The Big Picture

Rating:
Summary: a page-turner
Review: Ben Bradford sees himself turning into something he loathes. He marches off to the city in his Hugo Boss suit, manages the legal details of the trust funds of rich mindless weenies, and wishes ineffectively that his wife still wanted to have sex with him. In a moment of fury at his wife's lover, he commits a self-defining act that paradoxically makes him capable of becoming someone he can like again. The book's not badly written, though there are a few cardboard characters. Yuppies may see themselves and shudder

Rating:
Summary: Carefully drawn characters, good plot twists, fun to read
Review: Douglas Kennedy has written a well-crafted novel for yuppies burdened by mid-life crises and itching to be free. At its heart, it is as much a novel of ideas about identity, the burdens of obligations and honesty to one's self as a traditional narrative. But what makes it fun and interesting is that the story works just fine as a cliff-hanger(almost to the very end). The launching pad for Kennedy's meditation is the story of a miserable no-longer-young lawyer at a big New York City law firm who lives in the elite suburbs of Connecticut and whose marriage has been slowly disintegrating. When our hero discovers his wife is having an affair, a confrontation with her lover unexpectedly escalates into murder. Rather than throw himself on the mercy of the justice system, the lawyer determines to escape, which means, he quickly concludes, that he must disappear. From this premise, reader is invited to ponder perhaps the ultimate "what-if" question: How would my life change if I had to walk away -- irr

Rating:
Summary: Starts with a bang, ends with a whimper
Review: Like many who have reviewed this book, I was literally mesmerized by the first half of this book about the failed marriage and failed dreams of a seemingly prosperous Master of the Universe. The plot surrounding the murder of his wife's lover is first-rate storytelling, and evokes every possible emotion, from jealousy to rage to sorrow. And then, when the setting shifts to the Big West, the book comes to a screeching halt. And unfortunately, Mr. Kennedy attempts to cram into the last fifty pages every convention that made the book's first half so readable, and then ends the book with a conclusion that is simply not credible. The author also asks the reader to accept a number of factual coincidences that pull the story from the "yeah, that could happen" type to the "you've got to be kidding" category. For what it's worth, I plowed through this one faster than any Grisham novel (though that may be a function of Mr. Kennedy's tigher writing syle) and, subject to the suspensions of disbelief and gear changes the book requires, would recommend it to suspense fans

Rating:
Summary: Pretentious garbage.
Review: This book was potentially a good read. But, the 1980's are now over, and it's NOT effective to price/name drop at least once a page. Plus, the plot was weak (there was NO suspense). Read The Partner or something else instead (my vote is for The Bone Collector)

Rating:
Summary: A page-turner w/contemporary relevance & great dialogue
Review: Douglas Kennedy out-Grisham's John Grisham. This is the book that Grisham started to write in The Firm and couldn't sustain. Douglas Kennedy has created a very real novel about a man caught in his gray flannel suit and how circumstances conspire to make him to try to escape it. The author's eye for setting and detail {New York, Connecticut, and Montana) is acute as are his beautifully rendered personal relationships, especially those between parent and child. For once a "popular" novel is worth all its pre-publication hype. I hope Mr.Kennedy has another book in the works. This is a winner

Rating:
Summary: franklin really liked it
Review: Big, loud, bursting with joy! A real treat, if you know what I mean. Chalk full of action. Fully loaded! Wow!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent start, but falls apart towards the end.
Review: So much of this novel is excellent, in particular the description of a successful lawyer trapped in a boring job and life but unable to escape due to school fees, medical fees, expensive lifestyle, mortgage etc - a classic upper middle-class conundrum. Very well described.

*Spoiler*

One major flaw with the murder and body disposal though - would you really allow the boat to wander without knowing if it will explode? Would you really risk it being stopped before the bomb went off? What if it didn't go off? All far too risky IMHO.

But that is forgiveable. What is not is the ending. The last few pages are rushed and totally inconsistent. The very last event (driving to Las Vegas) also serves no purpose other than to annoy.

A far better ending was possible: with Ben Bradford seemingly dead but his body never recovered, he could have come back to life, so to speak, with an excuse about hiding out, and go back to see his kids. The ending with him in some suburban LA hell is just stupid and annoying. What is that all about? No, it would have been much better for him to come back as Ben, get the kids and the girl.

A good read, but undone by a lousy ending.

Rating:
Summary: American Beauty without the light at the end of the tunnel
Review: The Big Picture entertains the primal fantasy of getting away with murder, which might make it the kind of book many a prospective reader would not touch with a very long stick. It quickly becomes apparent however that this is also an existential novel up there with Albert Camus' The Outsider.

Kennedy's magic is in his creation of an Everyman who manages to fill the book with a unique aura - an admirable protagonist, Ben, through whom we experience the novel through with complete comfort and belief - as well his immense care for detail.

Photography features both as Ben's passion and a metaphor for his evolution. For in life, as well as in his photography, subjects are at their best when they are not posturing. Ben's life has been an attempt to fit a frame that has been handed to him yet his epiphany is that we are only alive when we forget about `what people might think'.

This is a personal and meaningful story that succeeds as a serious, compassionate portrayal of one man's attempt to wipe the slate clean and live the life that he would have preferred. Think American Beauty with no light at the end of the tunnel.

Rating:
Summary: A class act page-turner
Review: It doesn't take much to turn one's life from an idyllic existence to a nightmare. One wrong decision, a stupid action, something spoken out loud on impulse, can bring the wrath of fate tumbling upon you. But the question must be asked, when fate decides to throw a curve ball in your direction, do you face and suffer the consequences, or run and hide, begin a new life and hope against hope that you'll not be found out? This is the basic theme in Kennedy's renowned novel, The Big Picture.

Ben Bradford apparently has it all - a partnership in a distinguished Manhattan law firm, a beautiful house in Connecticut, a pretty wife and two small children. He has enough money to spend without any thought about budgeting. As a wannabe photographer, he has a state of the art dark room in his house, over forty thousand dollars worth of camera equipment and the time to pursue this hobby. Despite seemingly having it all, Mr. Bradford is dreadfully unhappy. The relationship with his beautiful wife is on tenterhooks at best, as they haven't slept together for over a year. He suspects she is having an affair, and his suspicions turn out to be true. The actions he takes in response to this infidelity have dire consequences. Ben's life changes forever, but where does it lead, and can he live with himself and achieve some modicum of happiness?

The Bid Picture is one of the most original thrillers to come out in years. The reading experience will have your palms in a sweat and your heart racing from the beginning. In spite of the protagonist's actions, Kennedy ensures we have great empathy for the character. We want him to get away with it, but will he get away with it and for what price?

For me this book was a pleasurable surprise, as I would have never picked it up unless it was recommended to me. If you want a completely enthralling read that is guaranteed to keep you reading into the dead of night, read The Big Picture - a class act in every way.



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.