Sugar on the Bones is a fun and hilarious Hap & Leonard adventure. There’s an overriding sense of simply enjoying the ride, of well-crafted charactersSugar on the Bones is a fun and hilarious Hap & Leonard adventure. There’s an overriding sense of simply enjoying the ride, of well-crafted characters—major and minor—chatting and finding their well-worn grooves. Whereas earlier adventures might have had deeper senses of danger, rougher times, and more eye-opening violence, Sugar on the Bones has that ephemeral notion of good guys shootin’ the shit and of savory adventures among old friends. There’s no getting around the sense that this book feels like a later one in a series, and for this reader anyway, there’s gratitude in that....more
Joe Hustle is a great hang. It’s filled with unexpectedly weighty character moments that build to a startling illumination. It’s a hilarious book at tJoe Hustle is a great hang. It’s filled with unexpectedly weighty character moments that build to a startling illumination. It’s a hilarious book at times, and at other times quite horrific. Most of the time, it’s an amiable, page-turning pleasure. Joe and Emily are flawed people doing their best to navigate difficult avenues, both literally and figuratively. The roads they travel are pure Richard Lange, paved with grit and sheened with drug sweat. Joe Hustle is about low criminals and hot attraction, lazy ambition and desperate deception. Mostly it’s about two people making their way in and around all that, making a human connection wherever they can find purchase....more
I would’ve preferred that the book stick to the subject of the band and the film, but it doesn’t even get to an inkling of the Blues Brothers till oveI would’ve preferred that the book stick to the subject of the band and the film, but it doesn’t even get to an inkling of the Blues Brothers till over a hundred pages in. There’s a lot of biographical details and the road to SNL before the good stuff. But I did learn some fun stuff along the way. ...more
Here’s a twisty little dark crime thriller that manages to also have a great beating heart. An old man given a short time to live is determined to aveHere’s a twisty little dark crime thriller that manages to also have a great beating heart. An old man given a short time to live is determined to avenge the death of someone close to him—except while doing so, his mission becomes much darker and more complex. This is the beginning of what could be a fascinating series. Plus, wait’ll you meet the old man’s dog Chester....more
Simply outstanding voice. That’s the main thing. It’s a distanced third-person narration that conveys a laconic world-weariness. The drive of the plotSimply outstanding voice. That’s the main thing. It’s a distanced third-person narration that conveys a laconic world-weariness. The drive of the plot is pretty great too, at least until an ill-conceived ending threatens to derail everything. ...more
There's some very good stories in here, but it's so disorganized that I ended up frustrated. I wish I could've edited this book.There's some very good stories in here, but it's so disorganized that I ended up frustrated. I wish I could've edited this book....more
Very fun noir fiction, stands out with its main character's voice and its dark humor.Very fun noir fiction, stands out with its main character's voice and its dark humor....more
One of the most important cultural touchstones in my life was the Siskel & Ebert show, in all its incarnations. Made me a film lover and aficionado. TOne of the most important cultural touchstones in my life was the Siskel & Ebert show, in all its incarnations. Made me a film lover and aficionado. This book is an excellent history of the two men....more
Reliably good writing and suspense, but at this point Sandford's characters can be smug in their investigative intelligence and kind of a turnoff.Reliably good writing and suspense, but at this point Sandford's characters can be smug in their investigative intelligence and kind of a turnoff....more
The prominent placement of a blurb from Kirk Cameron on the back cover, as well as the fact that the book was published by religious outfit Thomas NelThe prominent placement of a blurb from Kirk Cameron on the back cover, as well as the fact that the book was published by religious outfit Thomas Nelson, tells you all you need to know about this memoir. If that's your scene, all power to you. Me, I'll just go get a Double-Double--a religious experience in itself....more
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