Books I've Read
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Block, Lawrence
A Drop Of The Hard Stuff
Matt recounts an old case to Mick Ballou, about a childhood friend, Jack "High-Low" Ellery, who turned to crime.
You can certainly tell the difference between an excellent writer and an average writer, although I don't know how to describe it. Block is an excellent writer.
Words I Had To Look Up:
the house's standard lagniappe (pg. 107) -- A small gift given with a purchase to a customer.
terpin hydrate fog (pg. 135) -- An expectorant, commonly used to loosen mucus in the setting of acute or chronic bronchitis, and related conditions.
Read:
11/2011
All The Flowers Are Dying
Matthew Scudder helps a friend find who her mysterious boyfriend is. Oh, and, surprise, there is a serial killer on the loose. Same guy?
Words I Had To Look Up:
more of a coriolanus. (pg. 264) -- Oh, man, I'm searching and searching, and then it hits me...it's a pun!!!
Quote:
...and she'd put on some cologne, a floral scent that blended imperfectly with the smell of cigarette smoke. (pg. 34)Read:
7/2008
Burglars Can't Be Choosers
I'm going back and reading the Bernie Rhodenbarr books that are in the Books I've Read database. This is the first of the series. He hasn't met Carolyn yet, and he doesn't have a cat. In fact, there is no book store yet! Good story!
Read:
7/2023
Cinderella Sims
Published in 1958 under a pseudonym, this little piece of soft-core porn has some good stuff, but I really don't like the main characters. I closed my eyes during the dirty parts.
Read:
7/2010
Enough Rope
A collection of eighty-some stories. Most really good, some not so.
Read:
5/2004
Even The Wicked
Matthew Scudder investigates a killer nicknamed "Will".
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9/1998
Everybody Dies
Matthew Scudder and "Mick" Ballou are the targets of someone. Seems like everybody around them is getting murdered!
QUOTE:
Years ago an old cop name Vince Mahaffey tol me what to do when someone gives me money. "Take it," he said. "and put it away and say thank you. You could even touch your cap if you're wearing one." QUOTE:
"So that he grew up hating me. Well, don't they grow up in Belfast hating the English? And don't the Proddy kids grow up hating the Holy Father? 'F[***] the Queen!' 'Nah, nah, f[***] the Pope!' F[***] 'em both, I say, or let 'em f[***] each other." He drew out his pocket flask and sweetended his coffee. "They grow into good haters if you teach them early enough."Read:
7/2000
Hit And Run
Keller is set up as the assassin of the governor of Ohio.
I forgot how heartless these people were until the murder of the Witnesses. That hit too close to home.
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6/2010
Hit list
Keller finds he is being hunted by another hit man who is trying to corner the marker.
Read:
12/2005
Hit man
Very interesting eposodic story about, well, a hit man.
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10/2001Read:
1/2023
Hope To Die
Matthew Scudder investigates the death of a couple who happened to be at the same concert he and Elaine were at.
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6/2002
Small Town
Various people in New York interact in various ways, including murder. I felt a lot of pity for the murderer. Takes place after 9/11. Some rather pornographic sex scenes.
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7/2003
Tanner On Ice
Evan Tanner wakes up after being frozen for 25 years, goes to Burma.
Read:
10/2001
Tanner's Tiger
Tanner has to sneak into Canada to find out what the Cubans are up to at the Expo. SPOILER: Stealing our Negroes, that is what!
Half-way through this romp I figured out it was first published in 1968. I had only noticed this edition's publishing date, 2001. Time-warp!
Read:
7/2010
The Burglar In Short Order
A collection of stories, excerpts, and essays about Bernie Rhodenbarr, mostly. Very nice!
Quote:
"If I didn't play chess," he said, "You wouldn't have shot me, would you?"
"It's a question that occupies the mind, isn't it?"
"It is," said the burglar.
Quote:
The Poulard is a terrific lock, no question about it. But I don't know where they get off calling it pickproof. Read:
7/2023
The Burglar In The Closet
Craig, The World's Greatest Dentist, wants to relieve his ex-wife of her jewelry. He gets Bernie to do the job. Things go very very wrong.
Quote:
If I have to eat rhubarb preserves I can damn well eat them on warm toast.Quote:
I ate more toast, sipped some coffee. I seemed to be developing a definite taste for the rhubarb jam. I wasn't positive I'd go running out for another jar when this one was finally finished, but I was beginning to like it.Read:
7/2023
The Burglar In The Library
Bernie Rhodenbarr goes to an English-style country inn in New England to steal a book.
QUOTE:
"And she's a Cobbett, which means there's probably not a whole lot she hasn't done. The only thing that makes me exotic is that I'm not a blood relative." BONUS QUOTE:
Don't ask me what kind of gun it was. Guns make me nervous-- people keep them in drawers so that they can shoot burglars with them, and I'm opposed to that--...Read:
12/1999
The Burglar In The Rye
Bernie Rodenbarr tries to steal some letters from a famous author, but they're gone and somebody is dead.
EDIT 2023: I guess I DID read this before! Still excellent!
Read:
7/2001Read:
7/2023
The Burglar On The Prowl
Bernie gets a girlfriend, loses his stash. Maker's Mark reference.
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8/2004
The Burglar Who Counted The Spoons
Bernie Rhodenbarr #11. Happily visiting this series again! Bernie gets to steal book, then later a spoon.
Read:
7/2023
20 books displayed
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