A Prisoner of Birth
by Jeffrey Archer
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Book Reviews of A Prisoner of Birth
Book Review: Relentlessly entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
My first Archer. I know he went to jail, even though he's a peer of the realm. That's what democracy is all about. His detailed account of the prison life has the authentic touch. Some of the reviewers have mentioned the plot twists as predictable. Sure, once you read it, you think, of course! But before that, you are turning pages like an addict.
It is already blazoned across the book cover and inside, it is a modern reworking of The Count of Monte Cristo. Actually there is a good measure of the Three Musketeers: One for All; All for one, which actually is the main theme of the first part of the plot, leading to the Dantes revenge.
Characters are nice handled. But it is an action story and thank god, he spares us the usual fillers which go by the name of fleshing out the characters. Good old fashioned villains and virtuous protagonists. Danny, Moncreif and Big Al are another three musketeers. It's a pity . . . but no I will not spoil the pleasure of your reading through it. Old fasioned and greatly entertaining. Perfect to curl up with, either inside the bed during winter or on the beach during summer.
Book Review: Good Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Our hero Danny Cartwright is celebrating his engagement to his love
Beth Wilson. He winds up in an altercation with four upper crust college
friends. His friend ernard Wilson is killed as a result.He is actually killed by Spencer Craig. He belongs to a group called the Musketeers. This group is made up of Spencer Craig a lawyer,Gerald Payne a real estate person,Lawrence Davenport an actor. and Toby Mortimer a drug addict. The Musketeers testify against Danny Cartwright and he is convicted. He is sentenced yto Belmarsh a tough prison. Hiscellmate is Nick Moncrief. Moncrief teaches Danny how to read and actually educates Danny. Nick is killed in prison and in a case of mistaken identity Danny
takes his place. He is released from prison early. He immediately begins planning his vengance. You are treated to courtroom drama,financial shenanigans and many other exploits by Danny as he becomes Nick Moncrief.
There is also a surprise end ing. An excellent book.
Book Review: A normal day.......
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of Jeffrey Archer since Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and I too agree that he is one of the best story tellers today.
The back cover states, "the author spent five years in the House of Commons, sixteen years in the House of Lords and two years in Her Majesty's prisons...." This book was written after that time spent in prison in which he kept extensive diaries.
Prisoner of Birth is a fascinating story about two mates/friends that were celebrating at a pub and one of them ended up dead and the other ended up in prison. He weaves together the life in prison, the lives of police, the lives of lawyers, the lives of judges, the life of parole boards and the lives of everyday normal people.
You will find this book hard to put down and you will wonder what kind of movie it will turn out to be.
Book Review: Preposterous Plot, But Still a Pretty Good Read
Summary: 3 Stars
The premise of the plot: That an illiterate mechanic from London's East End could swap places with a Scottish peer and become a world-class business brain in only a few years -- is simply preposterous. Archer depends here far too much on coincidence and serendipity in his plot and weaves a story that requires the reader to suspend credulity. One finds oneself laughing derisively at the ridiculous plot twists. HOWEVER...the book is pretty well written and once you realize that this is a fairy tale, no less than The Lord of the Rings or The Wizard of Oz, you can sit back and enjoy the book, with all its complicated twists and turns and compelling courtroom dialog. It's a well-written opus, but it's not a serious book. It's a modern-day version of "The Count of Monte Cristo". Read it if you have time to kill and you're bored.Book Review: A Prisoner of Archer
Summary: 4 Stars
Archer's retelling of Dumas' Monte Cristo keeps one a prisoner of the book until the very end. Of course, the story is hopelessly fantastic, improbable and exhilarating. One gets to love the characters, and all along hopes that the plot turns out well for the survivors. At times, the read is actually funny. One feature I found highly interesting is Archer's depiction of class difference and distinction. London Eastenders and Westenders are portrayed wonderfully as their personifications clash. Archer relies very much on the language used by people coming from diverse parts of the same city and on how they are likely to behave. What may surprise the reader is how he makes this pivotal to the successful outcome of his story. Then there are also the twists and turns of the story, which make it truly enjoyable. It is fun.