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lukes_getting_old's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
rocketiza's review against another edition
4.0
One human being should not be able to so vividly describe the spray of human beings insides exiting their body.
As always with Bill, read this with white knuckles gripping the page. The story gets a little bogged down with references to the past, and flashbacks, but makes it through with the sheer horrifying forcefulness of the language.
I'd definitely recommend reading Donnybrook before this one.
As always with Bill, read this with white knuckles gripping the page. The story gets a little bogged down with references to the past, and flashbacks, but makes it through with the sheer horrifying forcefulness of the language.
I'd definitely recommend reading Donnybrook before this one.
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
5.0
Reading The Savage is like being hopped up on testosterone and motor oil. If your a fan of Stephen King’s The Stand this book is for you. Go out and grab it.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
About 150 pages in, I’m throwing in the towel, which is something I never thought I would do with a Frank Bill book. I loved Donnybrook so much and had looked forward to the release of this one for so long, maybe my expectations were just too high. Maybe I’m just not in the right mood. All I know is it was feeling like a slog. I was not engaged or invested in what was happening at all. There was something off about the writing style this time that I didn’t like either, when I adored Bill’s prose when reading [b:Crimes in Southern Indiana |10713935|Crimes in Southern Indiana Stories|Frank Bill|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388447993s/10713935.jpg|15624459].
I’m the first to admit I’m a bad reader right now, my attention span and focus isn’t what it should be, but I’m also fairly certain all of the failing isn’t mine alone. Some of it is this book. Because I didn’t finish it, I’m not going to rate it. Maybe I’ll return to it someday and give it another chance to change my mind.
I’m the first to admit I’m a bad reader right now, my attention span and focus isn’t what it should be, but I’m also fairly certain all of the failing isn’t mine alone. Some of it is this book. Because I didn’t finish it, I’m not going to rate it. Maybe I’ll return to it someday and give it another chance to change my mind.
howwoolatthemoon's review against another edition
2.0
Ummmm I hate this book. but it's for book club so.
Things I hate about it:
It focuses on the terrible, brutal things that might happen in a lawless post-apocalyptic future. There is no hope in this story. BUT. There is a helluva lot of brutality, gore, violence, and... savagery. There is no character with which I can identify. Welllll... there's one kid that I think I'm supposed to like, and worry about, and follow, but the brutal savagery and violence of the world he lives in makes me completely dissociate from thinking this kid is possibly relatable and human, or from caring what happens to him. He'll probably be killed at any second! And/or have to witness some other act of violence and terrible hopelessness! Additionally, there are no women that seem to exist for anything other than for the males to either brutalize or to fail to protect from brutality at the hands of other, more terrible, men.
Maybe it'll redeem itself, but if this book weren't being read for book club, I'd have ditched by now. There has been too much time invested before any redemption or payoff!
Finished. No redemption, no payoff.
Things I hate about it:
It focuses on the terrible, brutal things that might happen in a lawless post-apocalyptic future. There is no hope in this story. BUT. There is a helluva lot of brutality, gore, violence, and... savagery. There is no character with which I can identify. Welllll... there's one kid that I think I'm supposed to like, and worry about, and follow, but the brutal savagery and violence of the world he lives in makes me completely dissociate from thinking this kid is possibly relatable and human, or from caring what happens to him. He'll probably be killed at any second! And/or have to witness some other act of violence and terrible hopelessness! Additionally, there are no women that seem to exist for anything other than for the males to either brutalize or to fail to protect from brutality at the hands of other, more terrible, men.
Maybe it'll redeem itself, but if this book weren't being read for book club, I'd have ditched by now. There has been too much time invested before any redemption or payoff!
Finished. No redemption, no payoff.
seanhussey's review
3.0
At first I would have rated it four stars. I’m rating it 3 now before I think about it much more and go down to 2. Don’t get me wrong, the author’s ability to describe how bone, blood, and other bodily tissues can paint a setting after meeting the business end of a gun is nothing short of staggering. No description is used twice, and this happens a LOT. But the, by my count, three instances of deus ex machina was just too much for me.
On the upside, the setting and dialect used throughout was fantastic, and I felt like I was in a fully formed world (one perhaps not too far from our own).
Despite the problems I had with it, I was entertained, and I thank the author for that.
On the upside, the setting and dialect used throughout was fantastic, and I felt like I was in a fully formed world (one perhaps not too far from our own).
Despite the problems I had with it, I was entertained, and I thank the author for that.
pjrochester's review
3.0
The best thing here is the writing. These hard violent people, these savages; the writing itself is the same. It's hard. Savage. Bites. Sometimes it's very difficult to read. On the down side, the story meanders. Between this and the previous story, the sense of chaos and random-ness seems to come off as the author not quite able to decide where he wanted the story to go. Or, changing his mind and switching things up. That sort of thing might work with more engaging characters (see George RR Martin), but the writing style actually puts a wall between the reader and the characters, so when we veer off course, it all starts to feel a bit pointless.
Then again, maybe that's the point.
Then again, maybe that's the point.
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