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: Devil is in the Details
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm a big Jack Reacher fan, awaiting every installation with anticipation. This one disappoints; not just as a Reacher novel, but as a novel in general.
Lee Child is the master at detail. As a book is winding taut suspense, he will cut-in with terrific descriptions of the little details in life. Perhaps how a sugar packet is torn, or how a door hangs askew. The reader, reading with baited breath for the next action event, has to stop and admire the details.
Unfortunately, in Nothing to Lose, there was not much more than detail. Every 40 pages or so we were told how many blocks Reacher went west, then north, then west, etc. Every building, street, vehicle, table and chair were described, as well as every cup of coffee and the mug in which it is served (we do learn that Reacher is a coffee addict/officianado). It was the only way to fill the pages since the plot was paper thin. The resolution was very unsatisfying as well since the solution seemed to be devined by Reacher.
This is a Reacher novel to be skipped, and certainly not the one upon which to judge Reacher or Mr. Child's writing skills. Even Gold Glovers are entitled to an error once in a while. Skip this one and reread an earlier Child thriller.
Book Review: More of Reacher
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book precisely BECAUSE everyone was not liking it!
I don't see it as liberal at all. Rather Reacher has always mused as he did things, so this book just has more musing than most. I have heard former soldiers report finding out things they did not expect were going on, and they definitely wondered why they were seeing corruption and theft. I am conservative, but I definitely think more warfare and problems with hazardous substances goes on than we know about. This book has Jack wondering the same things.
And the evangelical sect that wants to "hurry along" the end times happening: they exist also and it is a mistake to believe they would not do what is done in this book.
It was not as fast paced as all the others. He goes back to Despair so many times that you feel your head spinning. But I enjoyed it as a slower book and got to see more of the character Reacher.
I felt how he and she handled the injured husband was touchingly thoughtful, not
negative whatsoever. It is NOT good to spoil the story for others. I am glad I did not read that review before purchase. I do not know if medically everything was depicted correctly, but the caring and realism were definitely on point. I still recommend this book.
Book Review: Worst. Reacher novel. Ever.
Summary: 1 Stars
Jack Reacher begins his claustrophobia phase, where the plots and locales are all concentrated and repetitive. In this book he meanders back and forth between two towns, one of which doesn't take kindly to outsiders.
The latter town is populated by a bunch of sickly people who are involved in an apocalyptic offshoot of Christianity. While the Reacher character has as much use for religion as I do--none--Child was far more insulting to Christianity than he was toward Islam in Gone Tomorrow.
The people in the isolated town are sickly because of the substance that makes up their doomsday weapon. As a result, all their efforts to stop Reacher are half-hearted at best, mirroring Child's half-hearted writing. There's no real sense of danger in this book, and never any indication that Reacher has finally met his match.
In the Reacher books I usually end up learning at least one interesting fact in each book, often more than one. The most interesting thing I learned from Nothing to Lose is that janitorial clothing is durable and cheap. I learned it within the first few pages, and the rest of the book was all downhill from there.
Book Review: Hope and Despair
Summary: 5 Stars
Jack Reacher travels light, usually buying a pair of clothes and underwear when he arrives at his next destination. It's the way he's been since getting out of the Army, traveling around the country, sort of a modern day Lone Ranger. Get him on your good side and you couldn't ask for a better friend or champion. Get him on your bad side and lookout, because the kind of justice Jack Reacher meets out can't be found in any law book.
In this outing Reacher is in Colorado, leaving a town called Hope, on his way to a small place called Despair. However, when he gets there they call him a vagrant and find him housing in the local hoosegow. Needless to say this doesn't sit very well without our hero, so when he gets out he heads on back to Hope to try and find out what wrong with Despair.
Do I have to say that there will be those who get on Reacher's wrong side? Do I have to tell you who will come out on top? Do I have to say that this book is as good as anything Lee Child has ever written? As far as I'm concerned Jack Reacher is just about the best doggone character in mystery thriller fiction today.
Book Review: Another great Reacher book. Do NOT listen to 1 star kooks.
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, first with the book. I enjoyed this one more than the last couple. It's a stronger outing and seems to be written with a little more care. The story was strong, as was the other main character, Vaughn the Sheriff deputy.
Now for the kooks. I can only imagine that they are either completely unhinged, or they were directed here by some ultra right wing group(s) to crap on the book because Reacher dares to speak out against the Iraq war. Reacher has ALWAYS been his own man, and one of the main points of the stories has always been the duality of a guy that is now a complete loaner, drifter, etc.. who once spent the bulk of his adult life living by the very strict rules of the Army. He loves his country, and therefore questions the actions that he sees are wrong. Wow, how terrible. Maybe Limbaugh sent you all here to make a stink, maybe you are all just a little nuts. I think you all lean more to the latter..
I read NOTHING in the way he spoke that was different from other statements that he has made in other books, particularly later ones.