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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
An amateur thief gets out of prison only to find himself up to his neck in another caper.
You know, I always find it easier to read an Elmore Leonard book when recalling that he started out writing Westerns. Dry tone, humor more situational and ironic than anything else, characters whose lives have gone all to hell. This is a funny novel--you just wouldn't know it to read it. Only on second thought does it all fall together, which is either something you like or something you don't. I have to work at it but enjoy it when I do.
You know, I always find it easier to read an Elmore Leonard book when recalling that he started out writing Westerns. Dry tone, humor more situational and ironic than anything else, characters whose lives have gone all to hell. This is a funny novel--you just wouldn't know it to read it. Only on second thought does it all fall together, which is either something you like or something you don't. I have to work at it but enjoy it when I do.
Stick, recently released from prison (7 years for armed robbery), accepted a Floridian ex-con acquaintance's offer to earn $5000 to be bodyguard during a drug money exchange, but it goes bad. Should he run or stay? Unexpectedly, he meets a slightly off rich guy who needs a chauffeur. As things are in Elmore Leonard novel, it turns out the stupid rich guy knows a drug guy who knows the people Stick was trying to avoid - and an attractive female investment advisor is on the scene, as well. Perhaps Stick can find a way to maneuver around, stay alive, maybe get the girl as a girlfriend, and make some money. He could somehow make something work, right?
Great beach read. Not Leonard's best, but still. Who wants a literary read every day? Not me, gentle reader.
Great beach read. Not Leonard's best, but still. Who wants a literary read every day? Not me, gentle reader.
This is the first Leonard book I've read. He's a great writer. The plot was just okay. I'll probably try some of his more well-known books sometime.
I enjoy Leonard's sense of humor, but this felt pretty slight.
So perfect, so masterfully perfect, so straightforward but unexpected. How do you tell a story in such bare bones and still get this much depth into the characters?
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another quick snappy read from one of the masters of the genre. Not much really happens, but the dialog is sharp, the characters interesting and the descriptions crisp. Ably narrated by Frank Muller, it's another good summertime read.
Sexism is definitely rampant, as most of the women are described as "girls", although a couple of them are pretty strong characters. Stick has a very heteronormal guy's fantasy night. And he gets away with a lot to make the plot move along. But it does have some pretty funny scenes and some pretty crazy bad guys.
Sexism is definitely rampant, as most of the women are described as "girls", although a couple of them are pretty strong characters. Stick has a very heteronormal guy's fantasy night. And he gets away with a lot to make the plot move along. But it does have some pretty funny scenes and some pretty crazy bad guys.
Elmore is becoming my favorite author, he really knew how to weave a story together. I quickly picked up Stick forgetting I also have Swag but haven’t read it yet. I think that’s okay as Stick read great on it’s own. I really like how Leonard moves the bar around from what seems like a dangerous situation into a carefree moment then back into danger. I read this over 4 days, a real page turner.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated