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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
it didnt seem fast paced enough like dan brown - whose stories i dont like - i really rate his pacing and i think this book could have done with a bit of that
This was my first novel by Clive Cussler. I am a fan of treasure hunt adventure novels and was gifted this by my brother. I enjoyed the history of this novel. It is very detailed and as an audiobook it was almost hard to keep up with all the historical facts that were given.
I'm not sure I am a fan of the Fargos though. I understand they are rich and have this esteemed treasure hunting business but as the first novel it seems like things are too easy for them. They have all the skills and go against the big bad mob guy easily. I also found the way they always said "I've had enough for one day" kind of cheesy as after narrowly escaping death they always said something along those lines.
The other slight issue I had was it had so much action and adventure I felt like I had adventure fatigue. Maybe it was the audiobook versus reading it but I am not sure I liked the aspect of being chased the entire time they were hunting the treasure.
I'm definitely interested in reading another book by this author though. I may try the Dirk Pitt series as I watched the one movie based on that and I may like his character more.
I'm not sure I am a fan of the Fargos though. I understand they are rich and have this esteemed treasure hunting business but as the first novel it seems like things are too easy for them. They have all the skills and go against the big bad mob guy easily. I also found the way they always said "I've had enough for one day" kind of cheesy as after narrowly escaping death they always said something along those lines.
The other slight issue I had was it had so much action and adventure I felt like I had adventure fatigue. Maybe it was the audiobook versus reading it but I am not sure I liked the aspect of being chased the entire time they were hunting the treasure.
I'm definitely interested in reading another book by this author though. I may try the Dirk Pitt series as I watched the one movie based on that and I may like his character more.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I borrowed this book from my grandfather because I needed something to read and was pleasantly surprised. The story is one riddle too long, in my opinion, but the Fargos are great characters and the mystery managed a pretty good dose of the Indiana Jones factor but was still believable. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to read all his books, but will certainly prioritize Cussler's works for my next airplane read.
This is my first ever Clive Cussler - he's really popular at the library so I said screw it and decided to give one of his books a chance. Its not great literature but it's entertaining and fast paced. It's like a modern day uber-wealthy Indiana Jones going on adventures with his wife (if he had one). I liked the history aspect of it and it was fast paced - there is never a slow moment. Treasure hunting team Sam and Remy Fargo stumble upon a World War II German U-boat in in the Pocomoke Swamp - the fact that a German vessel made it inland with no one ever knowing is impressive but what is even more impressive is what they find inside - an old French wine bottle. Could it be part of Napoleon's lost cellar? They soon realize they aren't the only ones on the treasure hunt, Hadeon Bondaruk, a half Russian, half Persian millionaire will do whatever it takes to stop the Fargos and seize their research - could it be there is another layer to the mystery? Great listening for the car - I think I'll continue with the series.
Eh. What can I say but eh. I actually checked this book out recently because I hadn't realized I'd read it. About 30 pages in, it started to come back to me. I was disappointed.
Contains mild spoilers.
Having read a lot of Cussler, I was really excited to try the premise of two new protagonists Sam and Remi.
Frustratingly from the offset, I found them to be mildly farcical. I feel the author rushed the issue of how to create a feasible and or realistic way to fund the pairs expeditions and resources by writing in a very simple and utterly convenient and typical way for them becoming multimillionaires from a convenient sale of some unrelated technological breakthrough. This happenstance made me take a large step back and treat the novel as a light read rather than a truly immersive experience (As Ive had the joy of experiencing in previous novels).
I quickly found that I was skipping along, not fully grasping the pairs conversations, and at times finding them all too blasé within each situation. Nothing seems to phase them. Everything seems to roll along without a hitch. These two seem to have no arguments with one another and always act like the perfect pair. Realism: 0.
What totally finished my experience and enjoyment of this novel, was the random and quite shameless way in which the author makes reference to Cussler, who happens to be randomly living on a beach head. He then happens to give them full access to his hut and wine whilst he again randomly wanders off leaving the story. Sadly this ruined what little atmosphere the author had spent time in creating, and left me feeling like I was reading a cheap b movie style novel and one that I couldn’t continue for fear of further disappointment.
Sadly, this novel was not for me.
Having read a lot of Cussler, I was really excited to try the premise of two new protagonists Sam and Remi.
Frustratingly from the offset, I found them to be mildly farcical. I feel the author rushed the issue of how to create a feasible and or realistic way to fund the pairs expeditions and resources by writing in a very simple and utterly convenient and typical way for them becoming multimillionaires from a convenient sale of some unrelated technological breakthrough. This happenstance made me take a large step back and treat the novel as a light read rather than a truly immersive experience (As Ive had the joy of experiencing in previous novels).
I quickly found that I was skipping along, not fully grasping the pairs conversations, and at times finding them all too blasé within each situation. Nothing seems to phase them. Everything seems to roll along without a hitch. These two seem to have no arguments with one another and always act like the perfect pair. Realism: 0.
What totally finished my experience and enjoyment of this novel, was the random and quite shameless way in which the author makes reference to Cussler, who happens to be randomly living on a beach head. He then happens to give them full access to his hut and wine whilst he again randomly wanders off leaving the story. Sadly this ruined what little atmosphere the author had spent time in creating, and left me feeling like I was reading a cheap b movie style novel and one that I couldn’t continue for fear of further disappointment.
Sadly, this novel was not for me.
I love a good world adventure and think it's a little lacking in today's popular book themes. So even though I was a little skeptical, I picked it up. I did enjoy it for what it is. Overall, it's a Clive Cussler novel designed to be plot-driven and fun with little thinking involved. And it does a good job of that, distraction for a camping trip or relaxing rainy day. It is not fine literature, but it isn't supposed to be.
First time reading a Clive Cussler book and it was unspeakably awful. Full of passages like
"'Buon giorno,' she said. 'Signor Capriani?'
'Si.'
'Parla inglese?'
Cipriani smiled broadly. 'I speak English, yes. But your Italian is very good.'"
?!!?
Never again.
"'Buon giorno,' she said. 'Signor Capriani?'
'Si.'
'Parla inglese?'
Cipriani smiled broadly. 'I speak English, yes. But your Italian is very good.'"
?!!?
Never again.
I enjoyed the adventure and the hunt for treasure for treasures sake, instead of forcing a plot about how the treasure is somehow related to world destruction/domination. Although, it did make me really miss Dirk Pitt.