Robert Crais Book Chat discussion
Do you have a favorite Crais character?
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Jodi
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Oct 21, 2010 03:15PM
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I am a fan of both Elvis and Joe, but I have to say that Joe's my favorite because's he's interesting. I really liked him with the baby in The First Rule. What's interesting to me about Joe is that he's said The Watchman that he tries to be invisible, but yet he's so distinctive. The sunglasses, the red arrow tattos, the red Cherokee, the gray sweat shirt sans sleeves are all singular as is Joe.
Now I will say that I feel protective towards Elvis, especially after reading The Forgotten Man. Young Elvis and his desire to know his father was really touching to me. I especially liked Ken Wilson the PI who used to find him on the road and bring him home. I hope Ken Wilson shows up in a future book. I'd like to see him become a real father figure to Elvis.
Now I will say that I feel protective towards Elvis, especially after reading The Forgotten Man. Young Elvis and his desire to know his father was really touching to me. I especially liked Ken Wilson the PI who used to find him on the road and bring him home. I hope Ken Wilson shows up in a future book. I'd like to see him become a real father figure to Elvis.
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That is very true everything about him screams look at me and be afraid.
I think in a way Joe and Elvis have made their own odd little family. What Elvis went through was no picnic.
Someone said they thought Joe was much older. I always pictured them similar in age.
I think your right that Elvis and Joe made their own family. There was a great line in The First Rule when Elvis kidded Joe by saying "Finally some alone time for Dad and Dad" or something close to that.
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It was great to see them with the baby. I enjoy seeing the human side of them and the sexy side but Robert only gives us fleeting glimpses of both.
I'm sorry he killed off Dolan I liked her a lot.
Robert and I both write about pain and he does it in a subtle manor that really conveys the emotion well.
Actually it was when RC started writing about Joe and Elvis's painful childhoods that I went from liking these characters to truly caring about them and feeling protective towards them.
I love RC's voice and how it has deepened during the series. Some writers, I'm thinking J. Evanovich, get too formulaic and lazy. But not RC. With L.A. Requiem he added so much more to his characters. I think you can see where RC's novel writing benefitted from being a writer for television. There is good character development with tight plots and visual, cinematic descriptions.
I am currently writing a story that I am posting on fanfiction about the loss of a child and the aftermath. It's been difficult to write but I have received some feedback that has been very gratifying.
I love RC's voice and how it has deepened during the series. Some writers, I'm thinking J. Evanovich, get too formulaic and lazy. But not RC. With L.A. Requiem he added so much more to his characters. I think you can see where RC's novel writing benefitted from being a writer for television. There is good character development with tight plots and visual, cinematic descriptions.
I am currently writing a story that I am posting on fanfiction about the loss of a child and the aftermath. It's been difficult to write but I have received some feedback that has been very gratifying.
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I can't read Evanovich anymore, her characters just don't grow or learn and it's very formulaic! I got 16 from my sister read part of the first chapter and said forget it. It's the same old story over and over and I'm bored. What car of Rangers will she blow up today?
RC's writing is wonderfully visual and poetic.There's always enough info to keep me going. I'm going to try a few older ones. I found a few at the library
I'll be interested in what you think about the early books.
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Monkey's raincoat is the start of the series, so it's essential to read because it is the first.
Did you love it when Joe kissed Lucy's hand when he met her. And I cracked up when Lucy said to Joe, you're interesting and he said, "Yes". His humor is so dry.
So you're just going to tell us that you thought up an interesting Joe Pike story and you're not going to offer a synopsis. Hmm.
Did you love it when Joe kissed Lucy's hand when he met her. And I cracked up when Lucy said to Joe, you're interesting and he said, "Yes". His humor is so dry.
So you're just going to tell us that you thought up an interesting Joe Pike story and you're not going to offer a synopsis. Hmm.
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Pike vs Pike
I wasn't sure how to ask this kind of question especially not of someone so private as Joe. 'Joe, do you have any siblings?' As far as I knew the answer was no.
"Nope, only child."
I took a big gulp of my beer. 'Any kids?'
"Nope."
'You sure about that?'
He pulled his glasses down his nose and stared at me.
"As sure as a man can ever be."
Okay. I'm interested. Tell me when you post it on fanfiction.
So what do you think, did Joe Pike and Ellen Lang have an affair? I think so.
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I'm not sure. The last that I recall was Joe saying that he was going to call her and then we didn't hear any more. What did you think of the chick in The Watchman. She was definitely not worthy of Joe IMHO.
I do like that Joe thinks so well of Elvis. In some ways I think Joe idolizes Elvis.
I do like that Joe thinks so well of Elvis. In some ways I think Joe idolizes Elvis.
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No, she was needy and damaged and that's what drew him too her. He has a need to help it seems.
I think he does need to help too. One of the reasons that his excessive violence isn't offensive to me is because he never harms an innocent. He protects them, like the baby. Sorry, but I just adored Pike and the baby.
I think Joe is quite funny. Here's a favorite example. At the end of The Watchman, Larkin said to Joe, "You probably think you're too old for me. You probably think I'm too young. I'll bet you hate rich people." Pike replied, "Pick one."
I think Joe is quite funny. Here's a favorite example. At the end of The Watchman, Larkin said to Joe, "You probably think you're too old for me. You probably think I'm too young. I'll bet you hate rich people." Pike replied, "Pick one."
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I think he should have kept the baby!lol
Some people are complaining about his softer side but a character needs depth if it's going to stay appealing over the long haul. I want a more complex character which is what RC is giving us.
He should have kept the baby. It would be fun to see Joe trying to keep his condo and Cherokee spotless with a kid. And I would love to see him juggle day care, carpooling and the gun shop. And of course taking the kid on surveillence could be amusing.
Did the cat get along with the baby? Cat is used to having all of Joe's attention when he's around.
That's another thing. That cat's damaged goods too. He's been shot and yet he knows that those two violent guys, Elvis and Joe, won't harm him. The cat's got to be a symbol for something.
Did the cat get along with the baby? Cat is used to having all of Joe's attention when he's around.
That's another thing. That cat's damaged goods too. He's been shot and yet he knows that those two violent guys, Elvis and Joe, won't harm him. The cat's got to be a symbol for something.
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I dont remember any problems between the baby and cat.
An unpredictable child vs well organized and regimented man. lol At least Joe doesn't sleep much so screaming kid would work.
Pike probably wouldn't sleep until the kid was off to college.
Jan, thank you for asking. Two of my cousins lost children and my father died when I was two. I have a lot of feelings that I needed to work out regarding loss and thought that a story would be a way to to it.
It is such a difficult experience to put to word, even if you have lived it....impossible if you have not.
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I realize many books have been written on the subject, some of them amazingly well and beneficial in their own way. At best, unless they are written by someone who has lived it, they don't begin to cover the depth of emotion and/or life changes that occur. To equate the loss of a child with anything else in the world is inadequate at best. By the way, Elvis & Joe are my two favorite dudes!
As a child who lost a parent at an early age, I can tell you that my father's death was the defining moment in my life. But when the defining moment comes at age 2, you spend most of your life trying to understand it.
I think that you are telling me, in a diplomatic way, I can't understand what the loss of a child would be like. I can see you point to some degree. I did get a comment from a reader who had lost a daughter about 20 months ago who felt that I had accurately portrayed the emotional landscape.
Read the story and tell me what you think. It is in-progress. The story is titled, Requiem for the Little Recruit and it is posted on FanFiction.com.
Read the story and tell me what you think. It is in-progress. The story is titled, Requiem for the Little Recruit and it is posted on FanFiction.com.
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So sorry for you loss. {hugs}
I think that this is a good discussion, but I'm veering too far off point. I'd like to keep this discussion about the handsome Robert Crais and his wonderful characters, Elvis and Joe, if that's okay with everyone.
Okay, do we have a head count on how many women Joe and Elvis have had relationshops with.
For Joe, I count 4 maybe 5, Ellen Lang, Angela Rossi, Karen Garcia, Paulette and maybe Larkin.
For Elvis, there was really only Lucille. Like a lot of us, I'm glad that Lucy's out of the picture. I didn't think that she really got who Elvis is.
For Joe, I count 4 maybe 5, Ellen Lang, Angela Rossi, Karen Garcia, Paulette and maybe Larkin.
For Elvis, there was really only Lucille. Like a lot of us, I'm glad that Lucy's out of the picture. I didn't think that she really got who Elvis is.
Jodi, I just read your review of L.A. Requiem and I couldn't agree with you more about RC's descriptions, they are poetic and masculine. One of my favorite decriptions of RC's is "wading through honey". I'm not sure which book it's from, but in three simple words he sets a picture that would take other writers paragraphs.
Do you also read Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series? I like Mryon and his buddy Win almost as much as I like Elvis and Joe.
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A friend gave me the book and I went yikes, too long for me, so I opened it up and read the ending when he was sitting on the hood of the car and I was hooked.
If I'm unsure of an unknown author I sometimes cheat and read the ending first just to see if I like the style.
No, Ive never read that series I'll have to give them a try. Thanks for the info.
Love Harlan Coben's guys too! Have you tried David Rosenfelt? Love his wit.
I don't know David Rosenfelt. Tell me about him.
Jan wrote: "Love Harlan Coben's guys too! Have you tried David Rosenfelt? Love his wit."
Jan I read some of the blurbs for David Rosenfelt's books. They sound good.
So, do you love Myron's parents? I just finished reading the one where his Mother says that the Mets are going to play the Tunas. I laughed out loud. My Mom would have said something like that.
And do you like Esperanza and Big Cindy too? I think HC has created interesting side characters for Myron, just like John Chen is a great side character for Elvis and Joe.
Jan I read some of the blurbs for David Rosenfelt's books. They sound good.
So, do you love Myron's parents? I just finished reading the one where his Mother says that the Mets are going to play the Tunas. I laughed out loud. My Mom would have said something like that.
And do you like Esperanza and Big Cindy too? I think HC has created interesting side characters for Myron, just like John Chen is a great side character for Elvis and Joe.
Jodi wrote: "Go figure the strong, silent type gets all the women!lol
A friend gave me the book and I went yikes, too long for me, so I opened it up and read the ending when he was sitting on the hood of the ca..."
Jodi, I routinely read the end of a book. I don't like surprises and I like seeing how the author gets to his/her conclusion.
If you have the opportunity to read one of Harlen Coben's Myron Bolitar novels, you'll have to share your thoughts about it with us. : )
A friend gave me the book and I went yikes, too long for me, so I opened it up and read the ending when he was sitting on the hood of the ca..."
Jodi, I routinely read the end of a book. I don't like surprises and I like seeing how the author gets to his/her conclusion.
If you have the opportunity to read one of Harlen Coben's Myron Bolitar novels, you'll have to share your thoughts about it with us. : )
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Jodi wrote: "I'm going to do some reading next week. I'll try and find them at the library and let you know."
Aren't libraries the best?
Aren't libraries the best?
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Thanks Jodi, I signed up about a month ago to RC's e-mail list.
So what's your opinion of some of the side characters like John Chen, Carol Starkey, Lou Poitras and Eddie Ditko?
Jodi wrote: "Just to let you know Robert is giving away advanced copies of The Sentry to people who subscribe to his email updates from his site. So go sign up if you haven't yet!!"
Jodi did you get RC's e-newletter with the excerpt from The Sentry yet?
Jodi did you get RC's e-newletter with the excerpt from The Sentry yet?
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I like Chen but he's a little one dimensional ... horn dog.
Lou and Eddie are ok. I still haven't made my mind up about Starkey yet. I like her I need to go back and read Demolition Angel.
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Yeah, I'm on my 3rd Reacher book. I find him very sexy. Almost as sexy as Joe Pike.
Jodi you liked my comment on Joe Pike on Facebook. I'll send you a friend invitation.
Jodi you liked my comment on Joe Pike on Facebook. I'll send you a friend invitation.
Jodi on Facebook, I'm Diane Bellora.
