From BooklistThis is a throwback to that time a decade ago when praise went to crime novels that transcended the genre, or tried to. Thus this promising story of a hired killer on the run from his own clients is constantly being stalled by digressions that aredepending on your point of viewfascinating or just mannered. We meet the killer after hes taken a job on a cruise ship, and the descriptions of boat life are dead-on. We follow him when hes hired by a billionaire to join the search for a mysterious sea creature in the northern U.S., and the narrative is propulsive. But the transcend argument believes its low rent to tell a story, so we have flashbacks, dream sequences, and endless footnotes. We get disquisitions on the Jewish state, the lives of trees, and the fallacy of cryogenics. One senses an author who cant quite keep his mind on his book or maybe wishes he was writing a different book. Could be thats why the intimate moments sound like scenes from an Adam Sandler movie. --Don Crinklaw PRAISE FOR WILD THING:"[Bazell's books] are hard-boiled thrillers, written in one of the most distinctively entertaining new fictional voices I've run across in years, in any genre. There is a massive density of information in [Wild Thing]...but Bazell wields it with wonderful lightness. Reading him is like being able to monopolize the attention of the most interesting person at a party...It's so rare that you see a really brilliant writer who is committed, 100%, in every sentence, to giving you a good time. Bazell is, and he does."Lev Grossman, Time"Carl Hiaasen fans will relish Bazell's frenetic sequel to 2009's Beat the Reaper...Bazell expertly blends action, farce, and political satire, and his wide-ranging imagination bodes well for the future of the series."Publishers Weekly (Starred )"The book is composed in Bazell's propulsive, profanity-laden style, peppering startling violence with detailed footnotes that cover subjects like tooth reinsertions and human cryogenics...Props to Bazell for not cranking out an idle retread of Beat the Reaper. A funny, unexpected journey for our hero that sets up the next installment with finesse."Kirkus"Is this novel better than Bazell's debut? It's as good as and more. In addition to the mayhem and madness of the original, there's an element of ecoconsciousness and political satire (the long-delayed appearance of the government official is worth the purchase price) that will leave readers wanting still more. Bazell makes being smart sexy and footnotes fun."Bob Lunn, Library Journal"Insanely funny...the work of a crackpot genius."Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book "A rousing, fast-paced sequel...Bazell's mix of violent lunacy and social commentary should appeal to fans of Carl Hiaasen...The novel is packed with witty footnotes, and when Brnwa isn't lusting after the paleontologist, he's a profanely trenchant social observer."Washington Post"Bazell's inventiveness and a series of plot twists ensure that Wild Thing never lets up...For suspense, the monster plot sinks its claws in, blending the best of Jaws with the comic sense of your favorite episode of Scooby-Doo. At its heart, this book is wildly fun."San Francisco Chronicle"A very thoughtful examination of the collision of rationality and superstition...Comes with the funniest footnotes and appendix (no kidding) ever written."Daily Beast"The novel is violent, sexy and relentlessly funny."Cleveland Plain Dealer"Wild Thing walks, talks, and squawks like a crime thriller, but it makes casual passes at left-field absurdity that aim for Hiaasen or Vonnegut...a fun, fast read."Entertainment WeeklyAbout the AuthorJosh Bazell has a BA in writing from Brown University and an MD from Columbia. His first book, the international best-seller Beat the Reaper, has been published in thirty-two languages and was one of Time's ten best novels of 2009. He lives in Brooklyn and Barcelona. where can i read stories online for free Wild Thing: A Novel
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Bazell's acerbic views and leaping mental gymnastics show up again!By Walton FrancisI think this book is a great deal better than as rated by those disappointed at its failure to meet the exceptional merits of Beat the Reaper. It kept me guessing until the very end, which is the prime test of a suspense novel, and it was full of interesting characters. The plot is a bit absurd and overly contrived, but the book is nonetheless a fun read, with lots of twists and turns, and with the Bazell habit of fascinating and well-researched end notes to accompany his penetrating social commentary. The one jarring note is his monomaniacal view of climate change. If he had an open mind on the subject, and read (just as one example) the John Abbot et al book "Climate Change: The Facts," he would learn a lot. And since he bizarrely thinks that the ClimateGate perpetrators were vindicated, and believes the alleged "consensus" to be an accurate and honest description of the science, he would also do well to read Mark Steyn's "A Disgrace to the Profession." Still, even the smartest among us are allowed an aberration or two in their mental portfolios. Read it and enjoy (but skip the climate change obsession)!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. It's ok to be different from the first book.By Matthew DanteI loved the book because I love the writing, dialogue, and the characters. I get that the second book is completely different from the first entry into the series but I'm fine with that. I'm hoping another book follows. The footnotes are great in both books and I enjoyed them both. To me, that's what it's all about.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Smart, funny, sharply written, just the right amount of absurdBy Marc Y. LeonardI really really liked the first Brnwa book and loved this second one. I'm looking for sharp writing above all else and this delivers fully with wit, excitement, and science - I love science! Especially when it's made fun. I wish I could say what was one of the most clever elements of the book but it's kind of a spoiler.The whole time I was reading I was afraid of finishing because loved living in this world if only for a little while, and really really hope for many more books to come.