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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Jeffrey Archer apparently spent two years in prison in England and that experience is reflected in these short stories. I'm a fan of the short story genre and this are some of the best.
Prison gruel compared to his past fare!
I'm not suggesting for a second that Sir Jeffrey Archer shouldn't have been in prison or that he didn't deserve his all expenses paid vacation courtesy of the UK taxpayer. But, on the other hand, if he felt he was served some lemons then you have to give him credit for preparing some lemonade that he could sell to his remaining fans after he was released.
CAT O'NINE TALES includes twelve short stories, nine of which were borrowed (stolen?) and then embellished from his fellow inmate cronies and three of which were original (and, if I do say so, the least interesting of the twelve). While they do have a certain ring of truth and are interesting, in the sense that they have ironic and sometimes mildly humorous endings, the story-telling is, to say the least, pedestrian. Especially when it's compared to the work that Archer produced when in such stellar novels as Kane and Abel.
Had this collection been "pure" fiction, tales such as "Maestro" which regaled us with the escapades of an Italian restaurateur, busted for evading a spectacular chunk of tax, might have struck the reader as picaresque, perhaps humorous portrayals of almost impish rogues. But, since we now know the story is based on a true-life criminal who sought to extensively line his own pockets at the expense of his fellow citizens and more honest taxpayers, it's tough to generate any sympathy for the character. As a result, it's also difficult to feel any real enjoyment in reading the story. The same comment about his characters generating any real interest or sympathy might be levelled at virtually every story in the collection.
Only moderately enjoyable and mercifully short and easy to read, CAT O'NINE TALES is probably the output of an author past his prime who should retire gracefully. I wonder if he's getting a pension from the British government in spite of his stint behind bars?
Paul Weiss
I'm not suggesting for a second that Sir Jeffrey Archer shouldn't have been in prison or that he didn't deserve his all expenses paid vacation courtesy of the UK taxpayer. But, on the other hand, if he felt he was served some lemons then you have to give him credit for preparing some lemonade that he could sell to his remaining fans after he was released.
CAT O'NINE TALES includes twelve short stories, nine of which were borrowed (stolen?) and then embellished from his fellow inmate cronies and three of which were original (and, if I do say so, the least interesting of the twelve). While they do have a certain ring of truth and are interesting, in the sense that they have ironic and sometimes mildly humorous endings, the story-telling is, to say the least, pedestrian. Especially when it's compared to the work that Archer produced when in such stellar novels as Kane and Abel.
Had this collection been "pure" fiction, tales such as "Maestro" which regaled us with the escapades of an Italian restaurateur, busted for evading a spectacular chunk of tax, might have struck the reader as picaresque, perhaps humorous portrayals of almost impish rogues. But, since we now know the story is based on a true-life criminal who sought to extensively line his own pockets at the expense of his fellow citizens and more honest taxpayers, it's tough to generate any sympathy for the character. As a result, it's also difficult to feel any real enjoyment in reading the story. The same comment about his characters generating any real interest or sympathy might be levelled at virtually every story in the collection.
Only moderately enjoyable and mercifully short and easy to read, CAT O'NINE TALES is probably the output of an author past his prime who should retire gracefully. I wonder if he's getting a pension from the British government in spite of his stint behind bars?
Paul Weiss
Some stories were intriguing but others were just ok. Archer writes well but not all stories or characters were engaging.
Entertaining collection of short stories based on stories told to the author while he was serving at Her Majesty's pleasure. The number of inventive ways to commit white collar crime was truly an education.
It's Jeffrey Archer and I haven't read any of his books before but I had this image of him being the well known writer that he is.
With this book, He has tried to cover the globe and different legal systems. The writing is witty. Some of the stories were difficult for me to understand. out of all the stories, I enjoyed the last one th most only of the its wittiness.
With this book, He has tried to cover the globe and different legal systems. The writing is witty. Some of the stories were difficult for me to understand. out of all the stories, I enjoyed the last one th most only of the its wittiness.
بينما كان جيفري ارتشر (المؤلف) سجينا على مدى عامين ..
ومتنقلا بين خمسة سجون مختلفة.. التقط أفكار هذه القصص القصيرة..
تسع من هذه القصص التقطها من السجن وهي قصص من الواقع .. وتم نشرها بعد تنقحيها .. وتنميقها .. وتغيير أسماء أصحابها .
أما القصص الثلاث الأخرى فهي فهي من الواقع أيضا.. والتقطها من أثينا ولندن وروما ..
قصص مشوقة جدا ..
تتراوح بين الذكاء والدهاء والحظ كما في قصص "الملك الأحمر" و "أتفهم قصدي " و "المأمور " ..
والمفاجأة في النهاية كما في " لاتشرب الماء " :) .
أعجبتني قصة " المايسترو " :)
من القصص المفضلة لدي أيضا.. قصة "عين المحب " وقصة " حكيم الزمان" ..
خفيف وحلو أنهيته فقط بجلستي قراءة دامت بمجموعها ثلاث ساعات .
أنصح الجميع بقراءته .
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رابط لتحميل الرواية :
http://www.4shared.com/office/Ji-WuWz8/___-__.html
ومتنقلا بين خمسة سجون مختلفة.. التقط أفكار هذه القصص القصيرة..
تسع من هذه القصص التقطها من السجن وهي قصص من الواقع .. وتم نشرها بعد تنقحيها .. وتنميقها .. وتغيير أسماء أصحابها .
أما القصص الثلاث الأخرى فهي فهي من الواقع أيضا.. والتقطها من أثينا ولندن وروما ..
قصص مشوقة جدا ..
تتراوح بين الذكاء والدهاء والحظ كما في قصص "الملك الأحمر" و "أتفهم قصدي " و "المأمور " ..
والمفاجأة في النهاية كما في " لاتشرب الماء " :) .
أعجبتني قصة " المايسترو " :)
من القصص المفضلة لدي أيضا.. قصة "عين المحب " وقصة " حكيم الزمان" ..
خفيف وحلو أنهيته فقط بجلستي قراءة دامت بمجموعها ثلاث ساعات .
أنصح الجميع بقراءته .
ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
رابط لتحميل الرواية :
http://www.4shared.com/office/Ji-WuWz8/___-__.html
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
Enjoyable quick read that I didn’t have to think about