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The Two-Bear Mambo (Hap Collins and Leonard Pine #3)
Full of savage humor, heart-stopping suspense, and a cast of characters so tough they could chew the bumper off a pickup truck, The Two Bear Mambo is classic country noir.
In this rollicking, rollercoaster ride of a novel, Hap Collins and Leonard Pine take a break from their day jobs to search for Florida Grange, Leonard’s drop-dead gorgeous lawyer and Hap’s former lover, w
...moreHardcover, 284 pages
Published
May 15th 2001
by Mysterious Press
(first published 1995)
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When Hap goes to spend Christmas Eve with his friend Leonard, he finds that Leonard’s idea of a Yule log is burning down the neighborhood crack house. Since this is the third time Leonard has torched it, the cops are a little miffed even though he always pulls the drug dealers out of the fire. Police lieutenant Hanson offers to help get Leonard off the hook for his pyromania if the guys will look for his girlfriend, Florida, who has gone missing while poking around the story of the relative of a...more
Joe R Lansdale knows one thing and does it really well- dialogue. There is no better writer of Southern-pulp vernacular. Not that there are many, or any others, but Lansdale will blow your mind with the off-hand ease with which he writes a conversation. Even though I enjoyed the book right down to the ground, I can't help but give it only three stars. Because I'm changing the way I rate these books. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it, it did everything fairly well, although formula...more
Two-Bear Mambo opens with Leonard having just set fire to the crack house next door and feeling no remorse about it. This causes friction with his boyfriend and the police and ends up with the former leaving and the latter tasking the boys to go searching for the missing Florida Grange. From there, the story heads down to a small, backwater town in east Texas where the racism is blatent and the distrust of strangers is legendary. Hap and Leonard's contrary natures get the better of them and soon...more
Not knowing this was the third in a series (or I wouldn't have jumped in), this book does stand on its own. I liked the unlikely friendship between Hap and Leonard, and Lansdale is the master of metaphors and description, for example (and this was just opening the book at random):
...the mosquitoes rose up and over him in black kamikaze squadrons so compact they looked as if they were sheets of close-weave netting.
...he chewed slowly, as if activating brain cells.
...a gray lizard lay by the hatch...more
...the mosquitoes rose up and over him in black kamikaze squadrons so compact they looked as if they were sheets of close-weave netting.
...he chewed slowly, as if activating brain cells.
...a gray lizard lay by the hatch...more
Joe Lansdale is definitely not for the easily offended. He manages to offend women, cops, gay men, bears, dogs and more all within the first few pages. If you can laugh with him you'll probably enjoy his colorful writing. If not, you probably won't want to read on.
Hap (an everyman sort of guy) & Leonard (a big, tough gay man) are unlikely buds. After Hap sets aflame the neighboring crack house the duo land in the slammer but the Police Lt. agrees to forgive them if they'll find his missing g...more
Hap (an everyman sort of guy) & Leonard (a big, tough gay man) are unlikely buds. After Hap sets aflame the neighboring crack house the duo land in the slammer but the Police Lt. agrees to forgive them if they'll find his missing g...more
Non è un paese per vecchi né per gente di mezz’età
Ho trovato "Il mambo degli orsi" il miglior Lansdale finora letto, quanto meno nell'ambito della serie Hap & Leo; si tratta di un ottimo romanzo che aggiunge almeno un paio di ulteriori elementi di qualità ai consueti pregi della serie (gli impagabili dialoghi, quasi tarantiniani nel miscelare il futile e l'ironico, il provocatorio e il profondo; oppure lo svolgimento della trama fra lunghe pause, spesso occupate dai dialoghi di cui sopra, e...more
Ho trovato "Il mambo degli orsi" il miglior Lansdale finora letto, quanto meno nell'ambito della serie Hap & Leo; si tratta di un ottimo romanzo che aggiunge almeno un paio di ulteriori elementi di qualità ai consueti pregi della serie (gli impagabili dialoghi, quasi tarantiniani nel miscelare il futile e l'ironico, il provocatorio e il profondo; oppure lo svolgimento della trama fra lunghe pause, spesso occupate dai dialoghi di cui sopra, e...more
This is my 3rd Hap&Leonard novel in as many weeks. Obviously, I'm a fan--not only of Joe Lansdale, but of his two most famous characters--but I'll try to be objective.
"Two Bear Mambo" isn't a book for everyone. I know, because I shared an excerpt on my Facebook page and got some pretty negative feedback.
Like all the books in this series, "Mambo" treats serious and sensitive topics with Lansdale's dark humor. This doesn't mean Lansdale (or his heroes Hap&Leonard) take things like racism,...more
"Two Bear Mambo" isn't a book for everyone. I know, because I shared an excerpt on my Facebook page and got some pretty negative feedback.
Like all the books in this series, "Mambo" treats serious and sensitive topics with Lansdale's dark humor. This doesn't mean Lansdale (or his heroes Hap&Leonard) take things like racism,...more
This third Hap and Leonard book is the best of those first installments. It begins with a bang, and then... well, for about the first third of the book or so, it seems like Lansdale is feeling around, trying to regain the voice of the characters, voices which he established in the first two books.
But then, as if suddenly inspired, he begins to let Hap and Leonard evolve. They change their minds about themselves, others and each other. They learn things about themselves that they don't particula...more
But then, as if suddenly inspired, he begins to let Hap and Leonard evolve. They change their minds about themselves, others and each other. They learn things about themselves that they don't particula...more
Hap and Leonard travel to the east Texas town of Grovetown looking for Florida, Hap's ex-girl friend and Leonard's attorney. Hanson, Florida's current beau, asked them to check up on Florida, who went to Grovetown to investigate the jailhouse hanging of a black music artist accused of murdering a white man.
Hanson's concern for Florida is more than valid. The citizens of Grovetown have a reputation for still living in the pre-civil rights south and conducting themselves with that era's enmity fo...more
Hanson's concern for Florida is more than valid. The citizens of Grovetown have a reputation for still living in the pre-civil rights south and conducting themselves with that era's enmity fo...more
Lo dico subito perché ce l'ho proprio qui: l'Einaudi dovrebbe smetterla di affidare le traduzioni di Lansdale a degli incompetenti che non hanno la minima conoscenza della parlata gergale statunitense. E che palle, ci sono tutti gli errori di Mucho Mojo e Una stagione selvaggia più qualche espressione tradotta ad cazzum così tanto per guarnire.
Detto questo, sul romanzo nulla da rilevare. Lansdale è sempre Lansdale, e Hap e Leonard sono sempre Hap e Leonard. La storia in sè non è molto coinvolgen...more
Detto questo, sul romanzo nulla da rilevare. Lansdale è sempre Lansdale, e Hap e Leonard sono sempre Hap e Leonard. La storia in sè non è molto coinvolgen...more
This was a fast, fun, demented, hilarious, violent, grotesque little noir potboiler that didn't overstay its welcome. The plot itself isn't spectacular, but the joy in reading Lansdale is in his amazing eye for detail and the over the top scenarios he creates. This was the first of his Hap and Leonard series that I've read and I look forward to reading more of them. The first half of the book is a riot, I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. The second half gets a bit more serious, and th...more
Hap and Leonard return in another yet another story. In Two-Bear Mambo, the unlikely duo head off to a town that hasn't quite moved past the sixties in the aspect of civil rights to look into the disappearance of Hap's ex-girlfriend, a young black woman. Due to the climate of the community and Leonard's ethnicity, the two are not looked upon kindly by most of the townsfolk and trouble quickly ensues.
Between watching their backs, Hap and Leonard try to solve the mystery of the woman's disappearan...more
Between watching their backs, Hap and Leonard try to solve the mystery of the woman's disappearan...more
Grovetown is a tiny easy Texas town sprung from the imagination of Joe R. Lansdale, and an astonishing wellspring of dyed-in-the-wool racists that Hap and Leonard must wade through in order to find a mutual acquaintance. I'd swear such a town couldn't exist in this day and age, but then again, Barrack Obama becoming President sure did bring that simmering bigotry right out into the daylight. I can picture the residents of Grovetown absolutely blowing their gaskets to hear a black man became the...more
Hap and Leonard are back in what is the darkest book of the series so far. Their friend Florida has gone missing when investigating the mysterious death of a prisoner in Grovetown, a notorious KKK stronghold in East Texas. The two men are asked to check it out and stumble into a horrorshow of racism and violence. The Hap and Leonard series is usually marked by dark humor, and while there is some or that trademark here, it has a tough time competing against the bleak nature of the story and its u...more
The third installment of the Hap and Leonard series is a strong addition but is also the darkest and most disturbing. While Lansdale is never afraid to break boundaries, Two Bear Mambo mixes suspense, mystery ad action with a social realism that can be downright uncomfortable. The stark depiction of racism and violence tends to overshadow the sharp dialogue that has always graces this series. There are plenty of hilarious lines throughout and Leonard continues to be my favorite black gay Republi...more
Il libro mi ricorda per certi versi "Vedi di non morire", sarà che mi sono avvicinata da poco a questo genere che mi affascina tanto. Il fatto che me lo ricordi non è negativo, anzi, il contrario! È ben scritto e quando viene descritta una rissa sembra di essere lì a fare il tifo, è come se la vedessi, la scena. Amo Leonard che incarna tutto ciò che è considerato male nella città di Grovetown. Maledette cittadine malate del Texas! L'ennesima prova che non ci andrei mai lì. Ogni figura per quanto...more
I really enjoyed this book. It was quite fun. Although...kinda obvious who the culprit is. Other than that it was great. If you are sensitive about naughty words..and political correctness, this is not for you. It says mother effer, n*gger, queer, f*g, quite often. I did 'listen' to it on audio. The narrator just made it. He is great. I also read #3 first lol. I didn't realize. But it makes no real difference. Nothn 'much' is given away about 1st 2. I am going to actually read another from a boo...more
Hap e Leonard sono questa volta sulle tracce di Florida, avvocato, bellissima ed ex di Hap. Florinda è partita in cerca di successo verso un caso di suicidio in carcere poco chiaro e la cittadina dove è avvenuto: Grovetown, città dal razzismo sfrenato tanto che il KKK ha ancora sostenitori.
Nel romanzo questa volta azione, paura e pestaggi (ma Hap non riesce a farsi mancare neanche un tuffo in acque paludose); scorre liscio, i dialoghi sono sempre al meglio,unica pecca il finale che non giunge a...more
Nel romanzo questa volta azione, paura e pestaggi (ma Hap non riesce a farsi mancare neanche un tuffo in acque paludose); scorre liscio, i dialoghi sono sempre al meglio,unica pecca il finale che non giunge a...more
May 10, 2009
Noah Soudrette
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
joe-r-lansdale,
crime-fiction
Lansdale does it again. This, the third in the Hap and Leonard series, is another wonderfully entertaining, but more importantly, thought provoking entry into the series. Lansdale never lets the character development wain and this story is another fascinating step for our two heroes. There is some difficult subject material in this one, but it's important. My only complaint is that I saw the twist coming with still about 100 pages left. Still, awesome stuff.
Questo libro mi è piaciuto e concordo con la post-fazione di Sandrone Dazieri: a differenza di tanti altri libri farciti delle peggiori efferatezze (per es., "Cavie" di Palahniuk) è davvero difficile prevedere gli sviluppi della storia.
Peccato aver capito solo adesso che non si tratta del primo libro della saga di Hap e Leonard, comunque la storia sta in piedi benissimo anche da sola...
Peccato aver capito solo adesso che non si tratta del primo libro della saga di Hap e Leonard, comunque la storia sta in piedi benissimo anche da sola...
This is a rough adventure for Hap and Leonard. This more than either of the first two book, puts them in real jeopardy of dying (and those first two books have plenty of life and death events in them). That's one of the bigger impressions I came away from this story with. These bad sumbitchs can still loose and be made afraid. A long with that is an overarching message of "you can't fight nature" be it a dangerous flood or the nature of huamns. If you try and fight it, it will toss you around li...more
"Una storia spettacolare,che si dipana pian piano in un crescendo di emozioni ed avvenimentiprevisti ed imprevisti, che tengono il lettore morbosamente attaccato alle pagine del libro.
Hap e Leonard sono i perfetti protagonisti di questo noir anticonvenzionale,dove i buoni,prima di trionfare, arrivano molto vicini a soccombere e ne restano segnati per sempre."
Hap e Leonard sono i perfetti protagonisti di questo noir anticonvenzionale,dove i buoni,prima di trionfare, arrivano molto vicini a soccombere e ne restano segnati per sempre."
Joe Lansdale never fails to impress. What I love most about his Hap and Leonard books are the characters that are so well visualized, it's almost like a movie playing in my head. When the characters get hurt (and they really get hurt badly in this one) you pray it's not enough to end their adventures because, at this point in time, you're vested in them.
White straight ex-hippie redneck Hap and black gay VietNam vet redneck Leonard get their asses kicked and solve a mystery again. Awful things happen to people who know these guys. They should probably have a disclaimer they read when they meet someone.
While I read this book it is offensive in the language and things that are not relevant to the story. I probably will not read anymore in the Hap and Leonard series. I borrowed this from our local library's e-books, they have several books that I would not want my child to read, makes me wonder if the book buyer is making wise choices.
In the grand tradition of pulp 'detectives', Collins and Pine take several beatings and solve the case without having to do much else. But who cares when the story is this entertaining with some of the best wisecracking dialogue ever written.
So far, this third entry in Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series is superior to its two predecessors. It takes the characters into uncharted territory and thrusts them into their most terrifying scenarios yet. I can't wait to see how/if he tops this.
I guess maybe I should not try reading any more books featuring Leonard and Hap. I do say so because I've got the feeling that things are always going back to the same point, because situations are being revisited and this does not interest me that much.
Or maybe I'm just growing sillier and duller.
Or maybe I'm just growing sillier and duller.
The first chapter was perhaps one of the funniest I have read in a long time. Politically incorrect, with two well, you can't really call them detectives, this murder mystery set in East Texas was a delight to read.
Aug 24, 2009
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-suspense-mystery
If Quentin Tarantino made a film set in East Texas, this would be the novelization of that film. Basically all dialogue, Lansdale's mystery is full of obscenity and homo erotic humor, and the basic elements of a pulp genre piece, with maybe a touch less irony than Quent would use, but still a lot of fun.
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Joe R. Lansdale is the winner of the British Fantasy Award, the American Horror Award, the Edgar Award, and six Bram Stoker Awards. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas.
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“Don't try to skin your rabbit and keep it as a pet too.”
—
5 people liked it
“It's over with, " Raul said, " You did all you could. You've got this tough-guy image. It's out of date. We fags, we don't have to do that. It's not in our makeup."
"What's in my makeup is in my makeup," Leonard said. "I'm a man. I got balls. So do you. I like balls. I like your balls, but I'm still a man and I got to feel like a man. Maybe I'm some kind of anomaly or something. I don't know. I don't get it. But I like a man acts like a man without thinking it's being a bully. I can't explain it him, Hap. Can you?”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
"What's in my makeup is in my makeup," Leonard said. "I'm a man. I got balls. So do you. I like balls. I like your balls, but I'm still a man and I got to feel like a man. Maybe I'm some kind of anomaly or something. I don't know. I don't get it. But I like a man acts like a man without thinking it's being a bully. I can't explain it him, Hap. Can you?”
Jun 15, 2012 10:17am