Gentleman of the Hour: Don Winslow Part 3

Picking up and re-iterating from Part 1 and 2:

One of the best discoveries I made last year (care of the L.A. Times Festival of Books book panel with him, Robert Crais, Jeff Parker, and Joseph Wambaugh), was reading Don Winslow for the first time. As I've said before, the transplanted New Yorker by way of Perryville, Rhode Island (and now a southern Californian and renowned chronicler of this region) is simply one hell of a writer. Starting with the fabulously titled, The Winter of Frankie Machine, in May and ending with the man's fierce opus (an epic that once started, doesn't let you go), The Power of the Dog come December, his novels helped to make 2009 quite a year for me in the literary sense.

Cover of Shibumi

When Pop Culture Nerd informed me that the author's new publisher, Simon & Schuster, would be bringing out a new book of his in 2010 -- and it wouldn't be The Gentlemen's Hour (what I covered in the previous post) -- I was somewhat bummed. Still, it is a work by Don Winslow... And the man hasn't written anything that I've read that comes close to a by-the-numbers gig. This being the same guy who was tapped last year to write the prequel to the classic Trevanian thriller, Shibumi. Back in the day, for young males past their teens, and who weren't brain-dead as they left the decade of the 70's (I limit it to those who lifted a book on occasion), this book was required reading. Believe me, you just had to be there. Having DW helm this effort (expected in 2011), therefore, was a bit of good news. Nonetheless... what to make of the new book? Then, I found its descriptor:

"... a gritty, humorous, and drug-fueled ransom thriller set amidst the Baja Cartel in Laguna Beach, CA"

Let's go to the video, shall we?

Sign. Me. Up.

Savages was released on July 13th (I love that number, btw) and didn't disappoint. It turned out to be one hell of ride. Stylish as all get out, but never stupid in a vapid way, I can see why the publisher wanted this one pushed up. [Doing a sequel to a popular novel that came from another publisher never entered into their decision-making process, of course (queue the eye-roll, or so author hinted at last Tuesday's The Mystery Bookstore tour stop for the novel)] Indeed, having a pair of anti-heroes to cheer on, all the while you're anxiously and enthusiastically turning the pages (or in my case, pressing the Play button on the old iPod), certainly revealed an undeniable and irresistible 70's crime vibe to its modern noirish proceedings. Don't worry, it is manifestly a product of this century (OMG). If this doesn't grab the attention of folks who've yet to read him, I don't know what will (perhaps, an IED... but don't quote me on this).

Mr. Winslow, for the sake of audiobook enthusiasts, has also benefited by drawing an excellent narrator for this work. Michael Kramer, who did exceptional job with Thomas Perry's STRIP, sure as shootin' belted this one on and nailed the author's rapid-fire and distinct verve/verse. Without question, he captured the character Chon's bad-itude, Ben's mellow environmentalist/philanthropist leanings, and Ophelia's O's (friends, you've got to hear these) on the Tantor Media audiobook recording (follow the link to catch an MP3 audio sample of it). Like what Ray Porter did for The Dawn Patrol, The Power of the Dog, and Ron McLarty did for California Fire and Life, narrator Kramer brings the right amount of emotion, intellect, and sass in his delivery (some of it as the omnipresent commentator that is a root component of this tale). He gets it, and delivers the quintessential Winslow lines with the stipulated flair:

"The cartel will let them stay in business only if they sell solely to the cartel, which will then take the big profit margin for itself.
'They're Walmart,' O says.
(Have we covered that O is not stupid?)"

"The wine world is basically divided into red and white. (We ain't gonna go far with this--wine types are almost as hateful as tweekers. Every great wine-tasting session should end with arsenic.)"

See. What did I tell 'ya? No wonder Oliver Stone snatched up the rights for this book muy pronto (and was smart enough to get the screenwriter/novelist to write a draft of the proposed film's screenplay). Do yourself a favor, discover Don Winslow or this book (in any order... the rest will sort itself out.)

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Gentleman of the Hour: Don Winslow Part 2

Picking up and re-iterating from Part 1:

One of the best discoveries I made last year (care of the L.A. Times Festival of Books book panel with him, Robert Crais, Jeff Parker, and Joseph Wambaugh), was reading Don Winslow for the first time. As I've said before, the transplanted New Yorker by way of Perryville, Rhode Island (and now a southern Californian and renowned chronicler of this region) is simply one hell of a writer. Starting with the fabulously titled, The Winter of Frankie Machine, in May and ending with the man's fierce opus (an epic that once started, doesn't let you go), The Power of the Dog come December, his novels helped to make 2009 quite a year for me in the literary sense.

In between those books, byway of recommendations from my dear blogging friends Pop Culture Nerd and Corey Wilde, I read the author's 2008 novel, The Dawn Patrol. Even though I'm a born and raised Angeleno, surfing is not in my DNA (nor on my radar). Still, the story it weaved had me enthralled (right along with having me yearn to get on a board... of all things). Plus, the character universe Winslow built around his P.I. protagonist (and surf legend) Boone Daniels grew my attachment to the Pacific Beach-centered story even more. I noted in my very brief review of the audiobook that a sequel would soon arrive (as in July 2009). Of course, the love-fest only went so far since its publication was only in the U.K. Bummer.

Pop Culture Nerd then informed me that the author's new publisher, Simon & Schuster, would be bringing out a new book in 2010 -- and it wouldn't be the that Boone Daniels and friends sequel, The Gentlemen's Hour. Wipe-out. Can you wait til 2011? Since I'm crotchety now that I'm in my fifties, the answer is, ah... no. I firmly believed holding back this man's work (and talent) is just a waste for him, his fans, and those people who've yet to discover how great this writer really is. So, I bought TGH from the U.K., and decided to share it with my blogging friends.

My copy of (a William Heinemann publication) The Gentlemen's Hour made its way to Ohio (three times), Arizona, Tennessee, Naucalpan, Mexico, and back to California (more than once) from mid-October 2009 to early July of this year. I had hopes to share the story with the author at this year's L.A. Times Festival of Books, but Mr. Winslow was out of country during that event (hence, the softcover stayed out on the road). With this year's new book release, I scheduled my rendezvous for last night's book signing for Savages at the wonderful indie book store, The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood Village (near the UCLA campus). I shared the softcover's journey with the author, and he seemed touched by it (he is definitely a gentleman and a scholar, and a class guy).

And how good is The Gentlemen's Hour? Excepts from my friends who reviewed or wrote in the book:

Elyse Dinh-McCrillis:

"Loved this."

Corey Wilde (from his review of the book):

"And it is this complex overlay of work and friendships that is one of the major points of difference between this book and most other SoCal crime fiction. The only other book I know that thoroughly works this particular complication is Crais's LA Requiem, and if a book can stand comparison to that particular classic then you know you've got your mitts on one heckuva story."

Jen Forbus (from her review of the book):

"While the ocean may not look like it's doing much in THE GENTLEMEN'S HOUR, Winslow is making a huge splash with the return of "Boone freaking Daniels" and his surfing crew: "Dave the Love and War God, Johnny Absolutely Banzai, High Rolling Tide, and Hang Tough Twelve," not to mention "Loco Ono." If you enjoyed THE DAWN PATROL, you will love THE GENTLEMEN'S HOUR. If you haven't read THE DAWN PATROL, now's the time."

Naomi Johnson:

"Wonderful book."

Alphonso Padilla:

"An amazing book!"

Brian & Christine McCann:

"Brian's right, only surfbonics will do: EPIC. MACKING, CRUNCHY. :-) A real treat!"

Lesa Holstine (from her review of the book):

"Don Winslow's powerful novel is a crime novel of society out of control. But, The Gentlemen's Hour is actually the story of Boone Daniel's search for answers. Petra Hall sees him as a complicated man, "A Tarzan-like surfer boy who reads Russian novels at night...A disillusioned cynic with barely concealed idealism." Winslow has taken the detective as knight errant and turned him into a surfer trying to make his world right. Boone Daniels is an unforgettable man in a complicated, fascinating story."

That, my friends, is how good this novel is. When I read the book, the characters in the story pulled me right back in (as if I never left the sand and sea). This time, without too much need for character backstory (like in TDP), Winslow's comfort level with the various personalities shined through immediately and help build the story's suspense and power. No, I do not consider myself a champion for this writer (his work stands up quite nicely without my help), but I know what I like. And I like spreading the word of what's good in this case. Luckily for folks like us, as the author confirmed last night, The Gentlemen's Hour be out next summer (and a couple others in the series are already planned for). BTW, the book Don Winslow is holding in the picture below is my copy of TGH (the one that holds the handwritten words of my friends). It uses the old cover art (based upon a Getty Image). The new version for the U.K. softcover is now this. As you tell by now, I highly recommend the novel -- now and next summer.

(click to enlarge)

To be continued...

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Gentleman of the Hour: Don Winslow Part 1

One of the best discoveries I made last year (care of the L.A. Times Festival of Books book panel with him, Robert Crais, Jeff Parker, and Joseph Wambaugh), was reading Don Winslow for the first time. As I've said before, the transplanted New Yorker by way of Perryville, Rhode Island (and now a southern Californian and renowned chronicler of this region) is simply one hell of a writer. Starting with the fabulously titled, The Winter of Frankie Machine, in May and ending with the man's fierce opus (an epic that once started, doesn't let you go), The Power of the Dog come December, his novels helped to make 2009 quite a year for me in the literary sense.

Last night, I attended the book signing for Mr. Winslow's latest, Savages, at the wonderful indie book store, The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood Village (near the UCLA campus). And it was quite an event (the Zac Efron movie premiere going on a few doors down really couldn't compete, at least with the readers in attendance). Here are some of the photos I managed to get (with kudos and props to the entire staff at The Mystery Bookstore, see bottom image):

To be continued...

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Four in a Row

I'm on a hot streak. No-doubt-about-it. With the help of bloggers The Drowning Machine and Pop Culture Nerd, I'm on a roll with regard to the last four audiobooks I've consumed. The latest was Don Winslow's current, The Dawn Patrol (which also comes out in paperback on the 16th of this month). It's killer... gnarly... righteous. Dude, it's just fun, surf 'n sun drenched crime fiction. Although surfing plays centrally in both books, this is a much different experience than the author's previous book, The Winter of Frankie Machine. I cannot bring myself to say one is better that the other--the antihero aspect of Frank Machianno is nostalgic for me (hey, I survived the 70's). Luckily, this author has more books that I've yet to read. As well, it's worth noting too, the Dawn Patrol characters are returning.

With regard to the audiobook, Blackstone Audio has produced another winner (in audio CD and MP3). Especially in using veteran voice actor/audiobook reader Ray Porter for this particular work. I'd listened to his work prior to this, and I can honestly say I was blew away with his range and versatility, here. He effortlessly moved between the distinct dialects and various characters that made up the crew of The Dawn Patrol. From the SoCal surf local Boone to the Samoan High Tide to the female type-A Brit lawyer, Petra, and a stable of others. Nothing the author had on the page challenged this narrator. He was amazing with all of the patois, slang and intonations the book demanded. I'll admit it, this was one of better book-narrator match-ups I've experienced in the years listening to the audio format.

So, I'm two-for-two in regard to Don Winslow books, and four-for-four in this run of wonderful audiobooks. And, I'm thinking (with Jen's Book Thoughts help) I'm going to extend that streak, soon.

My First Winslow

One of the pleasures each year of attending the L.A. Times Festival of Books and some of its panels is getting a chance to meet/listen to new authors. Last year, it was discovering T. Jefferson Parker who was with Robert Crais at one such panel. This year, it was finding Don Winslow. Both Jen of Jen's Book Thoughts and Pop Culture Nerd gave great accounts/summaries of this panel that included Crais, Joseph Wambaugh, Parker, and Winslow. And that new kid on the block (for me, anyways) has made it a more than worthwhile revelation. As with the other authors of said panel, Winslow (who is as well an accomplished screenwriter) concentrates much of his books in our local southland.

The Winter of Frankie Machine, my first of what I hope will become more such novels by this writer, makes wonderful use of the various sub-cultures here of crime, power, and surfdom living amongst the palm trees and beaches of SoCal. His sympathetic anti-hero, one Frankie Machianno, makes a good, quiet life for himself as the bait shop guy to the locals. And though the retired mob hit man remains active with his other, legitimate businesses, Frankie keeps a lot of secrets. "It's a lot of work being me." And it's here that I'll agree with a Publishers Weekly write-up (posted at Amazon). Winslow's writing should bring on familiar echoes of another great crime-thriller author I've enjoyed, Elmore Leonard. His characters and plotting are that good. Plus, he uses a good bit of actual local crime history in his work (this is especially true for those like me who've lived in this area and can recall some of the newspaper headlines from decades past).

In looking at the audiobook that I listened to (produced by Blackstone Audio) for this work, the publisher did solid work in choosing veteran character actor Dennis Boutsikaris to voice this book. The actor has good range in his characterizations, especially for those gangsters of the East Coast variety. Boutsikaris' Newark, New Jersey background surely helped with those vocalizations. Plus, his tenor and delivery of Winslow's lively and descriptive wording is a very pleasing one for those taking it in via audio. Unfortunately, there was a downside to this audiobook (especially for me)--and it's the publishers fault, not the reader's. For those like me who shift media for listening convenience--that is move the audio to my iPod--it's an irritating one. The studio managers choose to have the narrator announce the beginning and end for each of the 8 unabridged audio CDs.

Let's be clear... not all audiobook publishers do this, mind you. Thankfully. It jolts story continuity for the listener, big time. Now, I'm sure that the MP3 version (Blackstone being one of the handful that produce them) of this novel doesn't perform this service. And if I could have gotten my hands on that version, I wouldn't even be writing about it, now. I know why publishers do it - it signals to those that listen to the actual CD themselves when to pop out the disc and drop in the next (correct) one. And yes, some CD decks (like those in automobiles) will just begin replaying the disc if you don't eject them. But, this really doesn't play well with others, especially when disc ejection is not part of their normal audiobook experience. Criminy! It's that insert-eject-insert rigmarole [puzzle word... thanks for that, Don] that drove to me to media shift in the first place.

Okay... (as he steps off his curmudgeon-tech soapbox) that aside, I look forward to obtaining and reading more books by Mr. Winslow. His is a creative voice I'm going to seek out (a must, really). Between his plotting, keen/humorous observations and wording, and just damn interesting story-lines, I can see myself coming back to this author on a regular basis. And after this book, and a post by Nordette Adams, I'm reminded that Elmore Leonard has a new book out this week, too.

Recommended "Cops & Crooks in CA" Summary

This past weekend was the annual L.A. Times Festival of Books, hosted on the campus of U.C.L.A. This year, book blogger Jen made her way out west to attend, too. Meeting her for the first time made this an even more special event. And both of us got to attend the bash I always look forward to: the yearly book panel with our favorite author, Robert Crais. It's ever growing popularity made this year's panel such a hard ticket to come by.

I was in a Ticketmaster line the previous weekend the very hour the tickets first became available--and even though I was fifth in line, they were sold out by my turn. Criminy!!! And all week, I kept striking out online in my attempts to acquire them, too. I thought we'd have to try our luck in the stand-by line. Luckily, I remembered that this book celebration event always held back some tickets. They disperse them on a first come, first served basis on each of the two days of the festival (starting at 9 AM on Saturday). I was more than fortunate in that my wife let me off the hook from our kid's social schedule (that parents seemly always orbit around) that morning so I could get there early enough to get in the inevitable long line.

And, tickets we did get! Finally (for Jen, her sister, and I). Simply, the panel was the best one ever that I've attended. RC moderated it, as part of the Mystery book panels, in the aptly titled, "Cops & Crooks in California". It consisted of himself, Joseph Wambaugh, Don Winslow, and T. Jefferson Parker. Can't remember all of things that made Jen and I laugh so hard. But, don't wait for me to tell you all about it. Thoughtfully, writer Naomi Johnson linked me to a wonderfully written summary of it all by blogger Obsessions of a Pop Cultured Nerd. And like Naomi, I highly recommend this two-part post as a read:

“Cops & Crooks in California” Panel at L.A. Festival of Books with Crais, Winslow, Parker & Wambaugh