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Summary: The only book I've ever read that made me laugh out loud.
Review: "Smoke" is about a criminal who is invisible. Does that mean that he can get away with ANY crime? No way. As you read this, you will find out that being invisible and a criminal don't work well together. Absolutely hilarious. I read it in three days!
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Summary: great comic romp from westlake
Review: A funny, original, comic romp about a thief who inadvertently becomes invisible, and his adventures, eluding assorted bad guys out to exploit him.Im not sure why there are so many faintly negative reviews; Westlake's writing is sharp, and the humor is excellent. Great characters, too! My only complaint: I wanted more of Freddie and Peg's adventures. Let's hope Mr. Westlake does a sequel! PS If you dont like science fiction, dont be put off by the invisible man stuff; this is a comic crime novel!
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Summary: Westlake Does It Again!
Review: A hilarious romp reminiscent of a Dortmunder caper. Westlake once again leads us through a plot that twists and turns to a surprise ending that only Westlake can conjure. Should Freddie Noon appear in a future Westlake effort, I'll be sure to be the first in line at my local bookstore.
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Summary: My Hopes Went Up In Smoke
Review: After all the hype about Donald E. Westlake, I decided to read one of his novels to get in on the fun. Maybe SMOKE is an exception to his usually good romps, but I was really bored throughout the novel. With the exception of a couple of characters, the rest of them were stereotyped, formless and boring. So much could have been done with this great plot. Oh, well.... I won't give up on Mr. Westlake. His Dortmunder novels get great press, so guess I'll give one of those a try. I WANT to like his writing. So many people do! Help me out, folks. Am I missing something?!!
Rating:
Summary: My Hopes Went Up In Smoke
Review: After all the hype about Donald E. Westlake, I decided to read one of his novels to get in on the fun. Maybe SMOKE is an exception to his usually good romps, but I was really bored throughout the novel. With the exception of a couple of characters, the rest of them were stereotyped, formless and boring. So much could have been done with this great plot. Oh, well.... I won't give up on Mr. Westlake. His Dortmunder novels get great press, so guess I'll give one of those a try. I WANT to like his writing. So many people do! Help me out, folks. Am I missing something?!!
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Summary: Great humor, fun characters - Westlake's a pro
Review: Despite some of the only fair reviews quoted below, I feel this is an excelelnt novel. An invisible man (who's a thief), on the run from tobacco companies, various hoodlums, and the scientists who created him, makes for a fun romp. Westlake's use of humor is excellent, and you really ENJOY reading about these characters. My only complaint is that it was too short! I wanted more of Freddie and Peg's adventures. Here's hoping for a sequel!
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Summary: Old Idea - boring redone
Review: Did you ever see the film "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" with Chevy Chase? Unfortunately the film is from 1992 and the book (at least mine) dates from 1995. There are some details all too similar to be accidental (e.g. that everything is invisible except the things in the stomach or the restaurant scene). But the film is much better than the book - I wish I would have read the first one!
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Summary: The one that got away
Review: Donald Westlake has never written a book, that I know of, about an honest person doing an honest days work. Freddy Noon, the protagonist of this story is unusual in that life is pretty good for him. He dosn't suffer the kind of perpetual disaster of the Sort visited on Dortmunder and Co, but when things go wrong for Fredy, they go very badly wrong. Freddy is a thief that one day makes the mistake of trying to rip off a research establishement. He is captured and turned into a scientific subject. The results of this experiment toss his life upside down and threaten to cost him his girlfriend and launch several threats on his life. This experiment also makes Freddy's career take off. This book is typical Westlake, which is to say it is very well written, the story moves like an express train, you have a lot of fun reading it and there is no gain to doing so. Westlake does not have a menagerie of freeks, despite what happens to Freddy he is not a freek, nor does he populate his universe with cardboard cutouts. Freddy is as real and vital. The people in Westlake's books interact in so honest a fashion it startles one to realize what has happend to your sympathies. This book can also be viewed as an allagory of what life is like in the modern world. All there are is compromises, and you have to give up a great deal for succuess, which might cost you more than the gain is worth. This loss is permenant. Even the Freddy's name is alegorical. His life is very much the "Urban Noon"
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Summary: Excellent
Review: Donald Westlake is among two authors that can make me laugh out loud. the other being lawerence block. This book however un-original some people think it is is awesome. I loved it. Good Work Donald!
Rating:
Summary: A disappointing effort from a usually flawless author.
Review: Donald, Donald, Donald. I picked this book up with a giddiness only experienced when I pick up a Westlake or Lawerence Block book. I was sadly disapointed. The story was long and dragged out and the plot, if you can call it a plot, was without a sense of reality. I only finished this book because of the Westlake name. Thank you but I'll stick to rereading my Dortmunder novels
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