Thunderhead by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Thunderhead
Book Review: Dunder Head
Summary: 4 Stars
I ripped right through this page turner, but it was very formulaic and had some weak points. First, the 'hero' is an anal-retentive selfish fool. The 'romances' in the book are contrived and lead nowhere. The premise that a bunch of archeologists would get gold fever was unnecessary and made the book seem dumber. The 'flash flood' would have gone in the direction of the lake, but due to a plot device, it went backwards to force the 'hero' back to the camp. Otherwise, the venue is pretty original and the pacing is good. I sort of liked it.Book Review: Dunderhead....
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, when this book began it started off pretty good with Nora Kelly finding the letter from her father and all that stuff but it steadily slowed down. The middle of the book dragged on with some unneeded things happening. Overall, I like this book though. I love Douglas Preston and this is certainly not the last book of his I will be reading. The ending was great, but it was sad that so many people had to die before the book was over. I would recommnd this book to anyone, I myself am just a little impatient to wait for the climax. :)Book Review: Engaging and fast-paced
Summary: 4 Stars
As a lifelong aficionado of the Southwestern US and having sought out many of its lost, secret and hidden spaces, I picked up this book after reading the synopsis on the back, and wasn't disappointed. The authors describe and develop a credible landscape to the northwest of Lake Powell (that the USGS maps of the region may suggest but don't entirely confirm...) and present a relatively well-researched treatise of the Skinwalker mythology (or is it?) of the local tribes. Most intriguing was the eponymous 'Thunderhead', which indeed served as this page-turner's protagonist, and the plot developed much as a metaphorical thunderhead, building to its zenith, then letting loose its wrath. All in all, I'd say it was well worth the price of a paperback.Book Review: Entertaining Hollywood-ish Fiction
Summary: 3 Stars
Preston and Child provide an entertaining read, combining historical fact with fiction. There were slow parts which I found myself skimming over, and the book is not tightly pulled together, but this is consistent with their other books. Also consistent with their other books is the overly dramatic depiction of action scenes, especially in the end, where everything is resolved in Hollywood-ish leave-with-a-bang fashion. It's as if Preston and Child were writing with the knowledge that their book would be translated to the big screen. (Remember "The Relic"?) I wouldn't be surprised if "Thunderhead" were eventually brought to the big screen; it certainly has the right mix of horror, action, thriller, mystery, and even the one gratuitous sex scene.The scenic images the authors paint certainly leave an indelible impression. Combined with the detailed historical facts woven throughout the book, you will most certainly feel the awe and excitement the fictional archaelogists feel in their search for the ancient city of Quivira. You can practically taste the dry dust and feel the soreness from horseback riding through the canyons for days.
If you're looking for entertainment value, "Thunderhead" definitely satisfies.
Book Review: Entertaining.....but not 5 star entertaining. (3.5 stars)
Summary: 3 Stars
While I did enjoy reading this book, I have trouble understading how it can command a nearly 5 star rating after roughly 200 reviews. The plot is interesting, the story well written, and I did keep turning the pages. Why did I only give it 3 stars then...? It's hard to put my finger on it exactly. Overall this book, like the others I've read by these two, was enjoyable yet lacking....something. The twists, turns, and surprises weren't (by any means) earth-shattering. I guess you could say that when some new revelation came to light or the logic of some mystery was revealed, it was more "wow" as opposed to "WOW."
Though I am not trying to deter anyone from reading this book (it was entertaining and well written), it is not worthy of a 5 star rating, IMO.
I've read 5 of P&C's books now (Riptide, Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life With Crows, Brimstone, Thunderhead) and I would rate Still Life With Crows at the top. Cabinet of Curiosities would have been at the top if the ending was as good as the rest of the story.