Rating: 
Summary: Well-plotted, high-concept yuppie speed-read that thrills.
Review: Astonishingly gripping for the first two-thirds of its length, THE BIG PICTURE has it all: great concept, superb characterizations, vivid style, and a compelling pace. The lead character, Ben Bradford, is a failed photographer who has become a dull-but-prosperous trusts-&-estates lawyer on Wall Street. Bradford's life is shattered when he discovers his wife is having an affair with the loser next door. An anguished Bradford confronts the lover, who taunts Bradford mercilessly. Bradford kills the man with a wine bottle. Rashly, he decides to cover up the murder by staging his own death and assuming the identity of the man he killed. This book is breathtakingly well-written, and perfectly captures the quiet desperation and abandoned dreams of working professionals in the 1990s. Candidly, around page 250, the book suffers from the "Indecent Proposal" syndrome, namely, once the spectacular deed is done, the intensity of the plot lurches to a disappointing halt. Things heat up again while on the lam in Montana. Still, The Big Picture is unputdownable good and Kennedy shows Grishamesque promise
Rating:
Summary: The Big Picture -- A very enjoyable book
Review: Although I had never heard of Douglas Kennedy, I was intrigued by the cover and the summary on the book jacket and picked The Big Picture up from the bargain book table. I am glad that I gave this work a shot, as it was a nice, entertaining read. The story is about Ben Bradford, a Wall Street lawyer who, on the surface, seemingly has everything that anyone could want. Quickly though, the reader comes to realize that, as the story goes, money cannot buy happiness. In an instant, everything in Bradford's life is turned upside down. Although it is difficult to condone what Bradford did, one cannot help but appreciate the workings of Bradford's mind as he plots his future and runs from his past. The character development was quite good - it was easy to feel yourself in the various settings, rooting for or against various characters. There was plenty of action, suspense and plot twists. This was a captivating book. I will definitely seek out other works by Kennedy.
Rating: 
Summary: It has all the twists in its plot that just wont quit
Review: "... life is HERE. And if you keep hating where you are, you're going to wind up losing it all. And believe me, once you lose it you'll desperately want it all back again. It's how it works."
(pg's. 121-122)
"Loss makes you regard life as tenuous, fragile... And you begin to distrust the notion of happiness. If a good thing comes into your life, you know it's only a matter of time before it will be taken away from you." (pg. 402)What if you found that your life is caught in the middle of indecision and in the muddle of immediate compromise that would inevitably make a big change in your life in such very big major proportion?
That is the matter depicted in the beginning of this great novel from its writer Douglas Kennedy, which could've done a whole lot better for the author if he had let this one come out as his second novel instead than his follow-up to this debut of his called The Job.
Written in the fashion as an account by its lead charachter Ben Bradford who found himself hanging in the balance, when he accidentally killed the philandering accomplice of his wife during one brief heated argument with the said photographer, that the lead charachter found himself an option to escape it all by using his knowledge as a lawyer in taking the position of his wife's boyfriend's identity over his.
It would be good to speak little about the plot of this novel for its readers so's not to spoil the fun of the twist elements in its plot... and although spilling about the murder in the first part of this book might seem to have already given away a lot about its storyline - still however - they only begin to build up from there. I never knew that the book have been "over-hyped" as according to its critics until I've read some reviews about, when come to think of it - the novel did deserve all of the hype aftr all. The book first came out during in the time after when the world trade center recieved its first terrorist attack (believe me it had a bit of major themartical sort of faint connection to its plot later on), it depicts the consumeristic attitudes and lifestyle of upper class young couples, and have well held an account of levelling with trademark products (so much similar with what Stephen King had on his final Castle Rock novel NEEDFUL THINGS); and the struggles in the corporate world's systems of competition and its own politics, given with social commentaries for good measure. The story although some say may have come to the point of being totally too unbelievable to happen in real life, it had its certain sense of simple realistic realism within its ongoing narrative; and in that sense, Douglas Kennedy had that skill in his writing of never boring the reader, but have a certain panache for giving it a certain feel of fluidity in its continuity - that its even amazing you're quite being wary along the way feeling that some certain surprising twist might come along. And certainly, it did delivered some on the trail of its storyline.
The book however in its own way sort of have reminded me of the verses in the Bible found in 1 Timothy 6:6,9-10/Prov. 6:34. The novel would really make a good movie. Its film rights are now in possesion of Fox2000. Can't wait to see it filmed.
NOTE: The first Intrnational paperback edition includes the first chapter of THE JOB for as a sneak preview. i personally see it in the average of = 4 1/2 out of 5 stars "-- once you are percieved to be hot, everyone wants you. The struggling guy is always percieved to be as a struggling figure in our culture. Because he's viewed as a nobody, a loser who's desperately trying to convince a publisher, a magazine editor, a producer, a gallery owner, an agent, that he could be a player, if only the right break came his way. But, of course, no one wants to give him that break --- because why would they help a schmuck out of nowhere? And even if they think that he may have some talent, they're usually terrified of trusting their own judgment and backing an unknown quantity." (from pages 388-389)
Rating:
Summary: Fun book to read
Review: Ben Bradford is one unhappy Manhattan lawyer. His half million-dollar house and 300K salary are not enough to keep his wife satisfied and their once happy marriage is heading downhill fast. When Ben discovers his wife is having an affair with a neighborhood looser, a confrontation occurs that changes Ben's life forever. Have you ever dreamed of leaving it all behind, turning your back on a career you hate, a sour marriage and starting entirely over? How about faking your own death, changing your name, and moving to a small city in the middle of no where? If you've ever considered it, then this book is for you. Douglas Kennedy has written a compelling, easy to read novel, with superb diction. The author masterfully added suspense where I least expected it, and left me hanging at the end of several chapters. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and would recommend it highly. For me, there were a couple of minor flaws, specifically some inconsistencies with Rudy Warren's character, which prevented me from giving a 5 star rating. However, this was a great read and I would certainly read more of Kennedy's work.
Rating:
Summary: Well written!
Review: This story is a great example of the negative effects that our actions can have. It is very entertaining to read. I highly recomended.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting book and a good read
Review: Douglas Kennedy has written a well paced book which grabs your attention and manages to keep it till the end. The back of the cover first caught me with the sysnopsis of how Ben had everything a successfull man could aim for but didnt have happiness.
Once you start reading Douglas builds up the pace slowly and leads us through Ben's failed marraige and his love for photography. Once Ben come to know about his wife's infidelity and what happens next makes for very good reading. Though his stay in Montanna does sound like fairy tale bit. Which is the reason I havent given a 5 star to this.
I did find the story so interesting that I narrated the whole story to my wife after reading the book. Looking forward to read the more of Douglas Kennedy
Rating:
Summary: One life, three identities.
Review: Ben Bradford was living a perfect life, a successful Wall Street lawyer, has two healthy kids,a beautiful wife and a wonderful suburban home in a middle high class Connecticut town till a day he found out that his wife was going to divorce him because she was having an affair with his neighbor, a mediocre photographer named Gary Summers. In a rage attach, Ben killed Gary, dissapear from town, assumed his identity and moved to Montana where by accident became a famous photographer with terrible consequences for him and his new lover.
A very well written story which goes deep into the personage's identity, dream, frustration, feeling and desires, a novel full of irony, tension and hope.
Rating:
Summary: Still thinking about it...
Review: Perhaps it isn't a definitive novel, but it realy makes you think. I was talking about it for days. I appreciated the insight to the male's psyche, and I loved the ending- completely appropriate for this felon you can't help but root for.
I think it would make a fabulous movie...... tons of suspense.
Rating: 
Summary: Yea Right
Review: I liked the idea at first, then I got into the story and I am wondering - wait a minute, has this ever worked? And why am I cheering for this guy? I got to wondering how could Mr. do right turn into Ted Bundy overnight? The book is well written and I liked the main character, but I just had a hard time believing the story and that was before the end. I may be a little hard on the author, again the book was interesting - I finished it, the characters were good and the first part moved along well. I just did not believe the story line and that left me second guessing everything from them on. And why Montana, go to LA - it would have been more fun.
Rating:
Summary: A good read but,
Review: A good read but wants desperately to be the definitive novel of the 1990's; having to give up what you want to do for the good of family and others. Also the novel is very predictable (especially the events in Montana) and some of the characters are very stereotypical (Rudy Warren, I hated the way he was written). Still I would recommend it based on the fact that many of us wish our lives could be changed and this book makes for a fast and enjoyable read.
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