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luca_zordan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i11iane's review against another edition
2.0
Just so-so, light reading as usual. Plot not too crazy. Wouldn't recommend it as an intro to Cussler though - could potentially get a little boring.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
2.0
Got 29 % in this book and I just couldn't take it anymore. Feel like the writing and the dialogue to be cluncky and don't have a good flow to it. It doesn't feel well written and was a slough to get through, yes it seems to be well researched but not even that could safe it for me. Don't know why I enjoyed the first book so much more, maybe I just didn't notice the writing then?
deranged_pegasus's review against another edition
3.0
A great read. The true life aspects blend beautifully to the story line and the way the real world is handled is magnificent. Almost a true story in feel.
literaryspeaking's review against another edition
2.0
This felt like a caricature of the genre. It may have contained almost every cheesy and cliche line possible for an action / crime fiction novel. Uncomfortable and kind of cringy. 2 stars for the action-packed ridiculousness of it all.
gbdill's review against another edition
2.0
"Blue Gold" by Clive Cussler, a renowned author in the adventure and thriller genre, turned out to be a major letdown. I had high hopes for this book. Regrettably, it failed to deliver on almost every level, leaving me deeply unsatisfied and frustrated.
First and foremost, the plot of "Blue Gold" lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of Cussler's earlier works. It follows the same tired formula of a rugged hero, Kurt Austin, embarking on a mission to save the world from an impending disaster. The predictable storyline is riddled with clichés and lacks the gripping suspense one would expect from a thriller novel. It feels like Cussler relied too heavily on his established formula, resulting in a stagnant and uninspired narrative.
Furthermore, the characters in this book are disappointingly one-dimensional. Kurt Austin, the supposed protagonist, lacks depth and fails to connect with readers on an emotional level. His actions and dialogue come across as contrived and lacking authenticity. The supporting characters are equally underdeveloped, serving as mere placeholders rather than individuals with distinct personalities. This lack of character development robs the story of any real impact, making it difficult to invest in the outcome or care about the fate of the protagonists.
Additionally, the writing style in "Blue Gold" is tedious and overly descriptive. Cussler goes into painstaking detail about irrelevant aspects, making the pacing sluggish and dull. Instead of enhancing the atmosphere or adding depth to the narrative, the excessive descriptions bog down the story, resulting in a tedious reading experience. The prose lacks finesse and fails to engage the reader, further exacerbating the book's lackluster nature.
What is particularly disappointing about "Blue Gold" is the missed opportunity to explore the fascinating themes it introduces. The book touches on the crucial issue of water scarcity and the potential consequences for humanity, but fails to delve deeper into this compelling subject matter. It presents an intriguing premise but fails to capitalize on it, leaving readers feeling unsatisfied and craving more substantial exploration.
In conclusion, "Blue Gold" by Clive Cussler is a lackluster addition to his repertoire. It suffers from an unoriginal plot, shallow characters, tedious writing style, and a failure to fully explore its intriguing themes. As a fan of the adventure and thriller genre, I was deeply disappointed by this book. I would not recommend "Blue Gold" to anyone seeking a captivating and thought-provoking read.
First and foremost, the plot of "Blue Gold" lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of Cussler's earlier works. It follows the same tired formula of a rugged hero, Kurt Austin, embarking on a mission to save the world from an impending disaster. The predictable storyline is riddled with clichés and lacks the gripping suspense one would expect from a thriller novel. It feels like Cussler relied too heavily on his established formula, resulting in a stagnant and uninspired narrative.
Furthermore, the characters in this book are disappointingly one-dimensional. Kurt Austin, the supposed protagonist, lacks depth and fails to connect with readers on an emotional level. His actions and dialogue come across as contrived and lacking authenticity. The supporting characters are equally underdeveloped, serving as mere placeholders rather than individuals with distinct personalities. This lack of character development robs the story of any real impact, making it difficult to invest in the outcome or care about the fate of the protagonists.
Additionally, the writing style in "Blue Gold" is tedious and overly descriptive. Cussler goes into painstaking detail about irrelevant aspects, making the pacing sluggish and dull. Instead of enhancing the atmosphere or adding depth to the narrative, the excessive descriptions bog down the story, resulting in a tedious reading experience. The prose lacks finesse and fails to engage the reader, further exacerbating the book's lackluster nature.
What is particularly disappointing about "Blue Gold" is the missed opportunity to explore the fascinating themes it introduces. The book touches on the crucial issue of water scarcity and the potential consequences for humanity, but fails to delve deeper into this compelling subject matter. It presents an intriguing premise but fails to capitalize on it, leaving readers feeling unsatisfied and craving more substantial exploration.
In conclusion, "Blue Gold" by Clive Cussler is a lackluster addition to his repertoire. It suffers from an unoriginal plot, shallow characters, tedious writing style, and a failure to fully explore its intriguing themes. As a fan of the adventure and thriller genre, I was deeply disappointed by this book. I would not recommend "Blue Gold" to anyone seeking a captivating and thought-provoking read.
susani_'s review against another edition
2.0
Blue Gold by Clive Cussler was required reading for my post-graduate studies unit 'Crime Fiction.' However, it took me a long time to complete reading it. I don't think it had to do with it being a bad book per se, but rather I had other books I wanted to read, and so it felt like a chore.
I can see the commercial appeal and why Clive Cussler generally sold quite well. Blue Gold looks at the morality of one transactional company holding the privatising right of freshwater supply. Water is such a precious commodity and is essential to sustaining life. It follows Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, NUMA scientists Paul and Gamay Trout and Dr Francesca Cabral who all are investigating or essential to the bigger crime that Gogstad is committing.
2.5 stars
I can see the commercial appeal and why Clive Cussler generally sold quite well. Blue Gold looks at the morality of one transactional company holding the privatising right of freshwater supply. Water is such a precious commodity and is essential to sustaining life. It follows Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, NUMA scientists Paul and Gamay Trout and Dr Francesca Cabral who all are investigating or essential to the bigger crime that Gogstad is committing.
2.5 stars
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
The first two thirds of this book are two stories. One is Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala who are trying to find out why a pod of dead whales sunk their race boat and Gamay and Paul Trout are in the jungles of Venezuela researching river dolphins. The Trouts end up fighting for their lives when they try to be helpful to their local host. Kurt and Joe find that they are hunting a mega corporation that doesn't take too kindly to people taking interest in them.
Of course these two story lines come together as the team take on the mega corporation that is trying to take control of the world's fresh water supply.
This is a nice thriller, totally over the top of course, but entertaining. Though there are times when it feels a bit rushed.
Of course these two story lines come together as the team take on the mega corporation that is trying to take control of the world's fresh water supply.
This is a nice thriller, totally over the top of course, but entertaining. Though there are times when it feels a bit rushed.
hockeyceres's review against another edition
4.0
Buona lettura avventurosa e leggera da godersi nei periodi in cui non si vuole pensare troppo. Lo stile di Cussler è molto scorrevole anche se diversi pezzi della trama risultano non troppo credibili. Ma andrò avanti con la serie.