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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
A Matt Scudder novel. It's always fun to run across anachronisms in books written years ago. The morphing into non-existence of pay phones, once a feature of hotel cubbyholes and conference centers, 800 # phone cards, calls for a dime, the elimination of pay phone numbers; all of that is so foreign to the current generation that can't understand not being able to make an instant 911 call with their cell phones.
Classic Block.
Classic Block.
It's a straight to the point mystery novel that doesn't waste time on ruminations or life questions. It's a bit gruesome, but not as bad as Saw films. Having watched the movie first, it was interesting to note the differences between the backstories and framework. Both are good in their own right and I really liked the AA and addiction bits that the author put in. I loved this book and I will think about it for a long time.
4.5 ⭐
Un roman politist care m-a surprins placut. Un fost politist cu foarte mult bun simt este platit sa descurce itele unui caz urat de tot. Actiunea este plasata in anii 80, cu telefoane fixe, telefoane publice (greu se descurcau, dar nu ai ce-i face).
Multumesc Crime Scene Press pentru acest cadou.
Un roman politist care m-a surprins placut. Un fost politist cu foarte mult bun simt este platit sa descurce itele unui caz urat de tot. Actiunea este plasata in anii 80, cu telefoane fixe, telefoane publice (greu se descurcau, dar nu ai ce-i face).
Multumesc Crime Scene Press pentru acest cadou.
Fantastic noir mystery. I found this in a donation pile at the library and figured I'd give it a try since I've been curious about the movie. Now I don't know if I'll even bother with the movie because this book was just so incredibly good. One thing I do know is I'll have to find more books in the Matt Scudder series.
Not a review, just a random thought...or two
Okay, okay..gotta admit the 4 star rating is how I remember this book being the first time I read it, not how it seemed a bit on the thin side as I did a re-read in anticipation of the movie coming out in September 2014. (Trailer here.) And said movie version looks like it is going to be radically different from the book...though how could it not be, with all thetracing people via *gasp* pay phones, "hacking" via dial up modems, etc. in the novel. Though, curiously, the trailer does give off a bit of a early '90s vibe, possibly even earlier, see what the cars look like, etc.
Candidly, since I kinda, sorta remembered what was coming as it was coming, this is not the sort of novel that stands up to a re-read, unlike some of the other books in the Scudder series, notably [b:When the Sacred Ginmill Closes|132111|When the Sacred Ginmill Closes (Matthew Scudder, #6)|Lawrence Block|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348617791s/132111.jpg|1203196].
Funny how I like the Scudder novels and the Keller novels but cordially loathe the Bernie Rodenhbarr (sp?) books. Wonder what that says about me?
Finally, will this be the "three strike and you're out" moment for novels into movies by L. Block? Two previous, one awful, one mediocre, both box office bombs. We shall see.
Like I said...not a review.
Okay, okay..gotta admit the 4 star rating is how I remember this book being the first time I read it, not how it seemed a bit on the thin side as I did a re-read in anticipation of the movie coming out in September 2014. (Trailer here.) And said movie version looks like it is going to be radically different from the book...though how could it not be, with all the
Candidly, since I kinda, sorta remembered what was coming as it was coming, this is not the sort of novel that stands up to a re-read, unlike some of the other books in the Scudder series, notably [b:When the Sacred Ginmill Closes|132111|When the Sacred Ginmill Closes (Matthew Scudder, #6)|Lawrence Block|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348617791s/132111.jpg|1203196].
Funny how I like the Scudder novels and the Keller novels but cordially loathe the Bernie Rodenhbarr (sp?) books. Wonder what that says about me?
Finally, will this be the "three strike and you're out" moment for novels into movies by L. Block? Two previous, one awful, one mediocre, both box office bombs. We shall see.
Like I said...not a review.
A noir crime thriller. Endearingly nostalgic with the many references to "ancient" technology like beepers, pay phones, dial up internet. And makes you wonder how anyone solved crime before the internet.
I jumped into this series with this book (#10) so some of the characters seemed so flat and out of place, but I'm sure they make more sense in the context of the entire series.
I jumped into this series with this book (#10) so some of the characters seemed so flat and out of place, but I'm sure they make more sense in the context of the entire series.
Block opens the book with an "English lullaby" that is pretty much guaranteed to cause sleeplessness in any child listening. It might scare them quiet, however: "baby, baby if he hears you/As he gallops past the house/Limb from limb at once he'll tear you/Just as a pussy tears a mouse." A gruesome and fitting way to start off one of Scudder's more horrific cases.
A Walk is little more to the 3.5 area on the scudder scale of awesomeness. Scudder is back in usual form, but with some of the character subtlety missing--it feel a little like--deep breath --Block might be phoning it in. It has a similar feel to the Spenser mysteries, ten or fifteen books in. Plug in the general ingredients: love interest + colorful informants + dubious client. Season with interaction with NYC's boys in blue, library newspapers, cursory sprinkles with Matt's friends, Mikey, Danny Boy and sponsor Jim, add a few AA meetings, and voila! Baked mystery. Frost with vengeance story and you are ready to serve.
I know, I know. I'm going to be punished for saying this. I think Block's strength in prior books was the sweet blend of characterization with gritty mystery. Opening with an imagined flashback to the victim's last day seems a cheap emotional trick. This time around, it's a little less focus on Scudder. TJ, the street kid from Times Square area, plays more of a role, and honestly, for me he was one of the bright spots of the books. It makes me a little uncomfortable, however, because it just misses being the funny/resourceful black man hip sidekick. Block keeps it from going quite that far, partly through Scudder's own ability to mock himself. Scenes with TJ and Elaine are where my favorite bits of dialogue show up. The hacker kids were amusing, but appear dated, circa 2012. Reading dialogue that mentions "Jolt" soda brought back a strange kind of nostalgia.
"I'm stunned," I said. "I didn't know you could talk like that."
"What, you mean talk straight? 'Course I can. Just because I street don't mean I be ignorant. They two different languages, man, and you talkin' to a cat's bilingual."
Where Block seems to have concentrated his subtle awesomeness is in the characterization of his client(s), a drug moving middleman and his alcoholic-in-recovery brother. While one scene with him seemed particularly awkward to me--the scene where they discuss the morality of selling drugs versus arms--I suppose it does fit within the context of the dealer questioning life choices of the awful event that happened. Still, it's a little pat and though the dealer is reasonably educated, he doesn't go the route of "all business is based on exploitation," a rejoinder that seems rather obvious to anyone in New York.
I was charmed by a group of drug dealers acting like a band of merry men, but I wonder... really? I was aware I was believing this section of the plot because I wanted to, not because Block was writing a story that seemed remotely plausible. The final disposition scene was a hard one to stomach. Necessary? I'm not sure. I also felt like some of Scudder's personal story was tacked on at the end, rather than growing organically through the book.
Still, it was gripping, a fun fast read, and several bits made me smile. It was a diverting. Three and a half stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/a-walk-among-the-tombstones-by-lawrence-block/
A Walk is little more to the 3.5 area on the scudder scale of awesomeness. Scudder is back in usual form, but with some of the character subtlety missing--it feel a little like--deep breath --Block might be phoning it in. It has a similar feel to the Spenser mysteries, ten or fifteen books in. Plug in the general ingredients: love interest + colorful informants + dubious client. Season with interaction with NYC's boys in blue, library newspapers, cursory sprinkles with Matt's friends, Mikey, Danny Boy and sponsor Jim, add a few AA meetings, and voila! Baked mystery. Frost with vengeance story and you are ready to serve.
I know, I know. I'm going to be punished for saying this. I think Block's strength in prior books was the sweet blend of characterization with gritty mystery. Opening with an imagined flashback to the victim's last day seems a cheap emotional trick. This time around, it's a little less focus on Scudder. TJ, the street kid from Times Square area, plays more of a role, and honestly, for me he was one of the bright spots of the books. It makes me a little uncomfortable, however, because it just misses being the funny/resourceful black man hip sidekick. Block keeps it from going quite that far, partly through Scudder's own ability to mock himself. Scenes with TJ and Elaine are where my favorite bits of dialogue show up. The hacker kids were amusing, but appear dated, circa 2012. Reading dialogue that mentions "Jolt" soda brought back a strange kind of nostalgia.
"I'm stunned," I said. "I didn't know you could talk like that."
"What, you mean talk straight? 'Course I can. Just because I street don't mean I be ignorant. They two different languages, man, and you talkin' to a cat's bilingual."
Where Block seems to have concentrated his subtle awesomeness is in the characterization of his client(s), a drug moving middleman and his alcoholic-in-recovery brother. While one scene with him seemed particularly awkward to me--the scene where they discuss the morality of selling drugs versus arms--I suppose it does fit within the context of the dealer questioning life choices of the awful event that happened. Still, it's a little pat and though the dealer is reasonably educated, he doesn't go the route of "all business is based on exploitation," a rejoinder that seems rather obvious to anyone in New York.
I was charmed by a group of drug dealers acting like a band of merry men, but I wonder... really? I was aware I was believing this section of the plot because I wanted to, not because Block was writing a story that seemed remotely plausible. The final disposition scene was a hard one to stomach. Necessary? I'm not sure. I also felt like some of Scudder's personal story was tacked on at the end, rather than growing organically through the book.
Still, it was gripping, a fun fast read, and several bits made me smile. It was a diverting. Three and a half stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/a-walk-among-the-tombstones-by-lawrence-block/
Though rather graphic and gruesome, I couldn't put this down. I haven't read any of the others in the series, but it didn't feel as though I *had* to have the back knowledge as the relationships were explained well enough, without bogging a new reader down with too much information. The characters were well drawn, the plot gripping, and the writing top notch - the only mystery is why I haven't got around to trying this series before now!
The other thing I enjoyed was the reminders of how far technology has advanced in the last 30 or so years. Beepers, pay phones, and the new-fangled art of hacking all feature prominently, while caller ID and CCTV remain tools of the future...
The other thing I enjoyed was the reminders of how far technology has advanced in the last 30 or so years. Beepers, pay phones, and the new-fangled art of hacking all feature prominently, while caller ID and CCTV remain tools of the future...
It took me a while to get into the book, but enjoyable.