Wednesday 20 November 2013

LAWRENCE BLOCK - CATCH AND RELEASE


Synopsis/blurb.........

The Master Returns--With Never-Before-Collected Tales of Murder and Desire

One of the most highly acclaimed novelists in the crime genre, Lawrence Block is also a master of the short story, with award-winning work ranging from the macabre to the slyly comic, from heart-stopping tales of revenge to memorable explorations of lust and greed, all told in Block's unforgettable style. The sixteen stories (and one stage play!) collected here feature appearances by some of Block s most famous characters, including gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr and alcoholic private detective Matt Scudder, as well as glimpses into the minds of a rogue's gallery of frightening killers, dangerous sociopaths, crooked cops, and lost souls whose only chance to find themselves may be on the wrong side of a gun.

You'll meet a compulsive hoarder whose towering piles of trash and treasures hide disturbing secrets...a beautiful young tennis star with a rather too possessive secret admirer...a dealer in stolen art who is unwilling to part with his most prized possession at any price...poker players with agendas that have nothing to do with the cards in their hands...and a catch-and-release fisherman whose preferred catch walks on two legs.

Terror and passion, cruelty and vindication--it's all here, in a collection that will thrill you, scare you, and remind you why Lawrence Block is still the best there is at what he does.

Having previously confessed  more of an indifference to, as opposed to a dislike of short stories, it’s kind of ironic that I have read two collections of them this month in close proximity to each other. The second of which Lawrence Block’s Catch and Release I have been enjoying on and off for the past week or two.

Among the 17 in total, there are some more enjoyable than others, as you would probably expect. The collection has just recently been released, but the author provides some history as to the origins of each story and what inspired its creation as well as a rough indication of when it was written. This in itself was quite interesting. I will have to go back in time and read one of his soft-porn books penned under the pseudonym of John Warren Wells, at a later date. A few of the stories here have a sexual content.  

Highlights for me would include;

A Chance To Get Even – a poker game with an interesting last hand.

Clean Slate – a woman tries to re-establish her virginity.

Part Of The Job – what’s in your job description and how far would you go to satisfy the boss?

Speaking Of Greed – a cop, a priest, a soldier, a doctor..........oh, and an old man with flatulence.  

I could choose others as well and in truth none of the collection hit any real bum notes. Whilst reading about Block’s burglars, cops, hitmen and perverts committing robberies, murder and incest among other crimes, Block sometimes stops me short with a line that imparts a certain wisdom or knowledge. Here’s three, that resonated with me, all from the same story I think..........

“I always thought the Irish wake made a lot of sense. Pour down the booze until you can think of something good to say about the deceased.”

The old fellows didn't mind; they were just trying to make a glass of beer last until the next pension check arrived.

 “The few arts not yet lost,” Mick said, “have their heads on the chopping block, waiting for technology to lop them off.”

Entertaining and enjoyable.

4 from 5


My copy was requested from one of the author’s assistants who kindly obliged. 

14 comments:

  1. Col, I enjoy reading short stories in most genres and a collection of shorts by Lawrence Block is certainly appealing. I'll probably get to this after the Blocks in my collection have got off the block.

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    1. I think it's well worth a look Prashant. I think I will add a short story collection to my monthly reading, I have enough of them despite my preference for novels. Hope to enjoy your take on some different Block's soon!

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  2. Col - I think Lawrence Block is so very talented! And it takes even more skill to do both novels and short stories well. Glad you enjoyed this one.

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    1. Margot thanks. He is extremely versatile as you say. More from him in the coming months I hope!

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  3. I've read his short stories and they are pretty good. Dolly's Trash & Treasures was one that I read and enjoyed. I'm happy he's digitizing these into one book, all of his shorts that is. Glad you enjoyed this one as I think I have it as well. He's great. You should try his hitman series.

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    1. He does have a lot of stuff out there......50 odd years writing and still going strong! The hitman series is something I want to read quite soon. You have mentioned it a few times to me and I have not ignored it, but I haven't been able to find my books as yet (a poor excuse) - as I find them I'll be on it!

      I started doing his Scudder books earlier in the year - 1 a month.....and fell away after 5 - not from dissatisfaction, just because my head got turned around onto something else. I think there are 5 Keller's at last count so it wouldn't be a big ask to get onto them and complete.

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    2. His hitman series reception with readers seems to be divisive. Either you don't mind him exploring other things like his stamp collecting or you find it all tedious and boring. It takes _work_ to finish his books for me because they tend to lack very much action but the ones I read I've enjoyed. So I have to be in the mood to read his books. I guess I like or prefer a lot of action in my books. Big surprise. I've only read one Matthew Scudder book, the one standalone that is more or less a flashback book, When The Sacred Ginmill Closes which I think you've already read. Like you I'd like to read more but there are just so many books that one forgets.

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    3. I think the thing with the stamps interests me - I'm a bit of an anorak actually. Probably another plus for me. Fortunately I've not yet struggled with any of his so far. I don't think he writes really long books though - another positive!

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  4. Have read a book or two by him, but no short stories, and in general am prejudiced against short stories. But I like the jokes....

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    1. I think short stories have a place in my life, when time is tight or my attention span is wavering. I think you should read another LB soon so there's a bit more commonality between us!

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  5. I am also prejudiced against short stories, so have a hard time motivating myself to read them. When there is so much. I have the book Enough Rope which compiles a lot of short stories by Lawrence Block from earlier published collections ... have had it for quite and while and made no headway. Maybe some day.

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    1. I think you like what you like, so probably no point fretting over it. I haven't seen the Enough Rope collection, but then I'm not going to get around to everything he's done.

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  6. I'm such a fan of Block's I can't be impartial, but I love (and have read) all the Scudder books, the Hitman books, and most of the burglar books. Have all of the above in my library as well as the short story collections.
    My favorite line is from the Sacred Ginmill. A prayer of sorts: "Thank you for everything just as it is."

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    1. I've still got a lot of Scudder's ahead of me, which is good, plus the hitman books to enjoy. Cheers, Mia

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