally on my head canon.
B s c l y _ W n S l w _ l e v s_ s_ m c h _ b l n k _ s p c _ n _ t s _ n r r t v_ t h t_ u_ 1/2_ 2_ f l_ n_ da_ g a p s_ w t h_ y r_ m n d. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and I can definitely understand how this whole style can get cloying after a while. I think if this was done at about 70-75% of what it was, you could really have something potentially earth shattering. But alas, it was the full 100%. This was like Ice cream. It’s great once in a while, but for every meal, no. Plus, the ending left me incredibly perplexed.
This was my first Winslow book, and from what I understand, this style is unique to this book. I’m curious to read his others, maybe, if this is dialed back just a bit, but still has some of this same bite and edge here and there, I might love those books. Either way, I wasn’t turned off, I was just so damn intrigued, and in fact, it makes me want to read his stuff MORE. Never has a writing style gotten me to think about it for days on end after I finish the book. Never. So props for that. I’ll never knock anybody for out-of-the-box thinking and execution. Winslow had balls with this one. Did it always work? No. But he just went for it anyway, and I have to respect that. I know now that any book can get published. ANY book after reading this.
I can’t even give this a star rating, because I don’t know. On some levels, it’s a 5, on others, it’s a 1 or 0. 2 or 3 just doesn’t feel right. This was so different than any rating at all wouldn’t be appropriate. I’d recommend this simply because of its uniqueness. If you’re looking for a book that you’ll never experience anywhere else (good or bad) and something that challenges the way you’ve always thought that books should be written, then read this. If nothing else, you’ll be done in 3 days with it.
One of the few books I read multiple times. It's a quick but very fun and fast-paced read. Great humor, great action, great book.
Probably one of the best books I've read this summer. from the first to the last page, Savages grips you and holds hard. I haven't been able to put it down. there were so many brilliantly phrased, brilliantly structured and brilliantly worded moments. I'm so glad I read it before watching the movie.
We got it, Don Winslow. Loud and clear, actually. In the drug trade, there are no good guys - no matter where you moral compass may point. And Oliver Stone? What did you see in this? Potential? We'll have to see how you vamped up the film later. I'm not going to spend more money on Savages, not yet anyway. Let's just hope Netflix picks up when its released for home viewing. Besides, my money is for The Dark Knight Rises. Sorry.
Savages follows the fall of Ben and Chonny - a potent strain of marijuana that blends indica and sativa in perfect harmony (it's stoner science, I suppose). The growers and distributors of the strain are Ben - a pacifist and humanitarian who majored in business and botany - and Chon - formerly John, a SEAL who uses his skills to "negotiate" with people who get in their business. Coupled with the living-in-the-material-world girl, O, the threesome is a sexually charged epitome of what wrong with the world. In a word, they are savages.
Enter the Baja Cartel. After a viral video of a beheading is sent to Chon, he knows the days of running the game solo have come to an end. But will they go down without a fight?
Don Winslow presents to us - poorly, but still - a tragic tale of emotionally (not just sexually, by the way) charged characters. But isn't that the definition of a savage? One who follows emotion rather than logic and ration?
The story itself is great. Winslow's execution of it leaves a sour taste. His character development is unfavorable - there are just things that didn't need to exist (so what if Lado is having an affair?).
Savages follows the fall of Ben and Chonny - a potent strain of marijuana that blends indica and sativa in perfect harmony (it's stoner science, I suppose). The growers and distributors of the strain are Ben - a pacifist and humanitarian who majored in business and botany - and Chon - formerly John, a SEAL who uses his skills to "negotiate" with people who get in their business. Coupled with the living-in-the-material-world girl, O, the threesome is a sexually charged epitome of what wrong with the world. In a word, they are savages.
Enter the Baja Cartel. After a viral video of a beheading is sent to Chon, he knows the days of running the game solo have come to an end. But will they go down without a fight?
Don Winslow presents to us - poorly, but still - a tragic tale of emotionally (not just sexually, by the way) charged characters. But isn't that the definition of a savage? One who follows emotion rather than logic and ration?
The story itself is great. Winslow's execution of it leaves a sour taste. His character development is unfavorable - there are just things that didn't need to exist (so what if Lado is having an affair?).
A fast paced novel about kidnapping and an unusual love triangle. This novel is full of sex and drugs amidst the backdrop of Southern California. Throw in one Mexican drug cartel and you have a recipe for an explosive book that keeps you turning page after page. I couldn't put it down. All in all an enjoyable read.
We’ll lie on mats, make love, and eat the fish we catch. Like Savages. Beautiful, beautiful savages.
I rarely read stuff like this coz it’s not my thing, but this one was really good. It’s a different kind of writing, plus the story’s really good. And sexy! haha. I also can’t wait to watch the movie. I hate that I missed it in the theaters.
Oh, and Don Winslow favorited my tweets a couple of times! hihi
I rarely read stuff like this coz it’s not my thing, but this one was really good. It’s a different kind of writing, plus the story’s really good. And sexy! haha. I also can’t wait to watch the movie. I hate that I missed it in the theaters.
Oh, and Don Winslow favorited my tweets a couple of times! hihi
Brilliant!
I don't usually read this genre and to be honest, I only picked this up because I know Oliver Stone has turned this into a film.
Winslow does something rather different in this book in that he makes the non-person narrator a character of it's own. This may feel like author intrusion to some, gimmicky to others or just down right annoying but I loved it. It was something I'd never seen before and I found it hilarious, which helped to lighten the otherwise dreadfully dark and violent content of this story.
As for the story itself, maybe nothing too original. Drug cartels, weed growers, gangs etc. but Winslow definitely delivers this old tale in a refreshing format and I loved his characters. Perhaps they're a bit over the top, like exaggerations of themselves but it didn't stop me from loving the weird threesome at the heart of this story. And a relationship between two guys and a girl like this one isn't often portrayed the way Winslow did it.
My only beef is that this book could have been longer, could have had more plot complications, some deeper exploration of certain characters. There was a lot of backstory given for each character, even the minor ones and what I really wanted was more on Chon, Ben and O - the three protags of the book. Meh, can't please everyone.
I can't wait to see what Stone does with this novel and how he realises it on the big screen.
I don't usually read this genre and to be honest, I only picked this up because I know Oliver Stone has turned this into a film.
Winslow does something rather different in this book in that he makes the non-person narrator a character of it's own. This may feel like author intrusion to some, gimmicky to others or just down right annoying but I loved it. It was something I'd never seen before and I found it hilarious, which helped to lighten the otherwise dreadfully dark and violent content of this story.
As for the story itself, maybe nothing too original. Drug cartels, weed growers, gangs etc. but Winslow definitely delivers this old tale in a refreshing format and I loved his characters. Perhaps they're a bit over the top, like exaggerations of themselves but it didn't stop me from loving the weird threesome at the heart of this story. And a relationship between two guys and a girl like this one isn't often portrayed the way Winslow did it.
My only beef is that this book could have been longer, could have had more plot complications, some deeper exploration of certain characters. There was a lot of backstory given for each character, even the minor ones and what I really wanted was more on Chon, Ben and O - the three protags of the book. Meh, can't please everyone.
I can't wait to see what Stone does with this novel and how he realises it on the big screen.