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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had three short stories in it. The title story was the third in the collection and was really quite different from the movie. It wasn't a particularly compelling story unless you want to look at it as only being about Tristan's character. And madness. There were several mad people in that one.
The second story, The Man who Gave Up His Name, was my least favorite as the character was quite nauseating. And I never understood the significance of the title.
The first story was the gem of this collection. Revenge was the story that was made into a film of the same name starring Kevin Costner and Madeline Stowe. I've seen that movie many times but I can't watch it often because it's so brutal and tragic. There was a part of me that was not happy to be blindsided by a story that I deliberately have to brace myself for, but there was a part of me that really had to listen. I do love it for some reason. It was funny, though, because I've seen the movie so many times that I was visualizing it as I was listening and it startled me every single time "Cochran" spoke and it wasn't Kevin Costner's voice! In this particular case I liked the movie better.
All three of the stories read more as life histories and are quite light on dialogue.
The second story, The Man who Gave Up His Name, was my least favorite as the character was quite nauseating. And I never understood the significance of the title.
The first story was the gem of this collection. Revenge was the story that was made into a film of the same name starring Kevin Costner and Madeline Stowe. I've seen that movie many times but I can't watch it often because it's so brutal and tragic. There was a part of me that was not happy to be blindsided by a story that I deliberately have to brace myself for, but there was a part of me that really had to listen. I do love it for some reason. It was funny, though, because I've seen the movie so many times that I was visualizing it as I was listening and it startled me every single time "Cochran" spoke and it wasn't Kevin Costner's voice! In this particular case I liked the movie better.
All three of the stories read more as life histories and are quite light on dialogue.
I really want to give this book a higher rating because the plots of each of the 3 stories are really exciting to me. But the promise they hold is ruined by the writing style and especially a recurring theme that bothered me--women as disposable troublemakers for men, who pretty much owned all of the stories.
Revenge: 4/5 stars
The Man Who Gave Up His Name: 3.5/5
Legends of the Fall 3.25/5 (The movie was a lot better.)
In each of the stories, that theme I dislike is prevalent. But we also have "man's man" type characters, who are fascinating. We have the wilderness, adventure, the threat of death, and an approach to lovemaking that I simply can't relate to.
"Revenge" had the best plot. The other two, despite elegant lead-ups and intriguing characters, fell flat. I know the story arc in a novella is not as arched as one in a novel, but not much happened in these stories! And yet it's purely the atmosphere that gives this book 3.5/5 stars.
Revenge: 4/5 stars
The Man Who Gave Up His Name: 3.5/5
Legends of the Fall 3.25/5 (The movie was a lot better.)
In each of the stories, that theme I dislike is prevalent. But we also have "man's man" type characters, who are fascinating. We have the wilderness, adventure, the threat of death, and an approach to lovemaking that I simply can't relate to.
"Revenge" had the best plot. The other two, despite elegant lead-ups and intriguing characters, fell flat. I know the story arc in a novella is not as arched as one in a novel, but not much happened in these stories! And yet it's purely the atmosphere that gives this book 3.5/5 stars.
Three contained stories of dangerous love, wanderlust, and a combination of the two. All three compulsively readable on their own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Dark, but compelling. It is actually 3 novellas, the last one being the basis for the movie by this name. I was most drawn to the middle one, The Man Who Gave Up His Name. It was the least violent and the most introspective.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated