The Hook

Rating:
Summary: Maybe He Should have called it "Side Show"..........
Review: ....because the 2 main characters are, figuratively, joined at the hip. By now everyone knows this is the story of Bryce Proctorr, a best selling author who has writers block, and the "deal he strikes with the devil" involving Wayne Prentice, an author who has books and ideas but is dropping off of the charts because he can't get published. The solution: Bryce turns in one of Wayne's novels as his own and they both split the $1+ million advance. The "hook": Bryce is going through a bitter divorce and doesn't want to split his half of the proceeds with his estranged wife Lucie. Hence, Wayne has to "ice" Lucie. This all takes place rather early on in the book and the bulk of the tale is really about how Bryce and Wayne become each other. The story moves quickly, the plot is good, and the book is a real good read that holds your attention. That's why I gave it 4 stars. However, the main characters, Bryce and Wayne are so very predictable and whiney you want to shake them. This might be one of the "false notes" that Peter M. talks about.

I found the auxiliary characters, particularily the women, to be much stronger. Bryce, for one, appears to be drawn toward strong women. Certainly Lucie has the fire and passion that he seems to lack. His ex- wife, Ellen, comes across much stronger than him when he "confesses" (his confession was a real reach for me). Even his lover, Isabelle, leaves him. Wayne gets off no easier with his companion. Susan, his wife, at first blush seems to be somewhat timid and not the risk taker. The way she pushes him to apply for a college teaching position is a safe move. But, once she becomes aware of his involvement, she turns right away into the stronger of the two and a bit more Machiavellian. In the end, the way Wayne becomes Bryce, she actually becomes Lucie.

While this is a little darker than "High Adventure" or "The Hot Rock", it is fast paced and yet does have it's pitfalls. Wayne's method of murder was a little unbelievable, to say the least, in the way it was planned and brought about (or I should say the lack thereof in planning). Nothing comes of the detective's investigation, so he is a useless character. And the ending, while somewhat inevitable, appeared hurried to me. Still, all in all, on a long flight from DC or NY to LA, this is a great read and the perfect book for the trip. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A TALE OF TWO AUTHORS
Review: After I wrote my own review for myfiles, I read the 29 reviews here.I found each one to be helpful inthe various points they made. Iliked the way Westlake writes with tongue in cheek and generally tothe point. He gives insight intomoderen day publishing woes andhow the computer skims over thebooks to select the top writers,shuting down the market for thenew comers and mid-level writers. Here we have Wayne and Bryce meetin the library after a twenty yearlapse in contact. Both are frustrated, Bryce by writer's block and Wayne unable to publish his finished book. Bryce offersto "rewrite" Wayne's book underhis name and split the million +advance if Wayne will but get ridof Lucie, his money grabbing wife.The pact is made and Wayne meeteLucie for a date. In her apartmentto say good-night, Wayne suddenlyattacks Lucie and beats her to death. He collects his money, starts writing for magazines andforgets about the killing. Brycecan't stop imagining how it wasand goes into a depression. Hisagent is pressing for evidence of his next book but Bryce can'twrite anything but gibberish. Heneeds Wayne to help him. The twoagain try to make something outof a half-finished book of Wayne'sbut it isn't working. Only a fewpages of The Hook remain so how isthis to end so soon. Just like aHitchcock story...unexpectedly andyou get to complete it youself.Those readers who wanted more charcter development need to realize that men like Wayne, a cold-blooded killer, and Bryce, amanic-depressive don't have theessentials to be developed unlessthey get proper therapy. Therejust isn't any way to identify with these men unless you havewalked in their shoes and know thefeeling.I liked the way Westlake writes and hope to read The Ax.

Rating:
Summary: Bold Lessons in Bad Writing
Review: Cleverness is no substitute for a plausible story with convincing characters. Donald E. Westlake's THE HOOK is a psychological thriller about a murderous collaboration between two novelists. It is also a tutorial on how not to write a suspense novel. Throughout the book, Westlake's antiheroes discuss the difficulty in writing good fiction and cite failings in their own prose, such as inconsistent characters and a novel's premise that is at best a short story. The joke is on the reader for the much acclaimed Westlake is far too talented not to be referring to his own book.

Naming his protagonists Proctorr and Prentice for proctor and apprentice and titling their fictional works, The Domino Doublet, Two Faces in the Mirror, The Shadowed Other, does not make the grade as philosophical inquiry, psychological insight or character development. Instead of a meaningful intelligent story the reader gets gamesmanship.

Westlake places concept over believability resulting in an impossible premise that requires inconceivable behavior by the characters. After a quick set-up in Chapter 1 and an early climax in Chapter 8, Westlake spends much of the book's other twenty-nine chapters explaining his characters and excusing himself. In Chapter 17 he admits as much when he writes, "Some behavior is wrong, some reaction is wrong. It's a rip in the fabric of the novel, but it's necessary to get the story where it has to go, so the novelist merely sighs and shakes his head and does it." In real life, both Proctorr and Prentice would be in custody by Chapter 9. After numerous dead ends, Westlake surrenders and leaves his story's conclusion to the reader to resolve.

Still one has to admire Mr. Westlake's fearlessness as he writes about a literary star's work being published, regardless of merit, solely on the strength of the author's name and past sales.