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A review by nancyflanagan
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
2.0
I had a revelation-cum-metaphor moment when finishing this book (on a long car trip, where there was nothing else to read). In the book, Stephanie goes out for onion rings and beer with Ranger (this is in no way a spoiler, BTW).
And I started thinking about why I continue to read these books. Lots of commenters appear to be in the same position I'm in-- we know that each volume will be a same-old/same-old re-hash of the previous dozen books. Stupid criminals. Out-of-control Grandma Mazur. Lula flirting with her previous life. Ranger vs. Joe. And flat-out unbelievable scrapes and near-death experiences. Let me repeat: in no way is this a spoiler, for any Evanovich book.
The books, however, are like onion rings. They're tempting. The first few bites are crunchy and hot--and the familiar savory taste of onion and grease is delicious. By the end of the second onion ring, your mind is telling you--eh, slow down. Your onion ring fix is scratched, and you know you'll hate yourself tomorrow when you have trouble zipping up your pants. Not to mention the digestive after-effects bubbling up. But there they are, sitting at the table. You wouldn't want to waste the $7.99. Ergo...
It's also fascinating to see how long Evanovich can get away with this, recycling the same characters, the same life, the same idiocies. People are obviously still buying the books. Once she writes the more-satisfying-than-onion-rings "how it ends" volume, it's over. Evanovich has been co-writing books and dabbling in alternative characters, but none seems to capture the public's imagination like Stephanie.
Here's my best guess: we'll see a few more numbers (maybe--up to 25) and then she'll write the ending. Which will involve Stephanie settling down, with the only man that makes sense. To me, anyway.
And I started thinking about why I continue to read these books. Lots of commenters appear to be in the same position I'm in-- we know that each volume will be a same-old/same-old re-hash of the previous dozen books. Stupid criminals. Out-of-control Grandma Mazur. Lula flirting with her previous life. Ranger vs. Joe. And flat-out unbelievable scrapes and near-death experiences. Let me repeat: in no way is this a spoiler, for any Evanovich book.
The books, however, are like onion rings. They're tempting. The first few bites are crunchy and hot--and the familiar savory taste of onion and grease is delicious. By the end of the second onion ring, your mind is telling you--eh, slow down. Your onion ring fix is scratched, and you know you'll hate yourself tomorrow when you have trouble zipping up your pants. Not to mention the digestive after-effects bubbling up. But there they are, sitting at the table. You wouldn't want to waste the $7.99. Ergo...
It's also fascinating to see how long Evanovich can get away with this, recycling the same characters, the same life, the same idiocies. People are obviously still buying the books. Once she writes the more-satisfying-than-onion-rings "how it ends" volume, it's over. Evanovich has been co-writing books and dabbling in alternative characters, but none seems to capture the public's imagination like Stephanie.
Here's my best guess: we'll see a few more numbers (maybe--up to 25) and then she'll write the ending. Which will involve Stephanie settling down, with the only man that makes sense. To me, anyway.