Scan barcode
tawntawn's review against another edition
3.0
Abbey's writing cracks me up. This story has a lot of moral holes in it but it was an entertaining read.
ivyjeann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
libbyleeereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Going into this book I think I expected an inspiring environmental activism book that dealt with water issues in the American Southwest. I came to find that it was about extremist environmental activists who were crass, racist, sexist, and extremely hypocritical. I kept looking for the purpose of the characters being so difficult to relate to but I could not figure it out. The descriptions of the west are interesting and unique with similarly interesting chase scenes but this was not enough to make the book worth reading in all honesty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Antisemitism, Sexism, and Racial slurs
lmfm's review against another edition
1.0
So I know this is supposed to be a masterpiece of environmental fiction and all, but I absolutely loathed this book. For those of us who aren't the target audience (alpha males from the 1970s?), it is a rambling, racist, misogynistic, arrogant, over-written, un-funny "comedy" that took me months to get through since I could only stomach a few pages at a time. The best I can say is that I did make it to the end...eventually. I can now say I've read Ed Abbey and I can also now say I'm done with him.
eleslie's review against another edition
2.0
Like the story line but find the characters a bit harsh? Try reading The Overstory by Richard Powers
willia4's review against another edition
3.0
I am no fan of the environment. Indeed, I am far more of an antifan. I long for the day when we are forced to flee to giant domed cities where we can finally solve the problems of insects and animals and humidity and sunburn and angry plants and all the other little evils waiting to strike in "the environment". I am also not a fan of terrorists. I hate them even more than I hate the environment.
All of which is to say that I am not the target audience for this book in which the main characters are all eco-terrorists and the plot follow their eco-terrorist activities as they attempt to spread unnecessary mayhem across the Southwest. I am not even in the neighborhood of being the audience for this book. Had the author known me, I am almost certain that he would not have been able to find any use for me. And I am pretty sure that I would feel the same about him.
So it was a tremendous surprise when I started liking this book. I'm not saying that it's a great book. And I wouldn't recommend it. But I was expecting this review to be a long catalog of the book's faults without a kind word for it.
And while there are certainly many faults to list (the most prominent being the weird notion that having a character pee is the height of comedy...), my heart just isn't in it.
The book is fine. Even entertaining. It didn't make me sympathetic to eco-terrorists but that would be a pretty tall order for a novel. So whatever.
It's fine.
All of which is to say that I am not the target audience for this book in which the main characters are all eco-terrorists and the plot follow their eco-terrorist activities as they attempt to spread unnecessary mayhem across the Southwest. I am not even in the neighborhood of being the audience for this book. Had the author known me, I am almost certain that he would not have been able to find any use for me. And I am pretty sure that I would feel the same about him.
So it was a tremendous surprise when I started liking this book. I'm not saying that it's a great book. And I wouldn't recommend it. But I was expecting this review to be a long catalog of the book's faults without a kind word for it.
And while there are certainly many faults to list (the most prominent being the weird notion that having a character pee is the height of comedy...), my heart just isn't in it.
The book is fine. Even entertaining. It didn't make me sympathetic to eco-terrorists but that would be a pretty tall order for a novel. So whatever.
It's fine.
liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
I found the prologue ponderous with overly descriptive prose. Abbey is trying too hard to impress and entertain. Overkill.
A doctor from Albuquerque and his female companion, a Mormon river runner, and a former Green Beret meet on a float trip on the Colorado River. They find they are of like mind on what man is doing to Planet Earth. Fueled by alcohol and anger they conspire to blow stuff up. Vandalism of heavy equipment becomes an art form. Impetuous acts increase and lead to pursuit by authorities. Group cohesion is tested and personal relationships within evolve. Their one rule is no killing or violence to others.
An entertaining romp through the Southwest of Arizona and Utah.
A doctor from Albuquerque and his female companion, a Mormon river runner, and a former Green Beret meet on a float trip on the Colorado River. They find they are of like mind on what man is doing to Planet Earth. Fueled by alcohol and anger they conspire to blow stuff up. Vandalism of heavy equipment becomes an art form. Impetuous acts increase and lead to pursuit by authorities. Group cohesion is tested and personal relationships within evolve. Their one rule is no killing or violence to others.
An entertaining romp through the Southwest of Arizona and Utah.
graceanna's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Aghhh would have been an easy five stars if it weren't for the sexism and racism.
souldentist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5