Jack Reacher series by Lee Child - Page 2

leebase · 08-08-2010, 10:54 PM

It's on my "To Be Read" list

Lee

Metal Mick · 08-08-2010, 10:58 PM

Hi all,

I have 61 Hours from my local library, and I have read all the previous books, in order.

Yes, the POV shifts between novels can be unsettling, though I think the style works best in first person.

Some of the books are definitely better than others, though I'd hesitate to say any were "bad." The fragmented sentences don't bother me at all, and I take them as being straight from the thoughts of the protagonist.

The Lee Child website is interesting, and there was an interview not so long ago where Child discussed his process of writing and the criticisms leveled at genre fiction in general and his work inparticular: so-called "mainstream" or literary authors are often contemptuous of genre stories, referring to them as "commercial" or "plot-driven" (as opposed to "character-driven") writing.

He has pointed out that it is no easy thing writing a genre novel (such as a Jack Reacher book), and said that if literary writers could do it, they would. I tend to think that in many instances he would be right.

There are some excellent interviews of Child on YouTube. The one for Gone Tomorrow is quite worthwhile.

Cheers,

nikkers · 08-09-2010, 06:58 AM

I have read all of them. Ripping yarns . The one with the Tanks from Iraq was very thin . 61 Hours was really good .Lee finally stopped ramming the whole no clothes thing down our throats. I try to ignore it in all the stories. Here's this hunk 6' 4" , takes out the bad guys with one punch etc. Always gets the girl -has a shower maybe every second , changes clothes every 3-4 days , he's a physical guy - So why doesn't he stink. He must sweat rosewater!! As I said I read the yarn and try to ignore all the crap about clothes etc.

Penforhire · 08-09-2010, 01:02 PM

I've read all but 61 Hours. I enjoy his plotting quite a bit and recommend his books.

I do have a bone to pick about the protagonist. Reacher would be more interesting to me if he wasn't such a superman. He's just a bit too good at what he does and his emotional control is too absolute. Okay, some of Child's weapon play is also oddly written, not his strongest, compared to his hand-to-hand scenes.

Bilbo1967 · 08-09-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey330

I've read all the Jack Reacher novels so far - I really enjoy the books (I like the independence of Jack and his ability to just be his own man).

I agree with the consensus here: Lee Child wrote [on purpose] a cliffhanger-style book with 61 Hours.

Although - I had heard an Internet rumor (source[s] unremembered & untraceable) that Lee Child had meant to kill off Jack Reacher but decided to continue on.

Personally, I'd hate to have a long-running character die because the author is done with him/her. I should think it would be hard to start up a series with a main character if you knew s/he was going to die in book #X. It'd almost be like knowing how the book ends...

Anyway. List me as one who's waiting for September to find out what happens to Jack.

Marilyn

September? My book said November.

Maybe it's released earlier in the US.

JSWolf · 08-09-2010, 01:33 PM

I think it's October in the US for the next book. I might give book 8 a go next as it's a prequel and I do like reading in timeline order.

I'm finding that Jack Reacher reminds me a little bit of Rambo in First Blood as both are having to do things they don't want to do because of just being were and when they are.

Penforhire · 08-16-2010, 12:52 PM

Okay, so all this Lee Child talk made me catch up and read 61 Hours. I do feel his writing has improved. Or maybe Lee is just slowing down, relaxing, and smelling the coffee. I enjoyed his scenes more than I recall in earlier books.

However, the ending? Not to give any spoilers but --

"Dear Mr. Child, you've got to be &*%#'ing me! Signed, an upset reader."

HamsterRage · 08-16-2010, 02:21 PM

I've read all of them except 61 Hours.

Anyone even tempted to read Dan Brown should just pick up these and read them instead. Both my wife and I have found every book to be a "one session" read, although some are better than others.

JSWolf · 08-20-2010, 07:47 PM

I've had to stop reading Killing Floor and now that I've read The Golden Compass, I can continue and finish Killing Floor.

Stitchawl · 08-20-2010, 07:58 PM

I've read through the entire series twice, enjoying everything about it! I can't wait for the next book to come out. These are great 'traveling books,' perfect for a nine-hour plane ride. No deep thinking required. Just like the 'Spenser' series by Robert Parker, but those are better for 4 hour rides. When Parker stopped writing about Spenser and started up Jessie Stone, it was more like 'Spencer goes to the Beach.' I don't want to see Child create a different Reacher. I like the old one.

Jack Reacher
Lucas Davenport
Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus
Lincoln Rhyme (although deeper plot construction)

John K said "I was going to describe this series as the guy equivalent of “Chick Lit” and I think he's right. I out-grew the Hardy Boy and Tom Swift. These took their place.

Stitchawl

JSWolf · 08-26-2010, 08:26 PM

I recently finish Killing Floor. It's one of those books you just do not want to put down.

Stitchawl · 08-26-2010, 08:38 PM

I'm getting ready to re-read the series. I REALLY enjoy this character! If they were going to make a movie of the books, who would be your choice to play Jack?

Stitchawl

JSWolf · 08-26-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I'm getting ready to re-read the series. I REALLY enjoy this character! If they were going to make a movie of the books, who would be your choice to play Jack?

Stitchawl

I was thinking maybe Richard Dean Anderson as Jack Reacher. Who would you choose?

Stitchawl · 08-27-2010, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I was thinking maybe Richard Dean Anderson as Jack Reacher. Who would you choose?

Is he big enough? I always think of him as thin and wiry. Remember, one of Reacher's advantages is is size.

Perhaps Jason Statham or Daniel Craig, but with a little bit of Hollywood 'thickening.' In either case it would take some creative camera work.

Stitchawl

Metal Mick · 08-27-2010, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I'm getting ready to re-read the series. I REALLY enjoy this character! If they were going to make a movie of the books, who would be your choice to play Jack?

Stitchawl

Hi everyone,

I lean towards Sean Bean though he is getting on in years - I think early in the series, Reacher was described as being fair-haired, and I thought of Bean or someone similar.

There are several threads on the Lee Child website regarding this.

Can't help but think that perhaps Dwayne Johnson could be a possible - he has an imposing physique! Bear in mind, Reacher doesn't do a huge amount of talking, so facial expression and body language will be important. (One of the best from the past was Alan Ladd. Can't immediately think of a contemporary actor who did so well.)

Height need not be an issue: if Peter Jackson can make John Rhys-Davies appear sub-5-feet tall for Gimli the dwarf in LOTR, much is possible!

Cheers,

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08-08-2010, 10:54 PM	#16
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	It's on my "To Be Read" list Lee

08-08-2010, 10:58 PM	#17
Metal Mick Addict Posts: 253 Karma: 2383254 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: The Book, PB 302, IQ	Hi all, I have 61 Hours from my local library, and I have read all the previous books, in order. Yes, the POV shifts between novels can be unsettling, though I think the style works best in first person. Some of the books are definitely better than others, though I'd hesitate to say any were "bad." The fragmented sentences don't bother me at all, and I take them as being straight from the thoughts of the protagonist. The Lee Child website is interesting, and there was an interview not so long ago where Child discussed his process of writing and the criticisms leveled at genre fiction in general and his work inparticular: so-called "mainstream" or literary authors are often contemptuous of genre stories, referring to them as "commercial" or "plot-driven" (as opposed to "character-driven") writing. He has pointed out that it is no easy thing writing a genre novel (such as a Jack Reacher book), and said that if literary writers could do it, they would. I tend to think that in many instances he would be right. There are some excellent interviews of Child on YouTube. The one for Gone Tomorrow is quite worthwhile. Cheers,

08-09-2010, 06:58 AM	#18
nikkers tragic Posts: 55 Karma: 1010096 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 160km from a bookshop Device: IPAQ classic	I have read all of them. Ripping yarns . The one with the Tanks from Iraq was very thin . 61 Hours was really good .Lee finally stopped ramming the whole no clothes thing down our throats. I try to ignore it in all the stories. Here's this hunk 6' 4" , takes out the bad guys with one punch etc. Always gets the girl -has a shower maybe every second , changes clothes every 3-4 days , he's a physical guy - So why doesn't he stink. He must sweat rosewater!! As I said I read the yarn and try to ignore all the crap about clothes etc.

08-09-2010, 01:02 PM	#19
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I've read all but 61 Hours. I enjoy his plotting quite a bit and recommend his books. I do have a bone to pick about the protagonist. Reacher would be more interesting to me if he wasn't such a superman. He's just a bit too good at what he does and his emotional control is too absolute. Okay, some of Child's weapon play is also oddly written, not his strongest, compared to his hand-to-hand scenes.

08-09-2010, 01:33 PM	#21
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I think it's October in the US for the next book. I might give book 8 a go next as it's a prequel and I do like reading in timeline order. I'm finding that Jack Reacher reminds me a little bit of Rambo in First Blood as both are having to do things they don't want to do because of just being were and when they are.

08-16-2010, 12:52 PM	#22
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Okay, so all this Lee Child talk made me catch up and read 61 Hours. I do feel his writing has improved. Or maybe Lee is just slowing down, relaxing, and smelling the coffee. I enjoyed his scenes more than I recall in earlier books. However, the ending? Not to give any spoilers but -- "Dear Mr. Child, you've got to be &*%#'ing me! Signed, an upset reader."

08-16-2010, 02:21 PM	#23
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	I've read all of them except 61 Hours. Anyone even tempted to read Dan Brown should just pick up these and read them instead. Both my wife and I have found every book to be a "one session" read, although some are better than others.

08-20-2010, 07:47 PM	#24
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've had to stop reading Killing Floor and now that I've read The Golden Compass, I can continue and finish Killing Floor.

08-20-2010, 07:58 PM	#25
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I've read through the entire series twice, enjoying everything about it! I can't wait for the next book to come out. These are great 'traveling books,' perfect for a nine-hour plane ride. No deep thinking required. Just like the 'Spenser' series by Robert Parker, but those are better for 4 hour rides. When Parker stopped writing about Spenser and started up Jessie Stone, it was more like 'Spencer goes to the Beach.' I don't want to see Child create a different Reacher. I like the old one. Jack Reacher Lucas Davenport Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Lincoln Rhyme (although deeper plot construction) John K said "I was going to describe this series as the guy equivalent of “Chick Lit” and I think he's right. I out-grew the Hardy Boy and Tom Swift. These took their place. Stitchawl

08-26-2010, 08:26 PM	#26
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I recently finish Killing Floor. It's one of those books you just do not want to put down.

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08-26-2010, 08:38 PM	#27
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I'm getting ready to re-read the series. I REALLY enjoy this character! If they were going to make a movie of the books, who would be your choice to play Jack? Stitchawl