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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
One of Leonard's best. Better than the movie. An entertaining comment on the movie business.
This book was mildly entertaining. I sort-of got into at first, but it felt like it dragged on and on, and then I could see where it was headed for the most part, so I just wanted to get to the end already. I could see where this could be an entertaining movie, and maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. I will say that beyond the story, the characters were pretty amazing, so I can appreciate it for that if nothing else.
I liked it better than "Bandits" but didn't love it, especially conclusion.
FUN! I dig the movie so I thought I'd read the book, and yeah, fun!
I have not seen the movie. I have not read anything by Elmore Leonard previously. I didn't know quite what to expect from this, but I still found it a disappointing.
It felt dated, but not in a period-piece way - the attitudes are old, Catlett is just sort of boring, and though the machinations of the plot keep things moving along, I didn't really care what happened to anyone.
I finished it, and it wasn't terrible, but: enh.
It felt dated, but not in a period-piece way - the attitudes are old, Catlett is just sort of boring, and though the machinations of the plot keep things moving along, I didn't really care what happened to anyone.
I finished it, and it wasn't terrible, but: enh.
You've probably seen the adaptation, but is the book worth reading? We discuss on the Ink to Film Podcast!
Apple https://bit.ly/GetShortyBook
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Apple https://bit.ly/GetShortyBook
Podbean https://bit.ly/GetShortyPB
Spotify https://bit.ly/GetShortyNovel
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fun ride with enjoyable characters. This film adapted from this novel also gets added to my list of "best adaptations".
I read this and 'Be Cool' out of order, so the one satisfying note was how many questions it answered for me about the characters.
I did find a lot of dry humor in the book, which is something I thoroughly enjoy. The other wonderful aspect to the whole story was that because Chili didn't have a definite plan for what exactly he was going to do, it seemed as if the story was simply writing itself the whole time. Even through the discussion of making Chili's story a movie, they still did a lot of 'write it as it goes'. Created a fun atmosphere with all of the characters being emotionally tied to their own involvement in the story.
However, the part that I liked about the book (the fact that it was writing its own story) was also the part that I didn't like... because it made it really difficult to have a good ending. Which, although it was a little funny and also fitting, wasn't that great of an ending. As a matter of fact, it wasn't an ending at all... which made it a terrible ending. Either way, fun read.
I do recommend reading the books in order though...
I did find a lot of dry humor in the book, which is something I thoroughly enjoy. The other wonderful aspect to the whole story was that because Chili didn't have a definite plan for what exactly he was going to do, it seemed as if the story was simply writing itself the whole time. Even through the discussion of making Chili's story a movie, they still did a lot of 'write it as it goes'. Created a fun atmosphere with all of the characters being emotionally tied to their own involvement in the story.
However, the part that I liked about the book (the fact that it was writing its own story) was also the part that I didn't like... because it made it really difficult to have a good ending. Which, although it was a little funny and also fitting, wasn't that great of an ending. As a matter of fact, it wasn't an ending at all... which made it a terrible ending. Either way, fun read.
I do recommend reading the books in order though...
Chili Palmer is a shylock. And a good one. One day, his boss died and was replaced by someone he refused to get along with. At around the same time, one of the debtors died in a plane crash except he actually didn't. Chili found out and went after him all the way to Vegas then Hollywood. Chili likes Hollywood and the movies... he's thinking of changing his line of work but there are some obstacles in the way. He'll need to move them out of his way first.
An interesting twist wherein a shylock is the nice guy in this story. Well, not nice but just not as bad as the others. He's got the attitude but even better, he's got the cunning to get everything set the way he likes it.
An interesting twist wherein a shylock is the nice guy in this story. Well, not nice but just not as bad as the others. He's got the attitude but even better, he's got the cunning to get everything set the way he likes it.