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jbliv's review against another edition
3.0
Oh, Rick. After your return to writing (or, rather, publishing), I was stunned by the Matthew Corbert books, the three sizable tomes that transported me back in time to an earlier, grittier US of A, and showed good Matthew threading through this treacherous land. Those books are as good, better even, than any previous works. So how could I not be excited when I heard that you were heading back into familiar terror/suspense territory with The Five -- and not only that, but it was a story of rock and roll, as well?
Shortly into the book, I felt stirrings of unease. Were these the protagonists, this unlikable lot? Apparently so. And therein lies the issue with this book. McCammon spends too little effort getting us to care for these bratty people. At the outset, the band is falling apart, and all you can think is, Well, no wonder! Characters have seemingly major roles, only to fade away. There is much buildup about a specific character you meet early in the novel, only to never see that person again. There's a scene fairly early in the book, in a diner, which will leave you solidly hating the guy who is essentially our protagonist. And this character buzzkill essentially destroys the fun of the musical aspects of the story, the artistry, the creative process, the healthy tension, the cathartic joy of a live show -- it's all buried under the heaviness of the people we are forced to spend time with.
Thus, in the end, this one becomes about plot. And a serviceable plot it is, thus the few stars I afford this. If you're a McCammon fan, read this. If you're not, do yourself a favor and pick up Speaks the Nightbird.
Shortly into the book, I felt stirrings of unease. Were these the protagonists, this unlikable lot? Apparently so. And therein lies the issue with this book. McCammon spends too little effort getting us to care for these bratty people. At the outset, the band is falling apart, and all you can think is, Well, no wonder! Characters have seemingly major roles, only to fade away. There is much buildup about a specific character you meet early in the novel, only to never see that person again. There's a scene fairly early in the book, in a diner, which will leave you solidly hating the guy who is essentially our protagonist. And this character buzzkill essentially destroys the fun of the musical aspects of the story, the artistry, the creative process, the healthy tension, the cathartic joy of a live show -- it's all buried under the heaviness of the people we are forced to spend time with.
Thus, in the end, this one becomes about plot. And a serviceable plot it is, thus the few stars I afford this. If you're a McCammon fan, read this. If you're not, do yourself a favor and pick up Speaks the Nightbird.
wyzaker's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeanne_i_d's review against another edition
4.0
I am definitely rounding up to a four star rating. I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. The minor characters like Thor and the dog, Stereo, were more intersting to me than the band. I thought McCammon was going somewhere with the story about Stone Church but it just seemed to fizzle out.
wflegias's review against another edition
5.0
It is a marvellous book, I like it.
Second Entry. I read this book a few years ago, and I have finish reading it again, I can say it is magnificent and enjoyed re-reading the book
Second Entry. I read this book a few years ago, and I have finish reading it again, I can say it is magnificent and enjoyed re-reading the book
professorfate's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a bit of a departure for Robert McCammon. It's not the out-and-out horror of his books from the 80s like "Swan Song"; nor is it the moody, atmospheric weirdness of his Matthew Corbett novels. This is a tense thriller about a small-time rock band getting involved in the ultimate battle of good and evil.
The titular band are embarking on what they discover will be their last tour (the manager and one of the members tell their bandmates that they're leaving after this tour). They have just released a new album with a song that a former Marine interprets (or is told?) as being against the Marines and the mission in Iraq 2. From there, the chase is joined.
This is a fun book and it highlights McCammon's talent and style. I think, though, it could have gone through maybe one more round of edits--there seemed to me a couple of scenes that went on a little longer than they needed to. All in all, though, a good book.
The titular band are embarking on what they discover will be their last tour (the manager and one of the members tell their bandmates that they're leaving after this tour). They have just released a new album with a song that a former Marine interprets (or is told?) as being against the Marines and the mission in Iraq 2. From there, the chase is joined.
This is a fun book and it highlights McCammon's talent and style. I think, though, it could have gone through maybe one more round of edits--there seemed to me a couple of scenes that went on a little longer than they needed to. All in all, though, a good book.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
After a decade of wondering if we would ever see a new novel from Robert McCammon, we were surprised with a very different form of storytelling that in the Matthew Corbett trilogy. Published over 8 years, those stories took us back to the 1700s, treating us first to a witch-trial legal thriller, and then to a pair of serial killer thrillers with some rather interesting psychological twists. Now, 20 years after the publication of Gone South, he has finally returned to the realm of contemporary horror with The Five.
The Five is as much a book that’s about something (the quest for music) as it is one that tells a story (the impending destruction of The Five). It’s a story about making music, about writing songs, and about the power of music. This is a book that’s steeped in musical history, and often written in musical language. Music is what brought Nomad, Ariel, and the others together; it’s what sets Jeremy on their trail; it’s what carries them through their trials; and it's what, ultimately, provides their means of redemption.
A fantastically diverse group of musicians, The Fiveare three men and two women (plus a manager) who we quickly come to care about. McCammon develops all of his characters carefully, balancing their rough edges with just enough sentiment to ensure we're fully invested in their fate, without robbing them of their grittiness. Even the deluded villain of the piece, Jeremy Pett, is a character who elicits our sympathy right from the start, even as he keeps us guessing as to his true motives. Depending on how much supernatural influence you choose to read into that motivation, his tragic fall may be just as important as the band's struggle to survive.
Although there are aspects of the novel that remind me of many of his earlier works, it’s his classic Boy’s Lifethat most often came to mind while reading The Five. Both are rather subtle tales, relying upon anxious tension and ongoing mystery to feed the horror, as opposed to outright gore and terror. The story touches gently upon the supernatural, exploring the same themes of good versus evil that McCammon has so deftly dealt with before, but leaves the interpretation to the reader. Depending upon how one chooses to read it, this can either be a novel about the all-too-human pain within our hearts, or the inhuman fury and deception that haunts the fringes of imagination . . . or both.
This uncertainty lends itself to a very interesting read, leading the reader to question almost every development. Without narrator who makes no effort to either confirm or deny to existence of the supernatural, and with such a wide variance of belief among the members of the band, we’re left to take sides based upon our own beliefs. It’s a brave approach to the story (especially since we're also being asked to weigh the political pros and cons of the war in Iraq), and one that demands the reader do more than just follow along, but it does make for an awkward and slightly unfinished ending.
If your taste in McCammon’s work runs more to Boys Life than Swan Song, then I suspect this is the book you’ve been waiting for. Even if it doesn’t, this is a well-told tale that is definitely worth experiencing. Personally, I quite enjoyed the period detour of the Matthew Corbett trilogy (and would not be at all disappointed to see a return to that world), but it’s still nice to be taken to masterfully back into the present.
The Five is as much a book that’s about something (the quest for music) as it is one that tells a story (the impending destruction of The Five). It’s a story about making music, about writing songs, and about the power of music. This is a book that’s steeped in musical history, and often written in musical language. Music is what brought Nomad, Ariel, and the others together; it’s what sets Jeremy on their trail; it’s what carries them through their trials; and it's what, ultimately, provides their means of redemption.
A fantastically diverse group of musicians, The Fiveare three men and two women (plus a manager) who we quickly come to care about. McCammon develops all of his characters carefully, balancing their rough edges with just enough sentiment to ensure we're fully invested in their fate, without robbing them of their grittiness. Even the deluded villain of the piece, Jeremy Pett, is a character who elicits our sympathy right from the start, even as he keeps us guessing as to his true motives. Depending on how much supernatural influence you choose to read into that motivation, his tragic fall may be just as important as the band's struggle to survive.
Although there are aspects of the novel that remind me of many of his earlier works, it’s his classic Boy’s Lifethat most often came to mind while reading The Five. Both are rather subtle tales, relying upon anxious tension and ongoing mystery to feed the horror, as opposed to outright gore and terror. The story touches gently upon the supernatural, exploring the same themes of good versus evil that McCammon has so deftly dealt with before, but leaves the interpretation to the reader. Depending upon how one chooses to read it, this can either be a novel about the all-too-human pain within our hearts, or the inhuman fury and deception that haunts the fringes of imagination . . . or both.
This uncertainty lends itself to a very interesting read, leading the reader to question almost every development. Without narrator who makes no effort to either confirm or deny to existence of the supernatural, and with such a wide variance of belief among the members of the band, we’re left to take sides based upon our own beliefs. It’s a brave approach to the story (especially since we're also being asked to weigh the political pros and cons of the war in Iraq), and one that demands the reader do more than just follow along, but it does make for an awkward and slightly unfinished ending.
If your taste in McCammon’s work runs more to Boys Life than Swan Song, then I suspect this is the book you’ve been waiting for. Even if it doesn’t, this is a well-told tale that is definitely worth experiencing. Personally, I quite enjoyed the period detour of the Matthew Corbett trilogy (and would not be at all disappointed to see a return to that world), but it’s still nice to be taken to masterfully back into the present.
jjcopper's review against another edition
5.0
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." ~Philo of Alexandria
This is a tale of those great battles in the lives of the fictional band, The Five. It is about the battle of each individual soul, and the butterfly effect it has on the lives our own battles touch.
This is a tale of those great battles in the lives of the fictional band, The Five. It is about the battle of each individual soul, and the butterfly effect it has on the lives our own battles touch.
rmmcdowell's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I really wrestled with the number of stars to give this--four or five--and think an average rating of under four stars mean people must have read a different book than the one I read. Or maybe they took off stars for length.
The Five is not a short book. And it isn't like some long books that are fast reads. This is a book you savor or you miss the point. I marked it a thriller, and it is that. There is a cross-point between the band and a veteran that is thrilling and suspenseful and heartbreaking.
But it's more than a cheap thriller. It's about love and courage and joy and passion. Mostly, though, it's about life. You get that, as the reader, toward the very end. And, at the very end, The Five moves from being a three to being solidly between a four and a five. I wish I owned this book, so I could read the last three pages over and over again . . . when I need courage or hope. When I need to dream big enough to live out what I hear in my head.
The Five is not a short book. And it isn't like some long books that are fast reads. This is a book you savor or you miss the point. I marked it a thriller, and it is that. There is a cross-point between the band and a veteran that is thrilling and suspenseful and heartbreaking.
But it's more than a cheap thriller. It's about love and courage and joy and passion. Mostly, though, it's about life. You get that, as the reader, toward the very end. And, at the very end, The Five moves from being a three to being solidly between a four and a five. I wish I owned this book, so I could read the last three pages over and over again . . . when I need courage or hope. When I need to dream big enough to live out what I hear in my head.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
This was very nearly a four star read for me. I liked the rock'n roll setting. A bunch of musicians and their manager on the road with a crazed war vet sniper at their heels plus some vague supernatural elements - fun! McCammon takes his time telling the story, and while it's an enjoyable read, the characters didn't feel fully realized and this prevented me from wholeheartedly appreciating the novel.
alwroteabook's review against another edition
Not sure if this was a really long intro to a short story or just went on to long at the end, but pretty good. Review to come.