The Riders

I am a huge fan of this author but The Riders gets the lowest star rating of all I have read. It is over written, goes on for too long and ends completely inconclusively. There is no resolution. Well, to this reader, anyway. Maybe Tim Winton sees more between the lines than is evident to me. The adventure of father and daughter goes on for too long, although the pace is relentless, which does drive you on. Although they seem to find laughs out of their misery here and there, I found the unrelenting misery of their ordeal wearing. Billie acts like she\’s an adult, yet she\’s only seven. I don\’t know any seven year old that would put up with her father as she does let alone take on his obsession and effectively lead him as she does. Tim Winton\’s prose is magic but the content of this story is too dark and ugly to be enjoyable. It is as though the author wants to write about Europe – and he can – but the story line just doesn\’t match up. Pity.

This book is dark and haunting-typical Tim Winton style. His characters are very believable and well-defined. Couldn\’t put it down. For reference, I really like John Irving, Wally Lamb, Rohinton Mistry. If you like those writers-try Tim Winton. Cloud Street & Dirt Music were phenomenal works, and this one also great. I am having a hard time with Erie-his character may be a little TOO dark for me but will try again. Just ordered Breath-looking forward to seeing what that one is like.

I became so involved with the characters I stayed up all night reading it—no so great next day LOL but worth it.

I enjoyed this book although found the premise a bit far fetched until I thought about it after a few days. I think the way parents try to rationalize their child\’s behavior is realistic.

the author builds characters well

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