Jack Reacher - any good?

Author
Discussion

vladcjelli

2,962 posts

157 months

Wednesday 16th September 2015
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Silverage said:
I've got the back end of what must be the 10th or more Reacher book I've read now by the side of the bed at the moment. I just can't be bothered to finish it as I know all that's coming next is the usual slaughter of the bad guys wrap up. I think I may have reached "peak Reacher".
Going to coin new phrase tonight. Someone who reads too many of Lee Childs books.

Reacherhound.

droopsnoot

11,809 posts

241 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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New one out, anyone else reading it?

I know what you mean about reaching saturation point, I read two or three after each other a while back and it made me reflect on how he'll give someone a life-changing injury without a second thought. I wonder if that's a reflection of the writing quality though - I've read a lot of stuff where people are injured or killed by the "hero" but they're almost always involved parties.

Laurel Green

30,770 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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droopsnoot said:
New one out, anyone else reading it?
Make Me. yes Just started it - He hasn't killed or injured anyone yet. wink

SydneyBridge

8,500 posts

157 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Laurel Green said:
Make Me. yes Just started it - He hasn't killed or injured anyone yet. wink
You must only be on page 5 or something, if he has not been in a fight yet!

I have read all of them and needed a long break half way through as they were getting very samey.
I saw Lee Child speak a while ago and he is a very interesting chap- he is as hard as Reacher....
He got the name Reacher because Lee Child is very tall and helped someone in a supermarket get something from high up and wife called him a 'reacher'
He is speaking in Waterstones in Reading tomorrow evening and I have tickets to see him, so will get a copy of the new book then

hairykrishna

13,158 posts

202 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Mr Child does a pretty good job. They’re mostly terrible and 90% the same as each other but I read them anyway. I actually thought the most recent one was one of the best.

5potTurbo

12,482 posts

167 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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Between December and last week I read all the Jack Reacher novels and the shorts.
It was quite a lot, and since they were so closely read together, in order, rather "samey". It won't stop me from getting the latest when it's out though.

AClownsPocket

899 posts

158 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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Just finished Make Me, and for some reason I'm disappointed. When I realised what the core story was, I switched off. First one in a while I was 'meh' about. Hope its not the start of a trend.

5potTurbo

12,482 posts

167 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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Balls.
Just bought it.
Oh, well. frown

droopsnoot

11,809 posts

241 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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I've just finished "Make Me", I thought it was quite good. Decent reading, a few twists. I certainly thought it was better than the last one where he came over to the UK.

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
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Recently read 'Personal' and thought that it was garbage - wouldn't read any more of them.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
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cardigankid said:
Recently read 'Personal' and thought that it was garbage - wouldn't read any more of them.
Care to share which ones you have read so we can qualify that response.

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Friday 9th October 2015
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Only that one. I wouldn't be inclined to read any more. I thought the characters were cartoonish, particularly the 'London gangsters', an American's idea of what cockneys are like. The story line seemed pretty simplistic, and Reacher wasn't all that interesting. It didn't grab me. Not up there with Bernard Cornwell or Stieg Larssen anyway.

Hamish Finn

476 posts

107 months

Friday 9th October 2015
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cardigankid said:
I thought the characters were cartoonish, particularly the 'London gangsters', an American's idea of what cockneys are like.
Who is this "American" you refer to?


Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 9th October 2015
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cardigankid said:
Only that one. I wouldn't be inclined to read any more. I thought the characters were cartoonish, particularly the 'London gangsters', an American's idea of what cockneys are like. The story line seemed pretty simplistic, and Reacher wasn't all that interesting. It didn't grab me. Not up there with Bernard Cornwell or Stieg Larssen anyway.
Not read that one yet. I'll read all of them in time no hurry.


Totally agree he certainly isn't one of the top thriller writers from a multi layers complex multi storyline twists and super smart story. Instead it is meat and two veg easy reading pool side book.
It certainly has its place and is a likeable hero.

It sells in vast numbers and to the average person this is a super complicated book - Stig L or others would be way way beyond ability/comprehension/

Hamish Finn

476 posts

107 months

Friday 9th October 2015
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Welshbeef said:
to the average person this is a super complicated book - Stig L or others would be way way beyond ability/comprehension/
So (obviously) you're of above average intellect, eh?

The irony is strong here!

droopsnoot

11,809 posts

241 months

Monday 12th October 2015
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I'd have to say that although it's quite a good book, "Personal" is the weakest of the lot. The new one was better, but if I was going to re-read one it'd probably be one of the earlier ones.

AClownsPocket

899 posts

158 months

Monday 12th October 2015
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Agreed, I just re-read The Enemy. Fair more enjoyable than the new stuff. He should have been killed off 4 books back.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Monday 12th October 2015
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Hamish Finn said:
Welshbeef said:
to the average person this is a super complicated book - Stig L or others would be way way beyond ability/comprehension/
So (obviously) you're of above average intellect, eh?

The irony is strong here!
A first degree and MSc plus professional qualification I'd say as average is 5 A-C GCSEs only yes.


Hamish Finn

476 posts

107 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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Welshbeef said:
Hamish Finn said:
Welshbeef said:
to the average person this is a super complicated book - Stig L or others would be way way beyond ability/comprehension/
So (obviously) you're of above average intellect, eh?

The irony is strong here!
A first degree and MSc plus professional qualification I'd say as average is 5 A-C GCSEs only yes.
“You can hide, but I will find you...”

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

jbudgie

8,841 posts

211 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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AClownsPocket said:
Just finished Make Me, and for some reason I'm disappointed.
Was disappointed also, not one of the best.