# So I've never read an Elmore Leonard novel ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199 "2004-12-16T20:11:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/1 "2004-12-16T20:11:06Z")
… but I’ve always been interested in him, especially since he’s from Louisiana, like me. So now it’s Christmas, and I’m making up a wishlist and I figured now would be as good a time as any to try out an Elmore Leonard novel. What would be a good place to start? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/2 "2004-12-16T20:20:26Z")
Try _Rum Punch_ first. It’s the novel that Tarantino based _Jackie Brown_ on. It’s interesting, if you’ve seen the movie, to compare and contrast the two. It’s also a notable read if only for the way in which Leonard ties the plot to themes of “growing older” and “making up for lost time.” Oh, and you’ll probably be enthralled by the main character (played so well by Pam Grier in the movie). _Maximum Bob_–which spawned a short-lived TV series–is also a good introduction. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/3 "2004-12-16T20:38:54Z")
_Get Shorty_. It’s a fun read, with a nice twist. I think the movie was pretty close to the book. _Maximum Bob_ I also enjoyed. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/4 "2004-12-16T20:49:47Z")
I liked _Cat Chaser_. But, overall I can’t get into his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/5 "2004-12-16T22:12:54Z")
Other than those already posted, I liked _Cuba Libre_ although it’s probably not a good read for anyone who doesn’t much care for Westerns. Personally I wouldn’t recommend _Get Shorty_’s sequel _Be Cool_. It’s just a rehash of the first one based around the music industry instead of the film industry. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/6 "2004-12-17T01:21:08Z")
To be honest, they’re all pretty damn good. Some are better than others, but his baseline of work is very high. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/7 "2004-12-17T01:29:37Z")
Anything he writes, I devour. I don’t remember when I first discovered him, but after my first experience, I was on a quest to read all of his books. And, I have…even all of his early works, which were westerns. I am on a standing waiting list at Amazon, to be notified whenever something new comes along. Yeah, I’m a HUGE fan. I envy you just starting out. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/8 "2004-12-17T02:04:33Z")
You really can’t go wrong with any of his books. The only problem I have had is that there are so damn many of them that you forget which ones you’ve read already, and end up making redundant purchases. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/9 "2004-12-17T21:51:20Z")
Most of his hard covers, and some of the paperbacks, have his bibliography in the front of the book. If it starts out with a dozen or so westerns, and comes up to the present book, that should be the definitive list. I used to carry it in my wallet in case I was out browsing book stalls. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/10 "2004-12-17T21:53:25Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > Most of his hard covers, and some of the paperbacks, have his bibliography in the front of the book. If it starts out with a dozen or so westerns, and comes up to the present book, that should be the definitive list. I used to carry it in my wallet in case I was out browsing book stalls. Better yet, check this out. Looks like the whole list. [http://www.elmoreleonard.com/](http://www.elmoreleonard.com/) ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/11 "2004-12-17T22:51:05Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > You really can’t go wrong with any of his books. The only problem I have had is that there are so damn many of them that you forget which ones you’ve read already, and end up making redundant purchases. Heh. That’s why I stopped reading Dick Francis books as well. Him and Elmore, can’t tell what the hell I’ve read any longer by them. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/12 "2004-12-17T22:55:34Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Try _Rum Punch_ first. It’s the novel that Tarantino based _Jackie Brown_ on. It’s interesting, if you’ve seen the movie, to compare and contrast the two. It’s also a notable read if only for the way in which Leonard ties the plot to themes of “growing older” and “making up for lost time.” Oh, and you’ll probably be enthralled by the main character (played so well by Pam Grier in the movie). Ooh, good book, but read \*The Switch \* first. Several of the characters in _Rum Punch_ are introduced in it. It’s not absolutely necessary, and I think I read them in reverse order, but it’s a nice bit of extra character development. I adore Elmore Leonard. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-never-read-an-elmore-leonard-novel/280199/13 "2004-12-18T05:30:10Z")
Thanks for all your suggestions! > [@cbawlmer](#): > > Ooh, good book, but read \*The Switch \* first. Several of the characters in _Rum Punch_ are introduced in it. It’s not absolutely necessary, and I think I read them in reverse order, but it’s a nice bit of extra character development. I had considered reading _Rum Punch_ first because of _Jackie Brown_, but I’ll take your advice and preface it with _The Switch_.