Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12)
by Lee Child
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.45 You Save: $5.54 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12)
Book Review: Strangely Bad...
Summary: 2 Stars
I've read quite a few Reacher novels and some were better than others but they all had a base level of quality that was very high. The streak is broken with this one. It starts off promising enough as Reacher is caught between a helpful sheriff in one town and a strange conspiracy in another. However the conspiracy and villains surrounding it are so undefined and lame that you don't really care about them or feel any sense of urgency.
Yes Childs does insert some of his political and religious beliefs into this novel. I didn't really find it that out of place, except for a few times when it got a little too much like preaching then real dialogue for my tastes. Even if I share many of the same views as the author I still don't appreciate it when anyone tries to enlighten us with their views in a form of entertainment.
It basically drags big time in the middle with Reacher romping back and forth between these two towns, almost aimlessly. Then it switches back to a pretty tepid romance for a while, long after you're bored with that aspect it will rush back into the main plot cramming in way too much stuff in the last 50 or so pages. They have multiple things all wrapping up at the same time all of the way too neat, and most of them feel included just so Childs could make his points on religion and Iraq.
Not the abomination others are claiming, but I definitely feel like it wasn't worth the time spent. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come for the series.
Book Review: CALLAHAN CLONE
Summary: 2 Stars
Jack Reacher is undoubtedly the illegitimate son of Dirty Harry Callahan. In each and every Reacher novel that Lee Child has penned our hero, though a man of few words, presents a persona that literally screams "make my day". In NOTHING TO LOSE the drama continues as this man of few words, and even fewer possessions, finds himself seeking to alleviate his hunger pangs by grabbing a quick meal at a local diner located in Despair, Colorado. He is refused service, attacked by a "deputized" foursome, thrown in jail, appears before the local judge, is found guilty of vagrancy and told to leave town and never come back. Well, as readers of Reacher novels know, you never ever give Reacher that sort of ultimatum.......it only piques his curiosity.
After being unceremoniously ejected from Despair, Reacher finds himself in the adjacent town of Hope and with the sometimes unwilling assistance of the solitary town policewoman decides to investigate what is going on in the town of Despair that makes its inhabitants so adverse to welcoming outsiders? The fact is that Despair is the repository for a multitude of "dirty little secrets" and Reacher possesses an almost inhuman amount of tenacity to challenge the powers that be and expose that which is being so zealously concealed.
While not one of Lee Childs best Reacher outings, the audio version was adequate enough to keep me from nodding off on a 1000 mile drive. 2 1/2 stars
Book Review: Jack Reacher is his toughest role yet... a Liberal! (spoilers)
Summary: 3 Stars
I have burned through these novels all summer and love them. Yes, some are MUCH better than others, but all are good. This one I thought was excellent the first 2/3 of the book. Lots of mystery, tension, action.. then suddenly Mr. Child felt it necessary to impose his views through Reacher. Remember, this is a journey man, former military, all action, and takes the law into his own hands... but then suddenly he begins this bent towards supporting AWOLs, tearing down Christians, and cheating on a husband is just fine. It all came across in bad writing...I paraphrase.."your husband is a veritable and won't know, so lets do it anyways." Regardless of the fact he was a fellow military man and was injured serving his country. Sex does not make a novel and I would be perfectly happy if it was omitted. This novel especially felt contrived. On one hand we hear how awful he looks in clothes, etc... but then women can't keep their hands off him???
As to the story.. the ending felt rushed and this was the first I thought.."what the heck about this...." I never figured out the town story.
Its 3 stars b/c most of the book is 5 star worthy, but the OUT OF CHARACTER political views with the confusing ending ruined it for me. It felt as though they could only go into Despair so many times and Child just limped the story to the finish line.
Book Review: 5 stars as a counterpoint to all the silly 1 star reviews.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm seeing this trend among the Amazon reviews that if a book displays any sort of "Liberal" viewpoint (I guess what some people have been brainwashed into believing is a liberal viewpoint) then it gets trashed with 1 star reviews. I for one have started many books that didn't do it for me and I've simply put them back on the shelf and moved on...I certainly don't run to my computer and write a long essay on why it is so terrible and why I hated it so much.If you like the Reacher novels then this is another solid entry. These books are entertainment...meant to be enjoyed over a few nights and then you move on to the next one. I enjoy the books of Brad Thor and he definitely has a "conservative" bent to his books but it doesn't bother me a bit..I could care less. For those who say things like "How dare Lee Child who is from England comment on American politics" You seem to forget every American is basically an immigrant so please grow up and get over whatever inferiority complex you have that makes you get so appalled if someone doesn't share the same views as you. As I say if you like Reacher ignore all these shady 1 star reviews as they certainly seem to have some sort of agenda behind them. As for Reacher having a negative opinion about the Iraq war...The war has resulted in over a Hundred Thousand deaths.....enough said.Book Review: Almost Lost Me
Summary: 1 Stars
Nothing to Lose was the first Reacher novel I read. It was fair along to being my last, when I read the review feature on Amazon and found this book is rated, by a long shot, as the worst of the Reacher novels.
For the first 100 pages or so, the story grabbed you, as the mystery of Despair and what lay beyond was laid. What a disappointment then that what follows did not take advantage of this great foundation. It had to be a failure of imagination, or the need to make a hurried publication date. The story wandered, as Reacher made repetitive trips back into Despair.
Most disturbing, however, and a real turnoff to this reader, was the heavy dose of leftist politics which tinged and ruined (for me) the story. I absolutely do not buy the conspiracy format, and would never buy another mystery novel which tried to force this on me.
After reading the reviews on Amazon, I then bought and read Persuader, and then Tripwire. Hallelujah. A whole new world of mysteries to read. Right on, with a tough, inventive character you can relate to and root for.
Recommend: Avoid this turkey. Start with any other of the Reacher novels, and you will be treated to real leave-the-lights-on reading, which I heartily recommend