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jenhurst's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the writing but the story itself just wasn’t really it for me. A train robbery doesn’t really thrill me, but I love Michael Crichton’s other works so I’m trying to work mg way through his backlist. But I can see why a lot of people will like it.
midwifereading's review against another edition
5.0
Michael Crighton's works are hit or miss for me. Jurassic Park remains my favorite of his. However, "The Great Train Robbery" is easily the best writing of his I've come across. It's a re-telling of an actual train robbery in England.
To put it simply, I felt like I was living there, and part of the unfolding events. It reads like an unbelievable, Hollywood-concocted story. I've never read anything like it! I love historical fiction, but this just takes the cake, because it's actual, historical FACT, written in a fiction style.
It's incredible.
To put it simply, I felt like I was living there, and part of the unfolding events. It reads like an unbelievable, Hollywood-concocted story. I've never read anything like it! I love historical fiction, but this just takes the cake, because it's actual, historical FACT, written in a fiction style.
It's incredible.
softasapanda's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Pedophilia
adholmes3's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
esabel's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting! Fast paced and exciting. Some of the 'of the times' stuff was a bit too much for me though. Animal abuse was brought up several times, and there was a horrible scene where a middle aged man had sex with a child because he thought having sex with a virgin would cure him of syphilis. That was rough.
ninethreeo's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very fictionalised account of the 1855 train robbery, only loosely based on the real characters. Despite Michael Crichton’s references to actual court room documents, we’d have to assume that much of the action is also fictionalised. Doesn’t matter. This is a gripping and cinematic yarn, funny and exciting, and with characters that the amateur casting director will start picking for the imagined film version. I might have a little bit of a crush on Edward Pierce.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
In 1855 a gang of thieves carried out an elaborate scheme to rob a train of the gold bullion scheduled to serve as payroll for the soldiers fighting in the Crimean War. “The Victorians always referred to this crime in capital letters, as The Great Train Robbery.” This is Crichton’s fictionalized novel based on what is known of the truth, with a good deal of conjecture and embellishment.
What a rollicking good story! I was entertained from beginning to end. Crichton starts out with a recitation of the facts and sprinkles the text with details of Victorian life and the specifics which came to light during the trial. But the way he imagines the lead characters, especially Edward Pierce (the gang leader), is what really breathes life into the story.
I first read this back in 1975 when it was a new release. In fact, I have a book-club edition I purchased at the time. It’s always been one of my favorite books by Crichton and I’ve recommended it to people over the years as a quick, fun adventure / crime story.
The book was adapted to film in 1978, starring Sean Connery as Edward Pierce, and Donald Sutherland as his accomplice Robert Agar. It’s a pretty faithful adaptation, and well worth watching.
NOTE: This review was written on my second (or third) reading, August 2015. One of my book clubs chose it for discussion in June 2019, so I’ve re-read it yet again. And I still love it!
What a rollicking good story! I was entertained from beginning to end. Crichton starts out with a recitation of the facts and sprinkles the text with details of Victorian life and the specifics which came to light during the trial. But the way he imagines the lead characters, especially Edward Pierce (the gang leader), is what really breathes life into the story.
I first read this back in 1975 when it was a new release. In fact, I have a book-club edition I purchased at the time. It’s always been one of my favorite books by Crichton and I’ve recommended it to people over the years as a quick, fun adventure / crime story.
The book was adapted to film in 1978, starring Sean Connery as Edward Pierce, and Donald Sutherland as his accomplice Robert Agar. It’s a pretty faithful adaptation, and well worth watching.
NOTE: This review was written on my second (or third) reading, August 2015. One of my book clubs chose it for discussion in June 2019, so I’ve re-read it yet again. And I still love it!
pinks_paperbacks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me on an adventure along with the main characters and made me go through various emotions as and when each character was going through a particular situation. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to enjoy a light reading.
lizthescaredycat's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
It was still interesting but a bit of a slog. Not what I expected going into a Critchon book but still glad to have read since it’s pretty short