The 25th Hour

This book was extremely well written, but it suffered from the all-too-frequent malady of the character-driven novel: nothing much happens. The story revolves around a drug dealer who has been convicted in federal court and is living out his last 24 hours before he must report to prison. So he gets together with his dog, his father, his two best friends, his girlfriend and some of his drug-dealing cohorts to— Well, there really is no appropriate way to mark such an occasion, is there?

Along the way, we learn about his life, his friends’ lives, his girlfriend, how he rescued his dog – all the things that make us interested in these people. But the problem is they don’t do much of anything. It seems like they’re all on the verge show more of making some momentous change, of somehow steering their lives – which have all gone off track, they don’t know how – back in the right direction. The teacher is going to shrug off his fear and grab a little gusto. The obsessive investment broker is going to figure out what’s really important. The drug dealer – who of course we like despite his profession – is going to figure out how to get out of going to prison.

But none of this stuff quite happens; it just almost does. Even at the end, as the drug dealer is riding with his father toward prison and his father suggests taking a wrong turn, and he ends up imagining the life he might have if he were to run – even then, he doesn’t do it. Or maybe he does. We never know. And that was the frustrating thing about this novel. It was a good read, but it left me unsatisfied, wondering how in the hell they found enough going on in this book to make a movie out of it. (Oh, that’s right, I didn’t like the movie either.) show less

David Benioff is perfect.

I know, I know, he can't be. For a start his books are really popular, so he can't be good, right? I mean not really good, not if he's making a living out of it.

And honestly, his novels: they start at the start and end at the end, they have a story to them and fantastic characters. I mean, how passé can you get?

Hang on a tick. I think this is what I meant to say:

I started this yesterday, began it again at breakfast and couldn't do a thing until it was finished.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Yay for a great story full of people who are a joy to read about that makes you feel a bit weepy at the end, not to give anything away.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Imagine... You've made some bad mistakes that cost you and now it's time to face the music. Worse yet, you know a friend snitched you out to save his skin, but you say nothing. Your long time girlfriend has never worked a day in her life while living like a queen, ignorant to the reality. Your life long friends are speechless knowing they won't see you for seven years.. Or maybe never again.

This is the story of Monty Brogan, a 27 year old NY drug dealer who has twenty five hours before heading to prison. His emotions are all over the map, while his friends can't begin to imagine how he must feel. As they gather at a club for send off party, revelations surface as they bare their souls.

Well paced, engaging and inspired, we get a glimpse show more into the thoughts of the characters and wonder.. What would I feel were this me? Having been through this myself, this story speaks miles about regret, and the value of friendship.

For those unaware this story was adapted in a Spike Lee film starring Ed Norton and received many award nominations. As with most books is it fills information left out in the film, and for that I am truly grateful. A fast, evocative read, I can't recommend this enough. Add it to your list and enjoy the ride. show less

Very readable, and a good study in how to develop characters and scenes. However, it is a bit overwritten in my opinion, I prefer sparse prose.

Mary’s hazel eyes drown in pools of painted shadow, pennies just visible at the bottom of the wishing well. Jakob wonders why she and her friends favor such a morbid style, as if their models were not chosen from the covers of slick magazines but the refrigerators of the city morgue. And her hair. When was the last time she washed her hair?

In saying that Benioff writes beautifully and with impressive flow. I was hooked by the prologue where Monty and his Ukrainian thug sidekick rescue a Pitbull lying wounded by the side of the road. This dog, Doyle, becomes an entertaining character in his own show more right. The plot does meander a bit, something you’ll know if you’ve seen the movie.

This is the tale of the golden boy, Monty - one who didn't think the rules were from him - getting his comeuppance. I also thought Jakob, Monty's high school teacher's friend was a strong character, a man totally lacking in self-confidence, played with cringeworthy brilliance by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the movie. The book is also an ode to New York where Benioff grew up. Having seen so many movies set in New York and LA, I'd rather read about another American city.

One thing I didn't really find convincing was the way Monty wooed Naturelle - leaving expensive gifts for her at her school. This seems a bit desperate, or was it just the practical way of doing things for Monty who always got what he wanted? Getting paid to write the screenplay allowed Benioff to quit his teaching job. While the book’s ending leaves us hanging, in real life a writer managing to quit his teaching job is a happy ending. show less

Monty (Montgomery) has screwed up his life. He is 26 years old, is handsome, has a beautiful girlfriend and a great apartment. Monty had a scholarship to attend a private high school, but messed that up. He started dealing drugs in high school and ended up getting tossed out of school. Monty says he was just six months away from having enough money to quit, but he got caught by the Feds, and in 24 hours he must report for a seven-year sentence. The best he will get is a reduction in his sentence of 82 days for good behavior. Monty spends his last day with his dog, Doyle, his two best friends, Frank Slattery and Jakob Elinsky, and his girl friend, Naturelle.

I was looking forward to this novel because I had so enjoyed David Benioff’s show more City of Thieves. The 25th Hour is actually Benioff’s first novel. The structure of the novel is choppy. However, while The 25th Hour in no way compares with City of Thieves, it is an interesting character study that surprised me with depth in some characters that seem initially very superficial. show less

Benioff è uno sceneggiatore, e si sente. L'azione si svolge nell'arco di una giornata molto particolare per i tre amici protagonisti, in un susseguirsi di quadri che li caratterizzano.
Per la maggior parte del libro i protagonisti sono separati, passano insieme "poche pagine" tutto sommato: ma il racconto è quello di una grande amicizia e questo legame fa sì che non sia percepita la distanza fisica.
Ho visto e amato il film e adesso posso dire di aver letto e amato il libro, come in altri casi non mi riesce fare un confronto. In questo caso, forse, anche per la sceneggiatura dello stesso Benioff.

It's good. I like the set-up: Monty's last 24hrs before heading off for a stretch in federal prison. And the characters are very well-painted. But it fizzles a little bit at the end and doesn't wrap things up in a totally satisfying way, which is a bit disappointing. But I like Benioff's style. "City of Thieves" is definitely a better work of his, though.