I get the nicest emails from readers. Here’s what Nathaniel wrote:
It was the fall of 1999, and I was caring for my dying 100-year-old grandfather. I didn’t get out much because of that, but when I did I was sometimes dating a woman who also enjoyed mysteries. Blockaholic that I am, I’d just purchased and devoured Hit Man. Naturally, I lent my copy to my friend with the most enthusiastic recommendation.
“You’ll really enjoy this!”
“What’s it about?” OK, maybe she wasn’t the brightest of bulbs.
“Just read it,” says I.
Next time I saw her – some weeks later – I asked what she thought of the book.
“I haven’t read it yet. I lent it to my daughter’s boyfriend. He’s in jail and needed something to read.”
And I asked the obvious: “What’s he in jail for?”
“Murder.”
“Uh – you don’t know what the book’s about, right?”
“No—I said I didn’t read it.”
“Did the title give you any hint?”
“No.”
Thus ended that relationship. And no, I never got my copy back. I just hope he’s still in the clink.
Amen to that. And I just hope he didn’t think the book was an instructional manual…
LB
One of my favorite moments in your work is the scene in which Matt Scudder and a friend discuss Final Exit, by the Hemlock Society. Every audience brings its own challenges.
Ah, yes. Jan Keane in The Devil Knows You’re Dead.
I don’t know if I’m proud of this or not. But last week an old friend of mine (55 years) asked me to send four copies of my new book “Whitey Bulger – The Biggest Rat” to four guys in prison; in four different states. So I did. Then I recognized one of the names, and sure enough, his wife is connected to that horrible TV show “Mob Wives.”
The guy in jail wrote me a thank you note, and told me I was very popular in his prison; which I guess is okay, as long as I’m not actually residing in that prison.
This is what sometimes happens when someone is born and raised (and lived for 48 years) in a neighborhood like Little Italy in Downtown Manhattan.
Sounds like your book was a big hit. And they allow books with such titles in the clink?
Made me laugh. I’m still laughing as I write this. I have this vision of a book titled Murder for Dummies.
Levin, that’s exactly the thought that come to me! (And for all I know the title’s in preparation somewhere even as I type these lines. Actually, it’s not a bad title for a novel. Wonder if anybody’s used it already. Wonder if the “for dummies” people would sue…)