The Death and Life of Bobby Z

Rating:
Summary: A wild ride and a very fast read
Review: Author Don Winslow wrote this book largely on a train during commutes and without an outline--and it shows. "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" is a story that goes where it wants when it wants at a furious pace. The setup for the story is fairly simple. A big-time loser of a prison inmate kills another inmate in order to prevent the same thing from happening to him. As it happens, he resembles the notorious drug dealer Bobby Z. So the feds offer him a deal. They want to trade the dealer to a Mexican drug kingpin in exchange for an agent, but Bobby Z happens to be dead. So if the loser will take the place of Bobby Z, they'll trade him and let him fend for himself. But the real Bobby Z, it turns out, has fathered a child, whom the imposter Bobby Z takes under his wing while fleeing from just about everybody and fleeing across Mexico and California.

One of the most compelling aspects of "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" is the style in which Winslow writes. The novel is almost conversational, and Winslow includes liberal doses of California surfer and Mexican jargon. To his credit, Winslow aptly pulls off what could have been an abysmal experiment. The style works with the plot to make this novel one of the fastest reads in a long time.

On an unrelated note, there is a Don Winslow who writes what can politely be called "erotic" novels. These are two entirely different people. The Winslow who wrote "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" is the author of the Neal Carey series ("The Trail to Buddha's Mirror," "A Cool Breeze on the Underground," etc.). In addition, he wrote "A Winter Spy" under the name McDonald Lloyd.

Rating:
Summary: Winslow - a great minimalist artist in new, fast-paced novel
Review: Don Winslow is a great minimalist artist. He uses very few brush strokes to create an almost tangible adventure in the underworld of Southern California. And the tale is almost Shakespearian, complete with a protagonist who must overcome his own tragic flaws (aided by a homeless prophet, no less) before his world crashes down violently upon him. The author's use of the low-life vernacular is superb -- and fun. Vibrant action, sex, greed, and betrayal. Like most books, the characters in The Life & Death of Bobby Z have interesting strengths. The distinction here, though, is that they all have flaws that are twice as compelling. And Winslow avoids the genre's tendency toward cliches. But I won't: this book is a "must read!"

Rating:
Summary: HOME RUN!
Review: Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN. God, this was so good I didn't want it to end. THIS is how you make good writing look effortless. I'm amazed this guy isn't more popular. I read mysteries and thrillers at a very fast rate, and this guy just hits it out of the park chapter after chapter. He's that good. READ HIM.

Rating:
Summary: HOME RUN!
Review: Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN. God, this was so good I didn't want it to end. THIS is how you make good writing look effortless. I'm amazed this guy isn't more popular. I read mysteries and thrillers at a very fast rate, and this guy just hits it out of the park chapter after chapter. He's that good. READ HIM.

Rating:
Summary: A Phenomenally Entertaining Novel
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting the author of this book while I was studying in Cambridge, England last summer, and I was curious to find out if he was as captivating on paper as he was in person. This tale of a three time loser who has a talent for making enemies at every turn and a knack for outliving them is quite possibly the most captivating novel I have ever read. Every character is intriguing and every corner has a surprise behind it. If you want a deeper meaning, read the classics. If you want the most purely entertaining novel in existance, read this book! PS Don't mistake this Don Winslow for the other Don Winslow on this site. One writes brilliant action novels, and the other writes "erotic literature". Just a helpful hint.

Rating:
Summary: A Phenomenally Entertaining Novel
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting the author of this book while I was studying in Cambridge, England last summer, and I was curious to find out if he was as captivating on paper as he was in person. This tale of a three time loser who has a talent for making enemies at every turn and a knack for outliving them is quite possibly the most captivating novel I have ever read. Every character is intriguing and every corner has a surprise behind it. If you want a deeper meaning, read the classics. If you want the most purely entertaining novel in existance, read this book! PS Don't mistake this Don Winslow for the other Don Winslow on this site. One writes brilliant action novels, and the other writes "erotic literature". Just a helpful hint.

Rating:
Summary: Don Winslow Stuff Is A Fun Listen
Review: I have listened to the audio book versions of "California Fire & Life" and one half of "Bobby Z."

I hope that "Tim" and "Kit" manage to survive, and shall find out more on tonight's exercise walk.

I listen to the books as I walk about a mile and a half to two miles for my health.

It takes about 25 minutes.

I really like the narrators-actors' voice performances.

I really like Winslow's colorful, exciting writing.

Winslow knows his subject matters.

Very enjoyable action-drama-comedy.

Rating:
Summary: Bobby Z was a pimp...
Review: This book was outstanding. You wont want to put it down! Action packed and well written. I've already loaned it out to 6 of my closest friends and they LOVED it!!

Rating:
Summary: A defitate page turner
Review: this was one of the best books i've ever read and by far Don Winslow's best work yet. the story grabs you from the get-go and keeps you wondering what's next on every page. i'd give it 6 stars if i could