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Neal Carey #2
China Girl
Robert Pendleton è un genio della chimica e ha appena brevettato un fertilizzante che potrebbe valere una fortuna. Partito per una conferenza a San Francisco, smette di dare notizie di sé e dei frutti delle sue ricerche. Non c'è da stupirsi se gli Amici di Famiglia, che hanno finanziato il suo lavoro, vogliono scoprire che fine abbia fatto, decidendo anche stavolta di rivolgersi a Neal Carey, il loro uomo migliore. Quella che sembra un'indagine facile si rivela però un incubo. Neal sarà costretto a un lungo viaggio costellato di pericoli, tra la Chinatown di San Francisco e le strade di Hong Kong, fino ad arrivare nella Cina più profonda e arcaica. E dovrà vedersela con la Cia, con il governo cinese e con un'organizzazione altrettanto letale, che agisce nell'ombra. Ma soprattutto con la bellissima Li Lan: una dark lady, o forse una vittima innocente.
480 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2016
173 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Don Winslow
113 books7,474 followersDon Winslow is the author of twenty-one acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Force and The Border, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a feature film by three-time Oscar-winning writer-director Oliver Stone. The Power of the Dog, The Cartel and The Border sold to FX in a major multimillion-dollar deal to air as a weekly television series beginning in 2020.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
September 26, 2019
Food.
There’s an old saying that an army travels on its stomach. There’s also a scene I recall from the 1987 Barbet Schroeder film Barfly starring Mickie Rourke and Fay Dunaway about Charles Bukowski (with a screenplay by Bukowski) where Henry accidentally walks into the wrong room and gets something to eat. This unexpected treasure allows him to muster enough strength to kick some righteous ass against his arch enemy. We could also mention Jack London’s classic short story “A Piece of Steak” about a down and out boxer.
The point is that people have to eat and food is the fuel that keeps us going and gives us strength.
Don Winslow’s second Neal Carey novel, first published in 1992 (why are these not more popular?) revisits our erstwhile reluctant protagonist still pleasantly enjoying his English countryside exile. But the Bank has a job for him and it takes him on a wild ride from San Francisco to Hong Kong to the 1970s PRC. Chairman Mao is dead, but the problem of feeding a quarter of the world's population remains.
Winslow demonstrates that political intrigue is not too far removed from crime fiction as he continues to remind his readers that power is a currency shared by governments and gangsters alike.
Neal is tracking down an American scientist who may have the answer to feeding a billion Chinese and gets caught up into way more than he asks for. Along the way we run into CIA agents, Chinese gangs and some delightful double agents. (or do we?) Things are not always what they seem except for Winslow’s excellent writing and more fun with this very entertaining storyline.
There’s an old saying that an army travels on its stomach. There’s also a scene I recall from the 1987 Barbet Schroeder film Barfly starring Mickie Rourke and Fay Dunaway about Charles Bukowski (with a screenplay by Bukowski) where Henry accidentally walks into the wrong room and gets something to eat. This unexpected treasure allows him to muster enough strength to kick some righteous ass against his arch enemy. We could also mention Jack London’s classic short story “A Piece of Steak” about a down and out boxer.
The point is that people have to eat and food is the fuel that keeps us going and gives us strength.
Don Winslow’s second Neal Carey novel, first published in 1992 (why are these not more popular?) revisits our erstwhile reluctant protagonist still pleasantly enjoying his English countryside exile. But the Bank has a job for him and it takes him on a wild ride from San Francisco to Hong Kong to the 1970s PRC. Chairman Mao is dead, but the problem of feeding a quarter of the world's population remains.
Winslow demonstrates that political intrigue is not too far removed from crime fiction as he continues to remind his readers that power is a currency shared by governments and gangsters alike.
Neal is tracking down an American scientist who may have the answer to feeding a billion Chinese and gets caught up into way more than he asks for. Along the way we run into CIA agents, Chinese gangs and some delightful double agents. (or do we?) Things are not always what they seem except for Winslow’s excellent writing and more fun with this very entertaining storyline.
January 17, 2018
Wrote a review, but...
Goodreads' spinning wheel of death.
Reviews are shadows.
F#@K!!!
Goodreads' spinning wheel of death.
Reviews are shadows.
F#@K!!!
November 10, 2014
This book was so painful at times. The action and intrigue and everything is really great. But the premise is TERRIBLE. SO SO SO SO SO BAD. I cannot emphasize enough how absolutely unbelievable this whole book is because the basic driver of the action is the dumbest thing ever. A number of times I almost put it down, because it was so stupid. The fact this book gets any stars is because it is otherwise fun, has some crazy international manipulation, and some great twists and turns.
The first and very annoying thing, is that in the first two Neal Carey books, it starts with him reflecting on how he wishes he had never answered the door when "Dad" came calling. Neal finds people for the less than legal and reputable side of a bank that holds many very powerful people's money. So when his handler comes by, he always knows he should just get lost and not answer, but he always does what they say. This is stupid and Winslow should cut it out. Just have him do the job, even if begrudgingly, and not talk about how he knows he shouldn't. Just say he hates the jobs, but knows he has to do it. But that part is just annoying.
So here is what happens. Neal is forced to go to SF and track down some scientist who has left his company to run away with some beautiful Chinese woman, Li Lan. So he goes, finds them, asks him to come back. The couple runs, Neal almost gets killed by what he assumes to be Li Lan, and his people tell him to just go home. This is where Winslow blows the entire story.
Neal falls in love with Li Lan over the course of one evening. An evening which he spent with her and her boyfriend, and in which he thinks she tried to kill him. She basically almost gets him killed, and it usually looks like she is trying to kill him, and shows no interest in him throughout the story, but Neal is sooooo in love with her that he just keeps following. This is the dumbest thing ever. This is like a terrible terrible plot construction that might work with 8 year old girls. It completely ruins the book. He just keeps following her and thinking he loves her even after a shot at him while in her hot tub, a group of her hired goons tries to kill him, she leaves him to rot as a prisoner in a horrible slum, and in the end he risks his life for her twin, because he loves her. THIS IS SO STUPID. SERIOUSLY THE MOST PATHETIC PLOT DRIVING MECHANISM IN THE HISTORY OF WRITING. AT NO POINT DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE OR IS EVEN REMOTELY BELIEVABLE.
This book seriously deserves 0 stars. But I find Winslow so entertaining and I love the master plan of the Chinese secretary of something and the general CIA vs China plot lines.
The first and very annoying thing, is that in the first two Neal Carey books, it starts with him reflecting on how he wishes he had never answered the door when "Dad" came calling. Neal finds people for the less than legal and reputable side of a bank that holds many very powerful people's money. So when his handler comes by, he always knows he should just get lost and not answer, but he always does what they say. This is stupid and Winslow should cut it out. Just have him do the job, even if begrudgingly, and not talk about how he knows he shouldn't. Just say he hates the jobs, but knows he has to do it. But that part is just annoying.
So here is what happens. Neal is forced to go to SF and track down some scientist who has left his company to run away with some beautiful Chinese woman, Li Lan. So he goes, finds them, asks him to come back. The couple runs, Neal almost gets killed by what he assumes to be Li Lan, and his people tell him to just go home. This is where Winslow blows the entire story.
Neal falls in love with Li Lan over the course of one evening. An evening which he spent with her and her boyfriend, and in which he thinks she tried to kill him. She basically almost gets him killed, and it usually looks like she is trying to kill him, and shows no interest in him throughout the story, but Neal is sooooo in love with her that he just keeps following. This is the dumbest thing ever. This is like a terrible terrible plot construction that might work with 8 year old girls. It completely ruins the book. He just keeps following her and thinking he loves her even after a shot at him while in her hot tub, a group of her hired goons tries to kill him, she leaves him to rot as a prisoner in a horrible slum, and in the end he risks his life for her twin, because he loves her. THIS IS SO STUPID. SERIOUSLY THE MOST PATHETIC PLOT DRIVING MECHANISM IN THE HISTORY OF WRITING. AT NO POINT DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE OR IS EVEN REMOTELY BELIEVABLE.
This book seriously deserves 0 stars. But I find Winslow so entertaining and I love the master plan of the Chinese secretary of something and the general CIA vs China plot lines.
March 12, 2015
What a great series. I look forward to #3! Don Winslow is one of my all-time favorite whodunit writers.
December 6, 2020
1.6 stars. I don’t know what happened to the Neal of book one, but this one I couldn’t stand. In this book Neal was stupid, obsessed, lovesick, and foolish. 😠😬😒😤
Also, I was under the impression that I was reading a mystery book, not a historical biography of 1950s to 1960s China... seriously it felt like I was like reading a documentary (which I did not sign up for) 😕
Also, I was under the impression that I was reading a mystery book, not a historical biography of 1950s to 1960s China... seriously it felt like I was like reading a documentary (which I did not sign up for) 😕
July 21, 2008
I liked the first in this series very much, and this book is just as strong. It Is more of a thriller than a mystery, and moves along at a lively clip. The book begins where the last left off, but quickly changes setting to Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China. The author manages to supply quite a lot of information about Chinese culture and history without slowing down the pace of the book too much. I was fascinated. The plot is pretty complex, but I didn't find it hard to follow. If you're in the mood for a page-turner that is intelligently written, this book is for you.
September 30, 2020
Don Winslow spins one heck of a tale. His character-driven, suspense-filled stories featuring anti-hero Neal Carey begin with energy and keeps it going throughout.
July 9, 2017
This is the second of five books in the Neal Carey series. Carey is sort of an amateur detective who sort of works for the "friends" department of a stuffy New England bank. That is, friends whose problems the bank takes care of. The first book in the series had set out Carey's background and training through a series of flashbacks. This book is light on flashbacks but heavy on wild changes in plot. It takes Carey from The Golden Gate city to the hot tubs of Marin County to the slums of the Walled City in Hong Kong. It gives the reader an in -depth account of the Chinese cultural revolution and taps into China's overpopulation and Pollution problems. It involves the CIA, triads, and Maoist separatists.
However, somewhere along the way, the plot became rather twisted and different. Is it a detective novel? Is it a shifting loyalties among spies book? Is it a historically based travelogue?
However, somewhere along the way, the plot became rather twisted and different. Is it a detective novel? Is it a shifting loyalties among spies book? Is it a historically based travelogue?
December 2, 2020
The Trail to Buddha's Mirror is another fine work in the Neal Carey series by Don Winslow.
Carey is sent by Friends of the Family, the slightly shady enforcement arm of the banking organization for which he works (and which is paying for his education, living expenses, etc. when he is not on assignment) to retrieve a brilliant scientist who apparently has fled his employer. The employer is financed by the parent company of Friends of the Family.
Carey goes to San Francisco and beyond to track down the scientist and mucho adventure ensues.
The book, as does many of Winslow's novels has abundant twists, is very well written, features very interesting characters each having great texture and depth, and, as well you may suspect, has a very engaging plot. It dragged just a bit toward the end costing Mr. Winslow, the cherished fifth star.
Over and Out
Carey is sent by Friends of the Family, the slightly shady enforcement arm of the banking organization for which he works (and which is paying for his education, living expenses, etc. when he is not on assignment) to retrieve a brilliant scientist who apparently has fled his employer. The employer is financed by the parent company of Friends of the Family.
Carey goes to San Francisco and beyond to track down the scientist and mucho adventure ensues.
The book, as does many of Winslow's novels has abundant twists, is very well written, features very interesting characters each having great texture and depth, and, as well you may suspect, has a very engaging plot. It dragged just a bit toward the end costing Mr. Winslow, the cherished fifth star.
Over and Out
October 5, 2020
A bit inconsistent. In all, pretty convoluted and the story occasionally bogs down and loses something as a result. The plot feels somewhat contrived. The humour isn’t there to the same degree as it was in the first of the series, either. Too bad.
September 6, 2016
I was slayed by Winslow's two more recent novels about the Mexican drug cartels (Power of the Dog & Cartel) and so I picked up a stack of his novels in the audio format to keep me company on the long irritating LA drivetimes. This one is the second in a series of PI tales featuring twenty-something literary hermit and goofball daredevil Neil Carey. It took a few discs to gain any altitude, and never neared the heights of Winslow's later prose style, characters and tone, although the bones of the intense scene-focused narrative drive emerged as the shaggy dog story finally found its way to Hong Kong and China, the actual focus of the mystery. I was annoyed by Winslow's insistent, nearly constant internal monologue inside the protagonist's head, even though the novel is in close-third person. Too cute by half. If Carey's thoughts really mattered, why not use first-person? If they don't, which is the case here, just cut to the chase. I mean, literally, there were times when Winslow felt the need for his Carey character to comment on every line of dialog from every other character. This tic of an insecure novelist receded as the action heated up. What I liked about the book was the blend of the world-historic uber story -- the power struggle in China after the demise of the Red Guards -- with an adventure tale of suspense and danger. Preposterously implausible. Yes. Fun? Undoubtedly.
May 29, 2023
It’s almost a 3 in several areas, but I think he overreached on this one. He made it too complicated, too much rehashing of history, to much intelligence given to the animals, too much insta-love, too many broken ribs, and I think you get it….
October 25, 2008
THE TRAIL TO BUDDHA's MIRROR - Ex
Winslow, Don - 2nd Neal Carey book
Robert Pendleton is a chemical genius with a fertilizer worth a fortune to whoever controls the formula. Not surprisingly, the Bank, his notoriously exclusive backer, wants to keep an eye on its investment. But so does the CIA. And the Chinese government. And a few shadier organizations. So when Pendleton disappears from a conference in San Francisco, along with all of his research, Neal Carey enters the picture.
Neal knows the Bank is calling in its chips in return for paying his grad school bills. He thinks this assignment will be a no-brainer -- until he meets the beguiling Li Lan and touches off a deadly game of hide-and-seek that will lead him from San Francisco's Chinatown to the lawless back streets of Hong Kong, and finally into the dark heart of China. In a world where no one is what they seem, Neal must unravel the mystery of a beautiful woman and reach the fabled Buddha's Mirror, a mist-shrouded lake where all secrets are revealed.
1997 Top Read - Neal Carey is a great character. The book is a travelogue and I learned a lot about China's history and politics, but it was also excellent suspense. this is a 'must read' series for me.
Winslow, Don - 2nd Neal Carey book
Robert Pendleton is a chemical genius with a fertilizer worth a fortune to whoever controls the formula. Not surprisingly, the Bank, his notoriously exclusive backer, wants to keep an eye on its investment. But so does the CIA. And the Chinese government. And a few shadier organizations. So when Pendleton disappears from a conference in San Francisco, along with all of his research, Neal Carey enters the picture.
Neal knows the Bank is calling in its chips in return for paying his grad school bills. He thinks this assignment will be a no-brainer -- until he meets the beguiling Li Lan and touches off a deadly game of hide-and-seek that will lead him from San Francisco's Chinatown to the lawless back streets of Hong Kong, and finally into the dark heart of China. In a world where no one is what they seem, Neal must unravel the mystery of a beautiful woman and reach the fabled Buddha's Mirror, a mist-shrouded lake where all secrets are revealed.
1997 Top Read - Neal Carey is a great character. The book is a travelogue and I learned a lot about China's history and politics, but it was also excellent suspense. this is a 'must read' series for me.
August 27, 2018
Winslow riprende le fila di London Underground affibbiando al suo riluttante protagonista un crescendo di situazioni al limite: si va da un attentato a San Francisco alla prigionia nella Cina (da poco) post-maoista, passando per un paio di brutte esperienze in quel di Hong Kong. L'ambientazione a dir poco movimentata giova parecchio a questo giallo, così come la caratterizzazione dei personaggi e degli scenari nella parte finale. In breve, se China Girl fosse stato ambientato interamente in Oriente avrebbe meritato la quarta stella, peccato per l'inizio lento e per l'indagine tutto sommato scontata.
March 29, 2015
I listened to this on audiobook, and I just did not get into it. I really couldn't care less about any of the characters, and the main character, Neil, was irritating. How and why the author worked an instant love affair into this story perplexed me. I probably will not read any other books in the series.
March 14, 2012
This adventure takes Neal Carey to Hong Kong and China in pursuit of a beautiful woman and a missing artist. Winslow's work is rich in detail but sometimes falters in plot cohesion. Nevertheless, it is pure delight to revisit these novels.
March 26, 2014
2'5/5
Bastante más flojo que el primero, el caso empieza siendo muy interesante pero acaba siendo completamente aburrido y el final un poco precipitado y absurdo.
Eso sí, a diferencia de la primera novela, el protagonista me ha caído mejor.
Bastante más flojo que el primero, el caso empieza siendo muy interesante pero acaba siendo completamente aburrido y el final un poco precipitado y absurdo.
Eso sí, a diferencia de la primera novela, el protagonista me ha caído mejor.
January 12, 2023
"Un soplo de aire fresco", primer libro de esta serie y primera novela de Don Winslow, fue mi novela favorita de 2021. La típica historia de "little girl lost" (en todo el centro de Londres, sumando puntos), pero narrada en paralelo a los años de formación del detective privado protagonista, algo que yo nunca había leído en las decenas (un par de cientos, diría yo) de novelas de detectives que han caído en mis manos. Eso sumado a la prosa ágil e ingeniosa de Winslow, me pareció, efectivamente, un soplo de aire fresco.
Esta segunda parte, en cambio, se me ha hecho bolísima, ya que cambia la cotidianidad urbana de un detective por una trama de espionaje y traiciones (y traiciones, y más traiciones), muy liosa y muy poco interesante. Eso sí, como "La China maoísta para Dummies" el libro no está nada mal.
Pero, sin duda, seguiré leyendo a Don Winslow.
Esta segunda parte, en cambio, se me ha hecho bolísima, ya que cambia la cotidianidad urbana de un detective por una trama de espionaje y traiciones (y traiciones, y más traiciones), muy liosa y muy poco interesante. Eso sí, como "La China maoísta para Dummies" el libro no está nada mal.
Pero, sin duda, seguiré leyendo a Don Winslow.
August 21, 2018
Visto il grande success di Winslow, la sua casa editrice ha pensato di pubblicare anche le sue prime opere. “China girl” è uscito in Italia nel 2016 ma è stato scritto nel 1992 ed è una delle prime opere dello scrittore. La storia è ambientata tra California, Hong Kong e Cina complotti politici, spionaggio industriale, grandi amori e conflitti familiari. Il protagonista è Neal Carey, uno strampalato investigatore privato che riesce a fare sempre la cosa sbagliata ma la fa sempre con grande passione.
Pur avendo diversi elementi positivi che lasciano intravedere la stoffa dello scrittore californiano, questo romanzo non è al livello delle sue opere più famose. Lo stile è ancora acerbo e la trama risulta parecchio confusa e poco plausibile.
Pur avendo diversi elementi positivi che lasciano intravedere la stoffa dello scrittore californiano, questo romanzo non è al livello delle sue opere più famose. Lo stile è ancora acerbo e la trama risulta parecchio confusa e poco plausibile.
October 30, 2018
6 días y 6000+ scrolleadas del Kindle. La segunda parte de la saga de Neal Carey, de las pocas sagas en las que estoy metido.
Al principio comienza con la frescura y gracia que su predecesor, pero mientras pasan las páginas todo se vuelve más tedioso y cansado. Definitivamente no es lo mismo un escenario de UK que el de China.
En sí creo que todo se mantiene, lo que termina por asesinarnos es la clase de historia que nos quiere dar. Sí, mantiene un ritmo vertiginoso y de aventura pero el contexto no nos ayuda.
No se puede revelar mucho de la trama, pero de alguna forma tengo esperanzas renovadas en la próxima entrega.
No me voy decepcionado pero tampoco me voy feliz. Esperemos que todo se arregle en el próximo. Y aunque lo leí bastante rápido (porque el libro se deja), creo que hubiera podido hacerlo mejor.
Habrá reseña.
Al principio comienza con la frescura y gracia que su predecesor, pero mientras pasan las páginas todo se vuelve más tedioso y cansado. Definitivamente no es lo mismo un escenario de UK que el de China.
En sí creo que todo se mantiene, lo que termina por asesinarnos es la clase de historia que nos quiere dar. Sí, mantiene un ritmo vertiginoso y de aventura pero el contexto no nos ayuda.
No se puede revelar mucho de la trama, pero de alguna forma tengo esperanzas renovadas en la próxima entrega.
No me voy decepcionado pero tampoco me voy feliz. Esperemos que todo se arregle en el próximo. Y aunque lo leí bastante rápido (porque el libro se deja), creo que hubiera podido hacerlo mejor.
Habrá reseña.
September 22, 2020
Not good
I found this book confusing. Parts were really good, and I thought: "great story to come" , then it is as if it was written by someone else, and utter garbage.
I am convinced this book was not written by one person
In the end it was not enjoyable.
I found this book confusing. Parts were really good, and I thought: "great story to come" , then it is as if it was written by someone else, and utter garbage.
I am convinced this book was not written by one person
In the end it was not enjoyable.
December 4, 2025
Started this over the summer then stopped cause I got a girlfriend, now we are back. (We are still dating she is wonderful).
I loved this book. I am a big Don Winslow guy and he never fails to entertain or enthrall me. His writing style, character voices, & the way every page makes me smile.
My only negative is: I think this book could have been a little more grounded in comparison to the first book. I also understand increasing in scale as a series goes on. Comparison to the Fast and Furious series - from simple street racing to going to space - this went from a missing child in book 1 to a story of international & political espionage.
I enjoyed the story and characters a lot. I share the same sentiment with the first book - strong writing, characters, and story that hooks you. Even though I loved it, I think it the jump between books was more significant that I wanted.
I loved this book. I am a big Don Winslow guy and he never fails to entertain or enthrall me. His writing style, character voices, & the way every page makes me smile.
My only negative is: I think this book could have been a little more grounded in comparison to the first book. I also understand increasing in scale as a series goes on. Comparison to the Fast and Furious series - from simple street racing to going to space - this went from a missing child in book 1 to a story of international & political espionage.
I enjoyed the story and characters a lot. I share the same sentiment with the first book - strong writing, characters, and story that hooks you. Even though I loved it, I think it the jump between books was more significant that I wanted.
January 4, 2018
Another good story. With a really nice twist at the end.
December 27, 2017
4 libri in uno e non così ben connessi tra loro.Neal Carey mi piace ma ho trovato ostico arrivare alla fine e il finale non ha ribaltato la mia idea di questo libro. ...2 stelle
April 25, 2021
Se trata de la segunda entrega de la saga de Neal Carey. Para mi gusto, ésta no brilla a la misma altura que la primera "Un soplo de aire fresco", pero quizá sea yoTranscurre entre Hong Kong y China por lo que ya es bastante lioso captar a la primera el enjambre de espías y contraespías que además tienen nombres chinos que se parecen y a los que no estamos acostumbrados. Añádase a esto que yo hago una lectura híbrida apoyándome en el sonido gracias a la adaptación Voice Over, por lo que quizá, no sea tan difícil. En cualquier caso, me parece lenta la primera mitad, aunque la segunda retoma el ritmo más propio de otras novelas de Winslow, aunque queda lejos de referentesfv vgggggg como "El poder del perro" o "Savages" (Salvajes). Con todo, hay momentos brillantes de novela policíaca y, como en la mayoría de las de este autor, su sola lectura supone una lección de geografía e historia importante.
La tercera entrega, según se deduce de lo que se adelanta al final, promete una vuelta al clásico que apuntaba en la primera novela.
Un 7 sobre 10.
La tercera entrega, según se deduce de lo que se adelanta al final, promete una vuelta al clásico que apuntaba en la primera novela.
Un 7 sobre 10.
March 5, 2014
Neal Carey, el hijo del mayor deus ex machina de Nueva York, se ve envuelto en una nueva aventura cuyo desarrollo requeriría más explicaciones. En esta ocasión acaba en China (no es spoiler, lo dice en la página 1 del libro) persiguiendo a una tía buena (qué raro) local que le provoca sentimientos encontrados.
Cosas buenas: Sale la ciudad amurallada de Kowloon, en toda su espléndida sordidez. La derribaron un par de años despiués de que se escribiera la novela. En las escenas de sexo evita descripciones innecesarias. Todos sabemos cómo se folla, no hace falta que nos lo expliquen. La crítica salvaje a la política internacional de EEUU, que desarrollaría hasta la explosión de El poder del Perro. Aquí la matiza bastante.
Cosas malas: EL final es sencillamente absurdo. Utiliza a unos personajes para describir a otros en plan freudiano y que el lector entienda los dilemas que se le plantean al protagonista. Cosas así. Pero bueno, es una segunda novela, no le pidamos ser Tolstoi.
Entretenida es, eso sí.
Cosas buenas: Sale la ciudad amurallada de Kowloon, en toda su espléndida sordidez. La derribaron un par de años despiués de que se escribiera la novela. En las escenas de sexo evita descripciones innecesarias. Todos sabemos cómo se folla, no hace falta que nos lo expliquen. La crítica salvaje a la política internacional de EEUU, que desarrollaría hasta la explosión de El poder del Perro. Aquí la matiza bastante.
Cosas malas: EL final es sencillamente absurdo. Utiliza a unos personajes para describir a otros en plan freudiano y que el lector entienda los dilemas que se le plantean al protagonista. Cosas así. Pero bueno, es una segunda novela, no le pidamos ser Tolstoi.
Entretenida es, eso sí.
May 18, 2016
No me ha gustado tanto como el anterior. Por un lado se pierde toda la parte del proceso se aprendizaje del oficio de detective privado de Neal Carey, que ahora me doy cuenta de que era la parte más atractiva del primer libro. Por otro lado, Winslow se mete en el berenjenal de hablar de política extranjera (en este caso china) y lo hace, evidentemente, desde el punto de vista exclusivo del norteamericano típico. Lo que además no ayuda en nada a la narración ni aporta nada.
Y la historia que se narra tampoco es demasiado interesante. Carey apenas hace nada más que dejarse llevar de un lado a otro como un pelele sin tomar ningún tipo de iniciativa ni intervenir de otra forma que como víctima pasiva de un montón de historias un poco absurdas.
Lo cierto es que después de la inesperada alegría del primer volumen, éste me ha dejado más bien frío y me temo que va a ser mi despedida de la serie, porque no me atrae este rumbo y mucho menos si Winslow se me va a poner a explicar geopolítica desde la óptica USA. Lástima de serie...
Y la historia que se narra tampoco es demasiado interesante. Carey apenas hace nada más que dejarse llevar de un lado a otro como un pelele sin tomar ningún tipo de iniciativa ni intervenir de otra forma que como víctima pasiva de un montón de historias un poco absurdas.
Lo cierto es que después de la inesperada alegría del primer volumen, éste me ha dejado más bien frío y me temo que va a ser mi despedida de la serie, porque no me atrae este rumbo y mucho menos si Winslow se me va a poner a explicar geopolítica desde la óptica USA. Lástima de serie...
May 17, 2017
Definitivamente Don Winslow se agarra con fuerza al título de "escritor favorito del año" , estoy a 4 libros de poder decir; me he leído todo lo escrito por este autor que haya sido traducido al castellano, ¡Sí señor!.
Esta segunda parte de la serie «Neal Carey» se luce por sus giros argumentales, es increíble el don que tiene el gran "Don W" de llevarte al límite, no intentéis predecir lo que sucederá porque os aseguro que no daréis ni una. Giros argumentales, personajes entrañables, una historia que se desarrolla dentro de un marco histórico bastante interesante como lo es la China bajo el mandato de Mao, que si sois un poco curiosos, o muy muy curiosos como yo, os dejará con ganas de investigar y leer todo sobre ello, ( Un tema interesante y con mucha miga que yo sólo conocía superficialmente ) capítulos llenos de acción, un libro culturalmente enriquecedor y con pequeñas enseñanzas muy explícitas para mentes ágiles, algunas un tanto ambiguas, hay que decirlo, todo depende siempre del prisma con que se mire.
¡ súper mega hiper recomendable ! imprescindible vamos ...
Esta segunda parte de la serie «Neal Carey» se luce por sus giros argumentales, es increíble el don que tiene el gran "Don W" de llevarte al límite, no intentéis predecir lo que sucederá porque os aseguro que no daréis ni una. Giros argumentales, personajes entrañables, una historia que se desarrolla dentro de un marco histórico bastante interesante como lo es la China bajo el mandato de Mao, que si sois un poco curiosos, o muy muy curiosos como yo, os dejará con ganas de investigar y leer todo sobre ello, ( Un tema interesante y con mucha miga que yo sólo conocía superficialmente ) capítulos llenos de acción, un libro culturalmente enriquecedor y con pequeñas enseñanzas muy explícitas para mentes ágiles, algunas un tanto ambiguas, hay que decirlo, todo depende siempre del prisma con que se mire.
¡ súper mega hiper recomendable ! imprescindible vamos ...
January 26, 2016
4.5 stars : The first book, A Cool Breeze on the Underground, was about the growing up and training of Neal Carey as a private investigator. While it was fun, it was tepid compared to this volume. Carey is now the most blundering, self-indulgent, hopelessly emotional and auto-destructive 'hero' one can find, but his adventures are addicting and nearly impossible to put down. Along with the intrigue and high adventure, this story has a fascinating (and highly accurate) historical perspective on the development of modern China and Mao's tragic folly up to the time the story is set, 1977.
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