Rating: 
Summary: macbre, fun, excellent
Review: Marathon Man is about Thomas Levy, who dreams of becoming a great athelete/runner, and is now running for his life for a mistake his brother had made, including a "Division" agent, his own girlfriend, and worst of all a Nazi. Possibly the most grusome torture scene on a piece of typing paper. READ IT!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Tightly Written Account of an Unlikely Protagonist
Review: Marathon Man is tightly woven tale of espionage which involves a protagonist who is drawn into the action completely against his will, and in an extraordinarily short period of time. This is a tough book to review without giving away how the seemingly disparate characters interrelate, but suffice it to say the way in which they do is both clever and clearly well designed. Though there is clearly a rich history to the main character (and his family) which is alluded to often, it never truly gets developed, and the actual action sequences take place over a 36 hour or so span. Nevertheless, the pace, dialog, and conflict are all realistic, and artfully enough crafted so as not to seem rushed, and there are some interesting spices added to the mix which seem incongruous, including marathon running, dentistry, and Nazism. Lastly, there is a chilling torture scene and enough revenge exacted to reward you for rooting for the good guys.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This book is in my top three. It along with Fight Club and of course the Godfather is one of my favorite books of all time. It has a great story and is action backed. I loved it and recommend it to anyone interested in a good book.
Rating:
Summary: Hoffman is to acting as Goldman is to fiction
Review: This is a must read for fans of the spy genre. Goldman brilliantly gives us Scylla, a deadly spy who dodges death at every turn with action scenes that literally hold you on the edge with suspense. Scylla's character is the strongest asset to this book, however his demise leads us into the life of his brother, an unsuspecting marathon runner that will find himself the target of betrayal. Full of twists and brilliant characters this book is very good and holds a special spot in my library. Fans of the movie starring Dennis Hoffman and Sir Lawrence Olivier will find the book much stronger than the screenplay with a different ending than the big-screen version.
Rating:
Summary: Hoffman is to acting as Goldman is to fiction
Review: This is a must read for fans of the spy genre. Goldman brilliantly gives us Scylla, a deadly spy who dodges death at every turn with action scenes that literally hold you on the edge with suspense. Scylla's character is the strongest asset to this book, however his demise leads us into the life of his brother, an unsuspecting marathon runner that will find himself the target of betrayal. Full of twists and brilliant characters this book is very good and holds a special spot in my library. Fans of the movie starring Dennis Hoffman and Sir Lawrence Olivier will find the book much stronger than the screenplay with a different ending than the big-screen version.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is a page-turner...you won't want to stop reading it. Goldman is a master story-teller and his words flow throughout the book. This book has it all: action, adventure, the girl, and plenty of twists and turns that make you want to keep reading. I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is a page-turner...you won't want to stop reading it. Goldman is a master story-teller and his words flow throughout the book. This book has it all: action, adventure, the girl, and plenty of twists and turns that make you want to keep reading. I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK
Review: This is one of those rare books which juggles character and plot. You are led to care for these people, and feel real empathy for them. I am not ashamed to admit that it brought tears to my eyes. What makes this story singularly fantastic, is the laugh-out loud moments, amazing revelations, strong characters, and great plot. It keeps you guessing towards the end. The first chapter may be a bit confusing, and puts you off, but is completely necessary. Hang on. You will not be disappointed. If you like reading about secret agents and down-to-earth people (sounds oxymoronic, I know!), then I highly recommend this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: BAD BOOK
Review: This is the worst book that i ever read!
Besides the foul language that is constant, the plot is not even good. And many loose ends that is not resolved. I keep reading to the end, hoping to find out the reason why his brother DOC, came to see him before he died, but yet never found out nor explained. Very frustrated and unpleasant read.
Rating:
Summary: A great popcorn thriller
Review: Though he's best known as a screenwriter, William Goldman has also written quite a few novels of note. His best probably remains the thriller Marathon Man. With a nicely complex but hardly difficult plot and amazingly strong characterization from the major players to the minor placeholders, this is a thrilling, at times harrowing book that also manages to provide a great deal of humor and a strong subtext of lost dreams. With his villians, Goldman truly manages to capture the outright banality of some of the world's greatest evil. And as for his hero -- I would defy anyone not to root for poor, awkward Babe Levy from the first minute they meet him. In recent years, its become strangely unfasionable to run the risk of injecting anything resembling humor or humanity into thrillers and instead, those qualities have too often been replaced with meaningless violence and a smirking sadism. Read Marathon Man and see how great a good thriller can truly be.
|
