I’m about halfway through right now, and it might turn into a complete tire fire in the second half, but I doubt it. Some literary snobs might find the characters cliche and the plot formulaic, but who cares?

The characters are interesting and flawed and I want some of them to live and some of them to die, and I can’t wait to find out what happens. The foreshadowing is fantastic, with characters and locations lurking around the corners ahead and peeking out every now and then to make sure I’m still coming. No worries, you scamps, I’m on my way.

This is the kind of book that is both intimidating and inspiring to me as a writer. I read it and think, “This is incredible. Why would someone read my book when they can read this one?” Then I think, “What’s stopping me from writing something better?”

This is the first book I’ve read by Dennis Lehane so if you can recommend the next one I should read, please do.

Update

I finished Shutter Island and it was fantastic. Go get it and read it. I’ve just read A Drink Before the War and Gone, Baby, Gone, and highly recommend the Patrick Kenzie series as well.

Scratch one item off the lifetime wish list: Last Thursday I went with Ellen to Schuler Books in Lansing for a book talk and signing by Elmore Leonard and his son Peter.

Peter and Elmore Leonard

It was an honor to meet the man who created Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Stick, 52 Pickup, Killshot, and so many more. He and Peter told stories about the craft and some of the characters and situations they’ve come across, and it was great to watch them convey information and answer potential questions just like they do in their novels: through action and dialogue.

And even in person, Mr. Leonard left out the parts people skip.