Richard M. (algernon99) - , reviewed Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii (Monk, Bk 2) on + 418 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
I am a devoted fan of the Monk TV series; I've bought the whole-season DVDs and the family watches them frequently. The character and show are great fun.
So how good is a book going to be? I was skeptical at first. There are a couple of questions you might have in your mind. One would be: Is this a novelization of one of the TV episodes? Answer: No. It's an independent story that has not been on TV. Hmmm. Next question: How good can a novel about a TV character be? Answer: Quite good. Monk is a unique character and his foibles and brilliance come across in print nearly as well as they do on screen. I suppose you would have needed to see the show on TV before the books make a lot of sense to you, but if you like the TV show, you'll like the books.
One reason is that the author, Lee Goldberg, is an accomplished TV scriptwriter as well as a novelist. Lee has written a number of the TV scripts that have been produced. He knows the characters, and he knows how the stories are supposed to flow.
So this is book comes highly recommended by me and by my wife, who also read it right after I did. (It also reads very quickly.) It really helps to get a fresh dose of Mr. Monk in long dry spell between new episodes on TV.
So how good is a book going to be? I was skeptical at first. There are a couple of questions you might have in your mind. One would be: Is this a novelization of one of the TV episodes? Answer: No. It's an independent story that has not been on TV. Hmmm. Next question: How good can a novel about a TV character be? Answer: Quite good. Monk is a unique character and his foibles and brilliance come across in print nearly as well as they do on screen. I suppose you would have needed to see the show on TV before the books make a lot of sense to you, but if you like the TV show, you'll like the books.
One reason is that the author, Lee Goldberg, is an accomplished TV scriptwriter as well as a novelist. Lee has written a number of the TV scripts that have been produced. He knows the characters, and he knows how the stories are supposed to flow.
So this is book comes highly recommended by me and by my wife, who also read it right after I did. (It also reads very quickly.) It really helps to get a fresh dose of Mr. Monk in long dry spell between new episodes on TV.
Helpful Score: 6
The second novel based on the tv series. I thought the first attempt was rather depressing, but this one captures the sadness of Monk's issues in a much more amusing way, allowing you to laugh with Natalie while feeling his pain. Also, the story is a bit more complex than the first book, and in that way, this is a much better read.
Helpful Score: 3
great book better than the series so funny i laughed out loud. dont leave monk with a file of crimes he will solve them all. laughing all the way to hawaii and back
Helpful Score: 3
Enjoyable read. Not as good as the TV show, but fun, none-the-less. Pretty easy reading, too.
Helpful Score: 2
This was an enjoyable, quick read. Monk is one of my favorite shows and I was pleased that the book follows the television character very closely. If you like the show, you'll like the book.