The Riders Paperback – 2 May 2008

This book was a disappointment, especially having enjoyed Tim Winton's Cloudstreet hugely. The worst thing was knowing from the outset exactly what was going to happen - if you've not read the book yet, then take my advice & just dive in without reading the back cover - as the central event in terms of the plot takes place quite a way through the book, and I think that sharing the main charachter's emotions at the point of discovery would go a long way to making his bizarre behaviour in the latter stages of the story more credible.The first part of the book is infinitely more satisfying than the second, which stretches ones credulity to breaking point on several occasions. There's also an odd supernatural bit which, although it's echoed later on in the story, is never explained or explored and there seems no real reason for it being there, unless it's to underline Scully's similarity to his daughter & vice-versa - something that has already been copiously rammed down our throats.Not Tim Winton's finest hour, although the first half of the novel is good. Unusually no-one in our bookgroup was really taken by this book - there's usually at least one person who really likes whatever we've read.

This is hard book to rate. Some people will love, some will hate it. The quality of the writing cannot be bettered in my opinion, sometimes the prose is so good you get overload. However it has to be good because it holds up a problematic plot.

Unusually for Tim Winton, this book is not set in Australia. It starts off in Ireland then unfolds in Europe. I found some of the characters a bit sketchy but on balance this was a strangely satisfying read. It wasn't up there with Dirt Music and Breathe but I found it easier than Shallows or The Open Swimmer.

I found this a very disappointing book. Winston can write but I want more than an endless stream of descriptions of trees, smells, cold and travel. There are some good characters and the beginning of an intriguing plot, but then it goes steadily downhill and you realise the author simply ran out of ideas.

wordy

Brilliant in it's descriptions scary in it,s fearfulness and raw emotions. A rollercoaster ride of a book you want to find an ending but then Don't want it to end.

First half was great. Second half annoying , repeatative and unlikely!

Very much what a fan of Tim Winton can expect. This is one of his earlier novels