Emily’s review of The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike, #6) > Likes and Comments
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The length scares me!
What’s weird to me is that it takes 1000 pages for the story to build up and we get 15 pages of solution ?
You could have put a spoler alert in regard to the love storyline.
I didn't mind the length of troubled blood, I felt like it was justified with the slower pace, by sort of vibes drifting from it being further back in time, but I agree this book could probably have been halved with little to no loss of plot.
Totally agree I said this about the last book it needed a good editor with a big red marker pen saying no ,cut this and this and make the book tighter and therefore more enjoyable
Totally agree. Hardly any time on the resolution and too many twitter handles!!
I love the fact they're so long, it means more to enjoy, and none of it was to excess
Great review. I haven’t read this one yet, but you echo my thoughts about the last one - too long and needed good editing!
I was initially excited when it was said that there would be 7+ books of this series but now I’m dreading her ruining it with over long (you said it) indulgent writing.
I’m on page 797 and am just tired of it. Please finish-soon!
Great review! I’m on page 293 and it’s tedious. I’m wondering whether I’ll skip straight to the end or just skip all the gaming conversations. Think I’ll try the latter. Also wondering how/if they’ll make another tv series out of it. Enjoyed the previous ones
I stayed up late last night just to be done! I skipped the gaming conversations....I've loved all the books in the series but the last 2 are groaners
I completely agree! I couldn’t wait to be done with this book.
I so agree with you. I also began skipping the gaming conversations.
I can’t agree more! I feel like editors must be afraid to tell famous authors to cut their books by a couple of hundred pages.
I agree wholeheartedly. Her editors need to start red lining half of her novel and save us from this drudgery. Bwah
Completely agree, exhausted is the word!
So true! What a disappointment after more than 1000 pages. Ffs
Excellent review. I’m only up to page 200, and I’m already bored to tears with the gaming conversations. Is the author trying to prove that she understands all this stuff?
Agree agree agree! Editors need to read the story, you've got one job. One dialogue had "said Edie" when it should have been Rachael. And how they arrested and walked out the two brothers when one had just been hit by a train! The online dialogue repeat repeat, aaahhh.
I totally agree. I went through all the books as audiobooks and the leap to a 30+ hour book was extreme. Also, the way the chat messages were read was awful, and probably added a few hours with words and details that you'd just skip over reading.
That said, I still look forward to the next chapter to see what happens with Strike and Robin.
Not only is it too drawn out, but there are many many errors! For example, everyone including Rachel Ledwell herself, refers to Edie as her “aunt,” when they are COUSINS!!! Her father’s niece is her cousin, duh. Also, Strike refers to Darwish as “he” when telling Robin what she told him in the hospital. A few places there were repeated words like “already already” and in places she uses the same description twice (like, EVERY TIME they try to join the game, she describes how Harty pops up and rejects them).
Every meal they eat and drink they drink has to be described for some reason.
I also feel that the dialogue is drawn out way too much in a self-indulgent attempt at reproducing accents or mannerisms. Or maybe as obfuscation. It gets tedious. Not to mention the pages of vapid online banter we’re subjected to.
I liked the story all right, but it would have benefited from having a strong Cutter.
So totally true! Crazy unnecessary lengthy book....
I agree. Plot warranted 250 pages, but I guess if you created Harry Potter you get as many pages as you wanted. I also hated the extended internet discussions, especially two or three discussions on the same page.
Agree, love the characters & the writing and the plot was fine but way too long and bloated, just really didn’t need to be so drawn out. I also really like the screen adaptation of the series so far.
I only just picked the book up. I use Kindle. My heart sank when I saw pages and pages of online chats too small to read. At the end of the last book, I thought it had been WAY longer than it needed to be with WAY too many insignificant characters — too many to keep them all straight. Now that I’ve seen this thread I’m feeling I just can’t be bothered and I wish I hadn’t bought it.
This was the exact review I came here to leave. Should've been AT LEAST 500 pages shorter. And that still would've put it near 1000 pages. I just wanted to be done with it. This might be it for the series for me.
Emily, I so agree with you. The books get thicker and thicker. I loved the first few and even watch the series and do still love the characters but too long!
You nailed it. There's a good story in there somewhere but it didn't fight its way out.
I was so looking forward to reading this book from 'Robert Galbraith'. Having enjoyed the others in the series and given 5 star reviews. However I was so very disappointed and somewhat surprised at how let down I felt. The on-line chats drove me insane and the amount of different characters had me constantly turning back the pages. In truth eventually I just skipped all of the chats out of pure frustration. I understand the idea behind this and some may consider it innovative, but for me it was annoying.
It was really long and I certainly struggled at times! Also found Madeline so dull. Hoping for something a bit more exciting in that respect in the next book!
I actually would agree with you for the previous books (especially Career of Evil) where a lot of time was wasted on storylines that lead nowhere. But for some reason I actually enjoyed the detective part of the book (suspect chasing and even the far-right plot). But the love story angle between Strike and Robin is getting a bit boring now and probably those parts should be shortened.
I agree with your thoughts. Rowling does not have to write a 1000 page book. I too am tired of the "will they, won't they" relationship between Strike and Robin. With that being said, I thought the actual mystery was bit interesting and I thought Rowling did a good job with characters.
Meh, I love long books. Hate to see a good book end. I know that’s. It for everyone. I will say these books could all be 25% shorter if you just cut out each time Strike smokes and the crazy amount of time these books talk about it.
Also, the attraction between the two is getting old. Crap or get off the pot comes to mind. Also get a better prosthetic and quit complaining about the cheap one you got from the military.
Couldn't agree more. Loved the series, the caracters, but now it's all too much.
I'm still hoping he'll make up with Charlotte 🙂
I would rather have the editor correct obvious mistakes, such as in the timeline, which is distracting and misleading in a detective novel where we try to make sense and solve a crime.
There is a date given “February 30” in the audio. I went back to be sure…what! Perhaps a clue?
I have similar thoughts but you are more polite!
You’ve worded what I was thinking so well - thank you!
The neat thing about slow stories and audiobooks is that you can be doing something else. You can speed it up to Mikey Mouse and race through intolerable parts like I do with SEX SCENES. You can replay a chapter (over and over). That being said, there’s a huge difference when you’re driving through the night and listening to a mystery and you have absolutely nothing else to do, but stare ahead and keep it between the lines. It does a lot for something boring, so you’re completely absorbed. But … If you hear that I just drove of the road, then you’ll know it’s hopeless.
Loved #6 The Ink Black Heart. This book had me gripped since Sept. Partner is reading War & Peace so don’t consider this a terribly long book, just more challenging and entertaining as there are so many twists and speculations to consider.
Of course Strike and Robin can’t get together, let’s face it, this forbidden love will ruin that chemistry they have between them.
Hope the TV series does it justice!?
I agree! Too many informations, many of them don't have the point for the case (at least I think so), but I guess that's Joanne's way of confusing us so we don't find out who the killer is or Anomie is. As for Robin and Strike, looks like Joanne likes a veeeeeryyyy slow burning romances. I love her writing but I hope that she won't blow this off.
Should've put in a spoiler alert for your disclosure on their love lives. That was the only thing keeping me interested in the series..
Those of you complaining about the online conversations... This book is one that is better enjoyed on a reread. If you read the online conversations knowing what you know at the end, they're brilliant, and absolutely chilling (ie poor Morehouse!).
I’m really struggling with this book. I think I hate it
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Helene
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Sep 01, 2022 04:10AM
The length scares me!
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What’s weird to me is that it takes 1000 pages for the story to build up and we get 15 pages of solution ?
You could have put a spoler alert in regard to the love storyline.
I didn't mind the length of troubled blood, I felt like it was justified with the slower pace, by sort of vibes drifting from it being further back in time, but I agree this book could probably have been halved with little to no loss of plot.
Totally agree I said this about the last book it needed a good editor with a big red marker pen saying no ,cut this and this and make the book tighter and therefore more enjoyable
Totally agree. Hardly any time on the resolution and too many twitter handles!!
I love the fact they're so long, it means more to enjoy, and none of it was to excess
Great review. I haven’t read this one yet, but you echo my thoughts about the last one - too long and needed good editing!
I was initially excited when it was said that there would be 7+ books of this series but now I’m dreading her ruining it with over long (you said it) indulgent writing.
I’m on page 797 and am just tired of it. Please finish-soon!
Great review! I’m on page 293 and it’s tedious. I’m wondering whether I’ll skip straight to the end or just skip all the gaming conversations. Think I’ll try the latter. Also wondering how/if they’ll make another tv series out of it. Enjoyed the previous ones
I stayed up late last night just to be done! I skipped the gaming conversations....I've loved all the books in the series but the last 2 are groaners
I completely agree! I couldn’t wait to be done with this book.
I so agree with you. I also began skipping the gaming conversations.
I can’t agree more! I feel like editors must be afraid to tell famous authors to cut their books by a couple of hundred pages.
I agree wholeheartedly. Her editors need to start red lining half of her novel and save us from this drudgery. Bwah
Completely agree, exhausted is the word!
So true! What a disappointment after more than 1000 pages. Ffs
Excellent review. I’m only up to page 200, and I’m already bored to tears with the gaming conversations. Is the author trying to prove that she understands all this stuff?
Agree agree agree! Editors need to read the story, you've got one job. One dialogue had "said Edie" when it should have been Rachael. And how they arrested and walked out the two brothers when one had just been hit by a train! The online dialogue repeat repeat, aaahhh.
I totally agree. I went through all the books as audiobooks and the leap to a 30+ hour book was extreme. Also, the way the chat messages were read was awful, and probably added a few hours with words and details that you'd just skip over reading.That said, I still look forward to the next chapter to see what happens with Strike and Robin.
Not only is it too drawn out, but there are many many errors! For example, everyone including Rachel Ledwell herself, refers to Edie as her “aunt,” when they are COUSINS!!! Her father’s niece is her cousin, duh. Also, Strike refers to Darwish as “he” when telling Robin what she told him in the hospital. A few places there were repeated words like “already already” and in places she uses the same description twice (like, EVERY TIME they try to join the game, she describes how Harty pops up and rejects them). Every meal they eat and drink they drink has to be described for some reason.
I also feel that the dialogue is drawn out way too much in a self-indulgent attempt at reproducing accents or mannerisms. Or maybe as obfuscation. It gets tedious. Not to mention the pages of vapid online banter we’re subjected to.
I liked the story all right, but it would have benefited from having a strong Cutter.
So totally true! Crazy unnecessary lengthy book....
I agree. Plot warranted 250 pages, but I guess if you created Harry Potter you get as many pages as you wanted. I also hated the extended internet discussions, especially two or three discussions on the same page.
Agree, love the characters & the writing and the plot was fine but way too long and bloated, just really didn’t need to be so drawn out. I also really like the screen adaptation of the series so far.
I only just picked the book up. I use Kindle. My heart sank when I saw pages and pages of online chats too small to read. At the end of the last book, I thought it had been WAY longer than it needed to be with WAY too many insignificant characters — too many to keep them all straight. Now that I’ve seen this thread I’m feeling I just can’t be bothered and I wish I hadn’t bought it.
This was the exact review I came here to leave. Should've been AT LEAST 500 pages shorter. And that still would've put it near 1000 pages. I just wanted to be done with it. This might be it for the series for me.
Emily, I so agree with you. The books get thicker and thicker. I loved the first few and even watch the series and do still love the characters but too long!
You nailed it. There's a good story in there somewhere but it didn't fight its way out.
I was so looking forward to reading this book from 'Robert Galbraith'. Having enjoyed the others in the series and given 5 star reviews. However I was so very disappointed and somewhat surprised at how let down I felt. The on-line chats drove me insane and the amount of different characters had me constantly turning back the pages. In truth eventually I just skipped all of the chats out of pure frustration. I understand the idea behind this and some may consider it innovative, but for me it was annoying.
It was really long and I certainly struggled at times! Also found Madeline so dull. Hoping for something a bit more exciting in that respect in the next book!
I actually would agree with you for the previous books (especially Career of Evil) where a lot of time was wasted on storylines that lead nowhere. But for some reason I actually enjoyed the detective part of the book (suspect chasing and even the far-right plot). But the love story angle between Strike and Robin is getting a bit boring now and probably those parts should be shortened.
I agree with your thoughts. Rowling does not have to write a 1000 page book. I too am tired of the "will they, won't they" relationship between Strike and Robin. With that being said, I thought the actual mystery was bit interesting and I thought Rowling did a good job with characters.
Meh, I love long books. Hate to see a good book end. I know that’s. It for everyone. I will say these books could all be 25% shorter if you just cut out each time Strike smokes and the crazy amount of time these books talk about it. Also, the attraction between the two is getting old. Crap or get off the pot comes to mind. Also get a better prosthetic and quit complaining about the cheap one you got from the military.
Couldn't agree more. Loved the series, the caracters, but now it's all too much.
I'm still hoping he'll make up with Charlotte 🙂
I would rather have the editor correct obvious mistakes, such as in the timeline, which is distracting and misleading in a detective novel where we try to make sense and solve a crime.
There is a date given “February 30” in the audio. I went back to be sure…what! Perhaps a clue?
I have similar thoughts but you are more polite!
You’ve worded what I was thinking so well - thank you!
The neat thing about slow stories and audiobooks is that you can be doing something else. You can speed it up to Mikey Mouse and race through intolerable parts like I do with SEX SCENES. You can replay a chapter (over and over). That being said, there’s a huge difference when you’re driving through the night and listening to a mystery and you have absolutely nothing else to do, but stare ahead and keep it between the lines. It does a lot for something boring, so you’re completely absorbed. But … If you hear that I just drove of the road, then you’ll know it’s hopeless.
Loved #6 The Ink Black Heart. This book had me gripped since Sept. Partner is reading War & Peace so don’t consider this a terribly long book, just more challenging and entertaining as there are so many twists and speculations to consider. Of course Strike and Robin can’t get together, let’s face it, this forbidden love will ruin that chemistry they have between them.
Hope the TV series does it justice!?
I agree! Too many informations, many of them don't have the point for the case (at least I think so), but I guess that's Joanne's way of confusing us so we don't find out who the killer is or Anomie is. As for Robin and Strike, looks like Joanne likes a veeeeeryyyy slow burning romances. I love her writing but I hope that she won't blow this off.
Should've put in a spoiler alert for your disclosure on their love lives. That was the only thing keeping me interested in the series..
Those of you complaining about the online conversations... This book is one that is better enjoyed on a reread. If you read the online conversations knowing what you know at the end, they're brilliant, and absolutely chilling (ie poor Morehouse!).
I’m really struggling with this book. I think I hate it