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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I'm not always a fan of on the run stories, however this book works really well. Probably because it is so primitive in how it presents the adventurer. I liked the twists, the back spin and the overall playful manner the story is told. It is intelligent and not impetuous.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Richard Hannay has just returned to London and is bored with life. Before he knows it, an interaction with an man named Scudder propels him into the middle of an assassination plot. His life is jeopardized as he finds himself smack dab in the middle of political intrigue. This novel is listed on The Guardian’s 100 Best Novels Written in English.
We picked up this book at a garage sale. I'm sure that I have seen the Hitchcock movie, but I don't remember it. It's quite a thriller and a quick read.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I remember my mom had this book when I was a little kid, but I didn't know what it was about. It turns out to be a classic, and I'm glad I finally read it.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such good use of a short book. The plot could have been spread out a little bit more evenly with some parts being slow and long and the ending being a little rushed. I am very content with the story and the appropriate amount of time given to every side character. This was the first war/spy/ mystery book I’ve read for enjoyment in a long time. Basing the entire story around a character and having each part be revealed through his development was so fun. Richard Hannay is complex person that is fully rounded out in just 100 pages. Buchan’s prose is lighthearted and intriguing while taking concepts that would be simple in any other scenario and making them important. We see this main character struggle to find purpose, he is bored after exploring parts of the world and right before he is about to give up on his home, we see what just one person’s actions can do to alter his entire life.
A story about obsession, greed, and to what extent we can justify our unethical actions for a greater good. In reality, Richard harmed more people than he helped, but through his point of view we see him struggle because of the consequence of his actions and yet his need for justice overrules everything he does. At the begging of the book Richard “envied people for having something to do”, we go through this journey with him now wondering if this is all really necessary or if it was him just looking for something to do. Who was deciding Richard’s life for him? Why was he so disappointed with the state of his life? And what was it going to take for him to feel like a regular person again? It’s telling that Scudder’s murder was the only thing that could bring Richard’s sense of purpose back, we wonder whether Scudder really saw Hannay as someone who could help him or someone who needed help.
Aside from the fact that we really only had one character to analyze, the spy story alone was easy to follow with many little surprises along the way. If you were looking for a quick book that gets you thinking, this is it.
A story about obsession, greed, and to what extent we can justify our unethical actions for a greater good. In reality, Richard harmed more people than he helped, but through his point of view we see him struggle because of the consequence of his actions and yet his need for justice overrules everything he does. At the begging of the book Richard “envied people for having something to do”, we go through this journey with him now wondering if this is all really necessary or if it was him just looking for something to do. Who was deciding Richard’s life for him? Why was he so disappointed with the state of his life? And what was it going to take for him to feel like a regular person again? It’s telling that Scudder’s murder was the only thing that could bring Richard’s sense of purpose back, we wonder whether Scudder really saw Hannay as someone who could help him or someone who needed help.
Aside from the fact that we really only had one character to analyze, the spy story alone was easy to follow with many little surprises along the way. If you were looking for a quick book that gets you thinking, this is it.