I’m reading this right now:
I’m really enjoying it, although I don’t think western tales work in text as well as they do on the big screen. It’s a bit of a weight to carry back and forth to work, too.
Leonard is one of my favourite western writers and although I understand what you say about the effectiveness of screen over text in this genre I think he is one of the best exceptions to the rule. Much of his writing is ‘cinematic’ is style I always find.
That’s a great book by the way but, as you say, bloody heavy to cart around. It’s a ‘next to the bed’ book for me which I dip into before sleep. Short stories are good for that and if you like westerns these are some of the best.
I would say Leonard is a great writer, period. I didn’t mean to sound whiny, because I know it is really a great book. It’s weird that he wrote those stories in the fifties, but genearlly they are far grittier than the westerns from that time.
It’s interesting how the nature of writing stories means you have to be descriptive; it’s actually difficult not to give your reader insight into your characters, because every nuance is detailed. When I said I thought westerns work better on screen, I think that’s because I like the clear, operatic narratives. Westerns, and spaghettis in particular, tend to only hint at the emotions of their heroes, which makes the whole thing more abstract but also somehow cooler/more macho.
Think of Charles Bronson in Once Upon A Time In The West, whose character is driven by revenge and whose story is so tragic. Yet he’s a block of stone and all the emotional energy comes from the music and the tension which Leone builds up through the movie. That’s pretty typical for spaghetti westerns, I think. You won’t see much crying or indecision from the hero, but Leonard can’t help giving his characters more emotional depth – even when they’re supposed to be tough, silent types.
[quote=“TheBigSmokedown, post:301, topic:1204”]I’m reading this right now:
I’m really enjoying it, although I don’t think western tales work in text as well as they do on the big screen. It’s a bit of a weight to carry back and forth to work, too.[/quote]I too have that book, but haven’t read all of it.
Right now, I’m reading George Carlin’s Last Words.
A bit more Elmore Leonard for me.
Mr Majestyk
Very tight, as usual from Leonard and clips along nicely. An entertaining read and very similar to the film of the same name. Couldn’t help hearing Bronson’s voice in my head as I read it. 8)
Always fancy eating a melon when ever I watch the film version 
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Just picked up The Dogs of War again and am nearly done. Great book, I love how Forsyth describes his characters’ planning.
Just finished two biographies
Farley Granger- Interesting and rather clean autobiography. From his first film to winning a theater actors award. He discusses, his films, friends, sexuality, and the regular anecdotes. He unsurprisingly speaks highly of his experience with Nicholas Ray whom he describes as an efficient and talented director but socially awkward. He lists his 3 least favorite of his own films as Edge of Doom, Roseana Mccoy, and our very own.
Warren Oates- good enough biography but I mostly want to mention a few interesting things. He mentions being offered the role as a villain in a Western starring one of his favorite actors, Jean-Louis Trinitignant! Warren Oates as Loco?!
I’ve been reading a lot of classics recently. I finished George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (marvellous but so bleak) and at the moment I’m enjoying reading the Russian play The Infant A.K.A The Minor (1782) by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin.
My favourite book, although it tells you something about how bleak it is that I’ve never had the urge to re-read it.
Yes, I have a similar feeling… It’s undoubtably great, but I can not picture myself re-reading it any time soon (Animal Farm, on the other hand, will be read again in the probable near future).
Been recently reading Morgan Kane pulpnovel series from Norway. I’m not sure how well known series this is outside of Scandinavia but it says in wikipedia it sold 11 million copies in Norway alone. Morgan Kane would have been a good protagonist for a sw: little bit psychotic, fast with a gun, gambler, weakness for women…
I’ve been reading the Good the Bad and the Ugly graphic novel (well, comics put into one volume)
Currently finishing up William Gibson’s Neuromancer
How did you like it? I was a little underwhelmed, despite some clever and forward-thinking ideas.
I enjoyed the read. I can understand being underwhelmed though. The writing at times is a bit hard to follow, and I read a lot of authors with unconventional writing techniques, but I’ve also been reading an e-book version I found online, while at work, so I’m a bit distracted. I wasn’t really expecting a lot from it though, and it managed to re-ignite some of my teenaged-days-enthusiasm for digging into technology
We’re listening to Macbeth on tape in my english class. so far, the only Shakespeare I enjoy to any degree. But I still have no clue what they are saying.
Korano, take my advice and get hold of Polanski’s MacBeth. Watch that and the whole thing will come to life for you. It’s a great story and bloody as all hell so what’s not to like? ;D
Seriously though, we did MacBeth at school when I was a teenager and after struggling with it for what seemed like months we were taken to see Polanski’s film at a local theatre (no video or DVDs in those days) and it was a revelation. I’ve loved Shakespeare ever since. The key is he wrote plays and plays are meant to be performed, not just read. The language ceases to be such a barrier once it is played out.
Anyhow, get the film. It is terrific and one of the best Shakespeare films I’ve seen to this day. Johnny Hamlet included. 
Excellent point here Phil! I’ve not seen Polanski’s MacBeth, but I have been wondering if I’m interested lately and now think I will give it a look.
I was planning on seeing Orson Welles’s Macbeth first but I suppose I could through Polanski’s film in their too. Thanks. 