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First Blood
First Blood | David Morrell
20 posts | 12 read | 5 to read
From New York Times bestselling author, David Morrell, comes a classic thriller that introduced the character of Rambo, one of the most iconic action heroes of the twentieth century. Called the father of the modern action novel, FIRST BLOOD changed the genre. Although the book and the film adaptation have similarities, they are very different, especially its unexpected ending and its greater intensity. If youve only experienced the film, youre in for a surprise. Once they were soldiers. Rambo, the ragged kid whose presence in town is considered a threat. And Teasle, the Chief of Police of Madison, Kentucky. Both have been trained to kill: Rambo in Vietnam, Teasle in Korea. They learned different military tactics, different ways of death and survival in two different wars. Now, without warning, they are enemies in a civilian combat that becomes a chase through the woods and mountains and caves above the town. As we follow them, we understand that once a man has been trained as a killer, perhaps he is changed forever. Award-winning FIRST BLOOD was published in 1972, was translated into 26 languages, and has never been out of print. It was one of the first novels to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. Davids novelizations for RAMBO (FIRST BLOOD PART II) and RAMBO III are available as e-books. Theyre quite different from the films and include revealing introductions. See also Davids RAMBO AND ME: THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY.Critical reactions:A fine novel. . . . When Johnny comes marching home this time, watch out. The New York Times Sunday Book ReviewA first-rate thriller. NewsweekOne of the finest chase novels you will ever read. Minneapolis TribuneA terrific thriller. Saturday ReviewOne hell of a hard, fast novel. John D. MacDonald
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ARTDJG
First Blood | David Morrell
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Pickpick

💪 Huge fan of the film ... and now the book.

LibrarianRyan Congrats. I read this as a dare from another litten years ago. So different. Book one came before the movie, but book 2 and 3 came after and were written based on the plot of the movies.
6mo
1 like1 comment
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The_Book_Ninja
First Blood | David Morrell
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Pickpick

The main theme of the film & book is the same: if you create killing machines to fight in brutal wars,then expect trauma & problems when they return to society. The book goes further, though, & explores the stubborn, destructive pride of the “alpha male”. The militarised, authoritarian demeanour of ex-soldier, now drifter, Rambo & ex-soldier, now cop, Teasle, clash head on in a book written a decade before the term “toxic masculinity” was 1st used

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Martyn_J_Pass
First Blood | David Morrell
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I know this isn‘t a book, but I went to see ‘Last Blood‘ last night. I‘ve always been a fan of Rambo for that wandering hero, troubled but trying his best to do some good in spite of his failings...

BUT THIS FILM WAS AWFUL!!!!!!!

Such a dismal way to end this franchise. I‘m genuinely sorry I watched it.

LibrarianRyan The first three are a book, as @Trashcanman has proved to me over and over. Have you read the books. I read book one about 2 months ago. The author wrote book 1, then the movie came out, and her wrote books 2 and 3 from the scripts for movies 2 and three. I don't plan on reading those.

And apparently the author hated this movie as well.
(edited) 5y
Martyn_J_Pass @LibrarianRyan Yeah I was a huge fan of book 1 and I liked the films for different reasons. Rambo 4 was a satisfying end to the franchise I thought, Rambo‘s arc was complete and it was all wrapped up nicely. Then this abomination came along and I‘m now trying to forget it lol. 5y
LibrarianRyan I have not seen the movies since I was a kid. I keep telling myself to go back and watch them with an adult perspective, I just haven't done it yet. But I am planing on it. I'll skip the last one. 5y
Martyn_J_Pass @LibrarianRyan Defo watch all 4 movies. They each offer something to the tale but I agree, stop at number 4 and don‘t entertain 5. I didn‘t mind the violence, it was just the terrible storyline and the heavy-handed politics crowbarred in. It definitely wasn‘t in keeping with the character and, like I said before, his arc was completed in the previous movie and didn‘t need anything more. 5y
25 likes4 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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Saw this and thought of you. Apparently the author wrote book 1 which was turned into a movie, but part two was a screen play first and the author wrote the book off the screen play. It‘s interesting. This article just talks about how bad book 2 was.

https://www.cracked.com/article_26693_5-hollywood-movies-that-got-turned-into-st...

Trashcanman Ong you're totally hooked, are you going to read it. Also please please please remind me of the Alice book. I will screen shot the title, I will keep my end of the deal! 5y
LibrarianRyan @Trashcanman nope not reading boom two. But I will see the movies. 5y
Trashcanman So what is Ryan? 5y
55 likes3 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell

I saw this today and thought you might be interested in #3 George.

@trashcanman. I ill try to get this movie watched this weekend.

https://www.cracked.com/blog/5-iconic-movies-saved-by-last-minute-changes/

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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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Mehso-so

Challenge Complete! 3 🌟

My review is quite long and full of spoilers. However this book is 46 years years old and spawned 4 almost 5 incredibly popular movies. So I feel spoilers are allowed.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2906449546

Also avaiable on LT.

The only person who has to read this review is George. I mean it man. 😁

68 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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What a bunch of BS. Any Good leaders should know you ask for help when you need it, and you get the best available.

SW-T True. Good leaders have good helpers. No one is successful entirely alone. 5y
52 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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And I thought my small town paid bad. I have to keep reminding myself that this books is older than I am, but even twin modern times these mall town police would only make $34,000 a year.

mrp27 Yes. My ex husband is a fire fighter for New York City, FDNY and his starting salary when we were first married was a complete joke. Sure wasn't enough to afford to live in the city in which he was to protect. 5y
LibrarianRyan @mrp27 I had a job like that in Denver. I didn‘t make enough at the large well funded library to work I. The community the library was located. But compared to what librarians make in IL, it was a dream salary. 5y
55 likes2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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It‘s not so blasted hot outside today and the AC is cold inside. So I‘m going to try to read in the swing for a bit. Hopefully the bugs leave me alone.

Sunraven Good luck with avoiding bugs! They can definitely be an aggravation. 😁 5y
Crazeedi Bugs have been atrocious this year! 5y
83 likes2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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Any one else find it weird when bills divided into parts start chapter numbering over again at each part?

TheAromaofBooks YES. It actually kind of annoys me haha 5y
57 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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I really hate this sheriff. So far this has been a much different book than I have been imagining.

I don‘t remember the movie much except for the war scenes.

I have to remind myself that this book was published before I was born (copy-write 1972).

esurient ...I misread your first line as hating the 'serif'; but I thought the pic was a pretty basic representative font-type and was so confused. I clearly need more coffee to get through today. 5y
Martyn_J_Pass First Blood really benefits from a whole host of context notes that come with later additions. The films really did muddy the original authors intentions with this book and I highly recommend digging a little to learn more, I found it a fascinating example of Hollywood completely destroying an authors work lol 😂😂 5y
LibrarianRyan @esurient that is what happens when auto correct takes over. 5y
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LibrarianRyan @Martyn_J_Pass I‘m enjoying this book. It‘s nothing like I expected. And yeah I would say they muddied it alright. I am reading an original hardcover from one of the university libraries. The only other copy I could borrow was a movie cover paperback full of book mold. I will be watching the movie later because I am now I want to see the differences. But I think the annotations would be interesting. 5y
LibrarianRyan @trashcanman I can not remember if I said looking glass wars or across the universe by revis . It was what ever was shorter. 5y
Martyn_J_Pass @LibrarianRyan I‘m a huge fan of the films lol. I just think I‘d really like to see a faithful adaptation of the book too. The closest I‘ve ever seen is a film called ‘Hunted‘ with Tommy Lee Jones. Not a deliberate adaptation but pretty darn close. 5y
LibrarianRyan @Martyn_J_Pass I‘ve seen that Tommy Lee Jones movie. As for the Rambo movies they used to play at the house when I was a kid, popular on base TV. But I do t remember much. And what I do remember does not match the book at all. 5y
54 likes7 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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Im taking Rambo to bed. It will either bore me to sleep or keep me up all night we shall see.

#24in48

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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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So I posted my Hoopla list for @24in48 a day ago. This in my print pile. The ugly library book is tagged. It‘s a challenge from @Trashcanman and in the hugger is my #lmpbc #groupM title I‘m half way through. I also have 2 graphic novels for #groupU, my #makemereadit title, and then just brain fun.

Trashcanman Oh my God I forgot the name of the book Im going to read. Do you remember? 📖📙😒 5y
bibliobard Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on our graphic novels 😁 5y
LibrarianRyan @Shakespearience one of them I‘ve read and loved already so I‘m excited for the reread. The other looks fun. 5y
88 likes4 comments
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LibrarianRyan
First Blood | David Morrell
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Proof for @Trashcanman I have put two versions of the book on hold. An original from the 70s, and 80s reprint. None of the libraries in our system had the 2005 version. I will start this after my drag queen book and my #MGbuddyread.

Trashcanman OK! I'll do the looking glass book! And I'll read the cryo book! I want a 8 page paper in MLA format 2 weeks after you finish 5y
Trashcanman 👁️👁️😜🤗😘 5y
LibrarianRyan @Trashcanman hummmmm. Only if I compare it to the movie. And at least MLA is easy. 5y
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LibrarianRyan Plus you might actually like LGW. The Cheshire Cat is an assassin and the mad hatters hat becomes many blades throwing knives. I didn‘t go too girly on you. 🤓😉 5y
BookwormAHN I did that recently with the audio book of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I wanted to see which narrator I liked the best 😼 5y
cathysaid Wait wait wait...where does Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast fit into this negotiation? Inquiring minds... 🤔 😬 @Trashcanman @LibrarianRyan 5y
LibrarianRyan @cathysaid I think we should both read it. Give ourselves a little brain candy. 😁🤣🍭🍬🍭. Actually it‘s for my reading challenge. I put like 50 books on hold and those are the two that have not come in yet. 5y
LibrarianRyan @BookwormAHN when it comes from university back log or storage collection you never know what condition it will be in. And if it was originally paperback it could be a crumbling mess. Research libraries have a tendency to not take care of their fiction collections as well as public‘s. 5y
46 likes8 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
First Blood | David Morrell
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Oooohhhhhhh

I‘m quite fond of the Rambo franchise ☺️ so I‘ll be there open night with a big bucket of popcorn 🍿

TobeyTheScavengerMonk I quite enjoyed the new trailer. 5y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @TobeyTheScavengerMonk, me too! Fingers crossed for a satisfying finale! 5y
45 likes2 comments
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LitterRat
First Blood | David Morrell

The movie is forgettable. The book is great. I envy you your first read.

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
First Blood | David Morrell
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Well well well
(I‘m excited for this)

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KJHowe
First Blood | David Morrell
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An oldie but a goodie. The length and breadth of his work never ceases to amaze me. A true giant of American literature. His personal story is as compelling as any fiction.

55 likes2 stack adds
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Rio_Youers
First Blood | David Morrell
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Pickpick

Finally got around to reading this. A little dismayed that the author dropped a major spoiler in his intro. Other than that, I had a good time.

twohectobooks This is why I never read the intro anymore 7y
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
First Blood | David Morrell
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I don't normally take shortcuts through the meat aisle at the supermarket (I'm all about the vegetables) but it was totally worth it today 😂

Tag reads: Hi, I'm RAM-BO

LauraBeth 😂😂 8y
ValerieAndBooks Haha 😂 thanks for sharing! 8y
TheLibrarian 😂😂😂 8y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @ValerieAndBooks, not enough Rambo references in the world, imo! It'll be a sad day indeed when red head bands don't make me smile 8y
LeahBergen 😂😂 8y
81 likes5 comments