Sunday, March 12, 2006

Bring on the body count

I am about halfway through Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston. You will either love this book or throw it across the room in disgust. It feels like an Tarantino movie with a Hitchcock plot and Elmore Leonard characters. That is to say, the violence is frequent and over the top. It seems like every five pages someone is getting their ass threatened, beat or killed. The plot centers around a McGuffin sought by a variety of rather colorful, if deadly, criminals. That's the Leonard bit, the characters are just great, quickly sketched but full enough to enjoy. If you thought Kill Bill was too violent, stay the hell away from this book. If you like that sort of thing, this may be your cup of americano. The best comparison I can think of is the Misfits's song Demonomania. Like the song, this book is quick, brutal and exciting. Unlike Demonomania, it does not feature a short angry guy who thinks he is Satan.

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