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 disappointed. 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
Rating: 
Summary: The Joys of Being Invisible
Review: Freddie Urban Noone, contrary to his initials, is not having fun. During a normal business day, which for Freddie is robbery/burglary, he runs afoul of two young research doctors. They capture Freddie, and decide he will be their human volunteer for an experiment they are conducting for a tobacco research institute. The experiment inadvertently succeeds beyond any expectation, and Freddie is invisible-and escapes. Everyone: doctors, tobacco industry, and crooked cops want Freddie for all the wrong reasons.The author has given careful thought to all aspects of being invisible and uses them well. In a nutshell, invisibility has few advantages and many woes for the hapless victim. Freddie must either be naked (including shoeless) or done up like a scarecrow with a fright mask, gloves, and every inch of him covered. He must modestly distance himself from the public for at least two hours after dining while his food travels down his intestinal track. Freddy fortunately has a sunny disposition and a great deal of patience. He also is blessed with a cheery, beautiful, slightly skewed girlfriend who reminded me of Elaine in Seinfeld without the neuroses. The book has many humorous moments and some excellent insights, but it seems erratically paced. There are slow moments and repetitious action. I felt the author got a little weary of his own edifice. The ending was so abrupt; I actually looked for a few more pages. I don't know if it was Mr. Westlake's intent, but the last scene seems melancholy and wistful. The farce turned into a melodrama without a connecting passage. I was left vaguely unsatisfied.
Rating:
Summary: The Joys of Being Invisible
Review: Freddie Urban Noone, contrary to his initials, is not having fun. During a normal business day, which for Freddie is robbery/burglary, he runs afoul of two young research doctors. They capture Freddie, and decide he will be their human volunteer for an experiment they are conducting for a tobacco research institute. The experiment inadvertently succeeds beyond any expectation, and Freddie is invisible-and escapes. Everyone: doctors, tobacco industry, and crooked cops want Freddie for all the wrong reasons. The author has given careful thought to all aspects of being invisible and uses them well. In a nutshell, invisibility has few advantages and many woes for the hapless victim. Freddie must either be naked (including shoeless) or done up like a scarecrow with a fright mask, gloves, and every inch of him covered. He must modestly distance himself from the public for at least two hours after dining while his food travels down his intestinal track. Freddy fortunately has a sunny disposition and a great deal of patience. He also is blessed with a cheery, beautiful, slightly skewed girlfriend who reminded me of Elaine in Seinfeld without the neuroses. The book has many humorous moments and some excellent insights, but it seems erratically paced. There are slow moments and repetitious action. I felt the author got a little weary of his own edifice. The ending was so abrupt; I actually looked for a few more pages. I don't know if it was Mr. Westlake's intent, but the last scene seems melancholy and wistful. The farce turned into a melodrama without a connecting passage. I was left vaguely unsatisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT READING, ONE OF WESTLAKE'S FINEST
Review: FUNNY, PRECISE BOOK, COULD BE TRUE
Rating:
Summary: I never thought I'd put down a Westlake book
Review: I have loved every other book of his that I have read. Smoke, however, is a pretty apt analogy for the substance of this one. Sure there are a few chuckles, but frankly I didn't care enough about any of the people in this story to find out how it turns out. The tobacco industry machinations get pretty boring. Great potential, but a dud.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but elements seem derivative
Review: Overall, I enjoyed Smoke. However, the basic plot - man accidentally becomes invisible and is chased by people who want to use him - seems straight out of Chevy Chase's The Invisible Man. Even elements of the story are taken from the movie - being able to see the food digesting, using make-up, the make-up coming off when eating. I don't know - did Westlake write the screenplay for the movie? Was he involved at all? Westlake does bring in some new elements, however and makes this an enjoyable read. I've rarely been disappointed with a Westlake novel!
Rating:
Summary: Westlake scores again
Review: Smoke is among Westlake's best. Well thought out and not forced into any formula, Smoke makes you think and laugh at the same time. The absurd situations are classic to any Westlake fan, and should delight the first time reader. The characters are extremely well-crafted and believable even though the situations are not. Freddie, the anti hero is anyman and his reaction to becoming invisible is Joe six-pack all the way. Thank God for this novel. A great Westlake comes along every so often, making life livable for the next few months
Rating:
Summary: Could have been so much better.
Review: The idea and concept of this book is just fantastic.. "An Invisible Thief, running around New York"... What a Fantastic Idea!. I was expecting big laughs and a great plot. What I got was a very slow read with a gutless plot. The laughs where few, far between and not really funny. This book just did not go anywhere, it could have been done so much better and with much more punch. The main character was pretty good, and some of the supporting characters (especially Jersey Josh) carried the book along, but the underlying plot of the tobacco industry was poorly done. I was disappointed, but this book is for you if you want a simple, mind numbing read.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been so much better.
Review: The idea and concept of this book is just fantastic.. "An Invisible Thief, running around New York"... What a Fantastic Idea!. I was expecting big laughs and a great plot. What I got was a very slow read with a gutless plot. The laughs where few, far between and not really funny. This book just did not go anywhere, it could have been done so much better and with much more punch. The main character was pretty good, and some of the supporting characters (especially Jersey Josh) carried the book along, but the underlying plot of the tobacco industry was poorly done. I was disappointed, but this book is for you if you want a simple, mind numbing read.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been so much better.
Review: The idea and concept of this book is just fantastic.. "An Invisible Thief, running around New York"... What a Fantastic Idea!. I was expecting big laughs and a great plot. What I got was a very slow read with a gutless plot. The laughs where few, far between and not really funny. This book just did not go anywhere, it could have been done so much better and with much more punch. The main character was pretty good, and some of the supporting characters (especially Jersey Josh) carried the book along, but the underlying plot of the tobacco industry was poorly done. I was disappointed, but this book is for you if you want a simple, mind numbing read.
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