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Touch
Another crime classic by the bestselling author of Be Cool and Cuba Libre.
Charlie Lawson has the Touch. A former Franciscan monk kicked out of the Order for faith-healing too many of the afflicted, now he finds it hard to be a saint in the city, as his gift attracts a slew of cash-hungry hucksters and a beautiful baton-twirler who wants him to lay his hands on her. This Quill edition features an introduction that appeared only in the hardcover edition, in which Leonard discusses the novel's unusual subject, noting, "I had a good time writing Touch, imagining mystical things happening to an ordinary person in a contemporary setting." Treating a theme that has found new timeliness, Touch is perhaps Leonard's most moving, erotic love story; yet its violent and unexpected climax is pure, suspenseful Leonard.
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
193 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Elmore Leonard
213 books3,713 followersElmore John Leonard lived in Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis before settling in Detroit in 1935. After serving in the navy, he studied English literature at the University of Detroit where he entered a short story competition. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
Father of Peter Leonard.
Father of Peter Leonard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
February 5, 2024
01/2014
This is Elmore Leonard's most literary book, his only non genre work (though with all his usual style and a gun too). He wrote it in 1977 but couldn't get it published until 1987, after he'd become a bestselling author (he'd begun with westerns in the 1950s then moved to crime fiction). Touch is very original and unexpected, but that could be said of his genre books too. It's about religion, stigmata, healing. I give it 4 stars not 5 only because all the religion stuff frankly bored me. It bothered me more than when I read this before somewhere around a decade ago; probably the difference is age (in my 20s I still thought religion was interesting and I might be missing out on something, but now I just think it's boring).
This is Elmore Leonard's most literary book, his only non genre work (though with all his usual style and a gun too). He wrote it in 1977 but couldn't get it published until 1987, after he'd become a bestselling author (he'd begun with westerns in the 1950s then moved to crime fiction). Touch is very original and unexpected, but that could be said of his genre books too. It's about religion, stigmata, healing. I give it 4 stars not 5 only because all the religion stuff frankly bored me. It bothered me more than when I read this before somewhere around a decade ago; probably the difference is age (in my 20s I still thought religion was interesting and I might be missing out on something, but now I just think it's boring).
June 20, 2017
Meh.
‘Touch’ treads water for a hundred pages introducing conventional stock American characters who work in media jobs generating publicity for TV talk shows or evangelical or conservative Catholic Church ministry interests. Then the story turns into a series of low-key humorous sketches of romantic and personal upsets despite the book’s controversial subject of people who possess magical healing powers. The author, Elmore Leonard, bunted in my opinion.
Thirty-three-year-old Charles Lawson, ex-monk of the Franciscans, bleeds and heals people sometimes. He believes in God, but he has no idea if God is working through him. Basically, there he is just standing around, when sometimes he feels very sorry for someone who is crippled, sick or injured. Sometimes when he feels compassionate, but not always, he will experience stigmata bleeding, and after touching a person that person is healed. He has no control over when or if a healing occurs. Lawson, aka Juvenal, appears to be a naïve virgin, but still he is a self-assured and calm personality, and yet unassuming. He is now working with alcoholics at a community detox center.
Bill Hill witnesses Juvenal cure the blind eyes of a woman. He tries to get an interview with Juvenal after this stunning event, but Juvenal avoids him. So Bill visits his old friend Lynn Faulkner, KMA Records Promotion and Publicity agent, hoping to enlist her to pose as an alcoholic needing to dry out at the detox center. It works and Lynn meets Juvenal, but Lynn discovers Juvenal is a normal, if oddly honest and charismatic, person. They like each other a lot.
August Murray wants the Catholic Church to return to its roots as established in the Middle Ages. He is rigid, judgmental and celibate. As an activist, he intentionally confronts organizations and the police, leading protests, getting himself arrested. However, August cannot get the attention of media no matter what he does. He reads about Juvenal in the local newspaper (a small article about the rumor of stigmata) and he decides Juvenal must be a Saint, thus obviously a celibate holy man like himself. August thinks he must convince Juvenal to join him in his endeavors. Juvenal thinks August is an jerk. August believes Lynn is an evil temptress leading Juvenal into sin, away from God and August. August believes teaching and mentoring Juvenal is his destiny! Game on!
Gentle reader, this novel is one I found particularly to be without much energy or fun. Leonard wanted to explore a situation of miracles performed by an individual without any motives or even interest in his own miracles, as well as a society jaded by overexposure to publicity stunts. But, the author allowed the story to drift into a shallow 30-minute family sitcom with a recorded laugh track.
‘Touch’ treads water for a hundred pages introducing conventional stock American characters who work in media jobs generating publicity for TV talk shows or evangelical or conservative Catholic Church ministry interests. Then the story turns into a series of low-key humorous sketches of romantic and personal upsets despite the book’s controversial subject of people who possess magical healing powers. The author, Elmore Leonard, bunted in my opinion.
Thirty-three-year-old Charles Lawson, ex-monk of the Franciscans, bleeds and heals people sometimes. He believes in God, but he has no idea if God is working through him. Basically, there he is just standing around, when sometimes he feels very sorry for someone who is crippled, sick or injured. Sometimes when he feels compassionate, but not always, he will experience stigmata bleeding, and after touching a person that person is healed. He has no control over when or if a healing occurs. Lawson, aka Juvenal, appears to be a naïve virgin, but still he is a self-assured and calm personality, and yet unassuming. He is now working with alcoholics at a community detox center.
Bill Hill witnesses Juvenal cure the blind eyes of a woman. He tries to get an interview with Juvenal after this stunning event, but Juvenal avoids him. So Bill visits his old friend Lynn Faulkner, KMA Records Promotion and Publicity agent, hoping to enlist her to pose as an alcoholic needing to dry out at the detox center. It works and Lynn meets Juvenal, but Lynn discovers Juvenal is a normal, if oddly honest and charismatic, person. They like each other a lot.
August Murray wants the Catholic Church to return to its roots as established in the Middle Ages. He is rigid, judgmental and celibate. As an activist, he intentionally confronts organizations and the police, leading protests, getting himself arrested. However, August cannot get the attention of media no matter what he does. He reads about Juvenal in the local newspaper (a small article about the rumor of stigmata) and he decides Juvenal must be a Saint, thus obviously a celibate holy man like himself. August thinks he must convince Juvenal to join him in his endeavors. Juvenal thinks August is an jerk. August believes Lynn is an evil temptress leading Juvenal into sin, away from God and August. August believes teaching and mentoring Juvenal is his destiny! Game on!
Gentle reader, this novel is one I found particularly to be without much energy or fun. Leonard wanted to explore a situation of miracles performed by an individual without any motives or even interest in his own miracles, as well as a society jaded by overexposure to publicity stunts. But, the author allowed the story to drift into a shallow 30-minute family sitcom with a recorded laugh track.
February 27, 2020
I just couldn't get into this. I usually love Leonard's books, but nothing about this made me want to come back for more.
July 15, 2022
Well, Good Readers, I am at a loss as to what I think of this Leonard novel. As he himself explains in the introduction, he had a difficult time finding a publisher for this one, and when he finally did, the publisher held on to it for over two years because they didn’t know how to “label” it. You know, it has to fit into some kind of genre niche to be promoted. I can see how this could have been a problem.
The main character, Juvenal is a likable good guy who once in a while puts his hands on someone, and heals whatever might be wrong with them. As he does this, his hands, feet, and side bleed in the form of the stigmata, associated with the wounds of Christ. Although he believes in God, and was once a missionary, he has no idea how or why he has this power. The story basically revolves around what others think and expect of him.
All the characters here are entertaining and interesting.
Lynn is the love interest of our stigmatic hero. An ex-baton twirler with only high school, two seasons with a religious revival show, and a nine-year hitch in a rodeo trailer, is our Lynn. “Lynn had an affair with a TV news man until his hairdo, which was like a brownish-gray helmet, finally unnerved her. They would smoke grass and thrash around in bed half the afternoon and the guy would come out of it with every hair still glued in place for his six o’clock newscast. Lynn felt either she couldn’t bring out the real person beneath the hard charm or there was none there to begin with.”
August Murray is the leader of the Gray Army of the Holy Ghost, a bunch of weird dudes who want to return the Catholic Mass to its traditional Latin form. August “had trouble with rules of conduct, blind discipline, all the no-questions-asked humility shit. He believed the Church needed fighters--anybody could see that--and not the bunch of good little mama’s boys the seminary was turning out. It was true that Saint Augustine had died in a spirit of humility (and courage and penitence), but he was seventy-six years old and humility could be a wise move at that age; but not when the Church needed men who weren’t afraid to stand up and defend their faith against the cowards within and the Communists without (the sons of bitches).”
There’s a hodgepodge of other folks who fill the gaps between Juvenal’s healings and the eventual television interview by a Jerry Springer-like character who needs a swift kick in the rear several times, or at least as many kicks it takes to wear yourself out.
The dialogue is great, as usual, but this isn’t the traditional kind of story you expect from Leonard. Although you could probably make out some philosophical views on religion and modern American society, Leonard tells us in the introduction not to look for any hidden meanings here. So, I didn’t look for any, and just enjoyed a rather strange ride. Still, it reminds me of how stupid, shallow, and crazy people can be, especially modern Americans, of which I am one.
The main character, Juvenal is a likable good guy who once in a while puts his hands on someone, and heals whatever might be wrong with them. As he does this, his hands, feet, and side bleed in the form of the stigmata, associated with the wounds of Christ. Although he believes in God, and was once a missionary, he has no idea how or why he has this power. The story basically revolves around what others think and expect of him.
All the characters here are entertaining and interesting.
Lynn is the love interest of our stigmatic hero. An ex-baton twirler with only high school, two seasons with a religious revival show, and a nine-year hitch in a rodeo trailer, is our Lynn. “Lynn had an affair with a TV news man until his hairdo, which was like a brownish-gray helmet, finally unnerved her. They would smoke grass and thrash around in bed half the afternoon and the guy would come out of it with every hair still glued in place for his six o’clock newscast. Lynn felt either she couldn’t bring out the real person beneath the hard charm or there was none there to begin with.”
August Murray is the leader of the Gray Army of the Holy Ghost, a bunch of weird dudes who want to return the Catholic Mass to its traditional Latin form. August “had trouble with rules of conduct, blind discipline, all the no-questions-asked humility shit. He believed the Church needed fighters--anybody could see that--and not the bunch of good little mama’s boys the seminary was turning out. It was true that Saint Augustine had died in a spirit of humility (and courage and penitence), but he was seventy-six years old and humility could be a wise move at that age; but not when the Church needed men who weren’t afraid to stand up and defend their faith against the cowards within and the Communists without (the sons of bitches).”
There’s a hodgepodge of other folks who fill the gaps between Juvenal’s healings and the eventual television interview by a Jerry Springer-like character who needs a swift kick in the rear several times, or at least as many kicks it takes to wear yourself out.
The dialogue is great, as usual, but this isn’t the traditional kind of story you expect from Leonard. Although you could probably make out some philosophical views on religion and modern American society, Leonard tells us in the introduction not to look for any hidden meanings here. So, I didn’t look for any, and just enjoyed a rather strange ride. Still, it reminds me of how stupid, shallow, and crazy people can be, especially modern Americans, of which I am one.
August 12, 2016
What do you get when a defunct Southern evangelist and a politically militant Catholic traditionalist discover, at the same time, a former Franciscan monk who seems to be able to heal by touch?
You get one hoot of a tongue-and-cheek read. I mean this is Elmore Leonard we’re talking about here.
Then, on the turn of a toe, you are presented with the true nature of the book – a beautiful love story. Not a romance, mind you, but a love story. Huh, maybe not so traditional Elmore Leonard after all.
But, do not fear. The man doesn’t let his readers down. Before it’s over you will contend with religious fanaticism, racial prejudice, narcissism, manipulation, televised character assassination and attempted murder.
And through it all weaves the story of Juvenal, a man who appears to be able to heal by touch. The evidence of the healing is often immediate, such as the blind now being able to see. But it is also evidenced by blood coming from the five points on his body that correspond to the five points of the crucifixion of Jesus.
However, Juvenal cannot control this process; he does not consciously choose the recipient of the touch nor can he stop the process once it starts. And, most important of all, he does not wish, nor does he feel the need, to exploit this gift, not personally nor financially. Unfortunately, the defunct Southern evangelist and the militant Catholic traditionalist do wish to exploit him for personal and financial gains. Hence, the manipulation and the attempted murder, not to mention the media’s need for public proof, come into play.
What starts out as a humorous read turns brutal and ugly and on-the-edge-of-your-seat serious. But through it all is the thread that asks if you can believe in what you can’t prove, if you can accept in others what is different from yourself, if you have the capacity for unconditional love or are you a close-minded fool.
In the end, this is the story of a selfless love whose touch heals in more ways than one.
You get one hoot of a tongue-and-cheek read. I mean this is Elmore Leonard we’re talking about here.
Then, on the turn of a toe, you are presented with the true nature of the book – a beautiful love story. Not a romance, mind you, but a love story. Huh, maybe not so traditional Elmore Leonard after all.
But, do not fear. The man doesn’t let his readers down. Before it’s over you will contend with religious fanaticism, racial prejudice, narcissism, manipulation, televised character assassination and attempted murder.
And through it all weaves the story of Juvenal, a man who appears to be able to heal by touch. The evidence of the healing is often immediate, such as the blind now being able to see. But it is also evidenced by blood coming from the five points on his body that correspond to the five points of the crucifixion of Jesus.
However, Juvenal cannot control this process; he does not consciously choose the recipient of the touch nor can he stop the process once it starts. And, most important of all, he does not wish, nor does he feel the need, to exploit this gift, not personally nor financially. Unfortunately, the defunct Southern evangelist and the militant Catholic traditionalist do wish to exploit him for personal and financial gains. Hence, the manipulation and the attempted murder, not to mention the media’s need for public proof, come into play.
What starts out as a humorous read turns brutal and ugly and on-the-edge-of-your-seat serious. But through it all is the thread that asks if you can believe in what you can’t prove, if you can accept in others what is different from yourself, if you have the capacity for unconditional love or are you a close-minded fool.
In the end, this is the story of a selfless love whose touch heals in more ways than one.
October 19, 2022
How did I not know Elmore wrote a book on faith healing and faith and Southern evangelists and stigmata! I’m going to say it’s in my top five of his books, because I had no idea he had one like this in him and I’m so glad he did.
January 21, 2019
If you don't read Leonard for a while, you forget how fun and fast-paced his books can be.
Touch has an introduction by the man himself telling the reader this book had been shelved for 10 years (!) due to its minor magical realism content about a guy who could heal by touch. The publisher just didn't know what to do with it!
It's undeniably Leonard's voice tho, with hustlers trying to make a buck, johns trying to spend one and the people caught in the middle. As always his sympathy lies with the oppressed and is always critical of the institutions that would oppress (in this case, a really dopey Catholic splinter branch).
It's kind of interesting that while there is a lot of media exploitation of faith going on, Leonard doesn't seem to be inherently against it? Bill Hill is certainly an a'ight guy and he's constantly going on about the merchandising possibilities of the second coming.
My favoritest thing about this book is Juvenal himself: a writer portraying an earnest and sincere Messiah tells you a lot about how they see the world, and Juvie is essentially... a chill, nice guy, which I entirely feel Leonard probably was. Celibacy ain't no thing for Juvie, and him and the female lead Lynn fall in love. Their consummation is a communion stripped of all societal expectations, wreathed in unconditional love; a set piece like few others in a Leonard book as he wants to really immerse the readers into what touching divinity in the most intimate ways would be like... and in the middle of it I was like, "Wait a minute, I've had sex like this? I'm a lesbian!"
Touch has an introduction by the man himself telling the reader this book had been shelved for 10 years (!) due to its minor magical realism content about a guy who could heal by touch. The publisher just didn't know what to do with it!
It's undeniably Leonard's voice tho, with hustlers trying to make a buck, johns trying to spend one and the people caught in the middle. As always his sympathy lies with the oppressed and is always critical of the institutions that would oppress (in this case, a really dopey Catholic splinter branch).
It's kind of interesting that while there is a lot of media exploitation of faith going on, Leonard doesn't seem to be inherently against it? Bill Hill is certainly an a'ight guy and he's constantly going on about the merchandising possibilities of the second coming.
My favoritest thing about this book is Juvenal himself: a writer portraying an earnest and sincere Messiah tells you a lot about how they see the world, and Juvie is essentially... a chill, nice guy, which I entirely feel Leonard probably was. Celibacy ain't no thing for Juvie, and him and the female lead Lynn fall in love. Their consummation is a communion stripped of all societal expectations, wreathed in unconditional love; a set piece like few others in a Leonard book as he wants to really immerse the readers into what touching divinity in the most intimate ways would be like... and in the middle of it I was like, "Wait a minute, I've had sex like this? I'm a lesbian!"
December 18, 2017
A novel about a faith healer is a surprise coming from Leonard. I wasn’t at all sure what to expect, but I was pleased with what I found. And I appreciated Leonard’s approach to miracles and faith—it was respectful where many other writers would’ve gone the popular route of shallow mockery.
The protagonist, Juvenal, believes in God. Juvenal doesn’t know if God is working through him or not, but somehow he has the power to heal people—a power which causes an assortment of fanatics and whackos to attempt to use him in their own agendas and schemes.
Leonard’s portrayal of Juvenal as a genuinely goodhearted and innocent human being (a difficult characterization to pull off) was particularly well-done.
Though written and set in 1977, Touch wasn’t published until ’87. It’s an unusual outing from Leonard, but a rewarding one. You can’t call yourself a true Elmore Leonard fan until you’ve read Touch.
The protagonist, Juvenal, believes in God. Juvenal doesn’t know if God is working through him or not, but somehow he has the power to heal people—a power which causes an assortment of fanatics and whackos to attempt to use him in their own agendas and schemes.
Leonard’s portrayal of Juvenal as a genuinely goodhearted and innocent human being (a difficult characterization to pull off) was particularly well-done.
Though written and set in 1977, Touch wasn’t published until ’87. It’s an unusual outing from Leonard, but a rewarding one. You can’t call yourself a true Elmore Leonard fan until you’ve read Touch.
August 2, 2009
Leonard adds a large element of fantasy into what is otherwise a pretty straightforward version of his typical crime/grift related stuff. As always, characters are fascinating and well-rounded, the action and dialogue are great, and it's a fun, quick read.
November 27, 2013
"I bleed from my mind..."
This is from an Elmore Leonard novel? Surely not the Elmore Leonard. The Elmore Leonard famous for south Florida crime novels with titles like "Maximum Bob." But every now and then Leonard will surprise you and write something serious.
Not that "Touch" is stodgy. It still has the famous Leonard pace and readability, the off-kilter characters doing off-kilter things. But it's about miracles, faith healing and stigmata.
And Leonard has some interesting things to say about it all, like, "Who knows? What do we know that we're sure of," as we follow his innocent, or cagey?, stigmata person Juvenal around. Others try to exploit him, while uncomfortably uncertain themselves as to whether his spiritual experiences are real. And what about the bleeding of the stigmata? "Maybe," one of his characters says,"maybe when he was in an emotional state, feeling compassion or something so intensely he began to bleed?"
At first blush such a thing seems ludicrous. And yet who hasn't had a headache or a stiff neck from stress (which is really just an intense emotional state). Many have backaches, migraines, ulcers and even aneurysms from stress. So is it really so far fetched that a person would 'bleed from his mind.'
Or consider voodoo. What is voodoo except a person's body being influenced by what they believe.
"Touch" is not a great book by any means, but if you like Leonard and are up for some entertaining reading that does more than entertain, this is definitely worth a shot.
August 8, 2011
Juvenal has the ability to heal a broken body by touch while experiencing stigmata. Seeing this as an opportunity to make a quick buck and cash in on the religious faithful, Bill Hill concocts a scheme to get Juvenal on air and gold in his pockets. However, Bill Hill isn't alone in wanting to exploit Juvenal's mystic touch and soon enough Juvenal's once quiet life in Brazil is little more than a distant memory as everyone has his name on their lips. In typical Elmore Leonard fashion 'Touch' is driven by its narrative and well rounded characters in August, Bill Hill, Lynn, and the star of the show Juvenal - unfortunately the plot did little for me and I kept waiting for that breathless moment when things really heat up...by books end I was still waiting. Not to take anything away from the story, I just wish it was something more than what it turned out to be. 2.5 Stars - an enjoyable no brainer read with likable characters and a semi-dull plot.
December 19, 2011
really interesting elmore leonard book; not a crime novel but the story of a stigmatic faith healer and the people trying to use/understand him and his power... still reads like an elmore leonard book, though-- great characters, great dialogue, moves fast, lots of fun... the end doesn't really come together quite right, but it's never boring and always feels really ALIVE. i realized while reading that the difference between leonard and quentin tarantino (who stole so much from him) is that leonard doesn't just write quirky characters saying funny and witty things to each other; what's amazing about him is the way his characters are constantly sizing each other up and competing and grappling with each other through conversation... whereas tarantino's characters are just saying funny shit. or shit that he thinks is funny. with little or no underlying psychology. well, except maybe in reservoir dogs. which is awesome. but enough about that.
May 8, 2017
Much like John D. MacDonald did with his "The Girl, Gold Watch and Everything," Elmore Leonard goes against "type" and produces a funny, humanizing, spiritual work that makes you just smile with pleasure...Juvenal has the "healing touch" and with a grounded spirit and guileless life-stance, confronts those who wish to exploit him and he even wins the girl...a pleasure!
February 10, 2012
Seems that everyone is rediscovering Elmore Leonard, one of my long-time favorite authors. Touch is in my top three Leonard novels. (The others are Cuba Libra and Tishimingo Blues.) Highly recommended to the folks who're discovering this awesome author.
October 9, 2013
I tried to read one of Leonard's books several decades ago and couldn't get into it. Obviously my tastes have changed. This one was a delight though I couldn't tell in many places whether he was being serious or offering a hearty dose of very wry humor.
August 23, 2009
another great leonard. after you read it watch the film adaptation with Skeet Ulrich, Bridgette Fonda and Christopher Walken
November 12, 2013
And you think Elmore Leonard's only about guns and sex? Try Touch. Juvenal has the gift of healing, or so it appears. It happens whenever his stigmata start bleeding and some lame or halt or blind individual is in the neighborhood. The thing is, he doesn't take it all that seriously. He can't seem to control it, and it's just there, like his hair color or height, not something he feels like taking credit for.
Of course, it could be a moneymaker, and some folks think that would be a great idea. (I'm reminded of the trials of Teresita in Urrea's Queen of America.) In the mix is a retrograde zealot who thinks Vatican II was the ruin of the Catholic church and longs to return to the days of Latin Mass and Priests with their backs to the congregation. He's got his own designs on poor Juvenal.
There are guns and sex in this terrific novel, but the guns don't fire often or do all that much damage, and the sex is touching, comical, and renewing by turns. It's softer than many of Leonard's other works in that respect, but nevertheless Leonard for all of that. And where else have you read a modern novel about stigmata. You might not even know what it means. Look it up. Then read the book.
Of course, it could be a moneymaker, and some folks think that would be a great idea. (I'm reminded of the trials of Teresita in Urrea's Queen of America.) In the mix is a retrograde zealot who thinks Vatican II was the ruin of the Catholic church and longs to return to the days of Latin Mass and Priests with their backs to the congregation. He's got his own designs on poor Juvenal.
There are guns and sex in this terrific novel, but the guns don't fire often or do all that much damage, and the sex is touching, comical, and renewing by turns. It's softer than many of Leonard's other works in that respect, but nevertheless Leonard for all of that. And where else have you read a modern novel about stigmata. You might not even know what it means. Look it up. Then read the book.
May 23, 2013
Charlie Lawson joined a Franciscan order and became a Monk serving in Brazil.
Bill Hill is a former minister who currently sells R.V.s. He used to run the Uni-Faith ministry in Dalton, Georgia. He's present when a young man named Juvenal touches a woman who has been blind for fifteen years. Suddenly, her sight returns.
Juvenal is the name Lawson was given when he joined the Monks. Now, Bill is sure that Juvenal has a healing touch and if he could persuade him to join Bill for a TV ministry, the result could be an economic boom.
There are interesting characters in the story, as usual for the author. One of them is August Murray who is part of a group called Outrage and want the Church to go back to its traditional ways and have Latin be the language of the Mass.
This is very different from Leonard's usual novels and I enjoyed the picture of Juvenal putting his healing touch to work with children who had serious ailments.
Overall, this was a pleasant read with interesting characters and a well described setting.
Bill Hill is a former minister who currently sells R.V.s. He used to run the Uni-Faith ministry in Dalton, Georgia. He's present when a young man named Juvenal touches a woman who has been blind for fifteen years. Suddenly, her sight returns.
Juvenal is the name Lawson was given when he joined the Monks. Now, Bill is sure that Juvenal has a healing touch and if he could persuade him to join Bill for a TV ministry, the result could be an economic boom.
There are interesting characters in the story, as usual for the author. One of them is August Murray who is part of a group called Outrage and want the Church to go back to its traditional ways and have Latin be the language of the Mass.
This is very different from Leonard's usual novels and I enjoyed the picture of Juvenal putting his healing touch to work with children who had serious ailments.
Overall, this was a pleasant read with interesting characters and a well described setting.
January 21, 2010
I like Elmore Leonard because he has awesome dialogue. That's generally it. Touch was actually a pretty interesting idea with pretty good characters but it felt rushed.
There is little build up to the two main characters coming to know one another and the villain(s) are truly douche-bags but they don't ever really accomplish anything that makes me hate them. Some greedy people without many morals try to do some bad things and fail pretty quickly.
Most of the book is dialogue - good dialogue - which makes it a very short read; I think this was my problem. The concept could have been so much more and it seemed like Leonard gave up early on something with a lot of potential.
Still not bad though.
There is little build up to the two main characters coming to know one another and the villain(s) are truly douche-bags but they don't ever really accomplish anything that makes me hate them. Some greedy people without many morals try to do some bad things and fail pretty quickly.
Most of the book is dialogue - good dialogue - which makes it a very short read; I think this was my problem. The concept could have been so much more and it seemed like Leonard gave up early on something with a lot of potential.
Still not bad though.
November 19, 2010
Great. This is probably my 3rd favorite book that secularly tries to tackle religion (the other two being Moore's Lamb, and Morrow's God is Dead trilogy). I think it only faltered in one spot, where Lynn and Juvenal start discussing their feelings about each other, which I'm sure Leonard meant to be innocent, especially with regards to Juvenal ... but ultimately came off really saccharine. No worries though, he righted the ship. It's nice to see authors have some type of respect for religion, because it's cool and hip most of the time to bash it. But, if you do it right, books about God can be a-okay to read.
May 12, 2012
This is almost worth reading for what has to be the most awkward sex scene ever. "I want to feel you." "Where are you?" "I'm here". I was rolling my eyes so hard they almost fell out of my head. Plus, the ending of the book was horrible. There's a climactic scene on a television show, and then the last chapter basically says "and then the main characters went to Texas. The End." Elmore Leonard is supposed to be a good writer, but this book read like it was written by a 15 year old. A 15 year old who is a terrible writer, at that. I would recommend this book to people who want excuses to throw things, because it will make you feel justified in doing so.
August 24, 2019
Mr. Leonard's Best Book Ever
In Elmore Leonard's Introduction to this book he talks about how hard it was to publish it. Thankfully he finally found someone who would because it is brilliantly written. I am on the verge of finishing all of his non-western books - which I will read too - and I've loved almost all of them but this was a masterpiece. The dialog is so fun to read, the characters are all colorful and outstanding in all their individual ways and the story is so simple and straight forward. Don't look for any hidden meanings. It's just a wonderful book about extraordinary things happening to normal people. I will be reading it again and again. Bravo Mr. Leonard.
In Elmore Leonard's Introduction to this book he talks about how hard it was to publish it. Thankfully he finally found someone who would because it is brilliantly written. I am on the verge of finishing all of his non-western books - which I will read too - and I've loved almost all of them but this was a masterpiece. The dialog is so fun to read, the characters are all colorful and outstanding in all their individual ways and the story is so simple and straight forward. Don't look for any hidden meanings. It's just a wonderful book about extraordinary things happening to normal people. I will be reading it again and again. Bravo Mr. Leonard.
March 20, 2013
I had a little bit of a problem getting into it but that didn't last long. I've read some of his other books and liked them. This one was different though still enjoyable. His writing to me is short and clipped which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed the story and the characters which were nicely developed given the length of the book! If you saw/enjoyed the John Travolta movie "Michael" you would probably enjoy this book.
April 19, 2008
This is cool, because it's Elmore Leonard, and he has a good eye and good ear for detail. Its ultimate substantiation of faith-healing makes me uneasy, but when I think about it from a literary standpoint, where else could he go with it?
July 20, 2010
Elmore Leonard is an excellent author. This is the story of a young man who seems to have the power to touch others and heal. However, he behaves differently from those expect a healer or saint to behave. A most intriguing read. Good story.
September 14, 2011
A departure from his typical crime novels, Leonard's religious take is at times interesting but not deep enough to be much of substance. He creates some interesting characters but is a little too shallow on the main one and by the time the story picks up, the book is over.
September 6, 2007
Least favorite Elmore Leonard novel I've read... and I've read quite a few...
May 2, 2016
Some unexplored potential in the story, but a nice quick read. Off Leonard's beaten path a little bit, but with his knack for realistic dialogue and action.
June 28, 2011
Very different sort of book for Leonard but with trade mark style and dialogue still.
October 28, 2018
Face the realities of life with neither fear nor loathing and you will come out ahead.
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