I’m a sucker for a good hero. I don’t mean the carbon copy type that can do no wrong. I like heroes with flaws, and those who’ve grown and learned from their mistakes. I especially like heroes, protagonists if you will, who do not fit the typical literary mold. Block has made a career of crafting such heroes. You’ve already met Tanner. There’s also Matthew Scudder, a private investigator and recovering alcoholic, Bernie Rhodenbar, a cat burglar and used bookstore owner (his sidekicks include a dirty cop as well as a lesbian dog groomer), and Keller (John Paul Keller), an assassin who also happens to be an avid stamp collector. These are not cookie cutter heroes. They are about as unlikely as an assassin who collects stamps. Still, somehow, Block makes it work. To be honest, I’m not crazy about the Keller stories. The Tanner novels are fun, the Rhodenbar ones are absolutely brilliant, and Matthew Scudder is one of my all-time favorite characters. His character arc, which now spans almost forty years and is perhaps partially autobiographical, is a true masterpiece. Block is a masterpiece as well. Grab a copy of Tanner’s Virgin, or any of his other books. You won’t be disappointed.
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I enjoyed Michael Sova’s comments, especially because his describing Bernie as a ‘cat burglar’ reminded me of a delightful exchange between Bernie and Carolyn Kaiser on the meaning of that phrase in one of the Burglar novels. Inspired by that memory, my thoughts (in true Bernie-Carolyn fashion) then turned to the potential interpretations of Mr. Sova’s phrase “lesbian cat groomer.” You can take it from there.
Interesting that Keller is his least favorite as I feel Block has done his best work with the Hitman series. He created a character that everybody adores in spite of him being an assassin.The humor and dialogue between Keller and his gal associate is Block at his best.he has Keller constantly dodging bullets. I hope Block does another Keller book. Soon.