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bookybrookey's review against another edition
4.0
This book is way longer than it needed to be but the writing was good and the character development was enough for me to get through it. I enjoyed the insight I gained into the war, and think Young did an excellent job at allowing readers to see into the minds of child soldiers.
kasshall's review against another edition
5.0
I got this book in 2017 at the Melbourne Writers Festival after listening to Rusty Young speak there. I loved his first book “Marching Powder” having bought it the day it hit shelves (quite by accident on my part). However, at nearly 700 pages I wasn’t game to dive into something I wasn’t sure was my kind of book.
How wrong I was!! I bit the bullet and the only reason it took me so long to finish was life getting busy beyond my control. That said, this weekend I’ve read close to 300 pages because this is a bloody cracking book. Beautifully written, compelling and fascinating, so much is based on factual recollections of Columbia’s ex-child soldiers, but contains a narrative hard to step away from.
Strong recommendation and thumbs up from me. I loved this and hope the wait for the next work of Rusty Young isn’t 15 years in the making.
How wrong I was!! I bit the bullet and the only reason it took me so long to finish was life getting busy beyond my control. That said, this weekend I’ve read close to 300 pages because this is a bloody cracking book. Beautifully written, compelling and fascinating, so much is based on factual recollections of Columbia’s ex-child soldiers, but contains a narrative hard to step away from.
Strong recommendation and thumbs up from me. I loved this and hope the wait for the next work of Rusty Young isn’t 15 years in the making.
dogd00d's review against another edition
3.0
The story is wildly engaging, the writing, however, particularly the dialogue, is a lil' lacklustre.
Cried ten times.
Cried ten times.
thebookconfessions's review against another edition
3.0
This was a powerful story I definitely can't say otherwise but it was too long for my taste.
It follows 15 year old Pedro Gutierezz who witnessed the execution of his father by the hands of Guerilla soldiers and swears vengeance.
This book is based on true events and that kept me intrigued the most. However, at some point it lost my attention and I had a hard time getting back into the story.
Not gonna lie it did upset me, it was disturbing but mostly I think it just wasn't the right book for my reading taste.
The story was well developed and the characters were layered but I found it a bit repetitive at times and I lost my interest in the story.
I think I would loved it more if it was shorter.
Thanks to Havelock Baker Publishing and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
It follows 15 year old Pedro Gutierezz who witnessed the execution of his father by the hands of Guerilla soldiers and swears vengeance.
This book is based on true events and that kept me intrigued the most. However, at some point it lost my attention and I had a hard time getting back into the story.
Not gonna lie it did upset me, it was disturbing but mostly I think it just wasn't the right book for my reading taste.
The story was well developed and the characters were layered but I found it a bit repetitive at times and I lost my interest in the story.
I think I would loved it more if it was shorter.
Thanks to Havelock Baker Publishing and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
thebookconfessions's review against another edition
3.0
This was a powerful story I definitely can't say otherwise but it was too long for my taste.
It follows 15 year old Pedro Gutierezz who witnessed the execution of his father by the hands of Guerilla soldiers and swears vengeance.
This book is based on true events and that kept me intrigued the most. However, at some point it lost my attention and I had a hard time getting back into the story.
Not gonna lie it did upset me, it was disturbing but mostly I think it just wasn't the right book for my reading taste.
The story was well developed and the characters were layered but I found it a bit repetitive at times and I lost my interest in the story.
I think I would loved it more if it was shorter.
Thanks to Havelock Baker Publishing and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
It follows 15 year old Pedro Gutierezz who witnessed the execution of his father by the hands of Guerilla soldiers and swears vengeance.
This book is based on true events and that kept me intrigued the most. However, at some point it lost my attention and I had a hard time getting back into the story.
Not gonna lie it did upset me, it was disturbing but mostly I think it just wasn't the right book for my reading taste.
The story was well developed and the characters were layered but I found it a bit repetitive at times and I lost my interest in the story.
I think I would loved it more if it was shorter.
Thanks to Havelock Baker Publishing and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
ispeakbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of Pedro, a Colombian teen who witnesses his father's senseless murder. The overall gist (imo) of the book is his long path towards healing and truly moving forward with his life. As I mentioned in the previous sentence, it is a -long- path, as this has happened at a time of such naturally dramatic changes in a teen's life. Add serious trauma to the mix, and everything it touches becomes even more intense. Pedro undergoes immense grief, sorrow, rage, love, and growth, not all in that precise order and scrambled throughout.
After his father's murder, Pedro's burning desire is to avenge his father's death. To this end, he joins the Autodefensas. Much of the story centers around this and his progress and thoughts towards it. At the same time, we witness how other loved ones are reacting, albeit only in small doses, and with Pedro's narration.
Rusty Young did a fabulous job writing this book. As mentioned in the prologue, Pedro's, and the other children's, story is one that -needs- to be told and -needs- to be heard. It is insane to think of people their age having to grow up like this and have to commit and witness the atrocities they do.
My only complaint with this book was its length; hitting 75% and still having around 4 hours left to read to complete it. However, even with it being so long and drawn out, I can honestly say there was never a moment I wanted to put it down and give up on it; I was never bored, and even if I had been, it would seem criminal to put down an important tale such as this for that reason.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories based on real life; while the events within are only loosely based upon real life, they are plausible enough to be so.
After his father's murder, Pedro's burning desire is to avenge his father's death. To this end, he joins the Autodefensas. Much of the story centers around this and his progress and thoughts towards it. At the same time, we witness how other loved ones are reacting, albeit only in small doses, and with Pedro's narration.
Rusty Young did a fabulous job writing this book. As mentioned in the prologue, Pedro's, and the other children's, story is one that -needs- to be told and -needs- to be heard. It is insane to think of people their age having to grow up like this and have to commit and witness the atrocities they do.
My only complaint with this book was its length; hitting 75% and still having around 4 hours left to read to complete it. However, even with it being so long and drawn out, I can honestly say there was never a moment I wanted to put it down and give up on it; I was never bored, and even if I had been, it would seem criminal to put down an important tale such as this for that reason.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories based on real life; while the events within are only loosely based upon real life, they are plausible enough to be so.
bags_and_bookz's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Netgalley, Havelock & Baker Publishing and Rusty Young for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.
Colombiano is a novel about struggle to survive. Perdo, 15 year old, sees his father being brutally killed by drug traffickers. For his back talk, the bandits banned him and his mother from their farm. Pedro seeks help with local authorities but finds nothing. He sees only one way for justice and revenge. He joins paramilitary organization, that is supposedly work with government but essentially is the same as bandits. The organization doe not have an age limit for joining, so it is full of teenagers who are being taught how to operate a gun and how to survive in conflict.
These kids had to grow too fast.
It is not an easy book - it has a lot of blood, cruelty, trauma and desperation. My heart was bleeding when I read Colombiano. I cannot turn my head around the fact that how desperate they must have been to join Paramilitary.
I think the novel is extremely well written. It could have been shorter (900 pages is no joke), and sometimes I struggled to remember that they were teenagers, barely 16 year olds, operating machine guns and picking enemies one by one. However, I think everyone should read it. It provides knowledge and perspective on the world I have never seen and experienced.
Colombiano is a novel about struggle to survive. Perdo, 15 year old, sees his father being brutally killed by drug traffickers. For his back talk, the bandits banned him and his mother from their farm. Pedro seeks help with local authorities but finds nothing. He sees only one way for justice and revenge. He joins paramilitary organization, that is supposedly work with government but essentially is the same as bandits. The organization doe not have an age limit for joining, so it is full of teenagers who are being taught how to operate a gun and how to survive in conflict.
These kids had to grow too fast.
It is not an easy book - it has a lot of blood, cruelty, trauma and desperation. My heart was bleeding when I read Colombiano. I cannot turn my head around the fact that how desperate they must have been to join Paramilitary.
I think the novel is extremely well written. It could have been shorter (900 pages is no joke), and sometimes I struggled to remember that they were teenagers, barely 16 year olds, operating machine guns and picking enemies one by one. However, I think everyone should read it. It provides knowledge and perspective on the world I have never seen and experienced.
djamba95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
I really loved Rusty's [bc:Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail|43081|Marching Powder A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail|Rusty Young|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388245700l/43081._SY75_.jpg|42519] which proves that truth can be stranger than fiction. While I think Colombiano is an important book with a story that needed to be told, I can't rate it quite as highly.
Young isn't a naturally gifted writer. This didn't matter so much in Marching Powder where the charismatic Thomas's voice shone through. But working in fiction, Rusty can't make his characters come alive. He lacks a gift for dialogue and, other than Pedro's best friend, Palillo, all the figures remained cardboardy for me.
Unfortunately, this includes Colombian child paramilitary soldier Pedro himself. I never cared about what happened to him and had no difficulty in putting this book aside for long periods of time.
For me there are also structural problems with this book. The start is slow moving for long periods and at 686 pages this book is at least 100 pages too long. I hated the short chapters.
In spite of it's faults I don't recommend giving up on this novel. The events near the end are horribly violent, but genuinely thrilling and document a horrible and shameful part of world history.
Two more things. The cover (designed by Jem Butcher Design) is awesome. The silhouette of the child soldier truely moved me.
Thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for mailing me a paperback copy of this book and being happy for me to share my genuine opinions on this book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
I really loved Rusty's [bc:Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail|43081|Marching Powder A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail|Rusty Young|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388245700l/43081._SY75_.jpg|42519] which proves that truth can be stranger than fiction. While I think Colombiano is an important book with a story that needed to be told, I can't rate it quite as highly.
Young isn't a naturally gifted writer. This didn't matter so much in Marching Powder where the charismatic Thomas's voice shone through. But working in fiction, Rusty can't make his characters come alive. He lacks a gift for dialogue and, other than Pedro's best friend, Palillo, all the figures remained cardboardy for me.
Unfortunately, this includes Colombian child paramilitary soldier Pedro himself. I never cared about what happened to him and had no difficulty in putting this book aside for long periods of time.
For me there are also structural problems with this book. The start is slow moving for long periods and at 686 pages this book is at least 100 pages too long. I hated the short chapters.
In spite of it's faults I don't recommend giving up on this novel. The events near the end are horribly violent, but genuinely thrilling and document a horrible and shameful part of world history.
Two more things. The cover (designed by Jem Butcher Design) is awesome. The silhouette of the child soldier truely moved me.
Thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for mailing me a paperback copy of this book and being happy for me to share my genuine opinions on this book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
lo_oneill's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a minute after finishing this book before I could sit down and write a proper review, this book challenged me in ways that I was not expected. Going into it I (thought that I) had a passable knowledge of the history and current situation in Colombia but the plight of child soldiers caught up in the violence was something that I had never considered, maybe I didn’t want to. However, in Colombiano Young manages to highlight their story by a wonderful melding of fact and fiction in this powerful, poignant and compelling coming of age story.
At c.700 pages it should feel onerous to get through but at no point is that ever the case, instead it is breath-taking read showing strength and survival in unimaginable circumstances. I was engrossed from the start and struggled to put it down.
The author manages to brilliantly meld fact and fiction in the creation of Pedro and his friends and when I remembered that it felt overwhelming at times and made it all the more real, gripping me from beginning to end. There is a lot of violence in the book, as you would expect when dealing with the topic of child soldiers and conflict, but at no point does it ever feel that the violence is there to entertain.
This story is one that will stay with me for a long time, there were parts that were difficult to read but I challenge anyone to read this and not be emotionally invested it.
5 starts for what is one of my top 5 reads this year; a truly powerful, emotional and compelling coming of age story.
Many thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
*****Original Review*****
I am going to need some time to fully digest this book and put together the review that it deserves, but wow what a read. At 700 pages it should feel onerous to get through but at no point is that ever the case, instead it is breath-taking, powerful and compelling story, showing strength and survival in unimaginable circumstances. I was engrossed from the start and struggled to put it down.
The author brilliantly combines real life with fiction in a way that I had to keep reminding myself that Pedro and his friends were not a real-life child solider. However, his experiences were based on real life events that had happened to others and when that hit me I was floored.
This story is one that will stay with me for a very long time and I highly recommend that everyone reads it (with a warning that there is a lot of violence but at no point does it come across as being for entertainment).
5 starts for what is one of my top 5 reads this year, truly powerful and poignant.
Many thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
At c.700 pages it should feel onerous to get through but at no point is that ever the case, instead it is breath-taking read showing strength and survival in unimaginable circumstances. I was engrossed from the start and struggled to put it down.
The author manages to brilliantly meld fact and fiction in the creation of Pedro and his friends and when I remembered that it felt overwhelming at times and made it all the more real, gripping me from beginning to end. There is a lot of violence in the book, as you would expect when dealing with the topic of child soldiers and conflict, but at no point does it ever feel that the violence is there to entertain.
This story is one that will stay with me for a long time, there were parts that were difficult to read but I challenge anyone to read this and not be emotionally invested it.
5 starts for what is one of my top 5 reads this year; a truly powerful, emotional and compelling coming of age story.
Many thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
*****Original Review*****
I am going to need some time to fully digest this book and put together the review that it deserves, but wow what a read. At 700 pages it should feel onerous to get through but at no point is that ever the case, instead it is breath-taking, powerful and compelling story, showing strength and survival in unimaginable circumstances. I was engrossed from the start and struggled to put it down.
The author brilliantly combines real life with fiction in a way that I had to keep reminding myself that Pedro and his friends were not a real-life child solider. However, his experiences were based on real life events that had happened to others and when that hit me I was floored.
This story is one that will stay with me for a very long time and I highly recommend that everyone reads it (with a warning that there is a lot of violence but at no point does it come across as being for entertainment).
5 starts for what is one of my top 5 reads this year, truly powerful and poignant.
Many thanks to Havelock & Baker Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review