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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Slow burn but enjoyable nonetheless. Very technical but good story
This was a great suspense book. I was interested to learn about US and Soviet intelligence and see a perspective of Pop-culture Cold War from a contemporary account. All in all, the book is the literary equivalent of a summer superhero movie - a lot of action, a reasonably compelling story, some great scenes and effects, but ultimately it lacks any substantial heft to take it to a different level. However, it was a really enjoyable read.
so i started reading this because i accidentally mis-remembered the name of the movie 'october sky' and thought this was the book version. duhh. well it was a little long/wordy and i probably didn't understand all of the submarine terminology but still very enjoyable.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
I remember first reading The Hunt for Red October in 1987. At the time, it was my first espionage technical military thriller and I was enamored. Thirty-five years later, I am definitely of a different mind. Yes, Tom Clancy launched a new genre for me and for that I am grateful. But I see how formulaic this genre has become and Clancy's writing definitely pioneered that formula. I have found other writers I enjoy more because they don't follow the mold.
I have to say this is one book where the movie was more enjoyable. They cut out a lot of the extra fluff, made the story tighter and raised the stakes without losing anything. I had forgotten how different the movie is from the book, I was surprised and disappointed as I read it this time. I enjoyed a trip down nostalgia lane, but this is one book where I will now say, skip the book, watch the movie.
I have to say this is one book where the movie was more enjoyable. They cut out a lot of the extra fluff, made the story tighter and raised the stakes without losing anything. I had forgotten how different the movie is from the book, I was surprised and disappointed as I read it this time. I enjoyed a trip down nostalgia lane, but this is one book where I will now say, skip the book, watch the movie.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow pacing and an over-abundance of characters occasionally get in the way of an exciting story.
We discuss this and other classic Spy novels in this special episode of the All the Books Show Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-147-we-spy
We discuss this and other classic Spy novels in this special episode of the All the Books Show Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-147-we-spy
adventurous
challenging
tense
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