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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I always enjoy when something Reacher pops up on my radar, particularly when it has not been sullied by Tom Cruise. In this recently released collection, Lee Child has amassed a number of previously published short stories and compacted them between two covers. Some I have read and enjoyed, others I am discovering for the first time. I have decided not to review each individual piece, but to offer an overarching summary of general sentiments.
Child shows off Jack Reacher in an interesting light within this collection, tapping into some of his early years as a military brat through to his itinerant ways, best known to readers throughout much of the series. Reacher is depicted as a precocious and highly attentive youth, even when still under the watchful eye of his parents and begins his independent ways soon thereafter, ending up in New York during the Son of Sam killings in the late 1970s. From there, the reader sees Reacher in the middle of the career within the military, showing off his MP skills and honed interrogation techniques, which have served him well. Some of the latter stories depict Reacher as stumbling upon something of interest, a theme found in many of the series novels. It appears that no matter his age or where he is located, Reacher seems to have a way with the ladies. Baffling enough, he is always able to extract himself from their grasp as he continues his travels around the world. A wonderful collection of stories that show Reacher as he progressed through life. Ideal for the hardcore Reacher fan (though some may have read all these tales), though it also might be a decent piece for those who wish to discover the man with No Middle Name!
Lee Child has spent two decades honing his Jack Reacher character, developing both an ongoing story of his random wanderings into small towns across America and significant pieces of the man's backstory. Reacher is a complex character, even if he prides himself for not having a large historical footprint. Child has created this collection to show off the fifty-seven years of Reacher's life through the stories that readers have come to love. Each story can and does stand on its own, but series fans will love noticing the development in the character over time. Seeing Reacher develop from teenager through to his current stage was best shown by placing the stories in chronological (age, not publication) order. Longtime series fans are used to Child's flashback novels and stories, some of whom create tension when reviews pile up. That said, this collection offers something for everyone while we wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this fabulous collection of stories that keep Reacher fans happy. I am excited to see what awaits us in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Child shows off Jack Reacher in an interesting light within this collection, tapping into some of his early years as a military brat through to his itinerant ways, best known to readers throughout much of the series. Reacher is depicted as a precocious and highly attentive youth, even when still under the watchful eye of his parents and begins his independent ways soon thereafter, ending up in New York during the Son of Sam killings in the late 1970s. From there, the reader sees Reacher in the middle of the career within the military, showing off his MP skills and honed interrogation techniques, which have served him well. Some of the latter stories depict Reacher as stumbling upon something of interest, a theme found in many of the series novels. It appears that no matter his age or where he is located, Reacher seems to have a way with the ladies. Baffling enough, he is always able to extract himself from their grasp as he continues his travels around the world. A wonderful collection of stories that show Reacher as he progressed through life. Ideal for the hardcore Reacher fan (though some may have read all these tales), though it also might be a decent piece for those who wish to discover the man with No Middle Name!
Lee Child has spent two decades honing his Jack Reacher character, developing both an ongoing story of his random wanderings into small towns across America and significant pieces of the man's backstory. Reacher is a complex character, even if he prides himself for not having a large historical footprint. Child has created this collection to show off the fifty-seven years of Reacher's life through the stories that readers have come to love. Each story can and does stand on its own, but series fans will love noticing the development in the character over time. Seeing Reacher develop from teenager through to his current stage was best shown by placing the stories in chronological (age, not publication) order. Longtime series fans are used to Child's flashback novels and stories, some of whom create tension when reviews pile up. That said, this collection offers something for everyone while we wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this fabulous collection of stories that keep Reacher fans happy. I am excited to see what awaits us in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
"No Middle Name" is a collection of about 10 short stories about Jack Reacher. Like most other collections, the story quality varies quite a bit, but they mostly follow the Jack Reacher formula. In addition, Lee Child has mixed it up with varying story lengths, perspectives and contexts. In conclusion, any Jack Reacher fan is going to like this - it is not the greatest book but it is not the worst either.
While waiting for the library to fulfill my request for The Midnight Line, I picked up this collection of Reacher short stories. I’d read a few of them in the past when they appeared in other magazines or as Kindle shorts, but quite a few were new to me and one, the longest and best in the book, was new for this collection and brings back Reacher’s big brother (and Neagley!).
Many of the stories are from Reacher’s time in the military and I always enjoy this glimpses we get into his past professional life. Like all short story collections, some are better than others or resonate more, but these all carry the Reacher characteristics: brutal logic, violence and Reacher coming out on top.
Many of the stories are from Reacher’s time in the military and I always enjoy this glimpses we get into his past professional life. Like all short story collections, some are better than others or resonate more, but these all carry the Reacher characteristics: brutal logic, violence and Reacher coming out on top.
A bit uneven, as one would expect from such a collection, but overall pretty good.
I particularly liked the stories about young Reacher. They wouldn't make sense as a novel, but they help to flesh out the character and his background, which (having read most of the Reacher novels) I appreciate.
The only real problem is Child's occasional over-egging of the pudding, so to speak. In one story, I totally bought the idea that young Reacher solves his own problem with local bullies, and fixes his brother's school problem, and gets the girl; that was fine. But I didn't buy the part where he also solved his dad's security issue that the MPs couldn't handle. It was even worse in the NYC blackout story, where teenage Reacher solves way too many problems in way too little timeSon of Sam? Really? Come on.
But, overall, it was solid Reacher, which is always worthwhile.
There was one truly false note, though: Reacher ate a tuna melt! My husband and I both stumbled at that, saying, "Wait, no! He would never do that—he's a cheeseburger guy!"
I particularly liked the stories about young Reacher. They wouldn't make sense as a novel, but they help to flesh out the character and his background, which (having read most of the Reacher novels) I appreciate.
The only real problem is Child's occasional over-egging of the pudding, so to speak. In one story, I totally bought the idea that young Reacher solves his own problem with local bullies, and fixes his brother's school problem, and gets the girl; that was fine. But I didn't buy the part where he also solved his dad's security issue that the MPs couldn't handle. It was even worse in the NYC blackout story, where teenage Reacher solves way too many problems in way too little time
But, overall, it was solid Reacher, which is always worthwhile.
There was one truly false note, though: Reacher ate a tuna melt! My husband and I both stumbled at that, saying, "Wait, no! He would never do that—he's a cheeseburger guy!"
Here's a book to keep your Reacher addiction at bay while waiting for the next installment. A series of Jack Reacher short stories-his life in random sketches. Stories from his childhood (was Reacher ever really a kid, though?) to active military role, to the lone wanderer we know and love so well. Some are written in the first person and some in second which is kind of disorienting. The stories at the back of the book are the shortest and weakest. Still it's JACK NONE REACHER! That makes this hard-core fan happy .
Jack Reacher books are my guilty pleasure. Child is a great story teller, and if you're willing to suspend disbelief and a bit to critical thinking, he's fun to take a ride with. Which is why I only read Reacher books when I'm traveling.
I very much enjoy the Reacher stories, great to relax and take your mind of work.
Hardcore Reacher fans will want this collection of short stories, some of which were originally published elsewhere. We see young Jack Reacher (not John, no middle name), whose own family calls him "Reacher" from the time he's a toddler.
Most of the stories deal with Reacher while he was a young man or still in the Army, but there are some post-Army tales as well, and of course, there's coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
The collection may not make sense to people not fans of the series, but for the rest of us, it's a delightful summer read.
Most of the stories deal with Reacher while he was a young man or still in the Army, but there are some post-Army tales as well, and of course, there's coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
The collection may not make sense to people not fans of the series, but for the rest of us, it's a delightful summer read.
This was my first impression of Jack Reacher - and it was certainly enlightening! Clearly this character is fun to read, due mainly to his apparent infallibility. The story set in the heat of New York when he was not quite 17 was particularly hilarious.
Nonetheless it was quite enjoyable. Every now and then it's fun to read a story of triumph - and here was a collection of a few!
I still think I prefer Gabriel Allon to Jack Reacher - I like my heroes a little more flawed (though older Reacher was an improvement!).
Nonetheless it was quite enjoyable. Every now and then it's fun to read a story of triumph - and here was a collection of a few!
I still think I prefer Gabriel Allon to Jack Reacher - I like my heroes a little more flawed (though older Reacher was an improvement!).