| Title | : | The Walk |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 235 |
| Publication | : | First published January 2, 2004 |
Marty has been expecting this day all his life. He's prepared. In his car are a pair of sturdy walking shoes and a backpack of food, water, and supplies. He knows there is only one thing he can do ... that he must do: get home to his wife Beth, go back to their gated community on the far edge of the San Fernando Valley.
All he has to do is walk. But he will quickly learn that it's not that easy. His dangerous, unpredictable journey home will take him through the different worlds of what was once Los Angeles. Wildfires rage out of control. Flood waters burst through collapsed dams. Natural gas explosions consume neighborhoods. Sinkholes swallow entire buildings. After-shocks rip apart the ground. Looters rampage through the streets.
There's no power. No running water. No order.
Marty Slack thinks he's prepared. He's wrong. Nothing can prepare him for this ordeal, a quest for his family and for his soul, a journey that will test the limits of his endurance and his humanity, a trek from the man he was to the man he can be ... if he can survive The Walk.
The Walk Reviews
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I have read this novel a number of times since I purchased it. Clearly, I liked it enough to read it more than once. It has a number of things going for it. The story initiates with an apocalyptic event that transforms the current reality into a waking nightmare scenario. For a horror fan, it works. I'm there.
The MC survives the Big One, an earthquake that fundamentally transforms Los Angeles, California, and must now navigate the perilous streets in order to get home to his wife. Okay, not bad. Not a completely original concept, but might be interesting if conveyed in an exciting, engrossing way.
The return home trope is destined to add heart to this hero's journey, so count me in. The trip home is fraught with the remnants of the disaster: dead bodies, falling structures, injured parties clamoring for assistance. Everywhere you turn -- blood, agony, horror. Why, then, did I not LOVE it? Maybe it has to do with the main character: a Hollywood executive that is unpleasant, but human; his traveling companion, who is an even bigger jerk; or is it just that the story has lost some of its compelling drama in subsequent re-reading.
Listen, the story is a good story. The ending is a little too trite for something that should not be resolved in such an abrupt way. Maybe that's what it is. I knew how it would end, and I wanted more. Still, a good read that could have been better. -
Marty Slack is a failed writer-turned television executive. His job description is a bit elusive, but seems mainly to involve convincing other people that he's somehow essential to the process. He drives the requisite Mercedes; he lives in a gated community with an attractive wife who's a former actress, and he scores good tables at all the important restaurants. He's very solicitous of those people who can advance his career, not so much so of those who can't.
Despite his apparent success, Marty is nagged by self-doubt; his marriage is in trouble, and then one morning his problems really begin in earnest. He's just leaving the dilapidated warehouse in a run-down section of L.A. where his network is filming the pilot of a new show, "Go to Heller," when the BIG ONE hits southern California.
Following the quake, Marty comes to lying under the wreckage of his Mercedes and all around him the city lies in ruins. Buildings have toppled; freeways have buckled; fires are raging out of control, and the bodies are scattered everywhere. Like many L.A. residents, Marty has prepared for this day and he has stowed some water and other basic survival gear in his trunk. Otherwise, he's up that well-known tributary absent a paddle.
Overwhelmed with thoughts of his wife, Beth, Marty knows that his only choice is to begin the long and very dangerous walk from the shattered downtown to his home. As is inevitable in a book like this, his walk will be a journey of self-discovery and will allow Marty ample opportunity to examine his life, the choices he has made, and perhaps to become a better person in the end.
Walking along with him is enormously entertaining. Goldberg, who, in addition to writing novels, has himself had a long and very successful career in television, has created in Marty a complex character who turns out to be a very appealing companion for a journey of this magnitude. The other characters are also very well drawn and their collective story provides moments of great terror, humor and grace under fire. All in all, this is a book that should appeal to large numbers of readers. -
Full review on my blog:
http://theaussiezombie.blogspot.com
Natural disasters are the things that every PA fan’s dreams are made of. They’re realistic and possible and we’ve all imagined how we would survive ‘The Big One’ in whatever shape or form. And we’ve all seen The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 and Independence Day at least once.
The Walk is the story of a normal, average guy, trying to make it home to his wife after his The Big One hits – an earthquake in LA. Marty thinks he’s got it all planned out, he’s not going to be distracted from his game plan of making it home, safe and sound, to his wife on the other side of L.A. No. Matter. What.
But after a chance encounter with a rough, tough, bounty hunter at a still-functioning burrito stand, things are about to change in wimpy Marty’s world. Suddenly he’s no longer the hapless network executive just trying to make it back to his wife; he’s being dragged into every survival scenario imaginable and then some.
Honestly, Marty is a bit of a twat – he’s selfish, unwilling to get involved in helping others and thinks he is far above his current situation. But Marty is also a reflection of how the majority of us would react in a similar situation, scared and terrified of pooping his pants (you have to read The Walk to understand this reference!). As the story progressed, I felt a lot more sympathy towards Marty – I wouldn’t be the ultimate action hero either, and his drive to make it home is truly admirable.
The Walk is written in a way that drags the reader into the ruptured, disrupted and disaster-struck LA, with terrifyingly real situations that you can completely imagine yourself encountering on such a journey.
In closing, I really enjoyed The Walk – there is a twist that I guessed a fair way before it was revealed, but for me that actually added to the experience in waiting to see when the twist would be revealed. -
The readers will feel as if they too are walking through the devastated landscape that used to be Los Angeles. The descriptions of the earthquakes--and those aftershocks--the before and after descriptions of the city, the streets and buildings, crushed cars--and bodies--are heart-stoppingly real. What would you do? What should Marty Slack do? I can understand why he focuses on the goal of walking home to Beth, his wife. The background of his world--TV production--is entertaining and enlightening. The reader will get glimpses of that, along with flashbacks to his home life, so that we see that he needs help in his life, not just along the way. The journey home is littered with piles of debris from collapsing buildings, overpasses and cars--of course--blood and guts, as the destruction continues. His path includes a woman begging for help--how can you tell her that there's no help for her--detours, fire, a flood as large and deadly as a tsunami (from a broken dam), and more unexpected dangers. But Marty does find help from a man named Buck, whom he tries to lose along the way, but who keeps turning up to help--and annoy him. So much more to this story. You'll learn a lot, as does Marty. Satisfying ending.
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An interesting story. Very good characters and an excellent plot.
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The Walk is the story of a TV executive's travel through LA wrecked by the Big One (the big earthquake, not the big nuclear war). Written by someone who spent much of his life in the TV industry, it's not surprising a lot of the book contains commentary on the TV industry and "profound" statements on the effects of TV on society. The book is also written with an intimate familiarity with LA, and never skips a mention of a street or building passed by, an unnecessary high level of detail that is really of limited interest unless you're from LA yourself. People who are really into the TV industry or really into LA will like this book, but what about those of us who are not, me included?
The Walk is an apocalyptic tale in effect, it takes place in a short timespan which means it has the typical apocalyptic markers of dangerous collapses, explosions and floods caused by the Big Ones, and the main character - Marty Slack - running into a variety of colorful characters working to survive, first and foremost his colorful counterpart, Buck.
Like the best of apocalyptic tales, the disaster is a framing device for exploring human nature. The book's observations on mankind are cynical but not particularly insightful, but what it does do well is show the development of Marty during his travails crossing the city, as he reassesses his life, personality and marriage. Marty's personal story is the core and strength of this book, Lee Goldberg does a good job getting you invested in the character and slowly growing to like him.
The book features a kind of Hollywood plot twist at the end, which would have been mind-bending a decade or two ago but has been kind of played out by this point. I figured it out by about the 2/3rd mark of the book, but it was still an enjoyable if predictable twist, and fits the general theme of the story.
Overall, a competent apocalyptic story with a good personal story set within it, but nothing truly special. -
Actually, I read the ePub edition from Kobobooks, but I assume it's the same text!
The Walk chronicles Marty Slack's journey through a hellish land of earthquakes, explosions, floods, more earthquakes and various other disasters. It's a fast-paced, episodic read, often profane and violent and funny. The pacing and the spare prose remind me of a TV movie, which suits the story perfectly.
Martin Slack is a television executive, so right away (if you have any experience with television executives) you're on the side of the earthquake and any heavy object that is heading his way. As his outer journey home progresses, so does his inner journey, and your sympathies reverse. The character of Buck, his foul-mouthed, self-centered, abusive bounty-hunter sidekick, is a real gem.
The Walk is professionally written and bargain-priced and should provide an entertaining read for anyone not sensitive to foul language, which, I will admonish readers, is profuse. -
Sooooo predictable.. I really read this a thousand times before! Disappoinment!
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Marty is a television executive in Hollywood and when the "big one" hits LA, he has a 30 mile journey to get back to his home and wife in Calabasas. This is the story of his treacherous journey through near-total destruction to try to reunite with his wife, having to survive aftershocks, explosions, and criminals. We meet some very interesting characters along the way and what's most interesting is Marty's transformation from when he heads out until his journey ends. I found this book well written and quite entertaining. I couldn't wait to see what he would stumble upon next. I'm not sure why it has such a low rating, other than it's the complete opposite of politically correct. I'm sure there are many people that are offended by this book but in these times when I'm growing more and more frustrated with some of my favorite author's political views speckled throughout their novels, I found it refreshing. For this, it gets the extra star.
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46% in and this novel is absolutely brilliant. Sure, it's written with being turned into a movie in mind--it's even about a studio exec who started out as a script reader. But that's why it's so readable in a way. The Big One finally hits LA and Marty, visiting one of his sets down town, has to negotiate the earthquake-devastated city to get home to his wife. Simple tale but told with blistering power and no redundancies. It may be because I've just escaped from reading
Drood, but the simplicity of this tale is like sharp-edged glass: scary and yet compelling at the same time. I'm a huge fan of post-apocalyptic novels, but all too often they can be rambling and anecdotal. This one starts with Marty under his car and from the moment he surfaces and realises what's happening it's almost impossible to stop reading. He's determined to stick with his plan and not stop for anything or anyone, but events, predictably, conspire against him.
If I have minor gripe, the author suffers from the same delusion as Konkoly (
The Jakarta Pandemic) in that he assumes his readers are a. familiar with the street geography of the novel and b. fascinated by it--in the way of conversations you have at cocktail parties: "No, go left at the roundabout and then first right into Marldon Lane and--" "Oh, no, it's much quicker to go..." you get what I mean. I've been to LA, but I didn't memorise the street layout and I can't follow any of the detailed descriptions of Marty's route home. Perhaps the author is Marty: his focus begins and ends in Hollywood. But it's a minor gripe. If I can survive
Drood I can survive a few street directions.
So far, I'm only surprised this isn't a 5-star book across the board. I'd describe it as unputdownable. I'll update when done.
Finished this one today because it was hard to put down.
It had a major twist at the end.
So, one-star down for the ending, but overall an excellent read. -
Holy crap, this book was awful. I kept reading it expecting to to live up to some of the great reviews it was given, but it never happened. The whole thing read like some sort of eighth grader's creative writing final paper. It had one-dimensional characters, an all-too-obvious "plot twist" and far too many instances of the writer simply telling the reader something (ie: the damage was catastrophic) rather than showing the reader something. Toss in a number of typos and grammatical errors and it was a total dud.
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A thoroughly enjoyable read despite the typos!
I'd never read anything by this author before but after The Walk I'll certainly be reading more by Lee Goldberg.
Great dialogue, great characters - an all-round fun book to read! -
A quick read. Like the movies "Wild" and "2012" were mixed together.
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Lee Goldberg's "The Walk" is a different offering to what he's usually writing- crime, action-packed novels. Yet, it is a very good different, and the result is not only a hard-to-put-down novel, but a gripping, human, gut-wrenching tale.
"The Walk" is a post-apocalypse journey of one man, Marty Slack, a TV network executive, who up until this morning was enjoying his very predictable, comfortable, Hollywood life. But all that changes when The Big One hits. A devastating earthquake that leaves Los Angeles in ruins. With airports in ruins, freeways in rubble, and no cell-phone, Marty decides to make a journey home, on foot, from downtown LA to his house- where his wife, Beth, is supposed to be, presumably still alive in a gated community at the edge of the San Fernando Valley. But this journey won't be an easy one. He will meet people form all walks of life, and will come head to head with some difficult decisions and situations. But most of all, the journey will put Marty to an extreme test, where he's not only learning more about himself, but also face-off with who he really is and the realities of the life he's been living. And if he is to make any change to his life, he'll need to survive his journey and the dangers lurking at every corner.
Like I said, if you're familiar with Goldberg's work, you'll realize from the get-go that "The Walk" is very different to his other novels. But it's still a mesmerizing novel, from start to finish. It's relentless, action-packed, filled with humour, amazing fleshed-out characters (with some amazing insights into their psyche). But most of all, this novel actually feels like a journey. Goldberg's writing style is so top notch, as his attention to detail, that you'll feel as if you're traveling alongside Marty through a disaster-stricken Los Angeles. "The Walk" has a very unique you-are-there sensation- which is no wonder at all, considering Goldberg has consulted so many references and maps of the area- even though he lives there. His implementation of his research is to the nth degree, as you'll feel as if you're walking those streets and experiencing everything Marty does. The only downside, of course, is that the streets of LA are all in ruins.
Wholeheartedly recommended. "The Walk" is a worthwhile, extraordinary experience. And it also proves that Lee Goldberg is a master storyteller.
5 earth-shaking stars! -
The Walk is about one man's journey through the destroyed city of LA.
Marty is a tv network executive and not very likeable to boot. The book opens with him cowering underneath his car as the BIG ONE rips through the city. Once the main quake is over, Marty decides he needs to walk home to get to his wife. This story is about that walk.
I don't want to get any further into the plot, but I will say that this book reads like a TV show or miniseries. It is very easy to picture in your mind as the author describes what Marty is experiencing. The main character does develop and grow throughout the story, but in a predictable way. In my opinion, the ending was rather easy to guess, but welcome nonetheless.
At the very end of the Kindle edition there were links to a group of books regarding Inspector Monk from the tv show. Apparently Mr. Goldberg writes these as well. He also has written for the show Diagnosis Murder. Perhaps this explains the author's ability to write so vividly? In any case, this was a good, fun read..but it's not going to blow your mind or change your view of the world. -
Brilliant cross genre novel (action/horror/character study) by one of the industry masters, Lee Goldberg. When a massive earthquake strikes L.A., Marty Slack makes a treacherous trek from downtown Los Angeles to the safety of his earthquake safe home and his beloved Beth. Along the way Marty encounters horrific events and danger as the comforts of our modern lifeline are cut. Cell phones don't work, cars become death traps, wild animals roam free and sustaining food and water become premium. Marty's introspective look at his life and experiences sustain his strength and sanity as he walks, resorting to reflecting on Movies and singing TV theme songs (the Chapters are movie and TV references). Does he make it? I won't ruin this for you. There is not another book like this anywhere. Devilish in its suspense, masterful in its realization.
This is a unique entry from one of America's finest writers. Goldberg is a screenwriter, producer, best-selling author and Publisher. Don't miss this one. -
This was a kindle freebie.. Kept my attention. Lee Goldberg writes screenplays, and this reads like it in that the timing and coincidences are quite a bit over the top. Marty just happens to be in the right place at the right time, and manages to just barely escape from quite a few extreme situations, as he walks from Los Angeles to Calabasas in his effort to be reunited with his wife. I was born and raised in and around the suburbs of LA and enjoyed the frequent references to his location as he moved from LA out to the valley. I kept wondering why he wouldn't just go find a mountain bike and take off. He could have made the ride in a few hours, but I guess that wouldn't have been as adventurous! There's a nice twist with a character he meets along the way
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A massive earthquake strikes the heart of Los Angeles and TV Executive Martin Slack must walk through 30 miles of carnage to get to his wife in Calabasas. Along the way he'll encounter various conflicts. This is a fairly basic survival story that skips the more familiar group ensemble story a la Irwin Allen (who is mentioned a couple times in the story). It moves fairly rapidly, save for some flashbacks exploring the relationship between Martin and his wife. There is one pretty good surprise at the end that won't be spoiled here. The motivation to keep reading is to find out if Martin makes it to his wife. There are also a couple nice parallels to
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. -
I loved this story. The main character, Martin Slack, is just a normal guy who is unhappy in his marriage and not thrilled with his line of work. Following the quake that levels LA Martin is forced to trek across the destroyed city and it's multitude of horrors in an effort to be reunited with his wife. Along the way he is tested and pushed further than he ever imagined he could handle and is joined by a professional bounty hunter named Buck who seems to exist only to needle and torment Martin.
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Los Angeles earthquake.
Terrible , scary beginning. Marty begins to walk to his home from down town, devastated roads, buildings and bridges. Death and dying helpless people. Finds himself, no longer puppet, his strings cut by the earthquake. His friend Buck helps him through this journey. Don't give up reading, ending will make you feeling like getting up and cheering Marty, maybe... -
The premise was good but I didn't love this book. There was way too much name dropping of areas and landmarks. It took up the majority of the book. I once lived in LA and knew the places but I can't imagine what it would be like for someone that didn't know the area. The storyline was too predictable and I really didn't like or feel connected to the mail character.
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"The Walk" was an O.K. read. The story is about a catastrophic earthquake set in L.A. and leads us on a mans journey to get home to his wife. Although there were sad, happy, terrifying moments, I still wanted more. Especially when I found out at the end that he was experiencing an alter ego hallucination. It was written more like a movie script waiting to be directed and casted.
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Very quick read. Marty starts out as a self-absorbed jerk but gets his priorities straightened out by the end. As difficult as his journey was across post-earthquake L.A., I actually think it wasn't as difficult as it would be in real life. Marty really didn't run into the lawlessness that would probably exist in a urban setting like L.A. The ending was predictible.
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Amazing.....
Typically, I read an assortment of books. Historical, romance, suspense, mystery or a combination. I had read a book that was co-written with Lee Goldberg, and his background is vast. This was more of a believable suspense, with twists and turns. I did not put it down much. Great story teller; add will be added to my authors.
