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monkeyboystiff's review against another edition
2.0
Perfect holiday read - I went through it in a week whilst away. Easy to read, to follow. But as a work of literature, it's absolutely terrible for a number of reasons:
1) Awful protagonist: The main character is insufferable, constantly talking about how great they are, how effortlessly they can do things, and how in awe of them other people are. They are so arrogant and unlikeable!
2) Blatant wish fulfilment: The author has included such a load of typical tropes - troubled main character with just enough of a dark past to make them brooding, orphaned by adopted by very rich people, super duper clever at college (dropped out of medicine which they were acing and came top of the class in psychology), cool enough to take loads of drugs but not get addicted or anything, great body (by their own admission), able to easily handle themselves in a fight...the list goes on. They have no flaws and I got fed up of them saying how capable they were, and also how capable other people though they were
3) Inconsistent narrative voice: Narrated in first person, but then given loads of detail about the past of the main antagonist which he couldn't possibly know.
4) Irritating supporting characters: the president was impressed by Pilgrim's lack of reaction to hearing about the terrorist threat ("the coolest sonofabitch I ever met"..puh-leease!). And "Battleboi" spoke some (incorrect) Japanese to Pilgrim, and then was amazed and intimidated when he replied with TWO WORDS of some half remembered Japanese from a book. That would never happen! If he thought he could speak Japanese he would have interrogated him further in the language! Not just sat back amazed! But of course, everyone is awed by Pilgrim's awesome talents
5) Meandering plot: loads of extraneous detail that could have been cut out
6) Implausible occurrences: the case at the start is coincidentally related to the case at the end which is so unlikely! And why does Pilgrim spend so damn long investigating that case anyway?! It's only an excuse so he can be in the country and work on the main plot issue. He doesn't even need that - why doesn't he just pose as a tourist?
7) Poorly researched: What exactly was Pilgrim's former job? Initially it says he's an internal affairs investigator, but by the end he's some kind of super duper secret agent highly skilled in all forms of tradecraft. And using a mirror as some kind of camera film, exposed using bright fireworks?! Come on! There's no way that's possible!
8) Racist and sexist: all the foreigners are idiots, and all the women are only really described in terms of their physical attributes.
So overall, just what I wanted - an easy read that I could scoff and rant about afterwards because it was so terrible. And then leave at the hotel to lighten my luggage load!
1) Awful protagonist: The main character is insufferable, constantly talking about how great they are, how effortlessly they can do things, and how in awe of them other people are. They are so arrogant and unlikeable!
2) Blatant wish fulfilment: The author has included such a load of typical tropes - troubled main character with just enough of a dark past to make them brooding, orphaned by adopted by very rich people, super duper clever at college (dropped out of medicine which they were acing and came top of the class in psychology), cool enough to take loads of drugs but not get addicted or anything, great body (by their own admission), able to easily handle themselves in a fight...the list goes on. They have no flaws and I got fed up of them saying how capable they were, and also how capable other people though they were
3) Inconsistent narrative voice: Narrated in first person, but then given loads of detail about the past of the main antagonist which he couldn't possibly know.
4) Irritating supporting characters: the president was impressed by Pilgrim's lack of reaction to hearing about the terrorist threat ("the coolest sonofabitch I ever met"..puh-leease!). And "Battleboi" spoke some (incorrect) Japanese to Pilgrim, and then was amazed and intimidated when he replied with TWO WORDS of some half remembered Japanese from a book. That would never happen! If he thought he could speak Japanese he would have interrogated him further in the language! Not just sat back amazed! But of course, everyone is awed by Pilgrim's awesome talents
5) Meandering plot: loads of extraneous detail that could have been cut out
6) Implausible occurrences: the case at the start is coincidentally related to the case at the end which is so unlikely! And why does Pilgrim spend so damn long investigating that case anyway?! It's only an excuse so he can be in the country and work on the main plot issue. He doesn't even need that - why doesn't he just pose as a tourist?
7) Poorly researched: What exactly was Pilgrim's former job? Initially it says he's an internal affairs investigator, but by the end he's some kind of super duper secret agent highly skilled in all forms of tradecraft. And using a mirror as some kind of camera film, exposed using bright fireworks?! Come on! There's no way that's possible!
8) Racist and sexist: all the foreigners are idiots, and all the women are only really described in terms of their physical attributes.
So overall, just what I wanted - an easy read that I could scoff and rant about afterwards because it was so terrible. And then leave at the hotel to lighten my luggage load!
stewyp123's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dsesana's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best secret agent books I’ve ever read. Just take away the last couple of pages. The Hollywood-style ending where everything is marvelous doesn’t fit the story and it makes the story seem completely unrealistic. The rest of the story is amazing, the way the author builds up the terrorist character, providing the reader the insight needed to understand the root of the hatred towards the West. The book is long, but it reads nicely, it is action-packed and it keeps a high pace. You will definitely enjoy every single bit of it. Again, ignore the last pages
naomilovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
gramorwal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whitneyh23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
harrisonarachel's review against another edition
5.0
Has to be one of my favourite books. Love all the different stories that all get linked up. Love the difference characters. Loved all the different countries that we got to explore.
Couldn't put this book down, even though it was a big one. If you are into crime novels this is the best one I think I have read in a long time.
Only downside about reading this book is that once you have finished, it is so hard to move onto the next book because this story will not leave your brain.
10/10
Couldn't put this book down, even though it was a big one. If you are into crime novels this is the best one I think I have read in a long time.
Only downside about reading this book is that once you have finished, it is so hard to move onto the next book because this story will not leave your brain.
10/10
brit_wolf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
djengislan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5