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erinnejc's review against another edition
2.0
I looked forward to reading this book as most of the reviews have been great, sadly it didn't do it for me. I found the plot lacking and the characters not likeable. Sadly it did not hold my interest.
par4dox's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly conventional story with some interesting mood and imagery.
dantastic's review against another edition
5.0
When terminally ill mob thug Roy Cady is instructed to do a job without taking bringing a gun, he gets suspicious. The situation goes south and soon Roy is on the run with a packet of important papers and an 18 year old sex kitten named Rocky. What will kill Roy first? The cancer or the mob?
Like everyone reading Galveston these days, I love HBO's True Detective, the best thing since sliced Breaking Bad. I'd planned to wait until the series wrapped before reading it but I finally said piss on it. Why kill time reading something else when I've got Galveston at my fingertips?
Fans of True Detective won't be disappointed. Galveston is a noir detective tale but it's also a story about getting older and looking death in the face. As he runs with Rocky and her sister TIffany in tow, Roy is forced to think back on all the mistakes he's made. Not to say it's still not a crime book. It very much is, from the job at the beginning to Roy protecting his charges to some stomach churning brutality near the end.
There are a few things Galveston has in common with True Detective and it's clear Pizzolatto had his masterpiece in mind even while he was working on Galveston, the scoundrel. Cady has an army of soldiers on his coffee table made from spent Miller High Life cans on his coffee table. He also ponders the nature of stories, time, and death a fair amount. There's also another element that they have in common but I'm not going to spoil that one.
Roy is something of a beer can philosopher akin to Pizzolatto's later creation, Rustin Cohle. He has quite a few quotable lines, most of which deal with getting older. "The last new song you liked came out a long, long time ago, and the radio never plays it anymore."
Roy's relationship with Rocky and Tiffany does a lot to show what a nuanced character he is, with his conflicted feelings about Rocky and love for her sister (or is it daughter) Tiffany. All the lead characters are completely different people by the end of the novel. The ending almost squeezed a few man tears out of me but I manned up and powered through it.
True Detective fans, have no fear. Galveston will be the methadone to your True Detective heroin. Five out of five stars.
Like everyone reading Galveston these days, I love HBO's True Detective, the best thing since sliced Breaking Bad. I'd planned to wait until the series wrapped before reading it but I finally said piss on it. Why kill time reading something else when I've got Galveston at my fingertips?
Fans of True Detective won't be disappointed. Galveston is a noir detective tale but it's also a story about getting older and looking death in the face. As he runs with Rocky and her sister TIffany in tow, Roy is forced to think back on all the mistakes he's made. Not to say it's still not a crime book. It very much is, from the job at the beginning to Roy protecting his charges to some stomach churning brutality near the end.
There are a few things Galveston has in common with True Detective and it's clear Pizzolatto had his masterpiece in mind even while he was working on Galveston, the scoundrel. Cady has an army of soldiers on his coffee table made from spent Miller High Life cans on his coffee table. He also ponders the nature of stories, time, and death a fair amount. There's also another element that they have in common but I'm not going to spoil that one.
Roy is something of a beer can philosopher akin to Pizzolatto's later creation, Rustin Cohle. He has quite a few quotable lines, most of which deal with getting older. "The last new song you liked came out a long, long time ago, and the radio never plays it anymore."
Roy's relationship with Rocky and Tiffany does a lot to show what a nuanced character he is, with his conflicted feelings about Rocky and love for her sister (or is it daughter) Tiffany. All the lead characters are completely different people by the end of the novel. The ending almost squeezed a few man tears out of me but I manned up and powered through it.
True Detective fans, have no fear. Galveston will be the methadone to your True Detective heroin. Five out of five stars.
megancm's review against another edition
4.0
Violent, sad and a little slow...but beautifully written. Worth sticking through till the end.
sandin954's review against another edition
4.0
A very assured debut crime novel that was nominated for an Edgar for best first. From the first disc I was drawn into the dark and violent world of Roy Cady. Listened to the audio version read by Michael Kramer whose gravelly style was a perfect match for the story.
jeffmauch's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, the was one I just couldn't put down. This is a hell of a book for a debut novel and I can definitely see how just a few years later he would sell, write, and produce True Detective for HBO. Two people running from their pasts who become very unlikely travel partners. It was gritty and immersive to the point you felt you were right there with Roy and Rocky from start to finish. Both characters had a kindness and innocence that glimmered through the very crusty and questionable lives and occupations that defined them. . An instant favorite here.
jsalvachua's review against another edition
La verdad que un poco flojo. Esperaba más de él.
Le queda aún un recorrido para ser un buen novelista de novela negra (aunque apunta maneras).
Le queda aún un recorrido para ser un buen novelista de novela negra (aunque apunta maneras).
donaldinho's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Maybe not 5 stars, but somehow 4 didn't seem to do it justice. Well, 'tis the season after all.
remlezar's review against another edition
5.0
Compulsively readable and ridiculously well written, Galveston is about as close to the perfect crime novel as I can imagine. Fans of True Detective will be interested to see the storytelling techniques present in the novel that Pizzolatto also used in the show. Honestly, I can't decide whether I'd prefer him to make five more seasons of his show, or get back to writing books. He is a rare talent.
marlak91's review against another edition
5.0
This book stuck with me for weeks after I read it. The writing style was very simple (in a good way) but the story itself had so many twists and turns. The firs-person narrative was so incredibly human but no-nonsense. The characters were all so real, I felt like I knew them while I was reading. The simple prose is beautiful.
I will warn you, the book is very graphic. Like I said, the book (and the violence described) sticks with you for a long time after you finish reading.
If you watched True Detective you'll love this novel. It's very different from the show though. The only place I really saw similarities was in the darkness and the minute character details. Regardless....you should definitely read it.
I will warn you, the book is very graphic. Like I said, the book (and the violence described) sticks with you for a long time after you finish reading.
If you watched True Detective you'll love this novel. It's very different from the show though. The only place I really saw similarities was in the darkness and the minute character details. Regardless....you should definitely read it.