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Like candy, these books, especially if your library has downloadable audiobooks. Cooking, cleaning, chores, it’s all easier to stomach with Reacher plowing his way through the baddies.
Fair warning: this one was made into the first movie with Tom Cruise. Cruise is no Reacher. But casting Werner Herzog as the villain? Good stuff.
Fair warning: this one was made into the first movie with Tom Cruise. Cruise is no Reacher. But casting Werner Herzog as the villain? Good stuff.
It all began with six shots in Indiana, leaving five people dead and the locals in shock. The case seems open and shut; a suspect emerging in a few hours with evidence to match. A former military sniper is arrested and charged, with the death penalty a strong possibility. When the accused asks for Jack Reacher, locals scramble to determine what the request means and who it might be. A prison beating leaves the accused unable to remember anything and Reacher shows up, prepared to tap into his inner investigator. It is then that the case's simplicity disappears as some form of conspiracy is apparent. As Reacher tries to piece it all together, including how those responsible may have others acting in their stead, nothing is left to chance and the conspiracy bears fruit. The randomness of the shooting and its victims disappears, but the control over others is still a mystery. Working with a young defence attorney, Reacher must keep this former sniper from being scapegoated, but also not permit a second injustice by letting him go free, unless he is as innocent as he claims to be. Child works his magic and creates another Reacher classic.
While I have been pushing my way through the series by audiobook, I have neglected to tackle one of the issues I have had with Child's writing. While the plot is thick and the characters enjoyable, Child has been overly frugal with some of his dialogue development. Ending dialogue phrases repeatedly with "he said", or "she said" is not only audibly painful as one navigates these novels, but is truly a weakness of the editors as well, Perhaps easily skimming by the eye while reading, listening to the books and having the narrator use the "said" word more regularly than Reacher's own name is an Achilles' heel that ought to be mended. It was not as prevalent in this novel, but does stick out and, in a way, ruins the flow of dialogue. Of course, who am I to toss a stone at Lee Child and his success? Furthermore, I cannot overlook how varied Child has kept his Reacher novels; new crimes and approaches in each that tease out more of the Reacher character. So intricate and yet simplistic at the same time.
Kudos, Mr. Child for another explosive novel. Great attention to detail and some 'ripped from the headlines' sniper themed writing.
While I have been pushing my way through the series by audiobook, I have neglected to tackle one of the issues I have had with Child's writing. While the plot is thick and the characters enjoyable, Child has been overly frugal with some of his dialogue development. Ending dialogue phrases repeatedly with "he said", or "she said" is not only audibly painful as one navigates these novels, but is truly a weakness of the editors as well, Perhaps easily skimming by the eye while reading, listening to the books and having the narrator use the "said" word more regularly than Reacher's own name is an Achilles' heel that ought to be mended. It was not as prevalent in this novel, but does stick out and, in a way, ruins the flow of dialogue. Of course, who am I to toss a stone at Lee Child and his success? Furthermore, I cannot overlook how varied Child has kept his Reacher novels; new crimes and approaches in each that tease out more of the Reacher character. So intricate and yet simplistic at the same time.
Kudos, Mr. Child for another explosive novel. Great attention to detail and some 'ripped from the headlines' sniper themed writing.
Jack Reacher finds himself heading towards Indiana as he looks someone from his past about to go down for murder - six random shots in the street, five dead. The suspect, James Barr was once in the army, he was a sniper and he trained for five years and now he's wound up arrested and in a coma. His last words were, "Get Jack Reacher for me."
But Reacher didn't come to save him; he came to bury him. The evidence was compelling and according to Reacher, he's done it before. An open and shut case. Neatly tied up. But perhaps too neatly? Some things don't make sense, for instance, Reacher would have been the last person he would call for help. So Reacher investigates and stumbles into a little mess he did not anticipate. Barr is innocent.
I seriously love all the work and knowledge that Lee Child puts into his character. I learn so much from him and not just about the army but day to day stuff that someone like me can apply. The book also explained some things that the movie couldn't because they were Reacher's thoughts and he usually foresees everything a few seconds before it all happens, kind of like Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes.
The funniest moment for me was when he was in a bar fight with five goons and in his mind he knew that five on one doesn't exist because there is usually a ringleader who will go down first and then his two sidekicks will give it a try and the last two will most likely run away. So he kicked the ringleader between the legs (which happened in the movie but I didn't pick up on it) with his left foot because, "Right-footed, he would have popped bits of the guy's pelvis out through his nose. Your big soft heart, an old army instructor had said. One day it'll get you killed." Hilarious. Reacher knocked-out three guys who all ended up in a hospital because of his big ol' soft heart.
But Reacher didn't come to save him; he came to bury him. The evidence was compelling and according to Reacher, he's done it before. An open and shut case. Neatly tied up. But perhaps too neatly? Some things don't make sense, for instance, Reacher would have been the last person he would call for help. So Reacher investigates and stumbles into a little mess he did not anticipate. Barr is innocent.
I seriously love all the work and knowledge that Lee Child puts into his character. I learn so much from him and not just about the army but day to day stuff that someone like me can apply. The book also explained some things that the movie couldn't because they were Reacher's thoughts and he usually foresees everything a few seconds before it all happens, kind of like Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes.
The funniest moment for me was when he was in a bar fight with five goons and in his mind he knew that five on one doesn't exist because there is usually a ringleader who will go down first and then his two sidekicks will give it a try and the last two will most likely run away. So he kicked the ringleader between the legs (which happened in the movie but I didn't pick up on it) with his left foot because, "Right-footed, he would have popped bits of the guy's pelvis out through his nose. Your big soft heart, an old army instructor had said. One day it'll get you killed." Hilarious. Reacher knocked-out three guys who all ended up in a hospital because of his big ol' soft heart.
Jack Reacher really combines all the best characters into one guy!!! James Bond, Alex Cross,Jason Bourne.... and so on ad infinitum!!! Love how he keeps his clothes pressed!!! lol
Synopsis: Jack Reacher left the army and has no phone, no address, no connections. He drifts from town to town going across America, and finds himself in situations where his military investigative (MP) past is put to good use. In the ninth installment, Reacher is contacted, albeit in a roundabout way, by former Army Sniper James Barr. Barr has been accused of firing six shots and killing five people, and the case against Barr seems to be a slam dunk. Enter Reacher.
This was a recent movie starring Tom Cruise as Reacher. I didn't see the movie, but after reading the book, I can't picture Cruise as Reacher. Reacher is supposed to be 6'5", between 220-250 pds with a 50" chest and a 37" inseam - and all muscle. This is NOT a short, small, or flabby man. I'm not sure what actor would fit the bill, but in my book, Cruise, no matter how awesome Top Gun was, does not come close. Mainly because Reacher's height and size is critical to the action in many of the stories. But make your own judgements on the book-to-movie and chosen actors.
Who should read: mystery lovers and anyone who like a down and dirty, fast-paced mystery with just enough action to keep it exciting.
Why I like it: The best thing about this series (there are currently 18) is that you don't have to read them in order. I went from the first one, Killing Floor, to this one and had no problems picking it up. While Reacher is in different places in each book (he's an admitted drifter), his movements are really secondary to the action.
The writing is very concise and hard-biting. Reacher is a very believable former Army MP. The action is very fast paced and the mystery has plenty of twists and turns. Are there some implausible coincidences? Sure, but nothing that makes your suspend your beliefs or nothing that goes against the laws of science. The coincidences are more characters who knew each other when just happening to meet again. This book is hard to put down because you keep wanting to turn the page to see what will happen next. Overall, a solid and fast-paced read.
This was a recent movie starring Tom Cruise as Reacher. I didn't see the movie, but after reading the book, I can't picture Cruise as Reacher. Reacher is supposed to be 6'5", between 220-250 pds with a 50" chest and a 37" inseam - and all muscle. This is NOT a short, small, or flabby man. I'm not sure what actor would fit the bill, but in my book, Cruise, no matter how awesome Top Gun was, does not come close. Mainly because Reacher's height and size is critical to the action in many of the stories. But make your own judgements on the book-to-movie and chosen actors.
Who should read: mystery lovers and anyone who like a down and dirty, fast-paced mystery with just enough action to keep it exciting.
Why I like it: The best thing about this series (there are currently 18) is that you don't have to read them in order. I went from the first one, Killing Floor, to this one and had no problems picking it up. While Reacher is in different places in each book (he's an admitted drifter), his movements are really secondary to the action.
The writing is very concise and hard-biting. Reacher is a very believable former Army MP. The action is very fast paced and the mystery has plenty of twists and turns. Are there some implausible coincidences? Sure, but nothing that makes your suspend your beliefs or nothing that goes against the laws of science. The coincidences are more characters who knew each other when just happening to meet again. This book is hard to put down because you keep wanting to turn the page to see what will happen next. Overall, a solid and fast-paced read.
Another (series of) flight(s), another Jack Reacher installment - I think this is number nine, and I'm pretty sure I'm reading them in order (with inconsistent breaks in between - I can't really imagine read a number of them back-to-back).
But this one was different because, well, this is the novel on which the Tom Cruise movie is based, which brings a couple of points to mind:
(1) While Tom Cruise was sufficiently entertaining and convincing in the title role (for a single movie), he's simply not BIG enough to be Jack Reacher - Tom Cruise is a (relatively) small man, and Jack Reacher is extraordinarily large, physically imposing, and, of course, intimidating - and his physical statute is very much a part of his nature, character, and persona. Again, it didn't matter for the purposes of a single movie, but Cruise simply couldn't/wouldn't work as Reacher over time. (Heck, in my mind's eye, Reacher could eat Tom Cruise!)
(2) On the one hand, reading this book, the classic Reacher experience was ruined for me having seen the movie (even if it was a couple/few years ago - on a plane, of course). Basically, I knew what was going on and what was going to happen - so where's the suspense? Yes, they made some minor tweaks for the purposes of the movie (hmmm, did they add one fight scene for the movie, or was it two?), and excised at least one hugely distracting tangential character, but, for the most part, the setup and the resolution felt relatively familiar. On the other hand, I'm glad I finally read the book because - but for the movie - I probably never would have started the series (and I think the series is pretty good in-flight entertainment). One of my reading buddies had been recommending Lee Child for some time, but I hadn't taken the plunge. Once I saw the movie, I was sufficiently intrigued, so I gave the first novel a try. I'm glad I did.
Without interjecting any spoilers, there's two other interesting twists: (1) after having gone backwards in time in the prior book (which felt like a background installment or prequel), Child appears to be marching forward again, although there wasn't a lot of temporal context (or, for example, current events) in this one. Also, (2) having vacillated between first-person and third-person in prior books, I sense that Child is settling into third-person (but I'll have to keep reading to see if that remains the case).
I'm not expecting any late career Pulitzer or Booker literary prizes for Lee Child, but that doesn't make the series - or the individual books - any less entertaining.
But this one was different because, well, this is the novel on which the Tom Cruise movie is based, which brings a couple of points to mind:
(1) While Tom Cruise was sufficiently entertaining and convincing in the title role (for a single movie), he's simply not BIG enough to be Jack Reacher - Tom Cruise is a (relatively) small man, and Jack Reacher is extraordinarily large, physically imposing, and, of course, intimidating - and his physical statute is very much a part of his nature, character, and persona. Again, it didn't matter for the purposes of a single movie, but Cruise simply couldn't/wouldn't work as Reacher over time. (Heck, in my mind's eye, Reacher could eat Tom Cruise!)
(2) On the one hand, reading this book, the classic Reacher experience was ruined for me having seen the movie (even if it was a couple/few years ago - on a plane, of course). Basically, I knew what was going on and what was going to happen - so where's the suspense? Yes, they made some minor tweaks for the purposes of the movie (hmmm, did they add one fight scene for the movie, or was it two?), and excised at least one hugely distracting tangential character, but, for the most part, the setup and the resolution felt relatively familiar. On the other hand, I'm glad I finally read the book because - but for the movie - I probably never would have started the series (and I think the series is pretty good in-flight entertainment). One of my reading buddies had been recommending Lee Child for some time, but I hadn't taken the plunge. Once I saw the movie, I was sufficiently intrigued, so I gave the first novel a try. I'm glad I did.
Without interjecting any spoilers, there's two other interesting twists: (1) after having gone backwards in time in the prior book (which felt like a background installment or prequel), Child appears to be marching forward again, although there wasn't a lot of temporal context (or, for example, current events) in this one. Also, (2) having vacillated between first-person and third-person in prior books, I sense that Child is settling into third-person (but I'll have to keep reading to see if that remains the case).
I'm not expecting any late career Pulitzer or Booker literary prizes for Lee Child, but that doesn't make the series - or the individual books - any less entertaining.
A great Reacher story - guide of bit of gory stuff. This is the book they used for the movie with Tom Cruise who totally does not meet the image of Reacher in my mind.
No more improbable than other area hers. Good long trip car book for when wife isn't in the car.