“A Hollywood hit….Taut, inimitable prose and characters who could have only sprung from the mind of Elmore Leonard.” —Detroit NewsThe Chicago Tribune has dubbed Elmore Leonard, “the coolest, hottest writer in America.” In the same league as the legendary great ones—John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain—the “King Daddy of crime writers” (Seattle Times) demonstrates his remarkable … Times) demonstrates his remarkable mastery with Get Shorty, one of the most adored of his forty-plus novels. The basis of the hit movie starring John Travolta and Danny DeVito, Get Shorty chronicles the over-the-top, sometimes violent Hollywood misadventures of a Florida mob loan shark who chases a deadbeat client all the way to Tinseltown and decides to stick around and make movies. Get Shorty’s shylock protagonist, Chili Palmer, is a truly inspired creation—as memorable as another unforgettable Leonard hero, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of the hit TV series Justified—and readers will relish his moves and countermoves in this electrifying, funny, bullet train-paced winner from “the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever!” (New York Times Book Review)
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I just finished reading Get Shorty for the second time. This time I read it immediately after watching the movie with John Travolta, Rene Russo, Gene Hackman. It was amazing at how closely the book tracked the movie — or visa versa — since the book came first. And you can’t beat Elmore Leonard’s style for simple but engaging writing, and …
“I try to leave out the parts readers skip.” -Leonard Elmore
Get Shorty ain’t no page skipping book.
Sometimes I feel I’m losing a race. So many authors. So many books. Too little time. When Leonard Elmore died a few years ago, I made a promise I would get something read by him. I’m sorry it has taken me so long.
I finished Get Shorty a couple …
Elmore Leonard at the top of his game. A wonderful ensemble of characters with meticulous plotting to give a totally satisfactory crime caper at the same time as satirizing Hollywood. Great film adaption too.
some of the best dialog ever
I love Elmore Leonard and have read just about everything he wrote.
One of Leonard’s best.
The movie was entertaining, but the book just seemed silly. I couldn’t get into it.
There’s a reason this book spawned both a movie and a miniseries. Elmore Leaonard at his best (which is saying a lot). A fabulous, hilarious ride, awesomely funny fully rendered characters, a seamlessly unpredictable plot and one of the best skewerings of Hollywood ever.
Classic
If you haven’t yet been introduced to Elmore Leonard, why not start the new year with a literal bang? Get Shorty is a modern classic, far better than the movie it spawned (and the movie isn’t bad), far more entertaining than the works of the many emulators of the true crime master. Dig in. You’ll find yourself wanting more.
Perhaps Elmore Leonard’s finest. Enough said.
Fantastic, well developed characters and incredible story line. Couldn’t put it down. In fact, over the years, I’ve reread this book at least four times!
Elmore Leonard’s dialogue always leaves me laughing. His characters are beyond zany. His plots are so twisted, they’re impossible to take seriously. But I always go to him for dialogue.
Leonard always delivered a great crime story, filled with memorable characters. This is all time favorite and well worth the read.
Didn’t like. Mans book. Crude
Leonard at his best!
very funny
Even with images of the movie’s characters filling my imagination, this was a wonderful read.
As always, Elmore Leonard entertains. Better than the movie.
One of the few books I’ve read that wasn’t as good as the movie