The Blonde
by Duane Swierczynski
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 96)
Read in January, 2008
The Blonde, an apparent attempt to transcend the tropes of the hard-boiled crime novel by indulging in the clichés of the genre is at the same time so bold it borders on satire and too timid to be satirical.
The femme fatale's motivations were only somewhat non-standard because of the existence of nano-bots, otherwise she's just another lusty sex kitten using her body to further her aims. I.e. just another femme fatale. The list of familiar crime elements is extensive, including jurisdicti...more
The femme fatale's motivations were only somewhat non-standard because of the existence of nano-bots, otherwise she's just another lusty sex kitten using her body to further her aims. I.e. just another femme fatale. The list of familiar crime elements is extensive, including jurisdicti...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of the movie "Speed"
This book is the second by a young up & coming (formerly)crime novelist. Like a great many second novels this one falls into the "sophmore slump" trap. The Blonde has a couple of very compelling characters which keep it from being a total pile of crap- but mostly it suffers from one the dumbest sci-fi premises ever concocted. And this is from a reader who loves sci-fi.
Remember in "Speed" how the bus would blow if it went slower than 55? Well - in this book the nanobot ...more
Remember in "Speed" how the bus would blow if it went slower than 55? Well - in this book the nanobot ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
violence enthusiasts
I don't know if I'm too snooty or something, but I rarely venture into the mystery/thriller section of my local bookstore. This was put into my hands by a guy at the bookstore, whose taste I'm not entirely sure I trust, but I figured I could give it a whirl.
And damn, but he was right. This book starts out mid-step and then breaks into a full-out run. It's completely ridiculous and insane and funny and thrilling. It's not 'important' or 'weighty' and there's no subtext because the text is to...more
And damn, but he was right. This book starts out mid-step and then breaks into a full-out run. It's completely ridiculous and insane and funny and thrilling. It's not 'important' or 'weighty' and there's no subtext because the text is to...more
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Read in April, 2008
I had my doubts about this when I encountered some of the hallmarks of genre fiction-- the excessive reliance on interior monologues of characters who are just not that interesting, for starters, and the plot with it's runaway misogyny didn't do the book any favors, either. So imagine my surprise when I found myself completely, or at least almost completely, wrapped up in what was going on. The misogyny, at least on the novelist's part, is a ruse, there is something human underneath the hit man'...more
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Warning: Do not start this book late at night as I did. It will not let you go.
Remember Scorcese's film After Hours, this is sort of like that but with more blood. One night in Philadelphia, everything goes wrong, between a hitman (who carries a head in a bag), a reporter (who cant buy a break) and the titular blonde (who inhabits that rare zone between psycho and psychotically sexy).
And if you thought "call me Ishmael" was a great opening line, wait till you read the first ...more
Remember Scorcese's film After Hours, this is sort of like that but with more blood. One night in Philadelphia, everything goes wrong, between a hitman (who carries a head in a bag), a reporter (who cant buy a break) and the titular blonde (who inhabits that rare zone between psycho and psychotically sexy).
And if you thought "call me Ishmael" was a great opening line, wait till you read the first ...more
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Read in February, 2008
Some books strive to transcend their genres by bring new concepts to the genre. This book is not one of those. Instead this is a book that transcends it’s genre by simply being everything the genre is suppose to be. There’s excitement, umor,likable characters, violence galore, and some clever twists to keep things fresh. The pace never bogs down and never lets up. A thrill from start to finish…what more can you ask from a thriller?
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Tania at I Love a Great Mystery http://www.iloveagoodmystery.c... says this: "THE BLONDE by one of my favourite authors, Duane Swierczynski, is truly fantastic. It's fast-paced, funny, dark, and wonderfully weird and unique. No cookie cutter aspects here. It's a great installment in what I'm sure will end up being an impressive body of work. I only wish he'd write faster!"
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A crime novel that takes place in the same "universe" as The Wheelman. That universe being Philadelphia. With elements of sci-fi, a pure evil bad dude, and red pubic hair. Kowalski is this book's badass, taking the place of the character Lennon in The Wheelman.
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This reminded me somewhat of the Julie Kenner Play.Win.Survive trilogy (except not as good!)...
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Read in March, 2008
Meh. What should have been a brainless, stylized action-y type thing in the Charlie Huston category was just brainless. LIke reading The Transporter script minus all that depth.
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Read in January, 2008
Quick read. One of those books you pick up inbetween books that are pretty mind taxing. Ok mystery. Didn't learn anything from it - just a mindless read.
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