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Has anybody read "Raylan" by Elmore Leonard? It is the book the series "Justified" is (Original Post) applegrove Feb 2012 OP
I haven't read that one, but I've read some of the others Duer 157099 Feb 2012 #1
I don't know the details either. I'm looking forward to the book. The video store never seems applegrove Feb 2012 #2
For what my opinion is worth, I think Leonard Goblinmonger Feb 2012 #10
The Only Rule He Breaks In "Raylan".... Paladin Feb 2012 #11
I don't much care for his rule #9.... Little Star Feb 2012 #12
I'm not positive about when he wrote Raylan... Little Star Feb 2012 #4
Jumping off from your info, I found this on Wiki: dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #5
Ya know I had seen that earlier and it confused me... Little Star Feb 2012 #6
Series 1 and 2 available on Netflix dvd. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #3
Just Started It. It's Excellent. Paladin Feb 2012 #7
Read _Pronto_ and _Riding the Rap_ getting old in mke Feb 2012 #8
You're not kidding. I have it almost finished after only two days. And I read fast. applegrove Feb 2012 #9
I have it on my Library Reminder List fadedrose Feb 2012 #13
I really liked the book. What a ride. What a fast read. applegrove Feb 2012 #14

Duer 157099

(17,742 posts)
1. I haven't read that one, but I've read some of the others
Sat Feb 18, 2012, 08:38 PM
Feb 2012

I think that he wrote Raylan after the TV show, right?

I can't get enough Justified. I wonder if reading this book might stave off some of the jonesing, I bet that's what you're thinking too

edit to add: The TV series is based on the short story "Fire in the Hole" isn't it?

applegrove

(123,135 posts)
2. I don't know the details either. I'm looking forward to the book. The video store never seems
Sat Feb 18, 2012, 09:06 PM
Feb 2012

to have the 2nd Justified dvd from the second season in. I like the dialogue in the tv show and, from what I can remember from Leonard, he does great dialogue in his writing.

 

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)
10. For what my opinion is worth, I think Leonard
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 12:01 PM
Feb 2012

is one of the greatest at writing dialogue. I can't think of anyone better off the top of my head.

Edit to include:

Leonard's 10 rules for writing:

What’s Leonard’s secret to being both popular and respectable? Perhaps you’ll find some clues in his 10 tricks for good writing: *

Never open a book with weather.
Avoid prologues.
Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.
Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely.
Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."
Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/304

Paladin

(28,766 posts)
11. The Only Rule He Breaks In "Raylan"....
Fri Feb 24, 2012, 12:08 PM
Feb 2012

...is the one about sparingly using regional dialect. He uses it a lot in this latest book, and it works very well. Like, characters ending a sentence like this with a question mark? The way they talk in Applachian coal country? Good book.......

Little Star

(17,055 posts)
12. I don't much care for his rule #9....
Fri Feb 24, 2012, 04:31 PM
Feb 2012

"Don't go into great detail describing places and things."

The sense of place is one of my very favorite parts of most books. I like to get a good feel for the landscape, the population & their quirks, the history of the area, etc. In other words often I read so that I can sorta tourist travel in my mind.

Little Star

(17,055 posts)
4. I'm not positive about when he wrote Raylan...
Sun Feb 19, 2012, 03:35 PM
Feb 2012

It was just recently published, like in Jan 2012 I believe. It's also my understanding that the tv series was based on Fire in the Hole.

Many years ago I tried reading something by Leonard and found myself not liking it. I never gave him another chance.

Now that I am totally hooked on the tv series I just might give the book Raylan a try.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
5. Jumping off from your info, I found this on Wiki:
Sun Feb 19, 2012, 03:44 PM
Feb 2012

The 2010 FX series Justified is based around the popular Leonard character U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens
from the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and the short story "Fire in the Hole."

Little Star

(17,055 posts)
6. Ya know I had seen that earlier and it confused me...
Sun Feb 19, 2012, 05:13 PM
Feb 2012

I couldn't figure out if they were just saying, Justified is based around the character in those 3 books or if it's based around
the stories in those 3 books.

It sounded extra confusing to me because I had seen in lots of other places that the series Justified was based on the short story Fire in the Hole.

Paladin

(28,766 posts)
7. Just Started It. It's Excellent.
Mon Feb 20, 2012, 09:56 AM
Feb 2012

Any book about low-rent guys (and gals) kidnapping people, removing their kidneys, and then selling those kidneys back to the victims for big money, is bound to get your attention. Bravo, Elmore Leonard---more, please.....

getting old in mke

(813 posts)
8. Read _Pronto_ and _Riding the Rap_
Mon Feb 20, 2012, 02:13 PM
Feb 2012

and enjoyed them. So I'll look for this one soon.

Mr Leonard's primary flaw is that his books go away so quickly...

fadedrose

(10,044 posts)
13. I have it on my Library Reminder List
Sat Feb 25, 2012, 09:17 PM
Feb 2012

I have Pronto (1993), Riding the Rap (1995), Raylan (2012), and also When the Women Come Out to Dance.(2002) I think this last one includes Raylan Givens but I don't know to what extent. It'll be months before I get to it.

Let us know how you liked any of these books...

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/L_Authors/Leonard_Elmore.html

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