Rating: 
Summary: no fun
Review: After reading the reviews on how funny this book is, I could'nt wait to pick it up....what a let down. Ludlum is brilliant, but he's no comedian. One of the few books I did'nt bother to finish.
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual Ludlum - ingenious, outrageous and funny!
Review: An unusual Ludlum story - it's very funny. Take a disgraced army general 'The Hawk', a gullible lawyer and a plot to kidnap the pope and you have the ingredients for a fast moving, entertaining romp full of the usual Ludlum intrigue
Rating: 
Summary: If you like satire....
Review: At the top of the list of my favorites. His only attempt at humor, I most times could hardly see the book for the tears of laughter. If you like Ludlum, you can't miss this!
Rating:
Summary: this book is funny!!!!!!!!!
Review: I never would have believed it! Ludlum turned out a strongly plotted, tightly developed spy book that is actually hilarious! Despite what others say, the jokes are actually hilarious because of the consistency of the characters and the fluidity of the story. This book is priceless Ludlum at his mischievous best! Don't miss it. Read it!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious - A Different Ludlum
Review: I started reading this book with a promise. I promised myself to burn the book if Ludlum starts with Vietnam POW flashbacks and psychobable monologues. I must admit I was tired of his writing style after the Bourne Trilogy, Aquitane and Parsifal. But I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with Ludlum's wit and humour. The book was fun. It was FULL of wicked fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, laughing and chuckling. I have started reading the sequel - The Road to Omaha and I hope it will provide just as much enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Caution: Sense of humor required
Review: If you don't have a sense of humor, don't enjoy satire, or can't bear the thought of Ludlum, as a "serious" writer, having some fun with his readers, do not read this book. In "The Road To Gandolfo", Ludlum takes on the military, the U.S. government, the legal profession, and organized religion, and spears them with irreverent, acid-tipped satire that at times reaches levels of pure hilarity. But he's also, quietly and subtly, satirizing himself and the genre of fiction he made his name in: espionage thrillers. Many Ludlum fans probably won't be amused: it's a different Robert Ludlum who's mugging and cavorting behind these scenes.When General Mackenzie Hawkins, a Pattonesque commander of the old-school variety, is summarily drummed out of the military by the mealy-mouthed, politically motivated bureaucrats who have wormed their way to the slimy top of the Pentagon-Washington heap, he embarks upon a personal mission of vengeance, and plots out an intricate military-style "black-op" plan of his own: kidnap the Pope, and demand a ransom of one American dollar for every Catholic in the world. The setup for this caper will be expensive, and there are lengthy side-operations along the way, involving the extortion of money -- LOTS of money -- from various "investors" (i.e., shady characters Hawkins has been able to get the goods on through his military intelligence background). And as a patsy front-man, whom he can manipulate from behind the scenes via his four very mammalian ex-wives, Hawkins selects Sam Devereaux, a lawyer who merely wants to count down his remaining days in the Army and return to private practice. The resulting story, unfolded in fine Ludlum style from the viewpoint of Sam-the-Patsy, is blazingly fast-paced, unpredictable, intricately woven, and, well, downright funny. The satire is broad, but sharp, and the plot line, in proper intrigue-novel fashion, is doled out carefully, one piece at a time, always keeping you interested in what will happen in the next chapter. Readers looking for, and expecting, a standard Ludlum novel might well be disappointed or critical ("What the heck is THIS?"), but if you're looking for a witty, intelligent, satirical, fun, page-turner of an adventure, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: Caution: Sense of humor required
Review: If you don't have a sense of humor, don't enjoy satire, or can't bear the thought of Ludlum, as a "serious" writer, having some fun with his readers, do not read this book. In "The Road To Gandolfo", Ludlum takes on the military, the U.S. government, the legal profession, and organized religion, and spears them with irreverent, acid-tipped satire that at times reaches levels of pure hilarity. But he's also, quietly and subtly, satirizing himself and the genre of fiction he made his name in: espionage thrillers. Many Ludlum fans probably won't be amused: it's a different Robert Ludlum who's mugging and cavorting behind these scenes. When General Mackenzie Hawkins, a Pattonesque commander of the old-school variety, is summarily drummed out of the military by the mealy-mouthed, politically motivated bureaucrats who have wormed their way to the slimy top of the Pentagon-Washington heap, he embarks upon a personal mission of vengeance, and plots out an intricate military-style "black-op" plan of his own: kidnap the Pope, and demand a ransom of one American dollar for every Catholic in the world. The setup for this caper will be expensive, and there are lengthy side-operations along the way, involving the extortion of money -- LOTS of money -- from various "investors" (i.e., shady characters Hawkins has been able to get the goods on through his military intelligence background). And as a patsy front-man, whom he can manipulate from behind the scenes via his four very mammalian ex-wives, Hawkins selects Sam Devereaux, a lawyer who merely wants to count down his remaining days in the Army and return to private practice. The resulting story, unfolded in fine Ludlum style from the viewpoint of Sam-the-Patsy, is blazingly fast-paced, unpredictable, intricately woven, and, well, downright funny. The satire is broad, but sharp, and the plot line, in proper intrigue-novel fashion, is doled out carefully, one piece at a time, always keeping you interested in what will happen in the next chapter. Readers looking for, and expecting, a standard Ludlum novel might well be disappointed or critical ("What the heck is THIS?"), but if you're looking for a witty, intelligent, satirical, fun, page-turner of an adventure, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: Caution: Sense of humor required
Review: If you don't have a sense of humor, don't enjoy satire, or can't bear the thought of Ludlum, as a "serious" writer, having some fun with his readers, do not read this book. In "The Road To Gandolfo", Ludlum takes on the military, the U.S. government, the legal profession, and organized religion, and spears them with irreverent, acid-tipped satire that at times reaches levels of pure hilarity. But he's also, quietly and subtly, satirizing himself and the genre of fiction he made his name in: espionage thrillers. Many Ludlum fans probably won't be amused: it's a different Robert Ludlum who's mugging and cavorting behind these scenes. When General Mackenzie Hawkins, a Pattonesque commander of the old-school variety, is summarily drummed out of the military by the mealy-mouthed, politically motivated bureaucrats who have wormed their way to the slimy top of the Pentagon-Washington heap, he embarks upon a personal mission of vengeance, and plots out an intricate military-style "black-op" plan of his own: kidnap the Pope, and demand a ransom of one American dollar for every Catholic in the world. The setup for this caper will be expensive, and there are lengthy side-operations along the way, involving the extortion of money -- LOTS of money -- from various "investors" (i.e., shady characters Hawkins has been able to get the goods on through his military intelligence background). And as a patsy front-man, whom he can manipulate from behind the scenes via his four very mammalian ex-wives, Hawkins selects Sam Devereaux, a lawyer who merely wants to count down his remaining days in the Army and return to private practice. The resulting story, unfolded in fine Ludlum style from the viewpoint of Sam-the-Patsy, is blazingly fast-paced, unpredictable, intricately woven, and, well, downright funny. The satire is broad, but sharp, and the plot line, in proper intrigue-novel fashion, is doled out carefully, one piece at a time, always keeping you interested in what will happen in the next chapter. Readers looking for, and expecting, a standard Ludlum novel might well be disappointed or critical ("What the heck is THIS?"), but if you're looking for a witty, intelligent, satirical, fun, page-turner of an adventure, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: The Road to Gandolfo
Review: If you've read Robert Ludlum's other books, you know to
expect violence, intrigue, cloak and dagger, as well as
excellent prose. If you pick up this book you can expect some of that, but you will be stunned when you find
yourself on the floor rolling with laughter.
Robert Ludlum a comedy writer? Robert Ludlum dabbling in farce? Yes, that's right the spymaster himself will lead you through a kidnapping of the Pope, a befuddled Army
lawyer shamelessly taken advantage of by a shunned U.S.
General and his bevy of beautiful ex-wives. An excellant read which you really won't be able to put down.
Rating:
Summary: The Road to Gandolfo
Review: If you've read Robert Ludlum's other books, you know toexpect violence, intrigue, cloak and dagger, as well asexcellent prose. If you pick up this book you can expect some of that, but you will be stunned when you find yourself on the floor rolling with laughter. Robert Ludlum a comedy writer? Robert Ludlum dabbling in farce? Yes, that's right the spymaster himself will lead you through a kidnapping of the Pope, a befuddled Army lawyer shamelessly taken advantage of by a shunned U.S. General and his bevy of beautiful ex-wives. An excellant read which you really won't be able to put down.
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