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devrose's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
This is just not my kind of book. I read it for a book club.
jeremyjfloyd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mrswhite's review against another edition
1.0
...but I never was much of a Kipling fan, come to think of it.
croaker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a magnificently written modern take on the pulp adventure stories from writers like Fritz Leiber and Robert E Howard.
His "pulpy" prose is perfect for capturing that sense of action and adventure you expect from this type of story.
The two main characters are best friends and watching them squabble is hilarious. They are rascals that travel all throughout what today would be eastern Turkey and western Azerbaijan. (the story takes place around 950AD) They spend their days conning people at Taverns and stealing from caravans.
It is too short to risk spoiling the plot with any details about what happens but it is well written and the pacing is fast and exciting.
The action scenes are beautiful, pulpy, affairs that read almost like anime battles.
It is a refreshing take on a very old genre. I highly recommend it.
His "pulpy" prose is perfect for capturing that sense of action and adventure you expect from this type of story.
The two main characters are best friends and watching them squabble is hilarious. They are rascals that travel all throughout what today would be eastern Turkey and western Azerbaijan. (the story takes place around 950AD) They spend their days conning people at Taverns and stealing from caravans.
It is too short to risk spoiling the plot with any details about what happens but it is well written and the pacing is fast and exciting.
The action scenes are beautiful, pulpy, affairs that read almost like anime battles.
It is a refreshing take on a very old genre. I highly recommend it.
chitownbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
aholeistodig's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome. Exciting, confusing, funny. There's a sort of antiquity to it that I think'll probably either delight or annoy, depending on the reader--kind of like Marias' Voyage Along the Horizon. Very much a part of Chabon's move away from the American naturalism of his own earlier works, in favor of the "thrilling tale." He writes in his afterword that he was originally going to call it Jews With Swords.
P.S. If vocab is the sole reason you couldn't get into either this or Yiddish Policemen's Union, you're officially a wuss. They're called context clues, yo.
P.S. If vocab is the sole reason you couldn't get into either this or Yiddish Policemen's Union, you're officially a wuss. They're called context clues, yo.
priya_haha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ella1801's review against another edition
3.0
Chabon's getting to be pretty handy with the genre fiction, and this was the experiment following The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Not bad, and my petty gripe is that I'm sure I missed a lot of the humor and/or wit because I'm not Jewish and don't have the background.
But you have to admit, it's pretty cool that it was originally published in serial form in the New York Times magazine. And the working title? "Jews with Swords".
But you have to admit, it's pretty cool that it was originally published in serial form in the New York Times magazine. And the working title? "Jews with Swords".
earthgirl207's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent, quick read, although keep a dictionary handy if you want to fully understand some of the archaic words Chabon uses for atmosphere. Gentlemen of the Road is great high adventure that keeps you guessing what will happen next.
eletricjb's review against another edition
2.0
Kind of meandering, not really gripping. Maybe that's a consequence of switching point of view so many times. Didn't have time to get attached to any of the characters. Disappointing.