It’s by Lawrence Block, and the reason I picked this book is that Lawrence Block is one of my favorite contemporary crime fiction authors, but he’s been writing for years.
And I picked this book also because the protagonist, Matthew Scudder, is probably my favorite of his protagonists. A man who feels such intense guilt over the accidental shooting of a young boy, I believe it was, [correction, it was a girl … shit, sorry, LB!] while he was working as a police officer drives him to do these various things, like give money randomly to people. It’s like a tithing he does at random, and that quirk of his character makes him so interesting and likable and compelling, that you want to read the story, no matter what story it is.
And to be honest, it’s been so long since I’ve read this book … you can tell it’s old … that I can’t remember the exact plot, but I will tell you without reservation that Lawrence Block is a superb writer, and if he comes out with another Matthew Scudder book ever, I’m reading it. And if he comes out with any book, I want to read it. I want to read everything by Lawrence Block, because he is that exemplary. I’m using big fancy words. He’s a good writer, okay?
That’s what I mean. I just love his work. It’s so inspiring, and I had the pleasure of meeting him at Bouchercon … when was it? … A couple of years ago? Maybe last year? I don’t remember. My mind is a sieve. But I had the pleasure of meeting him, and he’s just the funniest nicest guy.
So, he writes like a dream. Read Lawrence Block. He’s wonderful. Thank you very much, and talk to you later.