Member Review
Review by
Michael B, Reviewer
Holding the Line
The death of a favorite artist brings a wave of grief, inevitably coupled with a yearning for just one final visit, one last treat. Maybe there was something unfinished, a final piece awaiting the last finishing touches. In the world of music, it often results in a mixed bag. Jimi Hendrix's estate, for instance, released virtually everything in the vaults. Quality studio albums by Tupac were cranked out for years. George Harrison opposed cleaning up "Now and Then" after John Lennon's death, though Harrison's own album, “Brainwashed," was beautifully completed posthumously. One can only wonder what treasures still lie hidden within Prince’s Paisley Park Studios.
For readers, the passing of a favorite writer brings not only grief for the author, but also the sudden, permanent end to the hope of any future works. This was the case for me with the late Tony Hillerman, and again with the passing of Elmore Leonard. Leonard became a favorite during my short stint as a bookstore manager. I began with his crime novels, moved through his earlier westerns, and finished with his final works, devouring everything I could find by him until his death in 2013. Though many films adapted from his writings were just bad, some were truly exceptional, including “Hombre,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “Out of Sight,” “Jackie Brown,” and “Get Shorty.” The brilliant television series “Justified” is also based on his writing.
Earlier this year, Mariner Books announced its release of “The Picket Line,” a major release, a lost novella by Leonard. Almost immediately, his longtime researcher, Gregg Sutter, posted a clarification on Facebook: “Picket Line is not major, it’s not lost, and most importantly, it’s not a novella. It’s the first act and de facto treatment for a motion picture that never got made—but would live on in another form.
“Picket Line” was originally started as a screenplay for Clint Eastwood in 1970 about farmworkers striking in Texas. Eastwood eventually passed on it and sections were cannibalized for the Charles Bronson movie, “Mr. Majestyk.”
Elmore Leonard's exceptional writing is on full display in "Picket Line," featuring his trademark authentic setting, and completely believable characters and dialogue. While some recommend this short piece as a perfect introduction to his work, others find it incomplete. I agree with the latter perspective. It is a great setup, but ends up like a great looking tennis serve that never lands. If, like myself, you are a devoted reader of his, then the “for completist only” label can apply. Choose almost any other of his novels, and please do not prejudge it on a misguided movie adaptation.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #PicketLine #NetGalley
The death of a favorite artist brings a wave of grief, inevitably coupled with a yearning for just one final visit, one last treat. Maybe there was something unfinished, a final piece awaiting the last finishing touches. In the world of music, it often results in a mixed bag. Jimi Hendrix's estate, for instance, released virtually everything in the vaults. Quality studio albums by Tupac were cranked out for years. George Harrison opposed cleaning up "Now and Then" after John Lennon's death, though Harrison's own album, “Brainwashed," was beautifully completed posthumously. One can only wonder what treasures still lie hidden within Prince’s Paisley Park Studios.
For readers, the passing of a favorite writer brings not only grief for the author, but also the sudden, permanent end to the hope of any future works. This was the case for me with the late Tony Hillerman, and again with the passing of Elmore Leonard. Leonard became a favorite during my short stint as a bookstore manager. I began with his crime novels, moved through his earlier westerns, and finished with his final works, devouring everything I could find by him until his death in 2013. Though many films adapted from his writings were just bad, some were truly exceptional, including “Hombre,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “Out of Sight,” “Jackie Brown,” and “Get Shorty.” The brilliant television series “Justified” is also based on his writing.
Earlier this year, Mariner Books announced its release of “The Picket Line,” a major release, a lost novella by Leonard. Almost immediately, his longtime researcher, Gregg Sutter, posted a clarification on Facebook: “Picket Line is not major, it’s not lost, and most importantly, it’s not a novella. It’s the first act and de facto treatment for a motion picture that never got made—but would live on in another form.
“Picket Line” was originally started as a screenplay for Clint Eastwood in 1970 about farmworkers striking in Texas. Eastwood eventually passed on it and sections were cannibalized for the Charles Bronson movie, “Mr. Majestyk.”
Elmore Leonard's exceptional writing is on full display in "Picket Line," featuring his trademark authentic setting, and completely believable characters and dialogue. While some recommend this short piece as a perfect introduction to his work, others find it incomplete. I agree with the latter perspective. It is a great setup, but ends up like a great looking tennis serve that never lands. If, like myself, you are a devoted reader of his, then the “for completist only” label can apply. Choose almost any other of his novels, and please do not prejudge it on a misguided movie adaptation.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #PicketLine #NetGalley
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