Matthew's Reviews > Camino Winds
Camino Winds (Camino Island #2)
by
by
2.5 to 3 Stars
I am in the middle of the road on this one . . . it has the typical feel of a John Grisham novel, and I thought at first it might come in highly for me. But, something odd happened about 2/3 of the way through it . . .
The pros:
- Unique and intriguing plot/mystery: A mysterious death during a hurricane? Yes, please!
- Fun characters: I like all the people we meet on Camino Island. Most of them are quirky writer types with interesting backgrounds.
The (maybe) cons:
- Grisham and food: I have said in previous reviews that one of the biggest things I have always noticed with Grisham from the very first time I read him, he has to give detailed accounts of all the food and drinks consumed by his characters. This was very obvious in Camino Winds. I think the book would be about one fourth shorter if the food a drink mentions were removed. Maybe not really a con, but it just stands out as filler (and makes me hungry and thirsty)
- The rush job: This was the odd part for me that kind of soured the whole experience. Grisham spent a couple hundred pages developing this intricate mystery and setting up all the situations and characters with a precarious heightened intensity. Then, I guess he got a call from his publisher saying the book was due because suddenly it was several weeks later and everything that had been built up was summarized in a few pages and it moved on to the end game of the novel. I felt a bit cheated to have everything I have been getting into resolved with some Clif Notes. This happened to me last year with another book (Gwendy’s Magic Feather) and I was much harsher on that one – mainly because I don’t think the rush job led to a bad ending like it did with that one. But, still . . . let me know if you read this one and felt the same way – it just stood out so much that it was shocking! I was speechless! I checked to see if some part of the copy I had was missing!
A decent book if you like the Grisham formula. But, don’t be surprised if you are looking for the missing pages like I was.
I am in the middle of the road on this one . . . it has the typical feel of a John Grisham novel, and I thought at first it might come in highly for me. But, something odd happened about 2/3 of the way through it . . .
The pros:
- Unique and intriguing plot/mystery: A mysterious death during a hurricane? Yes, please!
- Fun characters: I like all the people we meet on Camino Island. Most of them are quirky writer types with interesting backgrounds.
The (maybe) cons:
- Grisham and food: I have said in previous reviews that one of the biggest things I have always noticed with Grisham from the very first time I read him, he has to give detailed accounts of all the food and drinks consumed by his characters. This was very obvious in Camino Winds. I think the book would be about one fourth shorter if the food a drink mentions were removed. Maybe not really a con, but it just stands out as filler (and makes me hungry and thirsty)
- The rush job: This was the odd part for me that kind of soured the whole experience. Grisham spent a couple hundred pages developing this intricate mystery and setting up all the situations and characters with a precarious heightened intensity. Then, I guess he got a call from his publisher saying the book was due because suddenly it was several weeks later and everything that had been built up was summarized in a few pages and it moved on to the end game of the novel. I felt a bit cheated to have everything I have been getting into resolved with some Clif Notes. This happened to me last year with another book (Gwendy’s Magic Feather) and I was much harsher on that one – mainly because I don’t think the rush job led to a bad ending like it did with that one. But, still . . . let me know if you read this one and felt the same way – it just stood out so much that it was shocking! I was speechless! I checked to see if some part of the copy I had was missing!
A decent book if you like the Grisham formula. But, don’t be surprised if you are looking for the missing pages like I was.
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Kerry
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Jan 26, 2021 03:10PM
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Thanks, Kerry! This one was going great until the rush. Made no sense. Sure it would have been several pages longer, but it would have progressed more organically.
Thanks, Regina! He does have some really good ones . . . but there is a formula and this is not the first one he gave the rush job. So, hit is hit or miss.
Thanks, Chris! :)
Yes - I remembered enjoying Camino Island and it had some of the same flair at first. But, it just didn't come together in quite the same way. Sad! :(
Yeah - and it didn't get that way until partway through. I really felt like he suddenly just went, "Eh, I am done with this one, guess I will wrap it up quickly!"
There have been a few strong ones in the past 10 years, but it is unfortunately not something you can count on.
The first Camino book is pretty good. Another recent Grisham that I enjoyed was The Reckoning. But, it is tough going into Grisham anymore because of the tainted expectations.
Definitely sounds like we were affected by the same issues here. I really wanted to love it and have it end strong, but *bam* brick wall! I still keep trying his books because, like you say, every so often he has one that harkens back to his early works and that is something I really enjoy.
Ah, yes - sorry, Jon! Not the best introduction to Grishsm by a long shot! I am not sure what my recommendation would be. Maybe one of his early books perhaps.
Sorry we had the same experience on this one, Kara! :)
I would have been totally fine with this book being a couple of hundred pages longer so he could have fleshed out more the parts he glossed over.
For me - I am not sure it was his worst, but it certainly ended up being not one of my favorites. So, I can easily see it being the worst for you!
Yes, I think the connections to Camino Island are very slight - mainly some of the same characters and settings. And, since it looks like it is not just me who thinks the mystery was hastily resolved, skipping it may not be a bad idea!
👍👍👍😁
Great minds! :D
Yup - 100% agree! Sorry we had a similar experience and I hope your next one (and his next one) is better!
Really liked Camino Island and so disappointed this one had several mentions of Bruce being “bored” …?!? And chuckled at your mention of food and drink descriptions…enjoyed the food, but enough already with itemizing each round of drinks!!
Thanks for sharing!
No problem, Suzanne! 🙂. Glad to hear feedback like this so I know it is not just me!
Yup - I thought I hadn't downloaded at least one part of the audiobook!
It is really too bad because it really felt like it had a lot going for it until the rush.
Yes - some great setups just to be let down. Still kind of baffling!
I did just read his new one based on basketball and it is very good! So, he still has some good stuff coming out! I will keep reading but know I will likely find some bumps in the road like this one.
I listened to it in audio form and thought I had accidentally fast- forwarded a couple of chapters, so rewound it only to discover he was neatly packaging the ending for us without letting us in on any of the details of how he had arrived at these points. Considering the first half of the book dragged on ad nauseum while he painstakingly laid out every possible nuance of his multiple characters, I felt that he could have given us the courtesy of laying out the roadmap as to how we arrived so quickly and unexpectedly at the beginning of the end!
In my mind, Grisham has become the new Danielle Steel or Sandra Brown ... Churn out a formulaic book your fans will buy just because your name is on it, but don't worry if it's anywhere near the quality of book you used to write.
Will be a long time before I pick up another Grisham book.
I listened to it in audio form..."
Sorry your experience was like mine, Kathie!
I did try out his new book, Sooley, and it was much better. But, you would have to like basketball to get into it.
Yup - pretty sad!
Sorry you felt the same on that front, but glad to see it appears you enjoyed it more than I did overall!
Sorry your experience was similar to mine, Keise. Yes, keep giving Grisham a try - he has some great ones out there!