Dead Calm (Perennial library)

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Summary: Dead Calm
Review: I first saw the movie, and wanted to read the book, which I got hold of via Amazon. I'm glad I did not approach the matter the other way around, as I would have been quite disappointed (I think). Actually, there is so little left from the book, I wonder why they chose to use the title. Charles F. Williams describes the characters very carefully, and the plot is very convincing. Not being a sailor myself, I cannot rate the precision of the nautical expressions, but that did not keep me from reading the book in one sweep.

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Summary: Have Read It!
Review: I have not yet read this book, because it is out of print. But I assume that it is based off the movie "Dead Calm", starring Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane. The movie was about a yacht trip gone bad, after a couple's boat is boarded by a madman. If this sounds interesting, write to Amazon.com and tell them to find copies of this book! The movie is top notch suspense, but it was made in 1989 so the book is gone. Email them, people!

Rating:
Summary: A tale of gripping suspense
Review: I just finished reading the book and thought it was an excellent tale. I liked the author's style of character developement and explaination of past events that led to the present situation. However, I was very disappointed in the movie adaptation of the novel. True to Hollywood form, it did not even come close to the original storyline!

Rating:
Summary: Dead Calm
Review: I saw the movie first, with Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill and Billy Zane, and realized I had the book, so read it. Really good book, brought this landlubber reader right down to water level in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Memorable, well-drawn characters. Action cuts from one yacht, with a madman and the new bride, to the other yacht, which is slowly sinking, with the husband and two other people aboard. The husband and wife are frantically trying to reunite in the vast, empty sea. Tension abounds on both boats. The boats go further apart, then come closer, trying to find each other as the hours pass, the water rises in the sinking boat, and darkness falls. Climax? Wow!

I wasn't surprised to find the book was out of print, but it shouldn't be, it's that good. A classic. Written in 1963. Williams born when Joseph Conrad was alive. I bought it and many other Perennial Library paperback mysteries 15 years ago for $.99 each, and was amazed to find it made into a current movie with big stars.

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Summary: Superb entertainment in a true
Review: This movie, (I have not yet been able to get the book) is spellbinding, action oriented, and definitely believable. The cinematography was excellent and the actors delighful. If you enjoy stories with an ocean setting, beautiful scenery and mile a minute action, you will love this book. (movie)

Rating:
Summary: Exellent!
Review: Well, I haven't read the book and would very much like to know more about it. Seeing the movie, though I missed the first 30 minutes, was very good. I thought it had a very good plot, and the characters were what made it so good. In the movie, the way they did past and future in their lives was very understandable with an intense feeling of what will happen next. The book I'm very sure is good and I know by reading previous books (that have movies made for them), that the book will be better. The movie " Dead Calm" was excellent and I know that the book by Charles F. Williams will be even better.