Pines

Well done story

This was a very interesting and fast paced story. It has a solid plot and fairly well done characters and stays pretty riveting throughout. The ending is a surprise, and ties everything together in a way that makes for a really unique idea. The reader does a great job too. I wonder about its classification- it is listed as mystery/thriller. It does have that - there is mystery and at times it is thrilling. However, I would have classed it as science fiction since I think that was the most dominant genre- that and a touch of horror.

One small complaint though, and this may stem from the genre the writer is trying to produce for - I think it would have been a stronger book without all the torture. I know that is popular and some peole are drawn to it - whole films have been made in recent years that revolve entirely around people being tortured in various ways. It isn't that I am too squeemish or uptight for it, though I do find it uncomfortable at times. More so I just don't find it particularly creative or interesting - ask anyone you know to think of the most horrible ways to hurt and kill someone. Everyone will quickly have lots of ideas. Particularly with a story as strong as this one, with so much that makes it interesting, and so much tension and mystery, I thought this was a major distraction at times. There were points at which clearly it made sense as it was integrated into the story and necessary, but for large portions I thought it served no real purpose and was far more detailed than it needed to be and found myself waiting for those bits to end so we could get back to the good stuff.

Also, it seems like it would have been more interesting if the antagonists had ways of interacting with the hero and with the good guys in ways that didn't always have torture as the main defining interaction - if the " I will now torture and kill you in horrible ways" wasn't the main motivation at all times... It seems a constant threat and, in the end, when we find out what has gone on, what this was all about, it particularly doesn't seem in keeping with the purpose behind the story. I can't give examples without giving spoilers so will leave it at that... As I said, I know it is popular among some audiences, but I really think this author is solid and creative enough to write a really great story without all that - or at least without it factoring so large in the book.

So those of you like me, who are not interested by that, and those of you that really hate that stuff have been warned. However, as I said, there is a lot going for this story and I found it very entertaining and was eager to find out what would happen and what all this was about... So overall, I think it is a pretty good experience and would recommend it.

211 people found this helpful

Very slow to get going then... average

I was sent this audiobook by a friend so I knew nothing about it before listening. For the first two thirds I listened on double speed as it wasn't really engaging me but I wanted to be polite to my pal who loved it. There's a little town that's too perfect, amnesia, a man in peril not knowing what's going on, so far so very cliched.

Then it picked up the pace and I became engaged for an hour or so till the plot veered off into the ludicrous. It wasn't utterly terrible, but it was very average and deeply unlikely. If you loved Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland years ago, you might like this. If you've ever watched much in the way of sophisticated science fiction you're likely to find this very so so.

There's lots of great reviews so I appear to be in the minority. I suspect because I have read so much science fiction that this didn't impress me too much as it's loaded with tropes and is rather slow. the voice talent is excellent and engaging for sure. If you were on a long car journey you wouldn't be utterly wasting your time listening to this. But there are many better listens than this for sure.

15 people found this helpful

Did not like it

The first half of the book was really great. I was enjoying so much that I almost bought the others in the series. I am glad that I waited.

The protagonist is a secret service agent, however, he could have been Forest Gump. Because he was never able to defend himself. How can a secret service agent not be in shape? Not a single time, throughout the book was the main character able to save himself. One time, one of the women saved him, which is to say almost carried him from the death. Yet, he watches the woman beaten to death without even trying tohelp her. Yes, he felt horrible, and wasted another hour or so describing how aweful he felt for her, even shedding tears. I was totally starting to hate the protagonist by this time. I didn't get why it was relayed that he had a unique skillset that differentiated him from others, I thought he was pretty dumb.

Ove and over, the author mentioned how well built his body was, yet he was always in so much pain. His excrutiating pain to climb up, climb down, to walk another mile, blah, blah, blah. I couldn't wait for this book to end.

7 people found this helpful

A little above average, maybe?

While I listened to the entire story, it just didn't grab me like I would have wished it to. Too many aborted escapes, too many chases--this took up the great majority of the story. I would have enjoyed it a bit more had the protagonist been somewhat more developed and likeable. I felt I never got to know who this man was. He certainly wasn't the overdone superhero type, yet I found him to be somewhat of a cardboard character. I really didn't care what happened to him, thus there was no tension for me.

On the positive side, I did like the ending. It was unexpected and different. However, it was not a theme I would want to revisit in a sequel.

Additionally, the narrator did a good job which added to the ease of this listen.

35 people found this helpful

SHOCKED!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book. I love the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and The Dark Side television shows and this book combined with a little horror mimicked the style of these series. I could not stop listening and found excuses to continue listening. Horror for the sake of horror becomes boring but mix in a little mind twist, a dash of Sci Fi, and "I did not see that coming" and horror becomes the "PINES".

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pines?

The chase!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

OH YES!!!!

Any additional comments?

Worth the credit.

91 people found this helpful

Edge of my Seat!!!

I admit I purchased the Wayward Pines Series because I loved the TV show. Since the show was cancelled after 2 seasons, I thought I'd get the rest of the story by listening to the books. OMG!!! The books are completely different from the show, which I half expected. I loved them all!!! Paul Michael Garcia is an exceptional narrator!! He reading of The Pines had me on the edge of my seat. I was so wrapped up in The Pines, I was biting my fingernails & started the next book as soon as I was done. It's scary & thrilling. I highly recommend the whole series!!! If you like thrillers, this book is a must!!!!

6 people found this helpful

Plot and Protagonist - Just Not a Good Fit

As the story unfolds it becomes less believable. We have an agent of the US government who appears to be marooned in a small town, and he seems to remain clueless and helpless through much of the story. It does remind me of the kind of artificial plot lines that showed up in some of the mediocre episodes of the Twilight Zone TV series

The "reveal" at the end of the novel is even less believable. I can not see me ever buying any further installments to this series.

21 people found this helpful

be prepared to be blown away

Any additional comments?

wow. what a great story! the pines is a great mix-up of different types of genres that come together that make up a thrilling listen. the story starts out simple enough.

ethan burke wakes up in a field not knowing where he is or who he is. all he knows is that he's injured. as he shambles toward the town, he starts to remember a few things. he runs into a few kind people who notice his terrible bruises and offer him help, but he doggedly says he can make it the couple of blocks to the hospital. however, something's nagging at him. he's trying to remember a name, a name that has caused this pain. along his way, he stops at a phone booth and notices how skinny the phone book is. it's only 8 pages. so he starts reading through it until he recognizes part of a name- mac. that name arouses anger in him so he stalks off to confront mac.

as ethan begins investigating the missing secret services agents, he notices things aren't what they seem in this small idyllic town. what follows is a creepy secret that is slowly revealed about the town, wayward pines. the more the story unfolded, the more engrossed i became in wanting to know what the heck is going on.

the story is delicious to listen to. throw in a little shutter island to develop some intrigue, add a little tales from the dark side to get your heart pounding, add a dash of logan's run to keep you guessing, and finish with a red pill to add a matrix-like twist to blow your mind!

overall, an excellent story that will keep you listening late into the night. it's definitely one of those stories you'll remember long after listening to it.

NOTE: at the time of this review, the audio book is on sale for $4.95. I recommend you download it immediately as it is a steal. i paid regular price, and it was worth every dollar!

50 people found this helpful

Weird semi si-fantasy. Quite creepy

This novel is a bit creepy, a sort of Twilight Zoneish kind of writing. A real surreal sense of What the Hell???? happens to protagonist Ethan Burke when he arrives in, what appears to be a quiet Rocky mountain town. As the story arc continues the strangeness increases until the reader is just as confused as the protagonist..something I appreciate in a book-I like stories that I can't figure out ahead of time.

This plot takes a lot of left turns without signaling and I found myself having to really pay attention to what I was listening to..something I'm not in the habit of doing as audio books are a kind of "listen while doing something else" thing for me. I had to rewind (in a digital way) several times. Ethan suffers several prisoner of war flashbacks that seem to effect him as he tries to make sense of his missing phone, wallet, inability to contact the world outside Idaho and the listener starts to wonder if he is going thru mental instability and everything is really as it should be. There was a real "Children of the Corn" moment in the book, as Ethan finds himself being chased by The Pines children as he runs, naked, thru the town trying to get away all the time knowing that theres no way of leaving the town. I was listening to this while my grand daughter was reading and she told me to put on headphones as the story was scaring her-shes 9.

On the other side, I wondered why it took Ethan so long to decide thing in The Pines were not normal. Why didn't he go to a bank and tyy to contact his home bank for money? Why not call his credit card company and get a new card-and if he was unable to do these things, it seemed he would have figured out that the town was not normal sooner. It just wasn't what an average person would do, much less a Secret Service Agent.

I'm sure some will think the story should rate 5 stars for excitement alone...but for me, it didn't. I couldn't get away from the B movie or TV series feeling, an Under the Dome, Outer Limits, TZ version of sci-fi/fantasy. it was good, but not that good. It held my attention but seemed -well-too contrived. I went between 3 and 4 stars. for me 3 is an average novel-nothing sterling or wonderful/nothing awful either. Just Meh..its ok. But it was more than that. It was a different story arc with a lot of but....why is this his thinking?

I dunno. A strange book, worth a listen for a real fan of B grade movies and stories.

The narrator was great, however. I've never listened to Paul Garcia before but I'll be sure to check out other audio books he's done. His work was real solid 5 star for me-masculine but not Dick Hill-ish in tone. Dramatic but not overdone. He does the weird parts very nicely, with a touch of irony that kind of got me on occasion.

A good listen even for urban fantasy readers and a must listen for those who love the strange. Good luck!

7 people found this helpful

I had no idea

One word, 2 letters. WOW! This offering from Blake Crouch and narrated exquistely by Paul Garci, is a winner, and moves to my all time best list.

The plot twists, the choices the characters need to make, the challenges and nuances, are all there, with occasional gore and violence, but nothing gratuitous, at least in my estimation.

Granted, there is some, if not a lot, of belief suspension required to complete the story line, but once you have digested this, the story plot does clarify, and the resolution does promote thought and consideration at the the end.

I recommend this book to fantasy, sci fi and mystery readers most highly.

51 people found this helpful