scarlettsims's review
3.0
Still catching up on reviewing books I read last year.
Anyway, the story of DB Cooper is a fascinating one, and if the only thing you know about it is a quick paragraph on a Buzzfeed listicle, I highly recommend going more in-depth into it.
The problem is, throughout the whole book, which detailed the author's search for the real DB Cooper, I knew what the ending would be. This is still an open, unsolved case, and though there are people to whom evidence might point more strongly, we still just don't know, which is a bit disappointing.
Anyway, the story of DB Cooper is a fascinating one, and if the only thing you know about it is a quick paragraph on a Buzzfeed listicle, I highly recommend going more in-depth into it.
The problem is, throughout the whole book, which detailed the author's search for the real DB Cooper, I knew what the ending would be. This is still an open, unsolved case, and though there are people to whom evidence might point more strongly, we still just don't know, which is a bit disappointing.
hekate24's review against another edition
4.0
This is what I "read" for audiobook category in the 2015 Read Harder challenge.
One of the things that's interesting about taking on this challenge is how I keep book's 'category' in the back of mind as I consume the work. Case in point, I had Skyjack playing as I made a road trip. I suspect it might be tedious to read; lots of reviewers seem to be expressing frustration with the narrative jumping across time and place, going from subject to subject. Now, for me personally, I never really mind this approach. But I found that it was expressly welcome as I drove. Rather than blending into the background, the frequently shifting topics kept me very alert. During an hour of this presentation I could learn quite a lot about the shifting political approaches to skyjacking, the process of sex reassignment surgery in the 70s, and the present day culture of D. B. Cooper websleuths. Sometimes I had to scramble to remember who was who, but I was never bored. This book almost never felt like it was droning on.
That being said, the first 70% or so is much stronger than the latter parts. The minute-by-minute recreation of the actual hijacking is fascinating, and really puts the reader into the mindset of law enforcement, stewardesses, and pilots. The three showcased suspects are a fascinating bunch, too. Even if some of them feel like crackpot theories, you get to see a slice of three very different American experiences. This is also another book that focuses on the theme of obsession with an unsolved crime, and what that does to people. Sadly, the scientists that Gray pals around with in the last few chapters... just aren't that interesting. It was actually so tedious that I shifted from thinking "haha this book rules!" to thinking "oh god when will this book be over."
Still, this was a fun experience overall.
One of the things that's interesting about taking on this challenge is how I keep book's 'category' in the back of mind as I consume the work. Case in point, I had Skyjack playing as I made a road trip. I suspect it might be tedious to read; lots of reviewers seem to be expressing frustration with the narrative jumping across time and place, going from subject to subject. Now, for me personally, I never really mind this approach. But I found that it was expressly welcome as I drove. Rather than blending into the background, the frequently shifting topics kept me very alert. During an hour of this presentation I could learn quite a lot about the shifting political approaches to skyjacking, the process of sex reassignment surgery in the 70s, and the present day culture of D. B. Cooper websleuths. Sometimes I had to scramble to remember who was who, but I was never bored. This book almost never felt like it was droning on.
That being said, the first 70% or so is much stronger than the latter parts. The minute-by-minute recreation of the actual hijacking is fascinating, and really puts the reader into the mindset of law enforcement, stewardesses, and pilots. The three showcased suspects are a fascinating bunch, too. Even if some of them feel like crackpot theories, you get to see a slice of three very different American experiences. This is also another book that focuses on the theme of obsession with an unsolved crime, and what that does to people. Sadly, the scientists that Gray pals around with in the last few chapters... just aren't that interesting. It was actually so tedious that I shifted from thinking "haha this book rules!" to thinking "oh god when will this book be over."
Still, this was a fun experience overall.
aundie27's review against another edition
2.0
This audiobook was something I grabbed as I headed off on a roadtrip from Seattle to San Francisco. I didn't know much about DB Cooper, and actually thought he'd done far more than hijack one plane.
First off, while listening I wasn't put off by the narrator, but rather wished that it had been narrated by a frat boy. Perhaps it would be his first run-through of it too, so he'd be mispronouncing words, stumbling over place names, and occasionally chuckling and yelling out "alright, bro". I can tell you this would be great because I did it myself for my passengers and we agreed it was an improvement.
We didn't really like this book much. It was interesting to listen to at first, and also because we were driving between CA and WA, but other than that it was just a bunch of dead ends. I realize this never was solved, but all of the hypotheses and ideas rambling all over were sort of frustrating. I suppose I'd rather read about or listen to one or two ideas.
First off, while listening I wasn't put off by the narrator, but rather wished that it had been narrated by a frat boy. Perhaps it would be his first run-through of it too, so he'd be mispronouncing words, stumbling over place names, and occasionally chuckling and yelling out "alright, bro". I can tell you this would be great because I did it myself for my passengers and we agreed it was an improvement.
We didn't really like this book much. It was interesting to listen to at first, and also because we were driving between CA and WA, but other than that it was just a bunch of dead ends. I realize this never was solved, but all of the hypotheses and ideas rambling all over were sort of frustrating. I suppose I'd rather read about or listen to one or two ideas.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
4.0
Who was D. B. Cooper?
Songs have been written about him. Stories told about him.
But who was this man, this man who hijacked a plane and bailed out over the Pacific Northwest, with $200,000 in ransom money?
Geoffrey Gray is determined to find out.
Gray sets out in search of this mysterious Robin Hood figure and, in the process, consults a former-stewardess-turned-nun, the boy-now-man who found some of the ransom money, the widow of a man who claimed he was Cooper on his deathbed, and many more odd and intriguing characters.
You'll love to take this trip with Gray, so much that you won't even mind if Gray doesn't find out Cooper's identity.
Thank you to the publisher for this lovely review copy.
Songs have been written about him. Stories told about him.
But who was this man, this man who hijacked a plane and bailed out over the Pacific Northwest, with $200,000 in ransom money?
Geoffrey Gray is determined to find out.
Gray sets out in search of this mysterious Robin Hood figure and, in the process, consults a former-stewardess-turned-nun, the boy-now-man who found some of the ransom money, the widow of a man who claimed he was Cooper on his deathbed, and many more odd and intriguing characters.
You'll love to take this trip with Gray, so much that you won't even mind if Gray doesn't find out Cooper's identity.
Thank you to the publisher for this lovely review copy.
lisag's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
I dislike this book a surprising amount for a subject I’m extremely interested in.
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