The Ruins (the book, not the movie)

Seventh · 04-08-2008, 06:11 PM

Figured I'd post up, though a lot of people have seen the movie already. I picked up the book at the airport on Monday, and it's now Tuesday afternoon and I'm done with it. I'm a firm believer that the book is 99.99% of the time better than the movie, so I was pumped to see it in the bend-you-over-airport-bookstore on the way to my flight. ($13.99 for a fucking paperback.)

Anyway, the book is, meh, depressing. The dialog is decent but the writing itself isn't very good and almost all of the conversation flows as though it's part of a 6th grade English paper.

Jeff said: "So, we need water."
"Yes", said Amy.
"Let's get some.", said Jeff.
"Ok.", said Amy.

I'm not a grammar snob, but at some points the writing itself was so poor that it was plain difficult to read. On top of that, if you've seen the movie, the scenes that assumedly (i haven't seen it) last 10 minutes are literally 5 or 6 chapters long. I read a good 100 pages about one person being thirsty, only to be followed up by another 50 pages of someone being unhappy.

It's just not a very good read. I smoked right through it because it's an easy page turner - almost Koontz-esque, aside from the fact that Koontz writes a damn good story (albeit systematic) and this book is just boring. One could easily read every third chapter or so and not miss any plot.

That's my .2c. Watch the movie. If it's two hours long, it's a cool story with a decent 'twist' (sort of) ending that I think I'd enjoy vegetating in front of. I definitely can't recommend the book though, since it's just too long, too wordy, and not enough actually _happens_ in the story to justify putting down/aside a better book to read this one.

Brand · 04-10-2008, 11:06 AM

The book should have been a short story...As a standalone book it was simply too tedious and long. I felt there was a LOT of filler in there.

Seventh · 04-10-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brand

The book should have been a short story...As a standalone book it was simply too tedious and long. I felt there was a LOT of filler in there.

Yep. 100 pages of someone being thirsty, followed by 100 pages of someone being hot, followed by 100 pages of someone wishing they were back in their hotel.

This book sucks.

Malice · 04-13-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seventh

That's my .2c.

I couldn't resist.

Burkex · 04-24-2008, 08:23 PM

I read the book about a year or so ago before I even knew there was a movie coming out about it and I really enjoyed the book.

Brand · 04-25-2008, 11:10 AM

Yeah, but you like Lost.

04-08-2008, 06:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Seventh sevenstring.org Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 190 +0 Internets	The Ruins (the book, not the movie) Figured I'd post up, though a lot of people have seen the movie already. I picked up the book at the airport on Monday, and it's now Tuesday afternoon and I'm done with it. I'm a firm believer that the book is 99.99% of the time better than the movie, so I was pumped to see it in the bend-you-over-airport-bookstore on the way to my flight. ($13.99 for a fucking paperback.) Anyway, the book is, meh, depressing. The dialog is decent but the writing itself isn't very good and almost all of the conversation flows as though it's part of a 6th grade English paper. Jeff said: "So, we need water." "Yes", said Amy. "Let's get some.", said Jeff. "Ok.", said Amy. I'm not a grammar snob, but at some points the writing itself was so poor that it was plain difficult to read. On top of that, if you've seen the movie, the scenes that assumedly (i haven't seen it) last 10 minutes are literally 5 or 6 chapters long. I read a good 100 pages about one person being thirsty, only to be followed up by another 50 pages of someone being unhappy. It's just not a very good read. I smoked right through it because it's an easy page turner - almost Koontz-esque, aside from the fact that Koontz writes a damn good story (albeit systematic) and this book is just boring. One could easily read every third chapter or so and not miss any plot. That's my .2c. Watch the movie. If it's two hours long, it's a cool story with a decent 'twist' (sort of) ending that I think I'd enjoy vegetating in front of. I definitely can't recommend the book though, since it's just too long, too wordy, and not enough actually _happens_ in the story to justify putting down/aside a better book to read this one. __________________ EQ: Asylum / 65 Ranger / 855 AA - TCR/Kane Bayle WoW: Sleeper / 70 Mage - Khaz'Modan http://www.sevenstring.org

04-24-2008, 08:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Burkex It's Lord of the Flies time. Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,375 -25 Internets	I read the book about a year or so ago before I even knew there was a movie coming out about it and I really enjoyed the book. __________________ "If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love." My favorite comment (-1): "Your posts make me want to gouge my own eyes out." Last edited by Burkex : 04-29-2008 at 10:00 AM.

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04-10-2008, 11:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Brand Prince of Nothing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 208 +1 Internets	The book should have been a short story...As a standalone book it was simply too tedious and long. I felt there was a LOT of filler in there.

04-25-2008, 11:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Brand Prince of Nothing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 208 +1 Internets	Yeah, but you like Lost.