The latest book from author Lawrence Block titled Catch
And Release: 17 Stories is an enjoyable grab bag of tales. Short tales,
long tales, and a play are present here where those involved almost always
offer a philosophy on life and their role in the world. As such, this is a thinking
reader’s book and not a light weight read where the characters just run around shooting
people and killing folks for the heck of it. Everything that happens, or does
not happen, is because a character made a conscious decision based on his or
her philosophy of life and his or her role in it and the word as a whole.
The book opens with “A Burglar’s-Eye View of Greed”
where the narrator goes to see his favorite bookseller, Bernie Rhodenbarr. Fortunately for Bernie he doesn’t have to
sell books to survive. He very well may be the last of the gentlemen burglars.
All you want when you have had losing hands all
night is “A Chance To Get Even.” Richard
Krale is having a bad night and wants his chance to finally settle up. Not just
for the bad night of poker, but for other matters as well.
“A Vision in white” comes next and is a story that
is nearly impossible to discuss at all without ruining it for the reader. As you read it, the tale should make things
abundantly clear where the inspiration came from in the sports world.
The signature story of the book “Catch and Release” (previously
available as a solo short story confusing some readers) follows where the water
is on not at all involved except a metaphorical level. He has his methods and
his fantasies in a tale that plays with the reader right to the end.
Katherine “Kit” Tolliver had a mission when she
arrived in Toledo, Ohio, in “Clean Slate.” Like the main character of the proceeding
story, Kit has a plan to balance things out.
In what has to be the most flat out disturbing story
in the book (though “Catch and Release” comes close) hoarding is just part of
the issue in “Dolly’s Trash and Treasure.”
It begins with a visit by child protective services and Mrs. Saugerties
has some very strange answers.
Next is a one act play tilted “How Far.” Dorothy Morgan has a problem and Billy may or
may not help her. One doesn’t really know until the end.
The end of the TV show the Sopranos annoyed many of
us. It annoyed Mick Ballou as well. In “Mick Ballou Looks at the Blank Screen” he
ponders what was meant by that ending and more.
He’s doing all this thinking for a good reason.
As the years pass, the familiar often has to make
way for something new. That idea is a small part of the tale “One Last Night at
Grogan’s.” Mick Ballou, the major character of the proceeding tale, is the
primary focus here as well in another good read.
Walters stole some very valuable information and
Jondahl wants him stopped and the information retrieved in “Part of the
Job.” The history of the tale is almost
as interesting and explained in the attached piece titled “The Story About The
Story . . .”
Like several of the previous characters, the main character
in “Scenarios” has twisted fantasies. It
ends where and when it ends.
An elderly man helps with an oral history project in
“See the Woman.” Doing so stirs up for
more than just memories.
Numerous stories within the main story is the author
technique at work in the next two long stories.
The backdrop is a poker game where a variety of characters from various
walks of life discuss sins, philosophy, and much more in “Speaking of Greed”
and “Speaking of Lust.”
Routine is important to Kramer in “Welcome to the Real
World.” Kramer likes things the way they
are and isn’t ready to change. Yet a former coworker seems intent on helping
Kramer change-- one way or another.
Colliard didn’t really want the coffee, but, he had
to do something with his hands in “Who Knows Where It Goes.” Life wasn’t supposed to work out this way,
but it has, and the options are few.
“Without a Body” is the last story of the book and
features a narrator where one isn’t sure if one is dead or alive.
Explanations of the various stories and their
history are provided in “Story Notes.” A
short author bio and ads for other books bring the book to an end.
Catch
And Release: 17 Stories features characters that over their
philosophy on crime, life, and more. What happens, or does not happen, in these tales is because the main character has
made a conscious decision based on his or her philosophy of life and his or her
role in it and the word as a whole. The tales are complicated with twists that
make the reader pay attention and think. The book is also very good.
Catch
and Release: 17 Stories
Lawrence
Block
September
2013
ASIN:
B00F9HZF6I
E-book
(294 pages)
$9.99
Material supplied by the author in exchange for my
objective review. Print versions of the book are available from Subterranean
Press and Hard Case Crime.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
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