- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Fontana Press; New Ed edition (15 Jun 1989)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006161219
- ISBN-13: 978-0006161219
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.9 x 1 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,438,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.com:
1 review
Mostly bearable, sometimes charming
17 May 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Firstly, I should point out to anyone who hasn't read any Jenkins stuff, this probably really deserves one star. But for people familiar with more than a couple of his other books, and willing to try another, this one is a sort of two-star affair, in that context.
People unfamiliar with Jenkins should try "A Twist Of Sand", his first book. I've been trying to read through his novels in order (more or less), and the first is by far the best up to this point.
What is most notable about this book, to me, is the unsophisticated portrayal of characters, and the excessive holding of the reader's hands in regards to what the stakes are, who is heroic, what will likely happen, etc. There is also a romance that he really hammers us over the head with. These things have appeared before in Jenkins stories, and there's also the idea here that amazing coincidence can make for a powerful effect (which isn't necessarily the case at all, as much as a writer might want to have excuses for "interesting" situations). BUT, if you're like me, and you've read some of his stuff already, and are prepared to tough it out and find some charm in all of this, THEN this book is sort of a two-star book, in my opinion.
Because, on the plus side, Jenkins doesn't overwhelm us with obscure sailing terminology in this one, and there's some pretty exciting scenes during storms here. The last third or so of the book is good, solid adventure, for the most part. The book also includes a black African character who is strong, talented, brave, interesting/significant, and a respected friend of the protagonist (in stark contrast to the situation in "A Twist Of Sand"). I'd pick this book over River Of Diamonds any day, and in some ways it's maybe more interesting than the charmingly audacious Hunter Killer (although, on most days, I'd pick Hunter Killer's audacity), and might have a better pay-off than the largely workman-like "Grue of Ice".
Still it's no Twist of Sand, and I feel this two-star rating is pretty generous, so I wanted to explain... Next to Alistair MacLean, Ian Fleming, and many other writers in the genre from this time period, this book stands a lot closer to a single-star. But that seems to be the case in general with this writer... So far. I can't help myself, I'm going to continue plowing forward, and sometime soon try out "A Cleft Of Stars", still looking for the next "Twist Of Sand".
People unfamiliar with Jenkins should try "A Twist Of Sand", his first book. I've been trying to read through his novels in order (more or less), and the first is by far the best up to this point.
What is most notable about this book, to me, is the unsophisticated portrayal of characters, and the excessive holding of the reader's hands in regards to what the stakes are, who is heroic, what will likely happen, etc. There is also a romance that he really hammers us over the head with. These things have appeared before in Jenkins stories, and there's also the idea here that amazing coincidence can make for a powerful effect (which isn't necessarily the case at all, as much as a writer might want to have excuses for "interesting" situations). BUT, if you're like me, and you've read some of his stuff already, and are prepared to tough it out and find some charm in all of this, THEN this book is sort of a two-star book, in my opinion.
Because, on the plus side, Jenkins doesn't overwhelm us with obscure sailing terminology in this one, and there's some pretty exciting scenes during storms here. The last third or so of the book is good, solid adventure, for the most part. The book also includes a black African character who is strong, talented, brave, interesting/significant, and a respected friend of the protagonist (in stark contrast to the situation in "A Twist Of Sand"). I'd pick this book over River Of Diamonds any day, and in some ways it's maybe more interesting than the charmingly audacious Hunter Killer (although, on most days, I'd pick Hunter Killer's audacity), and might have a better pay-off than the largely workman-like "Grue of Ice".
Still it's no Twist of Sand, and I feel this two-star rating is pretty generous, so I wanted to explain... Next to Alistair MacLean, Ian Fleming, and many other writers in the genre from this time period, this book stands a lot closer to a single-star. But that seems to be the case in general with this writer... So far. I can't help myself, I'm going to continue plowing forward, and sometime soon try out "A Cleft Of Stars", still looking for the next "Twist Of Sand".
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