Rating: 
Summary: A poorly written book
Review: Hackman is fine in movies but he stall out in print. I write, too, and his writing is like mine---very bad. Excessive detail. A story starting in the States, jumps to Cuba, then the Pacific Island. On to another jump. The structure appears to be written by a child.
Rating: 
Summary: Most enjoyable
Review: I enjoyed this book cover to cover. The characters engaged me from the beginning, and I was never quite sure what the next plot turn would be. The ending was unexpected and quite satisfying. As a woman who reads novels of the purportedly more "literary" genre, I was pleasantly surprised by the "pirate adventure story," which went deeper under the skin than most commercial fiction. Loved the diving sequences!
Rating:
Summary: A first-rate sea yarn...among the best of its genre!!
Review: I fully admit to buying this book primarily because of the draw of Gene Hackman's name on this project. I have always enjoyed his acting, so I was very interested in seeing how his inaugural effort as author would come out. Without question, it was a magnificent read! Mr. Hackman, in collaboration with Mr. Lenihan, have created a modern sea classic with "Wake of the Perdido Star". They have managed to successfully mix a coming-of-age element into a more grand historical fiction epic combining the best of revenge and seafaring tales. The plot, focused around the young Jack and his adventures aboard the Perdido Star, is extremely well-developed. In their prose, Hackman and Lenihan paint a vivid picture for the reader. They manage to tackle several subplots with gusto and pizazz without losing sight of the more central story: Jack seeking revenge for the death of his parents. Also, even though there are a few twists that force the reader to "stretch the imagination" a bit, they are written with tremendous plausibility, making them far more easy to digest. As I alluded to, the prose allows for wonderful imagery. Some of the passages describing the Perdido Star's voyages immediately evoke comparisons to the best of - dare I say - a Herman Melville or, more recently, Patrick O'Brian. Of note is the passage describing the Star's rounding of the cape, as well as the "battle" scenes involving the Star's departure from Manila harbor and the climactic fight at Havana. All in all, Hackman and Lenihan have hit the proverbial home run with their first effort, a feat reserved for very few authors. Fans of the aforementioned Patrick O'Brian should also love this book. For those who enjoy the "technothrillers", this is a wonderful diversion from that genre. I certainly believe it is one of the past several years, and I hope that Mr. Hackman and Mr. Lenihan will grace us with another work very soon.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money!
Review: I have read several adventure books, but this one let me down. It didn't keep my interest and it took me months to read it on and off. Specifically, the main character was hard to believe. He starts out as a naive 17 year old young man, and one year later he becomes worldly, and a man that everyone looks to for answers. Also, some of the writing was canned and a little corny, which some of the others have alluded to. Granted, I'm not the best writer, but if I buy a book I expect to read something better that I can write. I would have quit reading it a long time ago, but spending 20+ dollars for a book makes me feel guilty if I don't finish it. It wasn't terrible, and had its moments, but just not a page turner like some of the reviewers have stated. Everyone has their own opinion, but I would save my money and try to get it from a library if you are really interested.
Rating:
Summary: A top notch read
Review: I loved Wake of the Perdido Star. The well-rounded plot and colorful characters kept me turning the pages in eager anticipation of "Black Jack's" next pirate adventure. My favorite character was Paul Le Maire, a misguided youth whose wit and sharp mouth gave me numerous laughs. I'm amazed this is Hackman and Lenihan's first collaboration together, the authors' writing style flows beautifully throughout the book. So if you're in the mood for a fun adventure and some memorable characters, check out Wake of the Perdido Star. Anyone who loves diving, tales of the sea, or simply characters such as Paul Le Maire, who "dares to be a daisy," is sure to take something from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A top notch read
Review: I loved Wake of the Perdido Star. The well-rounded plot and colorful characters kept me turning the pages in eager anticipation of "Black Jack's" next pirate adventure. My favorite character was Paul Le Maire, a misguided youth whose wit and sharp mouth gave me numerous laughs. I'm amazed this is Hackman and Lenihan's first collaboration together, the authors' writing style flows beautifully throughout the book. So if you're in the mood for a fun adventure and some memorable characters, check out Wake of the Perdido Star. Anyone who loves diving, tales of the sea, or simply characters such as Paul Le Maire, who "dares to be a daisy," is sure to take something from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A riveting book of friendship and adventure
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a woman, I enjoyed getting some insight on male relationships, emotions, thought processes. As a beginning diver, I was fascinated by the diving scenes and how scuba diving began and evolved. I thought this book was not only exciting but moving and thought-provoking. I hope there's a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Reading
Review: I throughly enjoyed the Wake of the Perdido Star. Jake, Paul, Quince and company force to keep turning pages to see what they will do next. A very good book with interesting views of what the seas were like when pirates roamed free and effects of breathing compressed air was still a mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Reviewer from Independent Publisher Magazine
Review: I wonder who the professional literary critics were who gave this book such high marks. I agree with whomever wrote the review "The Lightning Never Strikes." I am a former reviewer for INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER MAGAZINE and was given the go-ahead to review Mr. Gene Hackman's first novel. Since I am also a writer who writes nonfiction books about piracy, I was definitely enthusiastic about this swashbuckling novel! But unfortunately I struggled through quicksand to the middle of the book, then called my editor and pleaded with him not to make me finish it and write a review. Since this was right after the book's publishing date, I don't remember the specific superficial scenes I slogged through. I just remember the book was filled with cardboard characters, dumb dialogue, many erroneous facts, and a stupid plot. I don't recommend that anyone waste their time with this novel. Instead, read a novel such as THE DIARY OF A SLAVE GIRL, RUBY JO that includes pirate photos and illustrations as well as nonfiction information about pirates that seems accurate.
Rating:
Summary: Bad start...
Review: I'm only a chapter and a half into this book, and already I'm contemplating not finishing it. So far Lenehan and Hackman have hit half of all known literary cliches square on the head, and I have no doubt they'll hit the other half in subsequent chapters. For all of the brilliantly written films Hackman has been in, he (and his cohort) have absolutely no ear for human speech. The prose writing is not much better. Only if you have nothing else to read, or think Danielle Steele has been unjustly passed over for the Pulitzer.
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