|
The darkness just couldn't be stopped due to the greed of the people involved. I liked this movie, so I decided to buy the book. It's a simple story, but that doesn't mean boring, it's one of the best novels I've read in quite awhile. The wife, coldly changing and directing from the back reminded me of Lady Macbeth, but in some ways worse. It was even better. The novel felt like a modern Shakespeare tale.
Although I suppose they were both books that basically consisted of one bad thing after another happening. but after what happened with Jacob, I just couldn't get reabsorbed into the story.
And the ending. It wasn't bad per se, but it certainly wasn't good.
I can't say that I liked this book very much. I thought that Smith did a good job of really getting into Hank's head, of justifying his motivations.
Ach. It hardly seems like it was written by the same man as _The Ruins_.
I don't now.
It was a total disappointment. After reading The Ruines, this second book by Scott Smith, was a total failure.
While counting the money and having a close call with the local sheriff they discover they found close to 4.4 million dollars. I wish Scott Smith had kept the writing style of this book when he wrote "The Ruins" it might have been a better book and movie.The story involves 2 brothers (1 smart and the other one a laid back bum)and a drunk bum of a friend to one of the brothers. After crashing into a snowbank and then the 2 drunk friends deciding to chase down the fox for payback. Its better written and moves at a faster pace then "The Ruins" and doesnt leave the reader wondering about the holes in the story (like "The Ruins" does)
Its hard to imagine that one person can get away with killing 7 people and 1 dog and not get caught. (I'm not counting the sheriff who is killed by the fake FBI agent which the smart brother could have prevented but didnt).IF you just want a good relaxing book to read at home or traveling by train or plane then I would recommend getting this book to past the time away. The story moves along at a good pace and unlike 'the ruins' Scott Smith DOES answer a lot of questions and ties up the story line threads before the story ends. The bum brother cant keep his mouth shut over a incident where both brothers end up killing the neighbor whose chicken the fox stole while attempting to return $500,000 back to the plane and tells his drunk friend (who ends up attempting to blackmail the smart brother later on).
While on the hunt for the fox they discover the wreakage of a plane. Almost as soon as they get home the plan to keep quiet about the money goes down hill.The drunk friend tells his girlfriend and after getting into a deep gambling debt tried to blackmail the smart brother into giving him his share of the cash 30 days later. While driving along one day they almost hit a fox stealing a hen from a neighbor's farm. After much debate and concern over what to do with it the smart brother hatches a plan where they can keep the money after waiting 6 months (NOT 1 year as some reviewers stated).
After getting a minor wound from a crow (who gained entry into the plane via a hole in the roof) the smart brother takes the sack as a sort of "prize" to prove that he was in the plane.Upon walking back to the truck and driving back they discover the money in the sack. They talk the smart brother into going along by shaming him and teasing him. After much debate they gload the smart brother to go inside where he discovers the dead body of the pilot and a sack.
I love the movie so I thought for sure I'd love the book. Obviously I knew this didn't have likeable characters or a happy ending, but the book takes it too far.
I am giving this book 2 stars only because Scott Smith is an excellent writer, and the story he created here is amazing, but I believe that it is too violent, unnecessarily so. I will not give away the plot but I will say the book is much more violent than the movie, and the descriptions are so detailed that I cringed in some parts.
Wow. It's hard to enjoy a novel when you HATE the main character.
If you like books that describe death in bloody detail (both human and family pets) then this book is for you. I never thought I'd say that.
Wrong.
|
