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mxmlln's review against another edition
2.0
Story: 4.0 / 10
Characters: 8
Setting: 7.5
Prose: 9
Tags: Academia, espionage, revenge, justice, Nazis
Characters: 8
Setting: 7.5
Prose: 9
Tags: Academia, espionage, revenge, justice, Nazis
clarks_dad's review against another edition
5.0
Freaking awesome. That's all there is to it. Goldman creates a classic tale of suspense and intrigue filled with Dentist Nazis and crooked spies that keeps you hooked until the end. But more than the intriguing plot, it's the characterization of Babe that makes this novel worth 5 stars. Babe is a completely believable genius narcissist (the best kind right?) who receives his real world education throughout the novel as he learns that the life he has built up since the death of his father was built entirely upon lies.
There are so many wonderfully memorable lines, funny and awesomely vengeful i just had to add them. The line about erasers I think I'll keep for the rest of my days, and Babe's lecture to Szell near the end of the novel is just so fitting. It's the ultimate, "HA! Take that bastard!" lines that you wish you could say to those genuinely evil people you meet in your life (we've all known at least one).
Looking forward to the movie.
There are so many wonderfully memorable lines, funny and awesomely vengeful i just had to add them. The line about erasers I think I'll keep for the rest of my days, and Babe's lecture to Szell near the end of the novel is just so fitting. It's the ultimate, "HA! Take that bastard!" lines that you wish you could say to those genuinely evil people you meet in your life (we've all known at least one).
Looking forward to the movie.
briandice's review against another edition
4.0
It is so nice when the right book opens at the right time; when you're fidgety and middle-seat suffering on a three hour flight and nothing but a ripping yarn will salve that claustrophobia. Take me away, Calgon Marathon Man!
I knew that Dustin Hoffman starred in the movie adaptation of this novel, but my knowledge of the story ended there. I am a complete babe in the woods when it comes to thrillers - friends familiar with the genre would probably have seen all the twists coming twenty pages ahead - so it was a blast to enjoy the roller coaster ride. Goldman is famous and lauded for his ability to write screenplays, and his prowess for developing rich characters and taut dialogue are well on display here, keeping the action moving at a brisk pace. Recommended for those looking for a fun read between meaty tomes. A literary palate cleanser.
I knew that Dustin Hoffman starred in the movie adaptation of this novel, but my knowledge of the story ended there. I am a complete babe in the woods when it comes to thrillers - friends familiar with the genre would probably have seen all the twists coming twenty pages ahead - so it was a blast to enjoy the roller coaster ride. Goldman is famous and lauded for his ability to write screenplays, and his prowess for developing rich characters and taut dialogue are well on display here, keeping the action moving at a brisk pace. Recommended for those looking for a fun read between meaty tomes. A literary palate cleanser.
logantea's review against another edition
1.0
Yikes. I wanted to like this book. And for a while I thought I might. It goes down easy, it's well paced, and it's technically sound. However, by the end I despised it. You can find subtle bigotry for pretty much every marginalized group in the book (and not just at the hands of the Nazis). The dialog is so constantly snarky in a way the author clearly thought was cool but just becomes annoying. And the main character is maybe the most frustrating trope ever - a weak, sniveling, incapable creep who somehow over the course of a couple days turns himself into a honed killing machine who outguns, outwits, and outfights everyone who has been in this game way longer than him.
tarynmyheart's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lindasdarby's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't seen the movie and didn't know what the book was about at all. The story was very suspenseful and the characters well developed. It did take me a long time to figure out who was doing what and what exactly was happening but I think that made the book better. William Goldman wrote in the introduction that people walked out of the movie during the dentist scene and now I know why. That scene reinforced my hate of the dentist. Of course my favorite character in the book was the Marathon Man himself. Great read.
thisotherbookaccount's review
5.0
I better take care of my teeth, because I am never going to the dentist again.
andytorino's review against another edition
5.0
The best thriller you will ever read. Bill Goldman's writing is off the charts here. A pulpy, sophisticated, smart and unpredictable tour de force. Very, very good.