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The Good Thief
The Good Thief
Author: Hannah Tinti
Richly imagined, gothically spooky, and replete with the ingenious storytelling ability of a born novelist, The Good Thief introduces one of the most appealing young heroes in contemporary fiction and ratifies Hannah Tinti as one of our most exciting new talents. — Twelve year-old Ren is missing his left hand. How it was lost is a mystery ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780385337458
ISBN-10: 0385337450
Publication Date: 8/26/2008
Pages: 336
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 26

3.7 stars, based on 26 ratings
Publisher: The Dial Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

VickyJo avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 49 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I raced through this first novel by Hannah Tinti. We meet young Ren, a boy without a left hand, living in the orphanage run by the monks of St. Anthony's. It's bleak, cold, comfortless. Ren is always passed over for adoption due to his handicap; his future looks frightening, as the army will be his only option when he comes of age.

But miracle of miracles, a stranger arrives one day, and chooses Ren. In fact, he claims to be Ren's brother. And so begins Ren's new life, with a family of sorts; Benjamin Nab, the alleged older brother, and his friend Tom, a former schoolteacher. The three are bound together by a strange combination of con artistry and companionship.

The narrative flows as we follow Ren on his journeys. The characters are finely drawn, and while not always likable, they are always fascinating. A modern Dickens tale with a feeling that a sequel might be in the works. I certainly hope so!
mmbay avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I really enjoyed this book. The Good Thief tells the story of Ren, who abandoned as an infant, is raised in an orphanage and later "adopted" by a traveling grave robber/ne'er do well. Set in New England when child labor was legal and anesthesia was unheard of, Ren's story unfolds as he tries to sort out the mystery of his birth and make his way in the world. Peopled by an interesting cast of characters, The Good Thief is a good read.
mickmckeown avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
It seems that you either love or hate this book.
Personally, I enjoyed it.
The story was pretty well paced not perfect but good.
The minor characters are outstanding.
The protagonist Ren is young orphan who has a fierce loyalty that is admirable.
At one point I was wondering where the Author was taking us.
However, I was not disappointed in the end.
reviewed The Good Thief on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
The story is about a boy from an orphanage who is adopted by a man who claims to be his brother. The man is anything but who he says he is. Before the boy knows it, he finds himself surrounding by thieves, con-artists, and grave robbers. It was hard for me to get into this one and I don't understand the hype surrounding this one. It was a decent story but it never jumped from the pages for me like some reviewers have claimed.
YahtzeeQueen avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I was surprised how much I liked this book. It kept me on edge and I couldn't quit reading it because I had to find out what was going to happen to the the one armed orphan. Its a cross between Dicken's "Oliver Twist" and John Steinbecks "Mice of Men". I have a feeling those are the authors two favorite authors.
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donnar avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 22 more book reviews
This book won awards, and for good reason. The story is set in the 1800's-young orphan boy with one hand is adopted out of a poor orphanage by a man of who says he's his brother; from then on a string of events occurs that makes the boy question his past, worry about his future, and finds his strengths and weaknesses in the process. I'm quite picky about my books, and it takes a good writer to keep my interest..this kept me awake wondering happens next. The story is written in a straight-forward, fast paced style that is highly enjoyable.
I really hope the author comes out with more books!
reviewed The Good Thief on + 636 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book quite a bit! The setting (19th century New England) made for a fascinating backdrop and the characters were both likable and dynamic. And I especially liked Ren's character and the mystery of his missing hand! There was some rather shocking violence, but none of it seemed gratuitous. It was a fast, fun, and entertaining read. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author's other books! This is a very strong debut novel, and it will be interesting to see if her second novel will be even stronger.
knitter avatar reviewed The Good Thief on + 64 more book reviews
A little bit gory at times, but a wonderful adventure tale beautifully written. Takes place in New England in the mid 1800's.


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