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stuedb's review against another edition
4.0
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13412268
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13412268
valariesmith's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but I do struggle with Elmore Leonard. On the one hand, you could cut diamonds with his dialogue. On the other hand, it often feels like all of his characters have one voice, with the exact same precise, slangy speech pattern.
I struggle with the lack of depth in his stories as well. Compare the simple, obvious bad guy Boyd Crowder of his story Fire in the Hole to the complex, complicated Boyd Crowder that Justified created (at least through season two).
I'm also curious as to how non-white readers feel about Leonard. If anyone has any thoughts on how he handles his Black, Hispanic and Native American characters, I'd love to hear them.
I struggle with the lack of depth in his stories as well. Compare the simple, obvious bad guy Boyd Crowder of his story Fire in the Hole to the complex, complicated Boyd Crowder that Justified created (at least through season two).
I'm also curious as to how non-white readers feel about Leonard. If anyone has any thoughts on how he handles his Black, Hispanic and Native American characters, I'd love to hear them.
luana420's review against another edition
5.0
This is truly Leonard at his best, punchy, witty and badass. I wonder what the editor saw in "When the Women Come out to Dance" when it was first released, as that was its original title. Its current title "Fire in the Hole" only became that as the eponymous short became the basis for the pilot episode of Justified -- and it's very impressive how much of it is translated so perfectly in the episode.
"Women" is pretty good tho, a kind of crime Twilight Zone episode with a dark twist at the end. It's VERY funny how this essentially builds up as "Bound but with straight women" so you know how up in his own world Old Man Elmore was (in the final story "Tenkiller" the female lead wants to get rid of the unwanted attentions of a villain by saying she's a lesbian but... she... can't... bring herself... to... say... the word...).
The Tonto Woman and Hurrah for Captain Early are quality western shit, which unfortunately got reprinted in "The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard" so I'd actually read a good chunk of this collection before. Good re-reads tho!
"Women" is pretty good tho, a kind of crime Twilight Zone episode with a dark twist at the end. It's VERY funny how this essentially builds up as "Bound but with straight women" so you know how up in his own world Old Man Elmore was (in the final story "Tenkiller" the female lead wants to get rid of the unwanted attentions of a villain by saying she's a lesbian but... she... can't... bring herself... to... say... the word...).
The Tonto Woman and Hurrah for Captain Early are quality western shit, which unfortunately got reprinted in "The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard" so I'd actually read a good chunk of this collection before. Good re-reads tho!
natcat's review
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
There’s something about Elmore Leonard’s writing that is very readable, and I can’t quite put my finger on it - I think his style is deceptively simple, and his fairly straightforward, pared-down approach sketches in characters and situations very quickly, and he uses dialogue to very good effect. The titular short story was probably my favourite, but I’ll be thinking about a few of them for a while.
grogancp's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jwdonley's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing dialogue in these stories. I especially liked the title story: 'Fire in the Hole'
elise_oliver's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't what I expected. Some stories were good some were a little average. Over all it's an interesting read that covers decades of life from all perspectives. Worth a look into if you're into the marshal/police sort of stuff.
barrywynn's review against another edition
5.0
From the title story that's the basis for JUSTIFIED on FX on through to a meditation on black soldiers in the Spanish American War, this book is a delight.
crispymerola's review
2.0
Leonard writes to bring his twelve year old wet dreams to life: cowboys and indians, guns and ammo and drinks, charming male leads bagging femme fatales. Most of his stories are dialogue heavy - two distrusting people with checkered pasts enter a room, feel one another out. They kill, or fuck, or fuck and kill each other. Then the story ends. The collection is filled with archetypical (read: boring) characters who've populated every crime/western story you've ever seen or read.
As far as schlock goes, Leonard is pretty confident and not afraid to have fun. There are some good lines and engaging moments to be found within the stories. You'll have to get past the lazy exposition and distracting fragmentary sentences, though. Leonard goes limp when it comes to prose, but his dialogue reads well. If you like reading screenplays, you'll probably dig his stories.
As far as schlock goes, Leonard is pretty confident and not afraid to have fun. There are some good lines and engaging moments to be found within the stories. You'll have to get past the lazy exposition and distracting fragmentary sentences, though. Leonard goes limp when it comes to prose, but his dialogue reads well. If you like reading screenplays, you'll probably dig his stories.