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October/November Group Read: Six Years, by Harlan Coben
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I'm glad you like it, Skye! Actually, truth be told, I don't really care for Harlan Coben. But that's just me.
I feel the same; I tried one book a long time ago, and it didn't hold my interest. What do you think of the other novel.
Mod
I probably won't be reading that one either -- not a big Block fan. But that's okay -- btw, the :) was for you. You always make me smile.
I am not sure if I will or not----so many other books piling up that I need to read:)
I will give this one a try, I have only read one other Coben book, that was Tell No one, which I enjoyed. Not going to bother with the other book as it is the 10th in a series I think. My nomination came 4th will I be able to nominate it again for December?
Mod
Of course!
I will too - I have enjoyed most Harlan Coben's that I have read - just not the really sporty ones...(I am a couch potato!)8:D
I think I might join in as well. I picked this book up a few months ago. I have a lot of Harlan Coben books but have yet to read any of them. Looking forward to this.
Place hold at my library, I am looking forward to this.
Six Years is my first book of Harlan Coben. I had got a few books of his a last year but did not start any. Thanks for inspiring me to start Six Years. I started this today and I find it has a fast pace and I am enjoying this.
Mod
Mod
I LOVE hearing that people are happy to be here!!
(Where's my ambassador of happiness when I need her??)
Just started this book today abd devoured half of it in just two lates while on the bus (short weekend). I can't wait to know how it ends and I hope I won't be disappointed!
Sincerely regret having sponsored this book. This was on my to-read list for a long time and never got deleted because it came with such great recommendations. I just finished it and I feel I totally wasted my precious reading time. Rarely is there a book where I don't like anything. It has a really unbelievable plot, is very badly researched and the writing is so bad that apart from platitudes there is basically no writing. Characters are badly drawn and I can't say I cared for a single one. And don't even get me going about the ending - total and utter rubbish. Can't say I let Coben waste my reading time again.
Mod
You didn't nominate it, Gisela!
The beginning hooked me but I did find myself losing interest and patience as the story unfolded. Coben has a fast-paced writing style and I enjoyed the self-deprecating way the protagonist told the story, but ... An easy read with a somewhat predictable ending.
A fast paced one. There are lot of twists and turns - some of them unbelievable. It is great for the days when the weather is so gloomy and it is raining incessantly. I read this at a time like this and I enjoyed it.
I have yet to read this one, but have enjoyed other Coben books. Unsure if I am going to try it or not.
This is next in my pile......I too have enjoyed other Coben books. Give it a go Britney...nothing to lose! 8:D
True, there are too many unbelievable things, but I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in less than 4 hours, so I can say it got my attention. Of course, it also means that it was just an easy read. I would recommend it for those who are looking for a bit of entertainment while leaving your brain waiting for the next proper book in some other room.I liked the twists and turns and I agree with Viji that some of them are just a strech.
First book I've read by Coben. At beginning had my interest, but I quickly became bored with implausible plot twists. Glad to be part of the group though.
Mod
Nancy, I'm 100% with you. Plus the "gee-whiz" asides.
I have started this book, and so far the beginning is meh to me. Not enough to make me quit reading, but not exactly a page turner for me.The protagonist is coming across as a bit 'stalker-y' to me, I will have to see how this turns out.
Note: It is my first Corben
Six Years by Harlan CobenMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
This novel was supposed to explore the depth and passion of a lost love . . . and the secrets and lies at its heart. Six years have passed since Jake Fisher watched Natalie, the love of his life, marry another man.But six years haven’t come close to extinguishing his feelings, and when Jake comes across Todd’s obituary, he can’t keep himself away from the funeral. There he gets the glimpse of Todd’s wife he’s hoping for . . . but she is not Natalie. Whoever the mourning widow is, she’s been married to Todd for more than a decade, and with that fact everything Jake thought he knew about the best time of his life is turned completely inside out. Mutual friends of the couple either can’t be found or don’t remember Jake. No one has seen Natalie in years. Jake’s search for the woman who broke his heart—and who lied to him—soon puts his very life at risk.
This could have been, and should have been, a good book. It's not.
Six Yearsis poorly written; the writing is leaden and uninspired, and instead of using suspense (this is meant to be a suspense thriller) he uses violence. If there was a "writing by numbers" kit - this would be the result.
It's about as suspenseful as a child's early reader - in fact Enid Blyton's The Famous Five Series and The Secret Seven have far more to recommend them.
Another Did Not Finish (two in a row for Coben books now), and I will be in no hurry to read anything else he has written.
View all my reviews
not sure why, but about half way in and I find myself intrigued enough to find out what is going on. After a slow start, I will finish this book.
Now I have finished it, 2 stars. The ending was lackluster.
Daniel (Devourer of Books) wrote: "Now I have finished it, 2 stars. The ending was lackluster."I am glad I gave up when I did then Daniel. 8:D
Daniel (Devourer of Books) wrote: "I have started this book, and so far the beginning is meh to me. Not enough to make me quit reading, but not exactly a page turner for me.The protagonist is coming across as a bit 'stalker-y' to ..."
Good point. I thought that too, but a university professor "after only a few years" who behaves like a love-sick 16 year old, which of course doesn't stop him from being the "The Hunk" around town!
I have been reading Coben's novels for years. I prefer his standalone novels to the Myron Bolitar series. Six Years is one of his better novels. Professor Jake Fisher had fallen in love with an artist named Natalie while he was at an author's retreat and she at an artist's retreat. They were madly and passionately in love but suddenly Natalie dumps him and marries a supposed ex-boyfriend. Jake attends the wedding of Natalie and Todd following which in a brief encounter Natalie makes him promise that he will never try to contact them ever. Jake keeps this promise for six years but then he sees a notice that Todd has died. He decides to attend the funeral to see Natalie again. He is flabbergasted when he discovers that Todd has been married for 20 years, has two teenage children and the widow is not Natalie.This sets Jake in motion as he tries to unravel the mystery and find Natalie. Plot twist follows plot twist as Jake discovers bits and pieces of info which lead to the heart of a great cover up involving not just Natalie but numerous others including other people prominent in Jake's life.
A great read. Highly recommended
Just started it. This is my first Coben book but based on others comments he seems to be well established and respected in this genre. For some reason, I can't help but feel that this book feels like it was written as a "rush job" and not thought all the way through. Some of narrative is a bit lackluster, but I haven't really gotten to the crux of the mystery, so maybe my opinion will change.
There are some Harlen Coben novels (the stand-alones and a couple from the Myron Bolitar series) that I have absolutely enjoyed. His recent stand-alones, however, have been over-wrought and, I think, highly sentimentalized. That's how this one felt. Improbable, irritating, and ill-devised. It will take some convincing to get me to read another of his books.
Ugh. I can't remember why I keep reading Harlan Coben's novels. Maybe because he's Harlan Coben. Perhaps part of his fame and readership comes from the fact that he has male characters who actually have feelings. If those feelings were expressed in anything other than a goofy, gee-whiz tongue-in-cheek manner, then maybe Coben could get away with it. There are so many things about the novel that are very good: I did enjoy the plot twists, and though some have complained that those twists are all contrived, I feel like one has to give some kind of leeway when talking about thrillers and mysteries. If some parts of them weren't contrived, there wouldn't be a lot happening. But as I said, what draws away from the character development and the tapestry of relationships are the annoying "she noticed me staring at her boobs" fraternity commentary that leaves me wondering if maybe Coben's editor stuck some stuff in to make Jake look just enough like an average male to pass.
If this is what happened, then he must have the same editor for each book: I have yet to read one without the painful asides.
I have to agree with a lot of the other opinions here. I was really interested in the beginning of the book but when things started to become clear around the second half I began to lose interest. The ending was definitely too perfect for my liking and I'll agree that something seemed a little "off" about Jake. I did love the writing style, it was very easy to fall into and the mystery in the beginning had me quickly turning the pages. This was the first Harlan Coben book that I've read and I am interested to read more of his books. (Which is good because I own a lot of them ;)My final rating was 3/5 stars.
This is not one of my favorite Harlen Coben books. Rated it 3/5. It felt like a sappy love story about guy who can't let go even after 6 years. Jake invades a lot of people's privacy and rights but....gets the girl in the end. Meh.
I've read this book awhile ago and thought it was pretty good. I love Harlan Coben and have read all of his books.
I am a bit late to the party on this one, though we are still in November and I have started reading this one today. Anybody else reading this late in the month?
I'm almost finished, but am pretty underwhelmed truth be told. I think the narrator is a big part of the problem. Just don't see his logic and he seems quite obsessive. I agree with those who described this as "sappy."
I have to agree with Amanda above. This was my 2nd Coben book and I sped through the 1st half as I wanted to figure out what was happening, but the latter stages of the book became tedious and obvious. I may try a couple more of his books as I have not totally given up on him yet.
Cassie will be the discussion leader.