The book that I refer to is “Nothing To Lose”. It went on and on, one fight after another until eventually I no longer cared about the characters. I actually enjoyed the film ‘Jack Reacher’ and was quite willing to accept that a five feet four inch actor could play a six feet four touch guy hero. The story just got stuck in a rut with road trips between two locations. Mr Child has found a way to make a fortune and I admire him for that but I am prepared to explore other avenues.
Maybe it did attract more readers but I pity them if they watched the movie first, fancy already having the vision of the actor in the movie firmly embedded as the character of Reacher and then trying to picture the real Reacher character in him. I know I couldn’t do it. My reacher is a total hunk, tall and muscular. Mmm yum. ?
I think it was the first in the Jack Reacher series I read. For me it was a bit like a James Patterson where they arn’t to taxing and are good holiday reads.
Read them all, several times till he sold out and allowed the lightweight to play Reacher. Never seen the film but it has spoiled the image for ever for me. Haven’t read his books since.
I’m actually re-reading ‘Killing Floor’ now. Lee told me he was going to retire after this year, I told him I didn’t believe him. Lee Child said nothing. 😉
There’s an art in the kind of spare prose and dialogue he uses – impressed with the first two I read but just finished ‘Personal’ which was absolute tosh. Will probably try the new one.
Read them all apart from the latest. I agree with others abut the films. Refuse to watch them as Tom Cruise is so not Reacher it would totally spoil my little fantasy about him 😉 xx
The one I read was one about a recycling plant for metal out in the middle of some desert somewhere. Ring any bells with anyone? Getting old and senile 😉
Will Lee Child go down as a great author? I don’t think he will Should the Reacher books be finished? I think that the series needs to be ended. The films? Both of the films are awful. Tom Cruise is totally miscast . I also feel sorry for the Director’s. They are told what to do with the films ie swearing, violence & running times.
I decided not to buy any more of his books. Tom Cruise totally miscast like you say. Lee Child ,in my opinion , sold out for the money, when it came to the movie!
@Jason I think the films are stand alone and incredibly entertaining in their own right. I like the idea of a smaller man being Jack. If he was 6ft whatever on screen doing what Reacher does he’d look like a bully. So, for this medium, it works wonderfully. He captures the essence in a different artistic outlet. Also if Lee is happy with the films, given he’s created the characters, then I’m not sure, as an observer, we have anything additional to offer. Other than whether we like or not. I like. You don’t. I’m sure both Lee and Tom will sleep tonight whether they know our opinions or not. Just a thought. X
Shulay… I would start with Killing Floor( the first book in the series). I’ve really enjoyed the first book in the series. You can find the complete list on http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
@Jason I’ve read all of them but not necessarily in order of publication date, which doesn’t really matter as Child didn’t write them all in chronological order. Very easy to read and Jack is a great character.
Read all of them as love the character of Jack. Easy reading and predictable stories but just love the way Jack outsmarts everyone…will read them as long as Lee writes them. Haven’t read last one yet…
I really like most of the Reacher novels but got fed up when he did one that looked like it would have a sequal. I worked in a book shop at the time and got really fed up with him as I had so many people complaining about the next one as it didn’t carry on. Most of my customers said they would never read another Lee Child novel
Read the 1st book and enjoyed it, the films remind me too much of all other Tom Cruise films – so figured why watch a character i like being butchered.
I have read all 21 and look forward to the next one next year. Unfortunately the bad casting of Tom Cruise in the films may put people off reading the books.
The are on my to be read pile!
Read them all,most great a couple mediocre
I have not read the last 3, but have read all of the others. I used to love them but got quite bored with them now!
I read one after seeming the original movie. It was unbelievable rubbish.
I read the book long before the Tom Cruise movie and thought it was very good. The movie was rubbish!
The book that I refer to is “Nothing To Lose”. It went on and on, one fight after another until eventually I no longer cared about the characters. I actually enjoyed the film ‘Jack Reacher’ and was quite willing to accept that a five feet four inch actor could play a six feet four touch guy hero. The story just got stuck in a rut with road trips between two locations. Mr Child has found a way to make a fortune and I admire him for that but I am prepared to explore other avenues.
@Ron That is actually the one book I didn’t like! As I mentioned on another comment I a.ways think of it as Hope and Despair!
The over-riding effect on me was Despair lol
@Ron I have to agree on this one!
Read the majority of them. X
I have read all the Jack Reacher except his new one have hinted for Xmas
Have you read any Lee Child books, Jason ?
I’ve read all of them apart from Night School
Read and loved the first two. I think when I need something reliable to fall back on I shall turn again to the series.
Me! Me! Me!
Read them all barring his latest. I refuse to watch the movies. Wrong actor for starters for me.
Do NOT get me started about that Cruise fella…
The only good thing… It attracted more readers to try the books!
Maybe it did attract more readers but I pity them if they watched the movie first, fancy already having the vision of the actor in the movie firmly embedded as the character of Reacher and then trying to picture the real Reacher character in him. I know I couldn’t do it. My reacher is a total hunk, tall and muscular. Mmm yum. ?
@Kitty Reacher in my mind is Liam Neesom!
Yeah, close @Susan, very close, but not quite totally with me. ?
Cruise = way too short.
@Kitty Another one is Jim Caviezel (Person of Interest Chap)
Yes – Jim Cavaziel would’ve made a brilliant Reacher.
Yep I think Jim is getting closer to it.
Me
Read all Reacher books, a couple of them haven’t been quite up to scratch
Read a lot only the earlier ones.. Really enjoy
I never have, not sure why
Yep. Read them all.
I’ve read all of them apart from Night School. Really enjoyed the early books. Not enjoying the recent books.
The first one I read was 61 Hours. I loved it, I hadn’t read anything like it before!
The newer books are a lot faster paced than the early books
@Jason I haven’t enjoyed his later books too much. There is one I did not like Hope and Despair.
Hope & Despair?? I think you might have got the title wrong.
@Jason Sorry Nothing to Lose. I always think of this book as Hope and Despair.
Have read one.
I don’t think I’ve read any!
ive read 1.
Did you enjoy it?
I didn’t think it was brilliant but I did enjoy it. Read very much like a typical action film.
The early books are better than the recent ones
I think it was the first in the Jack Reacher series I read. For me it was a bit like a James Patterson where they arn’t to taxing and are good holiday reads.
At least Lee Child writes his own books 😉
lol very true 🙂
Read them all, several times till he sold out and allowed the lightweight to play Reacher. Never seen the film but it has spoiled the image for ever for me. Haven’t read his books since.
I’ve read all of the Jack Reacher books and love them.
I haven’t read them…
I’m actually re-reading ‘Killing Floor’ now. Lee told me he was going to retire after this year, I told him I didn’t believe him. Lee Child said nothing. 😉
He won’t be retiring for quite some time 😉
I love his books!
Used to like his books but no longer
Me love jack reacher x
Yes. He’s the finest author alive and writing.
Peter James is better in my opinion
I agree.
There’s an art in the kind of spare prose and dialogue he uses – impressed with the first two I read but just finished ‘Personal’ which was absolute tosh. Will probably try the new one.
Read them all, last 4 not that great. Don’t think the films help. Must be hard to keep the same character interesting
JD Rob is in book 43 of her In Death series – the characters are even more real with every book.
Read them all apart from the latest. I agree with others abut the films. Refuse to watch them as Tom Cruise is so not Reacher it would totally spoil my little fantasy about him 😉 xx
Me! Totally love Jack Reacher
Me! Nearly read them all. Night School is next.
Read 1
I like lee child’s his was great action, but I like Lincoln child’s (Pendergast) series too.
reading the new one at the moment
Me me.
I’m a late starter. On book 4, so a long way to go to catch up
Read a few of the early books not read any lately though.
Me
I read the first 18 one after the other, haven’t read any of the recent ones.
The one I read was one about a recycling plant for metal out in the middle of some desert somewhere. Ring any bells with anyone? Getting old and senile 😉
Ah yes, Nothing to Lose, Google tells me
This is the one I didn’t like!
@Susan I didn’t rate it much either 🙂
Read a few a while ago
Read every single one. Some are excellent. Some are ridiculous. Some are beyond boring. So its a mixed bag must read for me.
Agreed rick
Will Lee Child go down as a great author? I don’t think he will
Should the Reacher books be finished? I think that the series needs to be ended.
The films? Both of the films are awful. Tom Cruise is totally miscast . I also feel sorry for the Director’s. They are told what to do with the films ie swearing, violence & running times.
Just don’t agree. Sorry
I decided not to buy any more of his books. Tom Cruise totally miscast like you say. Lee Child ,in my opinion , sold out for the money, when it came to the movie!
What don’t you agree on?
@Jason I think the films are stand alone and incredibly entertaining in their own right. I like the idea of a smaller man being Jack. If he was 6ft whatever on screen doing what Reacher does he’d look like a bully. So, for this medium, it works wonderfully. He captures the essence in a different artistic outlet. Also if Lee is happy with the films, given he’s created the characters, then I’m not sure, as an observer, we have anything additional to offer. Other than whether we like or not. I like. You don’t. I’m sure both Lee and Tom will sleep tonight whether they know our opinions or not. Just a thought. X
Tomorrow I’m going to start reading Night School. Has anybody else read this book?
@Jason I’m glad you’re giving it a go. I haven’t read this one yet either. Maybe we can compare notes. Nx
Jason, would recommend starting with one of his earlier books. Night school not particularly highly rated by fans….
Shulay… I would start with Killing Floor( the first book in the series). I’ve really enjoyed the first book in the series. You can find the complete list on http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
Nicola….I will let you know what I think of it
@Jason Excellent. We can compare notes. ?
Have you started Night School?
@Jason I’ve read all of them but not necessarily in order of publication date, which doesn’t really matter as Child didn’t write them all in chronological order. Very easy to read and Jack is a great character.
Read all of them as love the character of Jack. Easy reading and predictable stories but just love the way Jack outsmarts everyone…will read them as long as Lee writes them. Haven’t read last one yet…
Tom should never have been cast as Jack…utterly wrong in all aspects even though I’m a massive fan of Tom.
Meeeeeeee x
I really like most of the Reacher novels but got fed up when he did one that looked like it would have a sequal. I worked in a book shop at the time and got really fed up with him as I had so many people complaining about the next one as it didn’t carry on. Most of my customers said they would never read another Lee Child novel
Read the 1st book and enjoyed it, the films remind me too much of all other Tom Cruise films – so figured why watch a character i like being butchered.
How many Reacher books have you read?
Just the 1st book
The first twelve books are the best ones in the series
me
I have read all 21 and look forward to the next one next year. Unfortunately the bad casting of Tom Cruise in the films may put people off reading the books.
Not I.
I’m currently reading Night School. So far I’m enjoying it. Finding it slower paced than some of the recent books in the series.