The author Donald Westlake, AKA Alan Marshal, Edwin West, Edwina West, Edwin Wood, Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Timothy J. Culver, Samuel Holt, Curt Clark, J. Morgan Cunningham, Ben Christopher, and Grace Salacious wrote MANY MANY books, mostly humorous crime stories. This is the first of his Dortmunder series.
Ahhhhhh, this was a fun quick read! I loved it! Dortmunder had me giggling out loud several times, from the Caddy's window buttons to the airplane at the tollbooth. I will definitely be picking up some more Donald Westlakes (I think there were 3 at the used book store that I will be going back for). I loved that there was no outlndish violence or swearing. Often the humor for me was in the understatement of the situation, i.e. Greenwood's "Drat!" when he is caught with the rock.
OMG and when drunk Murch hails the police cruiser... I thought I was gonna die.
One of my favorite lines (Phase 4 Ch. 6) was "His Drink-Me was all used up." I love Chefwick! Do these same men also come back in the other Dortmunder books, I wonder?
Joy, remember when we were reading alot of MacLean and we thought it would make a great drinking game to drink whenever the main character did? It would be pretty effective in this book too - I think I would have gone through two bottles of bourbon in about 2 hours..
I'm hoping Harold reads this book; I was explaining to him that it's kind of like the criminal Pink Panther. I think it's also like Stephanie Plum for men.
One additional comment: I enjoy reading this genre, particularly when set pre-internet. I really think the ready-access to so much information takes something away from the classic crime/spy novel. It brings to mind one of my old faves: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
I am half way thru (at Phase 4). The same guys do appear in the other Dortmunder books (when they are not in jail). And once I read one Donald Westlake book, I was in love with them and read every one I could find. The locals in the bar get to play more of a part in the other books. Like while Dortmunder is waiting for the others to show up, he will listen to the locals converse. And THAT is hysterical.
I think I like Murch the best. Who in their right mind collects records of "car noises"? And reads owners manuals for leisure reading. And I like Rollo the bartender.
I enjoyed Greenwood's break out of jail. "Stop sniffing your fingers!"
Question. What bar did you think of as the "O.J. Bar and Grill? For me, it was the Warrior Lounge in Canton. I can't explain why, just is.
I like the pre-internet and pre-cell phone era too. Think of how different this story would be with cell phones.
Oh, oh. I also enjoyed Dortmunder stuck on the porch with the dog. He can figure out how to commit all these crimes but can't get OFF a PORCH!?!?!?! And for me, the dog was Anthony and Amy's JOEY - kind of big and kind of stupid.
Unfortunately I had a difficult time really getting into this book, which is strange because I like this genre and I like the plot and characters. I think there were two reasons why: 1. I've had a really busy week and have had to read it here and there in weird places and at weird times. 2. The transitions between chapters lose me. It is like we see snapshots of different situations without really understanding how we got there. I know this is petty, but it kind-of irked me.
With this said, I did enjoy the book and also found amusement in much the same places as you have already mentioned: Murch flagging down the police officer, Dortmunder on the porch with the dog, etc. My favorite character is Murch. His pure enjoyment out of the cars and helicopters and all other means of transportation is very refreshing. Also, he is so laid-back and low-key. It could also be that people laugh at me for sipping my beer (granted- I guzzle hard alcohol and wine, but I sip beer) and so I totally get that!
For the O.J. Bar and Grille, I pictured our local Bangor Tavern. It is a small, seedy tavern on Bangor's Main Street (really the only major street in Bangor- Bangor is smaller yet than Troy). All the locals come in through the back door, which is on a side-alley with all the dumpsters. It seems like a perfect setting for their meetings.
I watched the movie of Hot Rock last night. They followed the book pretty closely until the very end, when they completely left off the heist from the mental institution! The train was one of my favorite parts! Why do movies do this?
10 comments:
The author Donald Westlake, AKA Alan Marshal, Edwin West, Edwina West, Edwin Wood, Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Timothy J. Culver, Samuel Holt, Curt Clark, J. Morgan Cunningham, Ben Christopher, and Grace Salacious wrote MANY MANY books, mostly humorous crime stories. This is the first of his Dortmunder series.
READY, SET ........
I see my brain confusing "Dortmunder" with "Dumbledore" pretty frequently. =) Hopefully I can track down a copy today!
Ahhhhhh, this was a fun quick read! I loved it! Dortmunder had me giggling out loud several times, from the Caddy's window buttons to the airplane at the tollbooth. I will definitely be picking up some more Donald Westlakes (I think there were 3 at the used book store that I will be going back for). I loved that there was no outlndish violence or swearing. Often the humor for me was in the understatement of the situation, i.e. Greenwood's "Drat!" when he is caught with the rock.
OMG and when drunk Murch hails the police cruiser... I thought I was gonna die.
One of my favorite lines (Phase 4 Ch. 6) was "His Drink-Me was all used up." I love Chefwick! Do these same men also come back in the other Dortmunder books, I wonder?
Joy, remember when we were reading alot of MacLean and we thought it would make a great drinking game to drink whenever the main character did? It would be pretty effective in this book too - I think I would have gone through two bottles of bourbon in about 2 hours..
I'm hoping Harold reads this book; I was explaining to him that it's kind of like the criminal Pink Panther. I think it's also like Stephanie Plum for men.
One additional comment: I enjoy reading this genre, particularly when set pre-internet. I really think the ready-access to so much information takes something away from the classic crime/spy novel. It brings to mind one of my old faves: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
I am half way thru (at Phase 4). The same guys do appear in the other Dortmunder books (when they are not in jail). And once I read one Donald Westlake book, I was in love with them and read every one I could find. The locals in the bar get to play more of a part in the other books. Like while Dortmunder is waiting for the others to show up, he will listen to the locals converse. And THAT is hysterical.
I think I like Murch the best. Who in their right mind collects records of "car noises"? And reads owners manuals for leisure reading. And I like Rollo the bartender.
I enjoyed Greenwood's break out of jail. "Stop sniffing your fingers!"
Question. What bar did you think of as the "O.J. Bar and Grill? For me, it was the Warrior Lounge in Canton. I can't explain why, just is.
I like the pre-internet and pre-cell phone era too. Think of how different this story would be with cell phones.
Oh, oh. I also enjoyed Dortmunder stuck on the porch with the dog. He can figure out how to commit all these crimes but can't get OFF a PORCH!?!?!?! And for me, the dog was Anthony and Amy's JOEY - kind of big and kind of stupid.
I loved the dog part too - especially when he was thinking something like "who is this man with Master's voice who speaks Dog?" hahaha!
For the OJ bar and grill I think of the Millstone outside of Wysox. Hands down. You just know there's got to be a seedy back room in that joint.
I like Chefwick because he seems to be such a family guy, grounded, who just happens to steal gems and break into jails on the side.
Murch reminds me of Dad reading his Chilton auto repair books while listening to Nascar on the radio..
Unfortunately I had a difficult time really getting into this book, which is strange because I like this genre and I like the plot and characters. I think there were two reasons why: 1. I've had a really busy week and have had to read it here and there in weird places and at weird times. 2. The transitions between chapters lose me. It is like we see snapshots of different situations without really understanding how we got there. I know this is petty, but it kind-of irked me.
With this said, I did enjoy the book and also found amusement in much the same places as you have already mentioned: Murch flagging down the police officer, Dortmunder on the porch with the dog, etc. My favorite character is Murch. His pure enjoyment out of the cars and helicopters and all other means of transportation is very refreshing. Also, he is so laid-back and low-key. It could also be that people laugh at me for sipping my beer (granted- I guzzle hard alcohol and wine, but I sip beer) and so I totally get that!
For the O.J. Bar and Grille, I pictured our local Bangor Tavern. It is a small, seedy tavern on Bangor's Main Street (really the only major street in Bangor- Bangor is smaller yet than Troy). All the locals come in through the back door, which is on a side-alley with all the dumpsters. It seems like a perfect setting for their meetings.
I watched the movie of Hot Rock last night. They followed the book pretty closely until the very end, when they completely left off the heist from the mental institution! The train was one of my favorite parts! Why do movies do this?
Must be it was going to go over 120 minutes. Damn movies.
Post a Comment