Elmore Leonard starting point

[friend of the friendless]

Sirs, Madames,

I've never read an Elmore Leonard tome. Which is his best novel or, perhaps, the best novel to read first (i.e. the most accessible)?

YHS, etc

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Been a while since I read them, but my favorites were "Glitz" and "Freaky Deaky."

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Rum Punch is my favorite. Out of Sight is outstanding too. Get Shorty, Be Cool all great as well... I just got his new(ish) one.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I'd say Get Shorty or Rum Punch (which was the basis for Tarantino's "Jackie Brown").

 

[JR]

I'd suggest you start with his earlier, post Western novels. LaBrava won an Edgar.

No on writes dialogue better than Elmore.

I can't think of a bad book he's written.

But best of all, he left us with his ten rules for writers

http://www.kabedford.com/archives/000013.html

My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

 

[Greenhorn]

friend,

I really liked Pronto. And it has a sequel, Riding the Rap. Cat Chaser was good too.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

No on writes dialogue better than Elmore.

My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

Hmm. Maybe I read too many of his books one right after another. But the reason I stopped reading him is that especially on the dialogue, I could feel the writer at work. I liked the dialogue for a while, and then it got in my way.

I liked Unknown Man No. 89 best. And you have to be pretty confident in your audience's loyalty to name a character **** Speed.

 

[Raiders]

I'd suggest you start with his earlier, post Western novels. LaBrava won an Edgar.

No on writes dialogue better than Elmore.

Agreed on both points. I've read 'em all, and you might as well start with the early ones. They're all that good, and his way with dialog is unmatched. Leonard is so good with dialog that he often uses it as his main storytelling method in many places. He makes it look so easy, but it's not.

 

[Second Thoughts]

Out of Sight is a good read.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

IMO, 52 Pickup is the best. But the odds of picking a bad one at random are long. Get Shorty is probably the easiest, funniest read.

 

[cranberry]

Couple less popular but very good Elmore Leonard's: Tishomingo Blues and Killshot. He's also done a a few pretty good books set in Depression-era west whose names escape me. Hotshot Kid maybe??