Rating: 
Summary: Intense...!
Review: This review is for the UNABRIDGED AUDIO BOOK.What an interesting read (listen). From the beginning when a pledge of 'big bully' frat (Sigma) was hazed to death, I knew it would be non-stop and it was. The story takes place at Maine's Simsbury College. The characters in this book are many, so you really have to pay attention at first to individual personalities. This book stirs a bevy of emotions within the reader. It boggled my mind to think how these Sigma apes got off on all the humiliation they inflicted to the pledges, and I can't help wonder... does this go on in real life? The college is run by a self serving, spineless man, Dean Templeton - and I was ever so happy how he 'got it in the end.' The story has a nice ending. Kean did a very good job of closure to all of the characters except for the two main parties, Mark and Sean. It left room for the reader to consider their fate - either separate or together. All in all, a good book to invest your time in to read or listen. PS... if you listen to audio books, please get the UNABRIDGED version. With all of the details and story of this book, I fear the abridged version would leave you somewhat baffled. In fact, never listen to anything abridged. It's like looking at a newspaper with no print!
Rating: 
Summary: Greek Mafia in New England
Review: Imagine the nice college boy, the son of your neighbors, this well-educated guy being member of one of the most famous fraternities, this friendly person is about to become a member of a corrupt trust undermining the market, political power, law, and order. In order to maintain and enlarge their world wide web of business, money, and power, this mafia recruits young students for their fraternity Sigma Delta Phi. The selection process for the "pledges" is pretty hard, and it is vital for the fraternity that the "wrong" people never become brothers. They have to be removed from the pledges, from the brothers. Chad Ewing is removed from the list of pledges by his untimely death. For some strange reasons, the only official investigation of his passing is in the hands of a "disciplinary squad" formed of three students: Former Sigma brother Mark Jessy, his girlfriend Shawn, and Simon, a prospective law-school student. This gang is headed by Dean Templeton, a corrupt man without reasonable qualification besides the fact that he is from Oxford. The book describes the squad's search for evidence to relate Chad Ewings death to the pledge activities of Sigma. Their efforts are permanently undermined by the Dean and by the mighty alumni of Sigma. The description of this process is well written, gripping, and makes it hard to put the book down. The effect is enhanced since for quite a while, no happy ending is in sight (and I leave it to the reader to judge the actual end of the book). "The Pledge" reminds me a bit of the good old "Dallas"/"Dynasty" soap operas: A few good guys surrounded by a world of evil brothers. The power of money and economic strength is clearly displayed. However, like in "Dallas" the characters remain relatively simple (although the author grants some of them - especially Mark, the main figure of the novel - at least a certain evolution). Another question is of course why reasonably intelligent people should want to become members of a fraternity with those pledge activities. An interesting plot - conspiracy - students - sex&crime (I must have been at the wrong university) - silly rituals - a strong polarization of characters - 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A refreshing novel
Review: I picked up this book not knowing what to expect. It started off slow but once I got into it I couldn't put it down! Its fast moving, exciting, and it makes you think. It amazing that this is the author's first novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who like a mystery/thriller book.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Start
Review: I had seen this book on the bargain table a few times and thought I might like to read somebody's perspective on fraternity life, as I had been in one myself. After finally buying it, I read the jacket and realized it was Rob Kean's first book and that he went to Bowdoin and lived in Boston and I was anticipating reading it just to see what kind of writer he was to get such a lucrative book deal. Before I got a chance to read too much, being the Amazon junkie that I am, I ended up checking out reviews, and found that, sure enough, some people loved it, and some hated it. By this time I was dying to see why the reviews were so mixed. So, I finally finished the book I had been reading and focused on The Pledge. I would like to share my views by reviewing the reviews. Here are my thoughts regarding the negative reviews. This guy wrote a book while working full time, and he did a good job. It was something that kept me reading to the end. I personally thought that most of the plot was farfetched. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a work of fiction. If you are reading this book to find out how a fraternity operates, then you are going to the wrong place. I know that some of the elements are true, but there was just too many things that I couldn't buy. Oh yeah, this is a work of fiction! To think this is how a real fraternity operates is like thinking that you can bury your pets in a Pet Semetary and they will come back to life. My thoughts on the 5 star reviews. I wonder what other books these people have read. I'm not sure how this book can receive the highest available rating. My impression of Rob Kean is that he is an imaginative and talented writer, but the talent is raw. If he writes or has written another book, I would hope he took the time to improve his writing skills. I will read him again, but I can't really compare this to the best books I've read in terms of overall reading pleasure. All in all, this book has some quality, depending on what your reading tastes are. If you can't stomach plots that seem quite unrealistic, then don't read it. If you are the parent of a fraternity child, understand that it has more fiction than truth. If you are looking for a great work of literature, don't get your hopes up. If you are looking to be entertained for a week or two, give it a shot.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Excellent! I can't believe it is a First Book!
Review: This book certainly did not read like a first novel. It was excellent! The story takes place at a small private college in New England. The main story line revolves around a very rich or rather well endowed Fraternity. The trouble begins when a pledge dies, following a night of hazing and a party. The Sigma's feel like they will get off without a hitch, because Mark Jessy, a former Sigma brother, is on the Disciplinary Squad that will be looking into the pledges death. Mark is sure that it had to be an accident, and that his former "brothers" could not possibly have caused the death. Mark's girlfriend, Shawn Jakes, who is also on the Disciplinary Squad does not like the Sigma's and wants to get them shut down. She is determined that they will not get away with what they have done. The third and final member of the Disciplinary Squad is Simon Schwitters. He is planning to become a lawyer, and is therefore very interested in the case. The Dean of the college, Anson Templeton, will serve as the Judge, should the Disciplinary Squad press charges against the Sigma's. Templeton, however is very dirty. He is out to make a quick buck. He is on the payroll of the Sigma alumni. The Sigma alumni is responsible for most of the donations to the school, so they need to be kept happy. Dean Templeton is usually able to make problems disappear for them. However, this time, maybe not so...this book is rather long, but is worth reading. I found myself sitting up past midnight reading, not wanting to put it down. I enjoyed it and I am sure you will too.
Rating:
Summary: A PAGE TURNING READ
Review: I picked this book up at a bargain table & am glad I did. The other reviews describe the plot so I don't need to, but it kept me reading right until the end. It's a classic good vs. evil story, with the good being very good & the evil being really evil.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!
Review: I picked up this book because i'm fascinated by fraternities. I've never belonged to one, but i'm fascinated by the whole concept of the secrecy of the initiation rituals and what might possibly go on, and how most frat brothers would go to their grave first before telling what happened. Which leads me to believe that they experienced things and had things done to them that were either really embarrassing or humiliating.This book is a great page-turner. I usually shy away from novels of this length, but the fact that it was a murder mystery/suspense story centered around a frat house was too good to resist. I'm thrilled to learn they are making a movie of this book because as soon as i was finished, i thought how great a movie this would make. The rhythm and flow of this book reads like a screen play.Unfortunately, knowing how Hollywood can totally ruin a good book, the movie version will proabably be a major disappointment. As a matter of fact, i'm willing to bet that the movie version will have people who read the book saying, "The book was so much better."Anyway, pick up this book. It's a lot of fun. Just be sure to suspend your disbelief at the door because there are some plot points that might be a bit hard to swallow as far as believable.An excellent first novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Try Again, Mr. Kean
Review: After two favorable recommendations from fellow book lovers, I decided to check out this book. I found myself frustrated with the abundance of descriptors and the trite expressions. The dialogue was corny. The characters are caricatures of real people. The story itself was so far from the realm of possibility that I found myself laughing aloud at some points. The evil fraternity ruling the world is just too farfetched. Despite all of this, I kept reading, waiting for the "good" stuff. Twenty pages from the end of the book, I gave up. Allow me save you time and money: skip this book.
Rating:
Summary: Anxiously Awaiting Rob Kean's Second Novel
Review: An amazing first novel by Rob Kean. His characters are detailed down to their chipped teeth (Once you read the book you will understand). Each character takes the story deeper and deeper, creating a real novel about the perils of Fraternity Life. The story takes us into the twisted (yet believable) world of a fraternity that will do anything to make itself and its members flourish and succeed in life. Everyone will get involved in the fraternity's most recent scandal. But, Jesse (the main character) must deal with his own past fraternity life/scandal to solve this new one. It seems like there is no way out of the twisted lies for Jesse. If you love stories involving Fraternity and College life, you will love this one.
Rating:
Summary: failing grade
Review: Wow. This has to be absolutely one of the worst novels I have ever read (and I've read some of the stuff profiled in Pronzini's GUN IN CHEEK and SON OF GUN IN CHEEK). This is the literary equivalent of an Ed Wood movie-- ludicrous situations and dialogue so bad they have to be read to be believed. Jaw-droppingly awful. How did this thing even get published?
| 
