Rating: 
Summary: An exciting novel by Stuart Woods
Review: After reading L.A. Times by Stuart Woods I was reassured that a page turning novel can still be written. Woods portrayal of a young hood in New York who goes on to be a successful Hollywood producer does not have a single dull moment in it. As the lead character, Michael Vincent sees his troubled past start to catch up with him and threaten his prosperous lifestyle. This book portrays Hollywood in a way that makes one feel as if they have lived there their entire life. Filled with action and suspense, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: You can take the thug out of New York, but...
Review: How refreshing it is to read a gem like LA Times, which contains not a single one of those ubiquitous literary pests: likeable characters. At first I thought Vinnie Callabrese was to be one, rising above an abusive and impoverished background to become a successful studio executive and moral exemplar. His efforts to get his first film made put my fears to rest. Reading on, I realized that there were no good guys or gals in LA Times, just a seething cesspool of villains. Now that I think of it, there was one character who was not corrupt: the interior decorator. But he had no part in the plot; he just decorated.Woods either did his homework on the Mafia and Hollywood, or he's involved in one or both of them. All the dialogue rang true, and the situations were realistic and believable (with the possible exceptions of Vinnie's rocket ride to the top of the heap and the immediate Oscar). I particularly admire Vinnie's friend Tommy's hamhanded approach to getting an option on a literary property. The irony was thick and deep, too, as when our hero takes a break from his frenzy of promiscuity to make a donation to an AIDS charity. I can see how women might not like Woods' writing on sexuality. What are the odds that Vinnie would meet three nymphomaniacs in a row? Then again, it must be kept in mind that Woods specializes in the male version of the romance novel. What I liked best about LA Times was the deromanticizing of both the Mafia and Hollywood. Woods builds up the Vinnie/Tommy relation as though in a buddy picture: young up-and-comers bonded together by their criminal past. Then it comes to light that Tommy 'made such a mess' of a prostitute that Vinnie got for him in L.A., that the woman is in the hospital and 'may never look the same again'. Really glamorous. Later, the initially lovable Tommy reveals an even more brutal nature, directed at Vinnie, and by this time our hero has shown him self to be fully deserving of what he receives at the hand of his buddy. All in all, a truly predatory story, sugar coated with money and status, if not likeability. Every time I read the word 'gentlemen', as in 'Gentlemen, this meeting will now come to order', I felt a guffaw rising in my throat. These people are about as close to gentlefolk as a hog is to a butterfly.
Rating: 
Summary: No redeeming characters
Review: I don't know what Mr. Woods was thinking of but this book is laden with people of an ilk that would defy most people's taste. I know...the title is L.A. Times after all. But surely there they can't all be bad....the ones not dead that is.
Rating: 
Summary: L.A. TIMES
Review: I JUST FINISHED READING L.A. TIMES, AND THOUGHT THAT MOST OF OF BOOK WAS VERY GOOD,BUT THE ENDING WELL CAME UP A LITTLE SHORT. ALSO IF ANYONE HAS EVER SEEN MOVIES WITH VINCENT SPANO, SUCH AS INDIAN SUMMER, THIS GUY WOULD BE PERFECT TO PLAY MICHAEL VINCENT IF THIS BOOK EVER BECAME A MOVIE.
Rating:
Summary: One of Woods' best non-recurring character books
Review: In my opinion, LA Times is one of the best Stuart Woods books. I spent the night at a friend's house several years ago and the book was on the bedside table. I stayed up all night reading it. What a thrill!
I guess it's not always the highest compliment in the literary world to say that a book would make a great movie, BUT...this book reads like a fantastic movie. It maintains a fast pace, surprising twists, and enjoyable character development via dialogue and actions as opposed narrative interpretation. It also focuses on the primary story line more than most thriller/mystery books, which is part of what keeps it moving so well. Sure, the book does have a few gimmicky twists, but you're supposed to enjoy the irony and surprise in a way that you do when you read Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen.
Stuart Woods is a masterful storyteller, although his books don't all sound like they're from the same storyteller. The Stone Barrington books (New York Dead, Dirt, Dead in the Water, Swimming to Catalina, Worst Fears Realized, LA Dead, Cold Paradise, The Short Forever, Dirty Work, and Reckless Abandon) are the most popular because of the memorable characters Stone and Dino. I admit that the Barrington novels are my favorites. The Will Lee books (Chiefs, Run Before the Wind, Grass Roots, The Run, Capital Crimes) are very different from the rest-more political and Southern. The Holly Barker books (Orchid Beach, Orchid Blues, Blood Orchid, Reckless Abandon), in my opinion, are the least compelling, until Reckless Abandon when Woods partners Barker with Stone Barrington. The remaining 11 books have different themes and characters (Deep Lie, Under the Lake, White Cargo, Palindrome, Santa Fe Rules, LA Times, Dead Eyes, Heat, Imperfect Strangers, Choke, The Prince of Beverly Hills).
I wondered when I saw the Sopranos episodes where Christopher (the mob boss' cousin) wanted to be a screen writer if that might not be homage to Stuart Woods. Well, if you wanted to see what might have happened to Christopher if he had made it to Hollywood, read this book.
If you like Stuart Woods because of the Stone Barrington novels and you like the style of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, I think you'll like the tone and storyline of LA Times. In my personal experience of encouraging my friends and family to read the book, because it's on my shelf of my 10 favorite books, I've noticed that males tend to like it more than females--but don't let that stop you from trying it out!
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Review: L.A. Times by Stuart Woods is amazing. This novel is written in a way that really does not let you put it down. The action and suspense is unrelenting. The ideas put into Michael (the main character) are what many readers aspire to. Truly brilliant writing.
Rating:
Summary: A Glitzy, Disposable Page-Turner
Review: There are books you want to keep forever, books you want to pass on to some close friend, and books you just (if you finish them while sitting in a public place) leave behind with a note on the cover saying "Free Book!" This one falls squarely in the third category. It's entertaining and the pace never flags, but it's featherweight and guiltlessly disposable when you're done. The plot elements, style, and setting are standard-issue Stuart Woods: Lots of glitz, lots of five- and six-figure props, lots of sex, and occasional forays into murder and other forms of misbehavior. It all thunders along at 90 miles an hour, and (as it does) gives good value for your money. The main character is more dynamic than is typical for Woods, which is all for the good. So far so good. Why, then, only three stars (since I'm rating it compared to other disposable thrillers, not compared to Faulkner)? The problem, oddly enough, is the main character. Woods gives us a classic crime-thriller setup: A smart bad guy who thinks he's figured out a way to beat the system. The problem is that he's done the setup *so* well that the payoff, when it comes, doesn't satisfy either on a gut level or on the level of plot mechanics. Repeatedly, in the last third of the book, Vinnie/Michael seems to act without thinking things through--unbelievable for the smart guy Woods has set up in the first two-thirds. That said, it's a measure of Woods' craftsmanship that L. A. Times is *still* a great disposable thriller. Recommended for movie and those with long plane trips coming up.
Rating:
Summary: Now Make It A Screen Play
Review: This audio-book was fantastic. It took off like a horse out of the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby and never let up.
Vincente Callabrese is a part time enforcer/collector for the mob and part time movie producer student. When Vincente is asked to produce one of his classmates screen plays this is a start of a new career for Vincente.
First a name change, from Vincente Callabrese to Michael Vincent. Then it's off to Hollywood where he rapidly becomes one of the hottest producers in the movie business.
Unfortunately, Michael has a hard time shaking his past. When he tries to buy the movie rights to a novel and is refused, he asks his old friend Tommy Povenzano for help. Tommy assures Michael the he will help. This is the start of all of Michael's problems.
In typical Woods fashion this novel is a mover. Though this novel isn't full of excitement, it will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to see what happens next. It doesn't take long between incidents.
The bottom line here is that this is a book not to be missed.
Choke
Dead In the Water
Orchid Beach
These are all other options by Mr. Stuart and I would recommend any of them.
Though this book has not won any awards Mr. Woods won the Edgar Alan Poe award in 1982 and was nominated again in 1992. Once you have read or listened to this book you will understand why.
Rating:
Summary: AVERAGE
Review: This book was not what I had expected from one of my favorite authors. It started out alright, but the ending was not up to the ability of Mr. Woods. Hopefully next time.
Rating:
Summary: Not so good of an ending!
Review: This was my first Stuart Woods novel that didn't have the Stone Barrington character in it. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I really loved the Michael/Vinnie character. I thought that Woods did a great job of developing all of the characters in the book. There was a great plot, too. I wasn't exactly sure how the novel was going to end, but I definitely didn't expect the actual ending. I felt that Woods could have done a much better job with the ending after having enjoyed the other parts of the book so much. Not that the ending was bad, it was just a little too far fetched and so much happened within like 15 pages. I do recommend the book, however, for the characters and the rest of the story.
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