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Summary: John Grisham for the younger generation
Review: This novel is riveting, taking the reader through a byzantine maze of danger and intrigue juxtaposed against moral imperative and a young man's torturous conflict of having to choose between the only brothers he's ever known... and the realization that he, alone, holds the key to breaking the multi-generational chain of cover-ups and murder by one of the most powerful fraternal organizatioins in history. And a love story to boot! No wonder they're making a movie out of it!
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Summary: Picked it up and never put it down!!!!!!
Review: Rob Keane has captured the suspense, intrigue, and politics in a way suggestive of Alan Greshham. He however, applies his unique spin to the settings and plot to keep you hooked!As a parent paying "ransom" in the form of tuition to 2 major universities, Rob adds to my suspiscions that administrators are not there for the interest of the student.
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Summary: Suprisingly awful
Review: Too bad that Mr. Keane doesn't understand what fraternities or humans are actually like. In an effort to write a drama, he fails to write realism--the characters were as shallow as those found on 50s sit-coms, and the ruthlessness portrayed in the Sigmas was previously reserved for Lex Luthor. A cheap attempt at cashing in at the unfortunate dark side of the Greek system, the book ignores all the good that fraternities and sororities do.
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Summary: Sucked In From Page One
Review: This book quickly accomplishes what a thriller should - as soon as I began reading it I was dying to find out what was next. As a former small college athlete myself, I felt the characters were extremely well developed extensions (although at times exagerated - but isn't that the point) of many of my classmates. The complexity of the plot and the techniques Mr. Kean used to slowly reveal it left me almost disappointed when I turned the last page. I am anxiously awaiting his next effort.
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Summary: A real page turner, I could not put it down
Review: Coming from a small liberal arts college in New England myself, The Pledge vividly portrays life within the cliques of these small schools. From the "jock fraternity", to the "women lib leaders", the story rings true to life at a small school. The twists and turns always leave you guessing the ending. Overall, a fine effort by Mr. Kean.
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Summary: What command of plot and character!
Review: This is hands-down one of the best, most thrilling, most tangible works of fiction I have ever read. Mr. Kean captures the essence of fraternity life so completely, it's as if he lived, ate, and slept at the "Large white house on the corner of College and Maine". His acute descriptions of the Maine winter scenes rival Jack London's recounts of the Alaskan Wilderness. Meanwhile, the depth and richness of his characters would make Tom Wolfe proud. This is a must read! Throbba Kid has scored on a corner-high blast from outside the box.
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Summary: Too much rhyme, not worth the time
Review: I picked up "The Pledge" because I had heard it compared to one of my favorite books, "Secret History". I was disappointed to find that it was nowhere near as good, although it was a nice try. As a college student, I found that the characters were, for the most part, unrealistic, especially Shawn Jakes- the author seems incapable of describing realistic female characters. I thought the book would've been better with less predictable plot. Also, the rhyming WAS tiresome. Still, it was interesting...I wasn't happy with the ending tho. I had the feeling it was trying too hard to be deep and missed.
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Summary: Worst book
Review: This book lacked any factual representation of Greek organizations and seemed to be simply out to get a rise from people who have sons and daughters in those organizations. The plot was weak and unfounded, the portrayal of the fraternity members ridiculous and stereotypical. Perhaps Mr. Kean should do that thing called "background research" before he writes another novel.
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Summary: Excellent novel - imaginative, daring, and suspenseful
Review: I recommend this book for anyone who wants an inside look at the Greek system of fraternities in America's elite colleges. It's like the dark side of Animal House, where instead of a bunch of goof offs, serious students and goal-oriented people lose their sense of humanity and perspective when drawn into the web of power and greed of fraternities.
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Summary: Animal house meets the Firm
Review: In The Pledge, a first time thriller by Rob Kean, I really enjoyed it. I could see some spots that should have been pruned vigorously (Shawn is not exactly a realistic woman, she is somebody's(probably most men's) fantasy. Mark Jessy the hero is interestingly flawed, the scenes with the parents of the murdered pledge are poignant in the extreme, the rhyming gets a wee bit tiresome, and in short, Animal House meets the Firm. I could almost see Neidermeier spitting out "pledge pin!", although Jessy was entirely too appealing to be Bluto. Ah well, I'm dating myself. Two thumbs up, a good read.
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