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croaker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is a masterpiece.
_ottavia_'s review against another edition
5.0
"Se la Guerra alla droga sia un'oscena assurdità o un'assurda oscenità, Art non saprebbe dirlo. Comunque sia, è certamente una farsa: una farsa tragica e sanguinosa. Sopratutto sanguinosa."
Il primo paragone che mi viene in mente è "The Wire", e in effetti lo stile di Winslow è, come sempre, molto cinematografico. Ti butta in mezzo all'azione, ti riempe di fatti, di nomi, di collegamenti e tu non puoi fare altro che continuare a leggere finchè ti ritrovi all'ultima di queste settecento e passa pagine, e quasi non te ne accorgi. Quello che rimane è, come dalle parole di Art, una farsa tragica e sanguinosa: il ritratto di una guerra alla droga (o al comunismo? o a entrambi?) in cui le gesta di politici, narcotrafficanti, agenti di polizia e preti si intrecciano a formare un quadro le cui implicazioni socio-economiche sono enormi, e ancora da svilupparsi. Tant'è che Winslow ha scritto un seguito, di questo bel libro, che deve ancora uscire e che non vedo l'ora di leggere.
Il primo paragone che mi viene in mente è "The Wire", e in effetti lo stile di Winslow è, come sempre, molto cinematografico. Ti butta in mezzo all'azione, ti riempe di fatti, di nomi, di collegamenti e tu non puoi fare altro che continuare a leggere finchè ti ritrovi all'ultima di queste settecento e passa pagine, e quasi non te ne accorgi. Quello che rimane è, come dalle parole di Art, una farsa tragica e sanguinosa: il ritratto di una guerra alla droga (o al comunismo? o a entrambi?) in cui le gesta di politici, narcotrafficanti, agenti di polizia e preti si intrecciano a formare un quadro le cui implicazioni socio-economiche sono enormi, e ancora da svilupparsi. Tant'è che Winslow ha scritto un seguito, di questo bel libro, che deve ancora uscire e che non vedo l'ora di leggere.
lurker_stalker's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I've ever read a novel about drug lords and government agencies before. I certainly had never read anything by Don Winslow. I became aware of his books by following him on Twitter and loving his anti-Trump stance and his foray into making short films about our own mob boss in chief.
So The Power of the Dog reminded me very much of a Game of Thrones sort of book set in the Regan/Bush I years with mobsters, drug cartels, and shadowy government agencies instead of kingdoms and dragons. So many characters and settings but it does eventually come together. And it came together so very well. This is a long book and I never lost interest so that has to say something...
I'll be starting on the second in the series next. I haven't read the blurb so I'm not sure if it will have some of the same folks or a new cast of characters. I hope Ray Porter is the narrator, though. He was absolutely fantastic.
So The Power of the Dog reminded me very much of a Game of Thrones sort of book set in the Regan/Bush I years with mobsters, drug cartels, and shadowy government agencies instead of kingdoms and dragons. So many characters and settings but it does eventually come together. And it came together so very well. This is a long book and I never lost interest so that has to say something...
I'll be starting on the second in the series next. I haven't read the blurb so I'm not sure if it will have some of the same folks or a new cast of characters. I hope Ray Porter is the narrator, though. He was absolutely fantastic.
lh77's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
halynah's review against another edition
2.0
That atrocious writing style makes it impossible to read the book.
takumo_n's review against another edition
5.0
With dark wit and relentless pacing Winslow tells a story of an insanely big conspiracy that not even the highest government officials knew about. Where characters try to give simple justice, live simple lives, or commit simple crimes until the truth starts coming out.
wifienabled08's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sethro93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sonialusiveira's review against another edition
4.0
3,75 Stars.
A book with all the ‘roller coaster of emotional swings’. Started off ok and intriguing, then got really exciting you think this is gonna be the best book you’ve ever read, then it got so boring as hell you just want to dnf but then the questions played in your mind so you just have to continue reading, then it gets super excited you fly through a few pages, then it kinda reach a climax and you are back to too long, boring details of a backstory, and you persevere because some questions are unanswered and you just have to know, then the excitement picks up at double pace it gives you some adrenaline rush, then you are back at square one of the emotional roller coaster.
The writing is very tedious most of the times. The characters are all morally grey. I do think our bad guys at least have some redeeming qualities but the supposedly good guys are just pure power-hungry evils with zero redeeming quality. The plot is very layered and had the writing been a bit more straightforward, this will probably be one of the best books in the genre.
A book with all the ‘roller coaster of emotional swings’. Started off ok and intriguing, then got really exciting you think this is gonna be the best book you’ve ever read, then it got so boring as hell you just want to dnf but then the questions played in your mind so you just have to continue reading, then it gets super excited you fly through a few pages, then it kinda reach a climax and you are back to too long, boring details of a backstory, and you persevere because some questions are unanswered and you just have to know, then the excitement picks up at double pace it gives you some adrenaline rush, then you are back at square one of the emotional roller coaster.
The writing is very tedious most of the times. The characters are all morally grey. I do think our bad guys at least have some redeeming qualities but the supposedly good guys are just pure power-hungry evils with zero redeeming quality. The plot is very layered and had the writing been a bit more straightforward, this will probably be one of the best books in the genre.
walium's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0