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Title: Prepared for Rage: A Novel
ISBN: 0312369735
Author:
Dana Stabenow
Publicate Date: 2008-02-05
Publish: 2008-02-05
List Price: $24.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $4.49
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.79
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.85
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Good, not quite gripping
I don't fault Stabenow for stretching her writing muscles by wandering afield from her superb Alaskan mysteries. She did it successfully in Blindfold Game, but a little less successfully here.
Stabenow spends a lot of the book trying to get into the heads of anti-American terrorists, and she does a credible job of it. Somehow, though, none of the characters on either side of this conflict really ignited with me: I kept reading to see what happened, but not because I was taking the journey with the characters.
Stabenow has, as always, done a ton of research, and she uses it well. A major plot point, though, depended on a false premise, and that left a sour taste as I read. It's critical to the story that NASA has been paid to launch an Arab communications satellite from the Space Shuttle, but NASA stopped all such commercial arrangements after the Challenger disaster - in other words, many years ago. I can't figure out whether Stabenow somehow missed that in her extensive research or knew it but chose to ignore it to set up the plot, hoping readers wouldn't know. Either is surprising for one of my favorite authors, a woman who writes characters, plots, and landscapes in a way most of her competitors only dream about. Here's hoping for a better outing next time (and, in the meantime, more Kate Shugak)!
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2: New territory for Stabenow not up to par.
I must start by saying that I have been a big fan of Stabenow for years. Her Kate Shugak novels are excellent and well written mysteries. However, her last two novels have turned to the thriller genre and are far below the standard that she had previously achieved. Blinfold Game was a 2 star outing and Prepared for Rage is only 1 star in my opinion. Basically, the story devlopment is weak and not very believable. The characters are inconsistent, and coincidence just plays too big a part in holding the story together. Dana, please go back to writing your Alaskan mysteries. You are very good at it - and far better than you are as a terrorist/thriller writer!
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3: Mutt, Fetch
We need to set Mutt out to fetch Dana Stabenow back where she belongs,which is writing about Kate Shugak. This glorificatin of the Coast Guard wasn't necessary. First of all, this branch of the Armed Forces serves its purpose, we don't have to try to glamour them up and make them secret agents. Next, the book just doesn't move. Like Dana's Liam Campbell books, they are something we, her dedicated fans, might buy in between her REAL books...the ones about Niniltna and Kate and Bernie and Chopper Jim and the rest. And for a while, Dana was only phoning those in. She's back on track now, with the latest Shugak entry, and I for one want more. Ms. Stabenow, if you read these reviews, please don't worry that you are going to the Kate Shugak well too often. I think that's why you have taken on these other projects, so we don't get tired of the Shugak books. I promise you, we won't. And if we do, then you can try writing about the Coast Guard and Liam and Old Tom Cobbley if you wish, but first, GIVE US MORE KATE. Thank you.
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4: This Woman Can Write by Spike Walker
As a sourdough Alaskan, Dana Stabenow's love for, and her knowledge of that great state comes through in every sentence. Her raw talent as a writer, and her passionate delivery of the written word separates her from the pack. She skillfully transports the reader into a world most of us would never, otherwise, visit. In short, this woman can flat write! So enjoy!
Spike Walker
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5: Prepared for Rage
Good book, Dana Stabenow's most recent standalone thriller. Like the first, Blindfold Game, the tale involves the Coast Guard, big fast (and slow) boats and terrorists and will draw, focus and escalate your attention in a way that means you'd best set aside some time to spend with the book. Many characters are so well drawn, you'll feel you've known them forever. And if you like them try one of her mystery series, Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell.
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