Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

16 reviews

hellsjerome's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-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

4.0

Everyone in this book is a piece of shit
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adelita18's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

There is only one redeeming point about this racism laden story of infidelity, abuse, and murder is that "karma" comes back with a vengeance for Cora and Frank. The narration by Stanley Tucci was hard to follow at times because he did not do much to change inflection/tone/character voice and Cain did not always indicate the speaker. 
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haydenreads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I went into this book having some idea that it was about an affair that led to someone's death, but that was it. This book feels made to be a movie (and indeed, it became one). The action is quick, not a single character in this book is likable and they aren't intended to be. Cain said he wrote as he felt the characters would and this is told from the point-of-view of  Frank, a drifter who happens into a restaurant in Southern California and ends up with a job.

From the blatant racism to plotting to commit murder, even when they know they shouldn't, Frank and Cora's action moves at a breakneck speed from their unlikely first interaction to Frank's final plea and hope, however true it is, for Cora's understanding that he never meant for things to end up as they had.


I would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys cinematic reads, but know that it's clearly a product of the 1930s.
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emily_koopmann's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

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foureyebooks's review

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dive into the captivating world of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" by James M. Cain! 📚✨ Flawed characters, desperate for escape, set the stage in a gritty atmosphere that keeps you hooked. Stanley Tucci's narration adds a compelling layer, intensifying the raw emotions and tension. #BookRecommendation #JamesMCain #StanleyTucciNarration #GrittyReads #AudiobookJourney #PageTurner 🎧
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e_r_q's review against another edition

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dark fast-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

1.5

The Postman Always Rings Twice is famous for being "scandalous". However its famed violence is laughably juvenile, and its "iconic" eroticism is clunky and awkward. Even worse, the writing is bland, the characters are poorly written and dislikeable, and in the end, the actual plot feels really inconsequential. Also, the crude objectification of its female characters makes it evidently clear that this novella was written by a man.
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gillian_aftanas's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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meowrilena's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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noonjinx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A quick read but a great one. It was written nearly a century ago but rattles along like a modern thriller. The dialogue is terrific and the prose is wonderfully bare and straightforward. It’s a noir tale of sex, murder, betrayal, love, redemption, tragedy and justice. The main characters are thoroughly weak and immoral but I ended up rooting for them.
They come tantalisingly close to a happy ending before it is torn away from them.
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mbichaela's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0

SK
trošku som ostala rozhodená, čo vlastne sa všetko stalo v tejto knihe. 
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