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B. Kennedy |
3.0 / 5
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I listened to The Gate House on an audio book of CD's (19 of them). I have always enjoyed Nelson DeMille's style of writing, and I enjoyed this one, too. However, the language was atrocious. I am not a prude, but I don't enjoy hearing (or reading) the "F" word so frequently. I could understand that language from the Mafia characters like Anthony Bellarosa, but, to me, there was way too much from John Sutter.
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Linda T |
3.0 / 5
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Nelson DeMille has written some of favorite books and some of my least favorite. I loved The Charm School and The Lion Game. My problem with The Gate House is John W. Sutter is too silly. I felt like I was reading about a child in an adult body. The plot was weak, but interesting. At 674 pages, it was too long for such a weak plot.
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Jerry B. Tingstad |
4.0 / 5
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Nelson DeMille is one of the authors I turn to when I just want to relax with a "good read" and he comes through once again (for me) in this sequel to The Gold Coast. Every time I read this author it is like listening to an old friend.
Meticulous as always, right down to spelling "whisky" and "whiskey" depending upon where it is produced.
I won't go on as other reviewers have covered the essentials.
But if you are the type of reader who doesn't bother to read the "acknowledgements" at the end of a book, read this one. It has a good final segment.
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C. LeComte |
5.0 / 5
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Before reading this review please note. If you haven't read DeMille's The Gold Coast, and plan to, please don't read this, as it will spoil that story for you.
Though this book is very long (670+ pages) I wouldn't have minded it if it went even longer. I am a huge fan of Nelson DeMille and would enjoy his description of how grass grows. The Gate House is the sequel to The Gold Coast, and much of Gate House rehashes the thrust of that book. I enjoyed this, as it's been awhile since I read the first one. Clearly, though this is a sequel, it's meant to be read by anyone, even those who haven't read The Gold Coast.
Ten years have passed since John Sutter's wife, Susan, killed her lover, a Mafia Don, and got little more than a slap on the wrist for her trouble. After divorcing Susan, John spent ten years sailing the sea and making a living in London. Now he's come back to the Gold Coast for an impending funeral, and all the ghosts of John's past, and some new ones, are waiting for him. He hasn't lost his clever sense of humor and sarcastic wit, which keeps this story moving along, and kept this reader eagerly turning pages. There isn't a lot of action in most of the book, but tension grows wonderfully as the characters bounce off each other; the ending is the way only DeMille can do an ending.
I have read some unfavorable reviews, and, while I can see the reviewers' points of view, I couldn't help but enjoy this book all the way through - DeMille's style is something I really enjoy and I love his biting wit. I am still a DeMille fan.
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Jim |
5.0 / 5
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I am a big fan of DeMille's and Gold Goast is my favorite of all of his books. In this sequel, which is often laugh out loud funny, the culture and family clashes from Gold Coast continue unabated, from the uber-wasp in-laws and their world, to the straight out of Brooklyn mafioso neighbors and their world.
An easy going, vintage DeMille read, with great humor throughout. I very much enjoyed it.
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Andrew D. Reinholdson |
3.0 / 5
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Not his best, and nowhere near the quality of The Gold Coast, the book that 'Gate House' sequels. I have read other reviews that said something to the effect the DeMille didn't have a lot to say with this novel. I find that holds true for me as I read, (about 50 pages from finishing) yet I find the pages keep turning, and ever now and then I laugh out loud, which is something DeMille seems singularly able to make me do when reading in a crowded train while commuting.
Not the best book for those who haven't read him before, but for those that love his work as much as me, you'll find plenty here to get your DeMille Fill.
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K. Thalheimer |
3.0 / 5
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John Sutter returns to Stanhope Hall so he may attend to the funeral of the long retired servant Ethel Allard. He's been away 10 years in this sequel to DeMille's extremely popular Gold Coast.
Now instead of dealing with Frank Bellarose, John is dealing with the son, Anthony, also a mobster
Sutter still retains his wiseguy tongue in cheek sense of humor. The book begins well enough; hitting the ground running. The last 20-25 pages are quite good. The middle story bogs down. There's much too much repetition in dialogue to really keep the story moving.
Is the end, as good as The Gold Coast? Close, but no, I didn't think so.
An added bonus for me is I live on Long Island & am familiar with & find it easy to picture a location DeMille describes both in this novel & his others.
The reader will also keep asking why John Sutter has picked up with his cheating murderous wife once more. It just isn't believable, but it makes for the storyline. I was a bit disappointed he didn't tie up with Elizabeth Allard.
Give points for DeMille's very good writing style, descriptions, & sense of humor.
As for a strong novel, I think it misses the mark a little
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Dr. H.B. |
3.0 / 5
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I've read most of N. DeMille's books over the years, and esp. loved the The Gold Coast. While it's sequel (?), The Gate House, has a fairly strong start (up to p.140 or so) and end (the final 30 pages), the overly long vast middle section (500 pages or so) could have profitably been edited down to 200 pages or so to create a vastly more satisfying book.
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Donna F. szeliga |
5.0 / 5
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The Gold Coast was one of my all time favorite books. Nothing DeMille ever wrote has measured up to it. I read the book twice and listened to the audiobook. When I discovered that The Gate House was a new sequel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
I thought it was great. It was wonderful to remember all that happened in the Gold Coast and to meet all the characters again in a continued story. The Gold Coast was one of those books that you never wanted it to end. Well now it hasn't. If only it could still continue past The Gate House.
I had read a long time ago that a movie was going to be made of The Gold Coast, but it never happened. Now would be the perfect time to make a movie combining both books. I could read about the Stanhopes, the Sutters and the Bellarosas forever, and I would love to see all those people and their gold coast properties portrayed in a movie.
Donna
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Guyu A. Archbold |
5.0 / 5
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OK, I know we were all spoiled by John Sutter's coy/caustic personality as created by Nelson DeMille in the original Gold Coast, but I think the other reviewers have been far too hard on the newly released sequel, The Gate House. Although I will agree that John Sutter's endless comments on anything and everything do get a bit repetitious and repugnant in this effort, but given that he is not a detective ala other DeMille books, the means for developing a story around a divorced middle aged grumpy old man who is broke and homeless needs something for which he can develop a story, yes? Afterall, just how exciting can DeMille make a well-to-do family that has already had more excitement and adventure than most shall ever know during the first book of Gold Coast! Given what was available to DeMille, I think he made the absolute most of what was obviously a difficult effort, why else did DeMille wait for fifteen years to write it?--also needing obvious persuasion and pushing from his family and friends to do so, as DeMille himself acknowledges. Given that, I think this was another winner from DeMille, and I for one already miss sitting down in the evening to read more of what may be happening with John and Lady Stanhope Sutter. For myself, I'm rooting for another sequel--maybe a new adventure as John and Susan travel the world.
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