Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Well then. As much as it pains me to do this, I calls 'em like I sees 'em, and this was an effort in futility on just about all fronts.

Now I know, I know, the Bachman books are depressing and dark and bleak and grim. I know all that. I expected it, and was even looking forward to it. But this... This was almost painfully tedious to get through. It was so pointless. So futile.

I've read all of the Bachman books, and they've all been dark and grim and whatnot... but they've all had a point. I didn't feel like the same could be said about Roadwork. Maybe I missed it, but it seems to me that this is a story about a man who stubbornly, stupidly, and blindly refuses change, and determines to stick it out to the bloody end. He gives not a single thought to anyone else he might hurt, like his wife, or his employees, or innocent bystanders, or police officers simply doing their jobs.

No. Why think about them? Fuck them. He ain't leaving his house. He don't wanna. They ain't gonna make him. Right, Fred? Right, George.

So there.

Excuse me while I go bash my face into a brick wall so I can better empathize with Bart Dawes.

One last thing. The audio reader for this book was... just... really bad. Dawes was OK, but every other character sounded like they should have been a cartoon. Mr. Ordner, the boss, would have been one of those big burly bulldogs in a 3 piece suit with a smoldering cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. Mr. Magliore would be a fatcat Get It Man, whose right hand man would be a lanky tomcat with big ears, sharp claws, and showing ribs. Mary Dawes would be a whiny, foofy poodle.

This is how I saw these characters while listening to this guy read.

It did not help my enjoyment of the story.