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aidenjacobs265's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
paulypokey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs and Sexism
nancidrum's review against another edition
4.0
Very good! Especially timely after our rafting trip down the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River.
theliterati_list's review against another edition
2.0
Sorry, but this book was long and boring. I spent forever chipping away at it and I am never going to get that part of my life back. I would not recommend.
dzengota's review against another edition
2.0
I love "Desert Solitaire" for all of the totally justified reasons some people hate it. I love Abbey's anti-social, angry and bitter self-righteousness and I love his direct and potent style in that book.
That said, that style does not translate into fiction. The characters here are all so shallow, with just enough features to broadly justify the plot and occasional banter but never really implying any kind of greater life. Bonnie particularly suffers in a weird way where I think Abbey was unsure what to do with her. The primary purpose he seemed to have landed on was to have all of the other characters discuss how hot she is (an act which quickly stopped being characterization and started being an outlet for Abbey imagining a hot woman).
Also, the whole final act feels like it comes out of nowhere. The plot is moving along and the reader is starting to wonder if the big 'Dam job' is within the scope of the book when suddenly, they are pulled into a 80-page, multi-day chase sequence. The chase does have good drama to it but loses much of it as main characters suddenly and with little fanfare just disappear from the plot.
Overall, I don't think I'll continue with any of Abbey's fiction, but the sheer enjoyment I got out of "Desert Solitaire" is enough to pull me back into his non-fiction, someday.
That said, that style does not translate into fiction. The characters here are all so shallow, with just enough features to broadly justify the plot and occasional banter but never really implying any kind of greater life. Bonnie particularly suffers in a weird way where I think Abbey was unsure what to do with her. The primary purpose he seemed to have landed on was to have all of the other characters discuss how hot she is (an act which quickly stopped being characterization and started being an outlet for Abbey imagining a hot woman).
Also, the whole final act feels like it comes out of nowhere. The plot is moving along and the reader is starting to wonder if the big 'Dam job' is within the scope of the book when suddenly, they are pulled into a 80-page, multi-day chase sequence. The chase does have good drama to it but loses much of it as main characters suddenly and with little fanfare just disappear from the plot.
Overall, I don't think I'll continue with any of Abbey's fiction, but the sheer enjoyment I got out of "Desert Solitaire" is enough to pull me back into his non-fiction, someday.
leilaniann's review against another edition
2.0
How can a novel about direct action be so incredibly boring?
be_like_the_squirrel_girl's review against another edition
4.0
This book put me in a bit of a quandary. I found all of the characters to be quite detestable, and yet I was drawn to the adventure. The language was profane, but the writing was masterfully executed. The actions of the gang were reprehensible, yet justified (Abbey is very convincing), and I was secretly rooting for them amidst the mayhem. By the end, I actually cared about the characters and the suspense was thrilling. The canvas for the book is one of my favorite places on earth, the deserts of Southern Utah (and beyond), which is what I enjoyed most about the book.
rileylasda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75