Ronald A. (rarendt) reviewed on + 107 more book reviews
I am a long-time fan of Lawerence Block. Have read all the Matt Scudder and the "Hitman" books through 2003, and several of "The Burglar who..." books. "Small Town" is different from any of his other books that I've read.
First, it's a stand-alone novel(no reference to any of his several series).
Second. it's longer (541 pages)and it's clear that he put more thought and work into it than into any of his series offerings.
Third, it's a lot closer to being R rated than any of his other work - almost pornographic in places. Most of the people in the book spend an inordinate amount of time either involved in or thinking about sex, and some of it is way beyond normal sex.
You get the feeling that Block has put more of himself into the book than into any of his other work - and I'm not so sure I admire what he's told us about himself. I am not a prude (I spent 21 years plus as an enlisted man in the Air Force, the first ten as a bachelor, and more than five years overseas, during which I had a pretty active sex life), but most of the characters in the book seem focused on sex most of the time.
Block is a lover of New York, and spends a lot of time tallking about various Manhattan streets and locales, sometimes almost to the point of obsession. This is probably a big draw if you're an NYC resident, but I suspect the other 289 million residents of the USA might find it a little tedious. I've been to NYC several times, but I've also seen quite a bit of the rest of the world, and it does not begin and end at the NYC city limit sign.
First, it's a stand-alone novel(no reference to any of his several series).
Second. it's longer (541 pages)and it's clear that he put more thought and work into it than into any of his series offerings.
Third, it's a lot closer to being R rated than any of his other work - almost pornographic in places. Most of the people in the book spend an inordinate amount of time either involved in or thinking about sex, and some of it is way beyond normal sex.
You get the feeling that Block has put more of himself into the book than into any of his other work - and I'm not so sure I admire what he's told us about himself. I am not a prude (I spent 21 years plus as an enlisted man in the Air Force, the first ten as a bachelor, and more than five years overseas, during which I had a pretty active sex life), but most of the characters in the book seem focused on sex most of the time.
Block is a lover of New York, and spends a lot of time tallking about various Manhattan streets and locales, sometimes almost to the point of obsession. This is probably a big draw if you're an NYC resident, but I suspect the other 289 million residents of the USA might find it a little tedious. I've been to NYC several times, but I've also seen quite a bit of the rest of the world, and it does not begin and end at the NYC city limit sign.
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