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Animal Kingdom
Based on the critically acclaimed film written and directed by David Michod.
233 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 6, 2013
This is not a bad book, the story is good, but I didn't like the author's style. And, as most film novelisation are, it's not as good as the film. It's testament to the great performances of Ben Mendelsohn and Jackie Weaver as Pope and Smurf, rather than the author's skill, that I couldn't read this book without seeing & hearing them in my mind, and I think that has made me give the book a higher rating than I otherwise might have.
October 3, 2015
Sure I can read that in the reviews quite few people have called it crap. But enter the world of crime and live in it either for real, on the edge of it or deal with it in your daily life as part of what you do and the writing takes on quality that is very real. The language to me is as if the writer is actually witness to this life that is written about as the main character and expresses it from a perspective quality that reflects growing up with a heroin addict mother and then being tossed into a social demographic at the age the main character is that requires survival and adaptation.
I gave the stars I did because as a written work it reflects the mind set and emotional grasp of the narrator/main character.
It is a writing style that utilized by the author tells the story through the eyes of J. Not often a story is told from a film. Usually the written work proceeds the visual media representation.
There is of course the opportunity to rewrite the story with an entirely different style.
That would be interesting. I bought this book at the local Op shop for 25 cents for something to read while on a self designated retreat on an isolated beach camp for several months. I considered it a real diamond.
I gave the stars I did because as a written work it reflects the mind set and emotional grasp of the narrator/main character.
It is a writing style that utilized by the author tells the story through the eyes of J. Not often a story is told from a film. Usually the written work proceeds the visual media representation.
There is of course the opportunity to rewrite the story with an entirely different style.
That would be interesting. I bought this book at the local Op shop for 25 cents for something to read while on a self designated retreat on an isolated beach camp for several months. I considered it a real diamond.
November 16, 2024
This really is one you need to read before watching the movie or series. As seems to be the general feeling among other reviewers, it’s difficult not to picture the actors and actresses we’ve seen take on these characters rather than developing our own imagery based off the writing, and this has possibly influenced a higher rating than I would give otherwise.
The writing wasn’t bad, just not my sort of style. I didn’t find myself excited by this book and only really read through to the end to see just how different it was from what I’ve watched already.
The writing wasn’t bad, just not my sort of style. I didn’t find myself excited by this book and only really read through to the end to see just how different it was from what I’ve watched already.
November 8, 2013
The novelisation of the Australian crime film noir ANIMAL KINGDOM lacks depth and style, reading more like a screen-play than fully fleshed novel.
The concept far outweighed the execution. Sewell's adaptation could've resulted in a great and memorable piece of Australian crime fiction if only the author had neglected to adopt the James Patterson lack of explicit detail and two dimensional characterisation approach to writing this violent and bloody tale.
J, a 17yr old has led a rough life. With no father figure for guidance and a drug addict for a mother, his only form of solace lies with girlfriend Nicky. Needing a place to call home after his mothers death he finds a roof over his head and a mountain of bad baggage when he bunks with his extended and criminally renowned family.
Smurf, is a Ma Baker type who doesn't bat an eyelid at her sons criminal enterprises. Darren, Pope, Baz, and Craig are all young men with hardened careers on the wrong side of the thin blue line who at once welcome and segregate J to their way of life. Made to fell like an outcast, forced to don a foreign persona, threatened with loosing his girlfriend, and in fear of his life, J feels the full gambit of emotions as life as a Cody boy.
Somehow author Stephen Sewell manages to instill some redeeming qualities in the young Cody criminal-by-association teen taking the reader on a journey (all be it all too brief) to self realisation and growth as his comes to terms with his predicament.
I haven't watch the film this novel was adapted from but hope it comes across with more character detail and overall depth. Despite some fragmented sequences and the obvious shortcomings, I did enjoy the story of this Aussie crime family and the pure brutality certain characters endured - there were glimpses of good.
If you're looking for a family crime drama without a lot of substance that is quick and easy to read then check out ANIMAL KINGDOM. However, for more serious readers, I'd suggest Tom Piccirilli's THE LAST KIND WORDS and THE LAST WHISPER IN THE DARK - both books have the same feel, done right.
This getss 2.5 stars for me.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
The concept far outweighed the execution. Sewell's adaptation could've resulted in a great and memorable piece of Australian crime fiction if only the author had neglected to adopt the James Patterson lack of explicit detail and two dimensional characterisation approach to writing this violent and bloody tale.
J, a 17yr old has led a rough life. With no father figure for guidance and a drug addict for a mother, his only form of solace lies with girlfriend Nicky. Needing a place to call home after his mothers death he finds a roof over his head and a mountain of bad baggage when he bunks with his extended and criminally renowned family.
Smurf, is a Ma Baker type who doesn't bat an eyelid at her sons criminal enterprises. Darren, Pope, Baz, and Craig are all young men with hardened careers on the wrong side of the thin blue line who at once welcome and segregate J to their way of life. Made to fell like an outcast, forced to don a foreign persona, threatened with loosing his girlfriend, and in fear of his life, J feels the full gambit of emotions as life as a Cody boy.
Somehow author Stephen Sewell manages to instill some redeeming qualities in the young Cody criminal-by-association teen taking the reader on a journey (all be it all too brief) to self realisation and growth as his comes to terms with his predicament.
I haven't watch the film this novel was adapted from but hope it comes across with more character detail and overall depth. Despite some fragmented sequences and the obvious shortcomings, I did enjoy the story of this Aussie crime family and the pure brutality certain characters endured - there were glimpses of good.
If you're looking for a family crime drama without a lot of substance that is quick and easy to read then check out ANIMAL KINGDOM. However, for more serious readers, I'd suggest Tom Piccirilli's THE LAST KIND WORDS and THE LAST WHISPER IN THE DARK - both books have the same feel, done right.
This getss 2.5 stars for me.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
September 29, 2013
As a book based on a movie it always had the potential to be dodgy and, well, it was. Something of an underbelly wannabe with characters whose parallels to certain high profile crime personas was evident. I found the central character J to be severely underdeveloped and I would probably have found the screenplay for the movie to be a better read.
December 3, 2013
J lives on the fringe of his criminal family until his mother dies and he goes to live with his grandmother and uncles, the heart of a major criminal family. Will J be able to resist becoming involved in the familiy's criminal and violent life style? This is a book written about a film. WHY? It is simplistic, no depth, and poorly written.
May 22, 2014
Having not seen the movie, which came highly recommended, I expected more of this book. I found it slow and uninspiring for the most part but just as I was about to give up, the story took an interesting turn. I ended up enjoying the story but wasn't impressed with the writing. I will give the movie a go and see if it's been portrayed better on screen.
February 6, 2011
One of the dullest books I've ever read. If I could have given this 1/2 a star or less I would have. The plot was tardy and hackneyed. The characterization was far too shallow for my liking. All in all it read like a very cheap TV drama that we've all seen time and time again.
March 24, 2016
I have not seen the movie but can see why the movie has such good reviews. This book reads like a summary of the movie. The development of characters is not covered well, the violence is mentioned not described and the corruption of the police is just to obvious.
April 13, 2011
I have not seen the movie but this book is crap. I think it was written to get the movie people suckered in. Disapointed beyond belief!
April 23, 2012
At least it was very quick to read.
Not to my taste at all. I don't know what my book club were thinking when they chose this one.
Not to my taste at all. I don't know what my book club were thinking when they chose this one.
September 17, 2012
Book and movie absolute garbage.
March 8, 2013
Not a bad story, unfortunately not much depth and very short.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews