Rating: 
Summary: Plain good storytelling
Review: I read "The Loop" in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I completely forgot I was reading at all. Nicholas Evans tells this story so well and draws his characters so completely, that it seems more like I was looking through a window into someone else's real life than simply reading words on a page. There are some striking similarities between this book and Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" (mainly the wolf element, I suppose) but I don't think that the similaries distracted me from the story. It always amazes me when an author can produce believable characters of both genders, since most authors seem to do one or the other well. All of Nicholas Evans' characters are strong and varied and interesting, even the ones on the periphery of the story. This is the best kind of book; great storyline, beautifully drawn characters, and writing that is skillful but not so fancy it's distracting. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Lacking in depth
Review: This book is rather uninspired, with a weak story line. Very cliche. In one instance, Helen is awaiting a letter from her boyfriend in Africa, which conveniently arrives on the same day that someone decides to trample her mailbox and we are told how her letter floats away in the breeze - COME ON! I've seen better writing from high school students... I expected more from Nicholas Evans after the acclaim he received for The Horse Whisperer.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, Breathtaking
Review: This is an excellent book, and as an animal lover who cannot stand to see animals in pain, I wanted the wolves to win from the start. I felt more compassion for the animals from the get go then I did for any of the characters. The scenery is described beautifully, as is the nature of life in the midwest. This book allows a reprieve from the daily grind. The main character is captivating, and this book offers a bit of everything -- love, adversity, and personal growth, as well as villians and heroes. Evans is a mesmerizing writer, with the ability to truly tell a story.
Rating: 
Summary: Just boring
Review: The books according to my personal taste could be divided into several categories it could be soul opening of Fedor Dostoevsky (Brother Karamazov), it could be terror by Stephen King (The Stand), entartainment-adventure by Tom Clancy (Clear and Present Danger) or it simply could be a good book by Ray Bradbury. Now, there are probably thousand books that won't be put at any category for only and only one reason-they (books) are written by talentless writers. The Loop is a such book. Plot is weak, characters lack good description and so on and so on. The book is plain boring. I barely read it to the end.
Rating:
Summary: Abridged Audio version has a different ending
Review: I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book. The voice was extrememly well done. One of the best narrations I've heard. The story was gripping. So much so that when I was close to the end, and had put the car in the garage, I decided to finish up the last little bit by picking up the paperback version. (Which I own, but haven't had the time to read.) The next day, to my surprise, as I listened to the last 10 minutes, the ending was different than the book! And different in a rather significant way! Still a great car trip tape, but you should definitely stop by your public library and read the last chapter.
Rating: 
Summary: Just a story
Review: I love wolves and was expecting a great deal from The Loop. I was dissapointed. It was a fine story and not borring at all really. However, there was no passion, no fire. I did not fall in love with the characters. There were a couple supporting characters that were new and inviting, but most of the main characters were flat, borring, and some were plain annoying. Despite this, The Loop was still an enjoyable read, it just did not stay with me afterwards. I did not long for more of the character's lives or want to revist the land I was introduced to. If you simple want a decent, entertaining story, The Loop will serve quite nicely. If you are desiring an epic that infiltrates your mind, look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: A must for animal lovers!
Review: This book was about love for animals, love for humankind, and the fight for justice. It's effect will remain in my heart for a very long time.
Rating:
Summary: The next Jack London?
Review: After finishing THE LOOP this past weekend, I am at a loss of words to describe how wonderful this novel is. Nicholas Evans' storytelling has truly blossomed since THE HORSE WHISPERER and I can't wait for his next story.THE LOOP, the story of a band of wolves that attack the livestock of the fictional town of Hope, Montana, is filled with pure emotion, rich characters and beautiful descriptions. Not many authors can pull all three of these things together with as much ease as Evans has. Even the shocking (if somewhat unbelievable) love-interest between 29-year old Helen and 18-year old Luke is carried out with such craft that you often wonder why such a relationship is frowned upon by society. The only problem I found was with the author's antagonist, Buck, who is stylized after any number of Larry McMurtry characters, which isn't all that bad in my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: The Loop
Review: Nicholas Evans' book The Loop was a great book!! I enjoyed the fact that this book deals with nature, specifically cattle and wolves. These two animals vary emensely and can be trouble if they run in with eachother, which is the main story line of his book. This book deals with the obstacles faced by the ranchers in one of Hope's valleys, it also involves the forming of a relationship ship between two people who have somewhat conflicting values. This whole dilemma starts when the Hicks family dog has a run in with a wolf that happens to stray form the pack. Officials are brought in to investigate the incedent and the biologists need to determine if it really was a wolf that killed Prince, and if so measures wuold have to be taken in order to stop the migrtaion of the wolves down to the valleys. Throughout the book, wolves continue to invade the Calder/Hicks family ranch and young calves are found missing with no account of their were abouts. Neighboring ranchers are also having troubles with these pests and finding their calf crops have been declining due to the viciuos wolves. The ranchers in The Loop would rather deal with the wolves themselves and elleveate the possibility of them ever striking again, but in Hope it is declared an illegal offense to shot a wolf, for they are an endangered species. Towards the end of this book, the ranchers become furios with the whole issue and declare all-out war on the wolves and go against any legal issues. The Loop was an awesome book that was well worth the time that it took to read. I found it very easy to relate too. Anyone who enjoys nature would love this book!!
Rating:
Summary: A Dandy Book- The Loop
Review: The Loop is a great book. It is about a wolf biologist in a small town called Hope, Montana. The wolves make a return to the town where they were once killed by the hundreds. The town is a small ranching town so the wolves are the ranchers enemies. The rancher's are killing the wolves and the biologists must save them.
|
