To me, the fatal spark was "Help! I am Being Held Prisoner", a comic novel about a funmaker (or wisecraker, or teaser if you want) who is punished very hard: by imprisonment in a penitentiary. In this house - not only a jail, but also a loony bin - he becomes acquainted to REAL criminals (no small innocent fishes like himself) and there he must learn to disable his strong tendency to jests...
Hallo from an Italian reader who has read ALL Dortmunder novels, quite each other comic crime written by Donald E. Westlake ("Money For Nothing", "Help! I am being held prisoner", "Somebody Owes Me Money" etc.), some Parker novel (too hard for me!) and ALL Mitch Tobin novels. I've bought and read his books in Italian, German and - obviously - English language. For me, he was, and IS, a genius.
Westlake is not easily summed up in few words, and his words spoke better than most of ours. I found him later than I'd have liked, but feel privileged to be able to read him at all--his every book is a joy, and we are all greater because of him. If he doesn't rest in peace, no one ever will.
@VoilaCoupDetat68 Thanks for the kind words. I chose to use his own words for precisely that reason. I can think of none more eloquent on the subject. I just finished "Memory," his unpublished novel from late 60s, recently released to much acclaim and astonishment. And for good reason. I highly recommend it.
John Dortmunder (and his Posse, if you will) are so unbelievably believable. I've read nearly all his Dortmunder novels now and his characters just jump out that page I'm reading. I'm very interested in Filmography, and every time I read one of his books, the thought of making a movie seems so amazingly simple and exciting. If I did, I would definitely try and get as many details in as possible... But, as I'm still a teenager, I think it's going to be quite a while before I make any movies!
@TooManyOnes Thanks. You shouldn't wait if you really want to make films. If your family or a friend has a basic camcorder, you can make a movie. Just pick one of your favorite (non-violent!) scenes from a Dortmunder novel, type out the dialog in an easy-to-read manner for the actors (your friends) and start shooting. If you can read a Westlake novel and "see" it in your head, you can direct a movie. Just one important word of advice - never shout at the actors. All set... now go for it! .
I was browsing through the library one day and his novel, "What's so funny?" pounced out at me. The cover was of a bright pink Cadillac and a shifty looking character behind the wheel. I read the blurb and the reccomendations, and it doesn't take much for me to be convinced to read a book, so I sunk into it.
@pexw i consider it a true privilege to say i got to speak w/ dew on two separate
occasions
once in nyc and the other a complete surprise when going to see a local theatre group's take on 'trust me on this' westlake&his wife had flown into town to see it!
i said hi in the lobby and after the actors were taking the westlakes for coffee
but for some reason i couldnt go - i guess i didnt want to overstay a fan's welcome - damn it ... shoulda gone
To me, the fatal spark was "Help! I am Being Held Prisoner", a comic novel about a funmaker (or wisecraker, or teaser if you want) who is punished very hard: by imprisonment in a penitentiary. In this house - not only a jail, but also a loony bin - he becomes acquainted to REAL criminals (no small innocent fishes like himself) and there he must learn to disable his strong tendency to jests...
A book that should be read in every school!
panovideo 4 months ago
Hallo from an Italian reader who has read ALL Dortmunder novels, quite each other comic crime written by Donald E. Westlake ("Money For Nothing", "Help! I am being held prisoner", "Somebody Owes Me Money" etc.), some Parker novel (too hard for me!) and ALL Mitch Tobin novels. I've bought and read his books in Italian, German and - obviously - English language. For me, he was, and IS, a genius.
panovideo 4 months ago
very nice. salute to a real genius. John Dortmunder lives forever.
vinceman 10 months ago 2
Westlake is not easily summed up in few words, and his words spoke better than most of ours. I found him later than I'd have liked, but feel privileged to be able to read him at all--his every book is a joy, and we are all greater because of him. If he doesn't rest in peace, no one ever will.
VoilaCoupDetat68 1 year ago
@VoilaCoupDetat68 Thanks for the kind words. I chose to use his own words for precisely that reason. I can think of none more eloquent on the subject. I just finished "Memory," his unpublished novel from late 60s, recently released to much acclaim and astonishment. And for good reason. I highly recommend it.
pexw 1 year ago
John Dortmunder (and his Posse, if you will) are so unbelievably believable. I've read nearly all his Dortmunder novels now and his characters just jump out that page I'm reading. I'm very interested in Filmography, and every time I read one of his books, the thought of making a movie seems so amazingly simple and exciting. If I did, I would definitely try and get as many details in as possible... But, as I'm still a teenager, I think it's going to be quite a while before I make any movies!
TooManyOnes 1 year ago 2
@TooManyOnes Thanks. You shouldn't wait if you really want to make films. If your family or a friend has a basic camcorder, you can make a movie. Just pick one of your favorite (non-violent!) scenes from a Dortmunder novel, type out the dialog in an easy-to-read manner for the actors (your friends) and start shooting. If you can read a Westlake novel and "see" it in your head, you can direct a movie. Just one important word of advice - never shout at the actors. All set... now go for it! .
pexw 1 year ago
@pexw Thanks for the advice, Pexw!
I might do it, really. Thanks!
TooManyOnes 1 year ago
I love Mr. Westlake's writing.
I was browsing through the library one day and his novel, "What's so funny?" pounced out at me. The cover was of a bright pink Cadillac and a shifty looking character behind the wheel. I read the blurb and the reccomendations, and it doesn't take much for me to be convinced to read a book, so I sunk into it.
TooManyOnes 1 year ago
wonderful tribute very well done thank you for it
one of the joys of my life was spending an evening w/ mr westlake
and a dozen or so fans in small upper east side nyc book store
just standing in a circle talking about his books
thanks again & peace
JustAintthatWay 1 year ago
@JustAintthatWay He was a great storyteller in prose or in person. Thank you.
pexw 1 year ago
@pexw i consider it a true privilege to say i got to speak w/ dew on two separate
occasions
once in nyc and the other a complete surprise when going to see a local theatre group's take on 'trust me on this' westlake&his wife had flown into town to see it!
i said hi in the lobby and after the actors were taking the westlakes for coffee
but for some reason i couldnt go - i guess i didnt want to overstay a fan's welcome - damn it ... shoulda gone
JustAintthatWay 1 year ago
Donald E Westlake was amazing.
People, try read as many of His books as Your can, they are good.
ari1234a 2 years ago 2