Rating: 
Summary: I think I'm in love
Review: I don't like to read the reviews before I read the book; too often they give something important away. But I read them now, after finishing, and what's interesting is that nobody really talks about how disgustingly charming Monty Brogan is. I mean, he's fictional, you're not supposed to have a crush on him! So here I am, having read the book twice (twice!) in two weeks, and I can't get Monty out of my head. It's not that he's good looking, because, obviously, I can't see him on the page. And it's not that he's a French Existentialist quoting Sartre, either, cause that's definitely not Monty. What is it about him? He's a small-time drug dealer headed for prison in 24 hours. Why should I care? Why am I, scarily, falling in love with a figment of somebody else's imagination?I guess that's the joy of fiction, of a story well told, but it's frustrating to be thinking all the time about a guy you can never ever meet. Talk about unrequited love! Maybe there will be a sequel someday, but I doubt it.
Rating:
Summary: Le jouissance du Benioff
Review: If you only read one book this year...make it DON QUIXOTE. But if you plan on reading TWO books this year, THE 25TH HOUR should be on your short list. Benioff's crisp characterization, ear for dead-on dialogue and reinvention of the Tough Guy subgenre make his first novel a thoroughly enjoyable read. Narcotics, beautiful exotic women, the possibility of illicit passion with underaged girls, the ubiquitous threat of violence, a Hollywood bigshot actor getting what-for...Benioff goes to all the places a writer must needs go to hold the fleeting attentions of the harried modern reader.
Rating:
Summary: I am adding this book to my top 5 all-time favorites!
Review: At last...after reading a series of bad books, not-so-good books and, worst of all, those that had such promise but somewhere along the way, took a wrong turn...I have read THE book! "The 25th Hour" is one of the best books I have ever read. It is an account of the 24-hour period before a young man convicted of drug dealing is due to start serving a seven-year sentence in a Federal prison. During this short time span, you will come face to face with friendship, love, fear, hope and despair. You will spend time with three men who have been friends since middle school. You will get to know them so intimately, it will feel almost intrusive. Along the way, you will meet their parents, friends, lovers and enemies. I can only urge you to spend some time with these people. When you have read the last word on the last page, you will be trembling, crying or just sitting in awe of the ride you have just been on.
Rating:
Summary: The 25th Hour in 4 Hours
Review: I'm not normally a very fast reader. My concentration slips, or I start watching Tv, or the phone rings. But from the first page of this book I was hooked. Except for a quick bathroom break I didn't look up again until the final page. And the final page was so good I read it three times! My favorite character is Jakob, a high school teacher. His friend Monty is the star of the story, I guess, but Jakob is the one I identify with, a guy who genuinely wants to do the right thing but always seems to blow it. My one objection here is the amount of profanity, but I guess that's pare for the course these days in fiction. And it is about a man going to prison, so I suppose it would be a little weird if he spoke like a choirboy. The year is young, but this is my #1 so far. Beats the new Grisham by a country mile, that's for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing, frightening and finally heartbreaking.
Review: I felt as if I was spending the last day of freedom with the criminal. A simple premise I cannot ever remember having seen handled before.The author's message is conveyed without moralising, we understand the protaganist's crimes but do not condemn him. The characters are interesting, numerous and excellently balanced within the small novel. Benioff also managed to finish the novel wonderfully. Give it a read.
Rating:
Summary: YES!!!
Review: Well it took me a longish time to find this book but when i did was it worth it! i agree with the other reader who said she was up all night. Same for me, except i read it so quick i was in bed by midnight. A really good read. It's very dark but i like dark so that was fine. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Much To Do About Nothing!
Review: I purchased this book based solely on the comments made by the reviewers who gave it 5 stars. I was in a hurry and I didn't read any of the book before leaving the bookstore. Big mistake. As I read this book I found myself dealing with a bunch of characters who "just appeared" in the story. I spent most of my time trying to figure exactly what the author was trying to portray. A good example is the introduction of Monty's girlfriend "Naturelle" into the book. "They kiss, but he does not open his lips. His mouth is too dry." "Naturelle crouches down and scratches the dog behind his mangled ear and Doyle (Monty's Pitt-Bull) closes his eyes, licking her wrist with his rough tongue." "The sun has gone down and the air's getting colder." This folks is how Monty's girlfriend gets introduced into the story. This was typical of the writing in this book. It was terribly disjointed. I have given classes at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility and my cousin worked at Otisville and I will say that what little the author portrayed about prison life is common knowledge to anyone who has seen "The Shawshank Redemption" or any other prison movie. As far as the intimate scenes of New York City and the action on Wall Street, the same goes here. I was very disappointed because I wanted to like this book because I love NYC, but The 25th Hour just didn't "cut the mustard."
Rating:
Summary: Penzler Scores Again
Review: From now on I'm just letting Otto choose all my leisure reading. His picks are almost always right on the money, and this novel is no exception. I grew up not far from the action of "The 25th Hour," and Beniof gets the city exactly right. New York is almost a character in its own right, mysterious and beautiful and dangerous. I think the last four pages are some of the best writing I've seen in a long time. This isn't a book for kids, though. I won't let son read it for a while. But if you're over eighteen and you like tough but heartbreaking stories, this one's really superb. Two thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down
Review: Mr. Benioff's first novel is a powerful portrait of modern day New York, friendship and of the human spirit. His characters are written as though they have real flesh on their bones; which can be a grity reality at times. The plot is fresh, and grips you from beginning to end. I could not put it down until 2 AM when the final page had turned. Highly recommended story from a talented writer. A superb first book.
Rating:
Summary: I read this book cover to cover...
Review: ...a couple of nights ago. My husband kept complaining, but what can you do? A friend gave me the book on Dec. 17th and said read this right away. So I read it on the 18th, and now I'll pass along her good advice: read this book right away. Once you start you'll find it hard to stop. I have to admit falling a little in love with Monty-- I wanted to step inside the book and protect him. That's the beautiful thing about the novel-- you don't know what's going to happen, but then it happens and it all seems so inevitable. A beautiful, beautiful book.
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