A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Drink Before the War
Book Review: Witty and Gritty
Summary: 4 Stars
A Drink Before The War is an exciting and thrilling novel which fuses so many different elements; crime, violence, romance and humour. I read the book really quickly because it was so compelling and found myself laughing out loud at the one-liners. The main character Patrick Kenzie tells the story in first person narrative. He gets more and more interesting and complex as the book progresses, and the insights into his childhood were fantastic. This book is the start of the Kenzie/Gennaro series, and it really is very promising. I've already read the last in the series - Prayers for Rain, and I can't wait to read the others to see what happens to them in between.
I thought Angie Gennaro, Patrick's PI partner and unrequited (?) love, was fantastic. Other reviews have commented that the sparks between them didn't fly, but I feel the exact opposite. I thought the romance between them was realistic and great. The part near the end where they kiss after the bomb scare was really touching. There was one point where Patrick says `At that moment, I think I knew what love was', when Angie smiled at him. Perfect :-)
Overall this is a fantastic book which is witty and gritty. From a personal perspective, I was a little disturbed by just how violent it was sometimes. One particular scene where Patrick and Angie listen to someone being tortured on a cassette recording was particularly horrific. On reflection I think the book needed some of this violence to justify the lengths that Patrick and Angie go to later on, and to show the reader how bad the situation in the neighbourhood really was. In other words, the violence was not gratuitous, but I didn't like it either. I would recommend this to those who want to read down-to-earth crime and have a good laugh at the same time.
JoAnne
Book Review: Disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
I became a fan of this author after reading Mystic River. Looking for more I then read Prayers for Rain, which is the most recent in the Kenzie-Gennaro series. Liking it (but not in the Mystic River class) I figured I should go back to the first in the series and work my way forward. Frankly, I found this effort to be disappointing and not up to the standards that the author is capable of.Kenzie and Gennaro are big into the wise cracks and dark humor, but the matter they are dealing with is both serious and deadly. Both are in a position to be killed in the book, yet the yuks and remarks keep flowing along with a lot of very violent action, including the cold blooded murder of a gang leader who truly deserved it - by Kenzie and Gennaro.
There is some telling social commentary about the type of justice that one gets in Boston based upon skin color and a fairly accurate description of the kind of politicians who populate the Golden Dome on Beacon Hill. There is also a pretty good puzzle to be solved, but the way the story is told didn't ring true to me.
Book Review: about on par with a made-for-tv movie
Summary: 2 Stars
I discovered Lehane by way of the film "Mystic River," and was happy to see that this author had several titles in print. I chose "A Drink Before the War" as a starting point more or less at random. I read the book over a couple of days while on vacation. I found it pretty disappointing in several respects. Despite the fact that the book is set in Boston, and written by a native Bostonian, it lacks much in the way of an organic sense of place. The action occurs in various areas of Boston, but it felt more like I was watching a slide show of the city rather than spending time with characters in their native habitat.
Another weakness is that Lehane often fails to obey the dictum to show and not simply tell. For example, much is made of an impending war between rival gangs, whose leaders are an estranged father and son pair. Then the war drama unfolds primarily "offscreen" and we are merely told that one of them has won the war by virtue of surprising prowess as a tactician. Contrast this to books such as "The Godfather" or "Day of the Jackal" which are each full of little details of setting and character that seem to have reached the page via personal recollection by an eyewitness.
Book Review: Wow!
Summary: 5 Stars
Truly a fantastic debut. I picked up this book from the library because Mystic River wasn't in. I figured I'd get a taste of Lehane's writing. What I got was a feast of a book. An incredibly engrossing plot and unforgettable characters.I instantly grew attached to Kenzie and Gerarro. These characters are so real you'd think you've known them for years. In addition, the supporting characters are equally unforgettable. I'm especially impressed with the unstable Bubba Rogowski.
The book starts with a bang and doesn't stop until the last word. It's a short book to begin with (a little over 250 pages), and the fast-paced writing makes it a very quick read. But, I felt like I had read an epic novel. I was ecstatic to see that there were four more novels in the series...with more to come, hopefully.
I strongly recommend this book. Pick it up and sit down for a violent, wild ride with characters you will want to meet again and again.
Book Review: Fantastic Read!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. It is one of the few books I have read lately that I couldn't put down. I enjoyed several things: The relationship between Angie and Pat. The bits of suddle humor that add flavor within each page. And the suspenseful story line and action that keeps you turning the page until the end.I highly recommend this book. Can't wait to read the next one.