I started reading this and absolutely hated the narrator and her letters to Franklin which did not seem to me like a letter any person would ever writ...moreI started reading this and absolutely hated the narrator and her letters to Franklin which did not seem to me like a letter any person would ever write. I got through the first 2 letters with great difficulty and then flicked ahead to see if it was like this all the way. Seeing it was, I quit. (less)
Well I got about half way through when I decided I didn't really care what happened to any of the people in this story. So the narrative holding it tog...moreWell I got about half way through when I decided I didn't really care what happened to any of the people in this story. So the narrative holding it together was pointless continuing with so I thought maybe I should read the short stories and be done with it. After reading one too many of these short stories that were clearly intended for shock-value and not much else I gave up. This book could possibly be enjoyed by immature teenage boys who like being grossed out.(less)
Couldn't get into it. Read about 70 pages and it was just like reading a university report on Australia. Mildly amusing in parts but not funny or inte...moreCouldn't get into it. Read about 70 pages and it was just like reading a university report on Australia. Mildly amusing in parts but not funny or interesting enough to hold my interest.(less)
OK. So I read The Plague recently and I could not help but notice that this was a complete knock-off of that book. Except Blindness wasn't interesting...moreOK. So I read The Plague recently and I could not help but notice that this was a complete knock-off of that book. Except Blindness wasn't interesting at all. I got about half way through and I just gave up. After half way into a novel I would expect to have some kind of character development. Saramago gave me NO feel for the characters, I didn't even know their names! I was actually hoping that the soldiers ran in and shot all the blind people because this book was that boring. So that was the first three problems, it had been done before, it was not interesting and there was no character development. If this all wasn't bad enough, Mr Saramago doesn't seem to want to use punctuation. What a dribbling mess. I know you are trying to be arty and clever Jose but seriously, just tell me the story clearly! I don't know much about the Nobel prize but if they awarded it to this book then at least I know I can steer clear of any books with that rubber stamp on them. I don't know what happens at the end and I really don't care. (less)
OK. I am about half way through and I just can't read this anymore. I have no idea how Joseph Wambaugh managed to make such an interesting story so BO...moreOK. I am about half way through and I just can't read this anymore. I have no idea how Joseph Wambaugh managed to make such an interesting story so BORING!!!!
That is a talent right there. I normally love true crime so this was a major disappointment. As with the comparisons with In Cold Blood. Forgeddaboudit, Capote runs rings around this clown. He should stick to being a detective.
I was curious to how this story played out but could not be bothered to take the long Wambaugh way to hear it so just had a look on Wikipedia.
After reading the synopsis I realise this would have been a much better story if Wambaugh focussed the story around ONE protagonist (Karl Hettinger) and not with all these different points of view that makes the story a frustrating read.
I would have been more interested to read this story with more emphasis on Karl and less on the criminals, Ian Campbell, Pierce Booth, etc etc.
I agree with the sentiment and the whole idea this book is about but reading it is like being beaten over the head with a short plank. It was the same...moreI agree with the sentiment and the whole idea this book is about but reading it is like being beaten over the head with a short plank. It was the same thing and the same point being made over and over and over and over and over and over...you get my point.(less)
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