bookapotamus's review against another edition
3.0
So, I might be in the unpopular opinion minority of this one. Sorry friends. I'm not too big on conspiracy theories or historically heavy fiction, but I love thrillers and mysteries. So, I thought I'd give it a go. It wasn't a terrible book, but I just left feeling - well, meh. That about sums up my feelings - might just be a case of 'not the book for me.'
The story starts in New Orleans (I listened to the audiobook for this one- and oh boy do I love me a NOLA accent!) and Kennedy's assassination is just hitting the news - it's a rough time for the country and in particular, the few character we follow in this story. Frank Guidry is a mobster, who is someone connected to the murder of the president. He needs to get out of New Orleans immediately or face his own demise. Charlotte, a housewife, in Oklahoma, is desperate to leave her drunk husband and take her little girls to somewhere a better life for them all may await. The chance meeting of these two different characters is the best part of the story, but it all is a bit ho-hum to me. I felt a bit bored in some parts and wished there had been some more excitement.
We also follow snippets of Barone's journey, a henchman for the mob boss Carlo Marcello - tasked by Carlo to find Guidry on the run. The chase is clever, although some things come across to me as being a bit silly, and the love story - a tad unbelievable and somewhat forced. But the ear is brilliantly described with that old Hollywood mob movie feel, and I can imagine it made into a black and white movie for fans of those types of stories - mobsters and crime, love and betrayal.
It was a fairly solid story and the flow of their journey mapped out pretty well. You root for Charlotte to find her future, for both her and her children, and it's fun to see if Frank will get caught. A bit safe for me, a tad slow, but fans of these types of conspiracy and historical fiction books, I imagine will love the story.
The story starts in New Orleans (I listened to the audiobook for this one- and oh boy do I love me a NOLA accent!) and Kennedy's assassination is just hitting the news - it's a rough time for the country and in particular, the few character we follow in this story. Frank Guidry is a mobster, who is someone connected to the murder of the president. He needs to get out of New Orleans immediately or face his own demise. Charlotte, a housewife, in Oklahoma, is desperate to leave her drunk husband and take her little girls to somewhere a better life for them all may await. The chance meeting of these two different characters is the best part of the story, but it all is a bit ho-hum to me. I felt a bit bored in some parts and wished there had been some more excitement.
We also follow snippets of Barone's journey, a henchman for the mob boss Carlo Marcello - tasked by Carlo to find Guidry on the run. The chase is clever, although some things come across to me as being a bit silly, and the love story - a tad unbelievable and somewhat forced. But the ear is brilliantly described with that old Hollywood mob movie feel, and I can imagine it made into a black and white movie for fans of those types of stories - mobsters and crime, love and betrayal.
It was a fairly solid story and the flow of their journey mapped out pretty well. You root for Charlotte to find her future, for both her and her children, and it's fun to see if Frank will get caught. A bit safe for me, a tad slow, but fans of these types of conspiracy and historical fiction books, I imagine will love the story.
yoteach87's review against another edition
4.0
November Road is a quick read centered around an alternative theory to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Rather than buy the idea of a single gunman, in author Lou Berney's world Kennedy is killed by an elaborately constructed mafia-like hit. After the deed is done however, head boss Carlos wants to get rid of all the lose ends and take out everyone involved, including protagonist Frank.
I love gangster books. I didn't know I did until breaking into the genre with Dennis Lehane's "Live by Night" (one of my top five favorite novels). I love the lore of notoriously named gangsters like Fat Tony Morrelli or Bobby The Fink Gugliotta. I love the tension of the dangerous relationships everyone forms, knowing one wrong move or even outliving ones usefulness often brings to your demise. The suspense, the chases, and (guiltily) the violence often marks a special kind of excitement that only the gangster genre can provide.
Coming in at exactly 300 pages, November Road is not in the same deep characterization or story vein as Lehane's gangster books, but it does provide a light fare into the genre, a sort of teaser. Combine that with the strong female protagonist, Charlotte, and you have an interesting subplot that, in turn, serves as the major redemptive factor by story's end.
I love gangster books. I didn't know I did until breaking into the genre with Dennis Lehane's "Live by Night" (one of my top five favorite novels). I love the lore of notoriously named gangsters like Fat Tony Morrelli or Bobby The Fink Gugliotta. I love the tension of the dangerous relationships everyone forms, knowing one wrong move or even outliving ones usefulness often brings to your demise. The suspense, the chases, and (guiltily) the violence often marks a special kind of excitement that only the gangster genre can provide.
Coming in at exactly 300 pages, November Road is not in the same deep characterization or story vein as Lehane's gangster books, but it does provide a light fare into the genre, a sort of teaser. Combine that with the strong female protagonist, Charlotte, and you have an interesting subplot that, in turn, serves as the major redemptive factor by story's end.
jtferdon's review against another edition
3.0
Book of the Month Selection. Part thriller, part character study and part historical/period story. This book was solid and I probably would have rated it higher if it hadn’t ended exactly as I predicted fairly early on.
alexisestevens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annabellehingston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
really enjoyed
realsiderzz30's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stphanne's review against another edition
4.0
When I first received this book, I was taken aback by how short it was. Once I started reading, I realized it's because the author wastes no time on sweeping backstories or tangents. You are thrown right into the story. If you are a staunch history person, this might not be for you as it takes liberties with the story of the JFK assassination, but if you can put that aside it's an exciting and fun read.
sarcasticnerdette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
knottyrambler's review against another edition
1.0
Just not my kind of book. I didn't like the protagonist at all. I didn't care for the writing or the plot either.
daniel_mc_adam's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely a remarkable book it’s a rollercoaster of a read.
Would make a brilliant Movie.
I look forward to reading more of this Authors Work.
Would make a brilliant Movie.
I look forward to reading more of this Authors Work.