Deliverance

This story moves with all the force of the furious river at its center! We know from the first paragraph that nothing good will happen to these weekend warriors - but the ultimate sequence of events is beyond imagining. Having seen the movie long ago I knew it would be intense, but as usual, the book that spawns a great movie is a real masterpiece. Will Patton is my favorite narrator and this book is perfectly suited to his voice.

It sure didn't take long to get into this book and then not be able to let go of it. I just love a book that I cannot put down, or in this case, turn off! I found my shoulders continually hunched up and my knuckles white throughout most of it. What a great adventure story! When I started it, I was afraid it would be besought with swearing, given that it's a guy thing, but although there was a little, it was mostly just good writing and a great story. Thank you James Dickey! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The performance by Will Patton was spot-on. I felt like I was living this nightmare right along with the characters, and when it was over, I missed them.

The worst thing about finishing a story like this is picking out the next one and then being disappointed when it is not as good.

I must have seen the movie two or three decades ago. It seemed a testosterone driven story. So I wasn't sure. A good novel transends genre, though. I enjoyed the story very much. I was pleased that the story continues after they get off the river finally and gives you an idea of how this horrific experience has affected their lives thereafter. Very well written. Interesting and compelling enough that I stayed with it and finished in one day. I actually liked the slower portions of the book as it gave you insight into the central character. I thought the pacing of the story varied nicely.

Yes, I have seen the movie a couple of times. Why I waited 25 years to read(listen) to the book is a mystery. At it's core this is a tale of the extremes of life. Ed Gentry owns and operates an ad agency and is bored to tears. He takes a trip with his friends hoping to burn away the cobwebs that have appeared in his life. The real reason he goes, however, is simply to pacify his pal Lewis Medlock, who is a survivalist and outdoor nut. Ed even hopes that some last minute emergency can stop the trip. It does not. And readers are propelled faster and faster to the horror of Ed's moment of truth, when he thinks he must kill another man. And it is not a quick decision, at least not what might be thought of as instantaneous. Ed has plenty of time to track his prey, notice what the other man is wearing. He also realizes the other man is tracking him, and that is the actual moment of decision. Ed must decide in a fraction of a second what to do.

Author James Dickey writes with a poet's mastery of language. Descriptions of the hill people, the forest, mountains and the river are lyrically connected. A reader feels as if he is watching everything unfold. The two most enduring scenes from the movie involve rape and dueling banjos. As important and captivating as those two moments are there are many other episodes that will hold the listener(reader) enthralled. This is a true tale of survival.

This book has a good premise from which to build a story from, then James Dickey writes a spectacular book around it. The dialog is tense, realistic and moving. The book captures the events and the emotions surrounding them in a way that is unique and sharp and real. I felt like I was there, on that trip, part of the action. If you have seen the movie and do not think you would like the book, which is how I felt, put that prejudice aside this is a top tier piece of literature, it is written with talent and feeling and it will surprise you.

I remember reading this book when I was a young lad and enjoying every turned page. I remember the movie both engaging me and holding me in suspense. Without a doubt Will Patton is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. His voice is as enthralling as it is mesmerizing. I always loved him as an actor, now I love him even more as a narrator of excellent audiobooks. He first grabbed me when I listened to the abridged edition of Gone South by Robert McCammon (a two cassette edition done years and years ago, my favorite author--three of his books are in my top five favorites of all time--Boy's Life, Swan Song, and The Wolf's Hour, by the way).

The story is as strong as a raging river which cannot be denied its sacrifices. The reading greatly matches Dickey's superb storytelling!

I was a little hesitant about listening to the book since I have seen the movie several times. However, the fact that Will Patton is the narrator won me over. I'm very glad too! The movie followed the book very closely, but the book gave so much more insight into who the men are, what they are doing on the river, and why they each had such different reactions. The story is captivating--in spite of the fact that I knew the ending! Will Patton is a perfect narrator for the story. It was fun!

The movie Deliverance, an icon for at least one generation is reference for every fated trip into the wilderness. This book so poetically narrated brings the listener along on the trip down the river. James Dickey gives us this delicious/dangerous setting in the rural South.
It all works; this story is wonderful. P. S. I did miss that line though

I remember the movie from long ago, and never even knew it was from a book...until now. And what a book it is! Once they get into the woods and on that boat, believe me...you are going for a ride right along with them!

You're going to feel thrashed around on that white river, you're going to smell the moss and molds of the forest, you're going to grab your side and wince when one of the characters gets hurt. You are going into a place where you'd never dare enter outside of these 'pages', so hang on, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!

A stunning presentation. Not having read the novel, I was astonished at how much deeper Ed's character is than the desperately miscast Jon Voight in the movie. I shouldn't have been, I guess -- don't we all know the book is always better than the movie?

Well, in this case, Will Patton's performance trumps BOTH, in my opinion. One of those you're-already-home-in-the-driveway-but-don't-want-to-turn-it-off audiobooks.

My highest recommendation.