The Gate House
by Nelson DeMille
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Book Reviews of The Gate House
Book Review: Unreadable disappointment from my favorite author!
Summary: 1 Stars
I was thrilled to start The Gate House, especially since Nelson DeMille is my favorite author and I got the opportunity to meet him and have him sign my copy of the book (at the Huntington, NY "Book Revue" - an incredible book store on Long Island)- what a treat! However, the book was so disappointing that I finally had to give up (which I very rarely do!) around page 300 or so for it was simply unreadable.
First, I can't understand why Mr. DeMille would have chosen to write a sequel to The Gold Coast, since it was pretty close to perfection on its own, too many years had passed, and sequels hardly ever bode well (even when greatly anticipated).
Second, the entire concept behind the plot (John and Susan reuniting on their former grounds for the inevitable death of a former servant, while Bellarosa's son still living next door wants revenge for his father's homicide) seemed way too trite for DeMille, whose storylines I typically find much more sophisticated and relevant.
Finally, as much as I love the way Mr. DeMille writes, there was so much regurgitation of the same idea over and over again (summing up the past) and such poor dialogue and timing that I can't believe it was actually written by DeMille himself. By the time John and Susan finally encountered one another, it felt so unrealistic and laugh-out-loud silly that I threw in the towel.
As much as I would love to tell other readers to avoid this novel at all costs, I know many will want to read it for themselves nonetheless (just as I did), simply because of DeMille's incredible reputation and fabulous body of work. So the best I can do is warn not to go into it with high (or any) expectations and hope others like it better than I.
Book Review: A bit like bad sex...
Summary: 5 Stars
About fifty years ago the dynamic young New York City Mayor John Lindsay likened something or other to sex... as being "good even whan it's bad." As a typically devoted DeMille reader I rushed out and bought my long awaited copy of The Gate House the day it was released, and neglected almost all other reading and other priorities as I devoted full attention to this sequel to his literary triumph, The Gold Coast. Other reviewers who have critically indicated that the action here is developed more slowly than in most DeMille stories seem to have underappreciated the joy of savoring the contrast of protagonist John Sutter's private thoughts to his spoken words, which is where much of the fun is in this book throughout, page after page, as he slowly escalates the tension building toward what we all know will be an explosive series of totally unpredictable (but always stunning) climaxes. If this book falls short of your expectations, you didn't take enough time to "smell the roses" along the way. DeMille's books are like your children, or your dogs, perhaps... each different in personality and texture from the others, but you love them all equally. As I have felt with every one of the fifteen or so books of his that I've read, The Gate House left me with a kind of "post partum depression" when it was over, knowing that it will likely be another thirty months or so before he can produce another story. One trend I have noticed in his last several books is that DeMille seems to have given more thought to developing his characters and storylines in such a fashion that they will translate readily into terrific films. Bring 'em on, and the sooner the better!
Frank Betz
Book Review: The Gold Coast Revisited, Ten Years Later
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a fan of Nelson DeMille's work and THE GOLD COAST is my favorite by him. Naturally, I was thrilled to get a copy of the sequel, THE GATE HOUSE, and anxious to see how John and Susan Sutter had progressed with their lives. Though this is a tiny bit of a letdown from the original, I'm still giving it five stars for clever writing, exceptionally witty dialogue (What do you do when you miss your mother-in-law? Reload and fire again.), and excellent character development
We finally get a sense of the public humiliation John felt when the whole world, especially his country club friends, knew of his wife's betrayal of him with the Mafia don next door. I'm still enraged by the fact that Susan Stanhope Sutter got off with a slap on the wrist and is spending time lunching with gal pals rather than scrubbing toilets in prison. She hasn't missed a beat in her lavish lifestyle and is still the spoiled, little rich girl. Her only saving grace is that John loves her and for that reason, I could smile at their attempted reconciliation and grimace at the after-effects of it.
The rich really are different and we get a good, hard look at their lifestyle (doesn't everyone get a yacht for Father's Day?). It's THE GREAT GATSBY meets THE GODFATHER all over again and I was excited by the ride, albeit a bit slow and repetitive in places. The last 100 pages of the 674 were bone-chilling as Susan's sin comes home to haunt her. So, if you were a fan of THE GOLD COAST and wondered what would happen when our legal justice system faltered, meet the new generation of the Mafia family next door, one who hasn't forgotten who killed Daddy.
Book Review: Rated with a heavy heart
Summary: 1 Stars
I write this with a heavy heart. DeMille has been my favorite author since I've been an avid reader. It started with CHARM SCHOOL that I stumbled upon in a used book store. I read everything he wrote. I bought his new books the DAY they came out. He was without question my favorite.
That said, the Gate House is horrible. DeMille's novels have been getting more and more disappointing and this book hits rock bottom. Wild Fire was disappointing but tolerable. This book is not. I honestly began to wonder if it really was DeMille who wrote this or if he had a ghost writer. Unlike most DeMille books, the main character is unlikable. He doesn't have the brashness that most of his lead characters exhibit. The story is terrible. It had to have taken a huge effort to get this book to the required pages. I could write this book in 20 pages and you wouldn't miss anything. He just keeps dragging out scenes for no reason. A bit of a spoiler alert ahead...As an example there is a letter that is introduced early in the book and the recepient continually puts off reading the letter. Throughout the book, it's like "nah, I'll read it later", for no good reason. Who gets a letter and then intentionally just keeps putting it off. Well he has to because the letter is essentially the book so he has to put it off or the book is 20 pages.
This will be the last time I buy DeMille's books the day they come out. In fact I'll be tempted to not read them at all. Hopefully old habits will be easy to break and the fond memories won't overwhelm me to throw good money after bad. Guess we'll know in a couple of years.
Book Review: Two Failed Premises
Summary: 2 Stars
The story's first overarching premise is that John Sutter is perceptive and witty and strong enough to narrate a morality play, commenting as he goes on the foibles of the rich, like Jack Burden in All the King's Men or W. Somerset Maugham in The Razor's Edge (or, less ambitiously, like the protagonist in pretty much any mystery novel). The premise is expressed by several characters' high regard for Sutter and by his professional success. And his banter is fast and sharp and funny. Anybody who can circumnavigate the world in a sailboat has got to have something going on.
However, the banter is pretty much all he's got. He never does anything substantive. Even worse, his two biggest efforts--dealing with his father-in-law and with a mobster--both fail, and in each case he is saved at the last minute by a deux ex machina. (And one of his running commentaries--about his mother--is misguided, as she is brighter and more substantial throughout the story than John makes her out to be.)
You get the impression the story would have been better told by one of the detectives, leaving Sutter a minor background player--the inept, inebriated, inconsequential rich man.
The story's second premise is that Susan has matured over the past ten years, as she says several times she has. You learn on page 628, however, that she hasn't. "Susan just stood there, then dropped eyes and said, `I'm sorry . . .'."
If you read 600+ pages thinking you're following sympathetic main characters, only to find out they're side players in need of improbable rescue, you leave disappointed.