Jack Reacher - any good?
Discussion
Ace-T said:
Just finished Killing Floor. Lightweight but entertaining tosh that moves along at a fair old pace. The equivalent of an 'exploding helicopter movie'.
Trace
I'll agree with that. One summer I worked at a small recycling depot and found a Jack Reacher book in a bin. I hooked it out and whiled away half an hour sitting in the sun on a folding chair reading, smoking and drinking Fanta. Entirely pleasant way to spend my break (it was a very small site so the other one worked whilst I took my break and vice versa). The book was reasonably engaging but I can't recall a thing about it now. The style was best described as plain, perhaps even functional or catering-quality. It fulfilled what it was supposed to do. Trace
The book was, to me, free to take away and in reasonable condition however the bit I read didn't create any desire to read on once my break had finished.
Killing Floor is first in the series, and I think the author's first novel. They improve, though they're not literary genius the stories become a little more complex and his writing style matures. I find them 'page turners' and get through them in a day or three.
My thanks to whoever it was on PH who recommended Reacher.
My thanks to whoever it was on PH who recommended Reacher.
Have read five or six now, mostly on Aeroplanes when I can't manage my copy of War & Peace or Crime & Punishment
I quite like the observational stuff in them and the description of down at heel small town America. Reads more like a modern version of Kung Fu (hero arrives in town, fixes stuff by beating people up or killing them, then moves on)
But all in all I enjoy them, I don't worry about the snob value of reading something, its just a question of entertainment.
I quite like the observational stuff in them and the description of down at heel small town America. Reads more like a modern version of Kung Fu (hero arrives in town, fixes stuff by beating people up or killing them, then moves on)
But all in all I enjoy them, I don't worry about the snob value of reading something, its just a question of entertainment.
A little game I play when reading a Reacher book is to spot the little mistakes where the author has the American character say something that only an English person would say. There are normally quite a few, probably hard to avoid for an English author writing American characters.
Yes I am sad.
Yes I am sad.
oldnbold said:
I have read a few of the Reacher books already. Very easy reading, sometimes detail is incorrect, but on the whole as good as Ryan/McNab/Duncan Falconer/Gerald Seymour type books.
In fact I've just loaded 5 onto my kindle for my week in Sharm, flying in the morning.
Nooooo, no way can Gerald Seymour be put into the same category!! His books are far better written.In fact I've just loaded 5 onto my kindle for my week in Sharm, flying in the morning.
Ayahuasca said:
Nooooo, no way can Gerald Seymour be put into the same category!! His books are far better written.
+10 to that. Entirely different level (one that requires readers who don't need to follow the words with a fingertip and vocalise them; and can breathe at the same time)DoctorX said:
Similarly, the Scott Mariani Ben Hope books are quite entertaining. Similar premise, ex-special forces dude who can get out of ANY situation in a most unbelievable way. Very cheap kindle versions available.
I second this, really enjoyed the Mariani books in the same way I enjoy watching Strike Back on Sky. I think another one is due out shortly? Maybe a smiley would have been more appropriate.
I just don't see why anybody would view them in that way. It's a bit like those that look down their noses at Dan Brown. I don't read to criticise sentence construction and the like - I just like a bit of escapism from time to time. (And so do plenty of others, judging by their success!)
Now Jackie Collins, that would be a guilty secret!
I just don't see why anybody would view them in that way. It's a bit like those that look down their noses at Dan Brown. I don't read to criticise sentence construction and the like - I just like a bit of escapism from time to time. (And so do plenty of others, judging by their success!)
Now Jackie Collins, that would be a guilty secret!
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