mg_ocio's review
4.0
53/2023 Segunda novela de las aventuras de John Dortmunder y su proverbial mala suerte para cometer atracos. Esta vez la panda decide dar el golpe del siglo robando un banco, pero no es un banco cualquiera, es un banco provisional instalado mientras duran las obras en el edificio del banco, y deciden llevárselo entero.
Es una juerga constante porque si algo tiene Westlake es sentido del humor, de sus tiempos y sus trucos, hace que te empieces a reír antes de que pasen algunas cosas porque te presupone más listo que sus personajes (que son todos tontísimos)
Es una pena que haya tan poco publicado
Es una juerga constante porque si algo tiene Westlake es sentido del humor, de sus tiempos y sus trucos, hace que te empieces a reír antes de que pasen algunas cosas porque te presupone más listo que sus personajes (que son todos tontísimos)
Es una pena que haya tan poco publicado
jorgegamboa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
snowynight's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
isovector's review
4.0
This one is more fun than the first! I don't really remember it, but it was solid before-bed reading.
slammy90's review
5.0
Come per miracolo, ho trovato questo volume (e il successivo, "Jimmy the Kid - Come ti rapisco il pupo", letto e amato) su una bancarella ad un prezzo irrisorio.. Non mi sembrava vero e appena il cervello ha registrato l'informazione che l'occhio gli stava fornendo (con segnale lampeggiante :D) mi ci sono fiondata in modalità ninja e li ho arraffati :DD
Westlake è un genio, mai trovata una banda di ladri più sgangherata degli Ineffabili cinque, giuro!!! Vi innamorerete a suon di piani folli (in questo caso l'idea di Kelp è di rubare una banca. Ma ci torno, promesso!), di sfighe colossali, svolte epocali e soprattutto TANTE risate!!!!
Dortmunder continua ad essere il mio preferito, ma certo che Victor e la sua stramberia un posticino nel mio cuore è riuscito a guadagnarselo, eh!
Il libro è del lontanissimo 1972 ma è sconcertante quanto sia attuale.. Penserete che gli Ineffabili cinque siano vostri connazionali (e magari vicini di casa, chi lo sa! :D): scrittura scorrevole, temi 'scottanti' che oggi son normali ma 40 anni fa.. InZomma!!!!
Come dicevo, il colpaccio del secolo - per sbancare il lunario - è quello di rubare una banca: no, non ho scritto male.. Gli ineffabili cinque pensano bene di portarsi via l'intero edificio adibito a banca che, per lavori, si trova momentaneamente all'interno di una roulotte lunga 17 metri e larga 4... Non vi dico le disavventure per spostarla (sono state infatti tolte le ruote e poggiata su lastre di marmo), nasconderla (è enorme :D) e portarla via..!!! :D
Westlake è un genio, mai trovata una banda di ladri più sgangherata degli Ineffabili cinque, giuro!!! Vi innamorerete a suon di piani folli (in questo caso l'idea di Kelp è di rubare una banca. Ma ci torno, promesso!), di sfighe colossali, svolte epocali e soprattutto TANTE risate!!!!
Dortmunder continua ad essere il mio preferito, ma certo che Victor e la sua stramberia un posticino nel mio cuore è riuscito a guadagnarselo, eh!
Il libro è del lontanissimo 1972 ma è sconcertante quanto sia attuale.. Penserete che gli Ineffabili cinque siano vostri connazionali (e magari vicini di casa, chi lo sa! :D): scrittura scorrevole, temi 'scottanti' che oggi son normali ma 40 anni fa.. InZomma!!!!
Come dicevo, il colpaccio del secolo - per sbancare il lunario - è quello di rubare una banca: no, non ho scritto male.. Gli ineffabili cinque pensano bene di portarsi via l'intero edificio adibito a banca che, per lavori, si trova momentaneamente all'interno di una roulotte lunga 17 metri e larga 4... Non vi dico le disavventure per spostarla (sono state infatti tolte le ruote e poggiata su lastre di marmo), nasconderla (è enorme :D) e portarla via..!!! :D
ericwelch's review
4.0
We all miss Donald Westlake, the creator of so many delightful books of which this is a fine example in the Dortmunder series. Dortmunder is a thief and con-man (he's been collecting deposits on encyclopedias when he runs into a little trouble). This time he's approached by his friend Kelp, who, with his his ex-FBI agent nephew, Victor, have the perfect bank robbery all lined up. It seems while a new branch bank building is being built, the bank has moved across the street to a mobile home. The bank usually doesn't worry about theft since cash is in the safe (damn those credit cards and checks) only Thursday nights and with seven guards and a sophisticated alarm system, what's to worry. Well you no doubt can guess their plan. It's to install wheels and drive off with the entire building.
As is typical with Westlake caper books, just as things seem to be going right, they go off the rails. The ending is worthy of slapstick comedy; in fact, this could make a great movie. ("Could" being operative word. Apparently they tried with George C Scott and Joanna Cassidy, but it was a bomb.) . The charm of these books has less to do with plot than the conversations and interplay between the characters, not to mention sarcastic portrayals of certain professions, mundane examples of how we move through life.
As is typical with Westlake caper books, just as things seem to be going right, they go off the rails. The ending is worthy of slapstick comedy; in fact, this could make a great movie. ("Could" being operative word. Apparently they tried with George C Scott and Joanna Cassidy, but it was a bomb.) . The charm of these books has less to do with plot than the conversations and interplay between the characters, not to mention sarcastic portrayals of certain professions, mundane examples of how we move through life.
northstar's review
3.0
Not as good as The Hot Rock but a fun caper novel and perfect for my insomnia bout last week.
asweetdevouring's review
4.0
Fast paced, funny, well thought out, and smart. I hate when I read mystery or crime novels and I have a whole bunch of questions that are never addressed because it is easier (lazier) not to mention them then for the author to fill out all the details. That doesn't happen in this book. By having "the planner" as the MC of his books Westlake challenges himself, and meets that challenge, in having his character make sure every detail of their crime is going to be covered and in a way that could actually work, not in the "it works if you don't think about it at all" that so many authors fall back on. This also doesn't fall into the trap of "needing" a book to be over 300 pages. Westlake has a 190 page story? He writes a 190 page story.
I enjoyed this one as much as the first book in the series and am looking forward to continuing on.
I enjoyed this one as much as the first book in the series and am looking forward to continuing on.
nigellicus's review
5.0
When I was only small the very first thing I wrote was a story about two chickens who rob a bank. Since our village was also only small, we had a mobile bank that came every fortnight, so the two chickens basically drove off with the bank. So this story speaks to me in a very deep, personal and intimate way, except none of the characters are chickens, so Donald E Westlake really missed a trick there.
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