Biggest sandbox ever, you know? Some ways, Felix never left the desert, anymore than he left L.A. He sipped his own coffee, made a face. The film of Drive won Best Director award at Cannes; the six Lew Griffin books are in development. "We think we make choices," Manny says. This one I listed to on audio, it's only three discs, I finished it in one day or walking and errands. Until they're attacked on the street and she's murdered. He also does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing right until the very end. After his fiance is killed, the violence is unleashed again, Sallis explained. That's what he does. Felix watched Johnnys back as he walked off, then checked his two women again. That's what he does.

So, I needed a quick, unchallenging read. James Sallis' Drive is a little piece of pure and simple neo-noir; from it's concise and smooth dialogue, to the structure and pacing, depicting a considerable amount of violence, the sequel seems to attempt to craft the same elements, but unfortunately, they never feel as effective or fresh as before. In movies the guy who almost drowned shoots up out of the water and into sunlight like a porpoise, gulping at the air so long denied him, relief writ large on his face. I'm being hard on this one, largely because of the promise it held. She had been trying to smile up at him as the light went out of her eyes. He has to turn and face it. These arent the kind of people you step up and talk to. I loved the way Sallis described Driver's world, and although his plotting style can be rather loose in some ways (while his prose is very lean, tight, and sharp), that wasn't an issue for me. "Out there loose and free and moving fast, away from everything that works so hard to hold you in place," Driver thinks as he's tuning his ride. I loved Billie and the side characters seemed more complex than in the first book.

Although Sallis still jumps around during the story, it is much easier to follow, and I never found myself getting confused about where we were in the timeline. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used.See details for description of any imperfections. I've not read the first book. "I wrote the first page and was hooked," he said in an interview. There were some elements that I took notice of but the introduction of characters and storyline were all over the place. But now, Driver seems different. Driver finds that his past is catching up him. Courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press The lowest-priced item that has been used or worn previously.The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. It's like they landed at some sort of space a little too close to contentment, a place with a bar and good food and interesting conversation, but places like that don't make good stories.All the same - great story sketching, great pace, even with all the jumping around, beautifully done violence (NOT an oxymoron)and the description of everything cars was captivating. It flew by, and all I got were faint impressions of Driver between trying to figure out when I was reading about his past or the current events. At least, not the way the critics tell it, using words like "perfect". High on talk and light on action, this unnecessary sequel just screams "I was quickly written and pushed out to promote the movie". He handles them both, but Elsa isn't as lucky and Driver goes off the grid in an attempt to set things right. Unpacking took about as long as the cockroach check had. Felix called it his warren. Both of these books are really quick reads, and well worth the small investment of time. I tore through this book in a night and early morning. Maybe because I never had the sense that these people would ever be fully engaged again, or happy or anything. Twenty, thirty years apart, dressed alike. It might possibly be read as a standalone, but I would strongly suggest reading them in order. And you have no idea who this deadly duo was? The reader of the audio book did a very good job. ", James Sallis is the author of 14 novels, including The Killer Is Dying, and multiple collections of short stories, poems and essays. Knew hed been in Desert Storm, a Ranger he figured, from what little Felix said. He hadnt put the weight down; he carried them around inside. The bright spot is the frequent appearances of Shannon in Driver's memory, playing a larger part in this story than he did in Drive. Watched it cut to the left and, knowing that's what he'd do, swung toward it. James Sallis is the author of 14 novels, including The Killer Is Dying, and multiple collections of short stories, poems and essays. But now that weve poured all the cold water we can, if it does get made, what will it be about? Not sure why? The ending was much different than I had expected, and pleasantly so. Jim plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and Dobro both solo and with the band Three-Legged Dog. Rate as 1 out of 5, I didn't like it at all. How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Bryan Cranston Is Responsible for His Shocking 'Drive' Death, Pitched Idea to Refn After Not Liking Original Scene, Carey Mulligan Tried and Failed to Watch 'Drive,' Admits She Still Hasn't Seen the Nicolas Winding Refn Classic, 10 LGBTQ Film and TV Creators on the Rise, from Jerrod Carmichael to Isabel Sandoval, 'The Lord of the Rings': Everything You Need to Know About Amazon's Big Money Adaptation. , I admire it so much that I have taught it regularly in my first-year seminar on the hardboiled tradition. "Watched the car behind try to stop and realize it couldn't. However, I found this book to be entertaining a nice continuation of already established character whose life took a believable turn. Here is a continuation of the series that spawned a motion picture. They first set this place down, Felix was telling him, it was an in-your-face beachhouse. Felixs eyes followed a pair of women being seated by the front railing.

Will he face it? I have come to expect much better,more even writing,storytelling than this by a great writer like Sallis. You could even maybe read them both together as one whole book. This is short journey, Sallies doesnt hold us up wit. Both of these books are really quick reads, and well worth the small investment of time. So it is with Driver, who you meet as he watches his fianc get gunned down in the street, seemingly for no reason. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Passages from the perspective of a loner in his early 30s sounding like a grouchy old man upset that the world has moved on, and other observations are so on the nose that I wonder if Sallis even self-edited let alone had somebody else look over his work before sending it to the printers, are just two examples of why this feels like a quick a relatively painless waste of time. //

Look forward to trying more James Sallis books. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. a delightful festival of murder, fast cars and action. Some kind of bodyguard or enforcer. Driver has left the old life, become Paul West, and founded a successful business back in Phoenix. "We so rarely understand what effects our actions have. Out of the count for the while if not for good. You must remember in a movie we have visuals to move the story along.i.e. I hadn't yet read DRIVE, which was made into a Hollywood movie, so I approached the sequel, DRIVEN without any preconceptions or comparisons to be made between the two tales. "I drive." Driven isn't a bad book but it is a sort of frustrating one. Not unlike its predecessor Drive, Driven is a slow burn neo-noir, accented with splashes of violence here and there. Much of the same happens in the second book as the first. "Driver slowed, started to speed, then slowed again and slammed the brakes," he writes. However, I found this book to be entertaining a nice continuation of already established character whose life took a believable turn. The picture had just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to rapturous reviews, going on to earn Refn Best Director honors. Pull all the shit out, theres a board you can pry up.

You just have to look closely., The Most Reviewed Essay Collections of the Past Five Years. And there are still a lot of steps for this to happen: a script, financing, casting etc.

He wiped the table with a damp rag, then picked up both coffee mugs with his left hand and set the bottles down with his right. Excellent bloom. I loved the way Sallis described Driver's world, and although his plotting style can. At the end of Drive, Driver has killed Bernie Rose, "the only one he ever mourned," ending his campaign against those who double-crossed him. More of a 2.5 out of 5 stars, although, it still feels at the same level as the first one. There was no need for Drive to have a sequel, but there it was and I had to see what happens to the Driver. When you get time. [CDATA[ Driver has left the old life, become Paul West, and founded a successful business back in Phoenix. Jim plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and Dobro both solo and with the band Three-Legged Dog. So, keep those expectations tempered, but theres a chance Driver will be back with another cool jacket and a toothpick in his mouth. Because he drives. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. You wouldnt be. But something had clicked. ", James Sallis (born 21 December 1944 in Helena, Arkansas) is an American crime writer, poet and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel, Everythings interesting. "Driver" has left L.A, and now seven years had pass, engaged and living a different life than before, his past will eventually catch up, and he'll have to find out who's attempting to kill him, and how this connects to the events from the first book (which, it does, but until the very end). A lifetime of walking through doors into new lives. This was an utterly terrible book. The key was under a brick at the base of the century plant by the two-car garage that now served as storage for tenants. You think birds gargle? And sometime before that, a gangbanger back in good old east L.A. }}(document,'script','twitter-wjs'); Hed never cared much about possessions, so it had been easy walking away from the house and all the rest. Watched DRIVE this week and looked for sequel, and upon not finding it, turned to the written one that I knew was out there. Sinking back into anonymity, aided by his friend Felix, an ex-gangbanger and Desert Storm vet, Driver retreats but finds that his past stalks him and will not stop. New York Times Book Review"Terse, brutal, poetic, perfectly wrought." Now he was 32, sitting at a table on the deck of HIPPIE PLACE, around to the side, away from the street. He looked off to the tree where a bird was giving it everything it had, as though Judgment Day or final exams were in an hour. I don't mind the writing style so much as how poorly it was all held together. Unlike most souls who arent nailed down, once he moved on from a place, he didnt let it go, he kept it. Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime. Mother and daughter? Entertaining and enjoyable way to spend a few hours. "We could use a couple of beers. As others have observed, there wasn't an obvious reason for this to become a sequel. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, From Elvis to Minions, Movies Are Making a Comeback in Theaters but Theres Work to Be Done, Nope: Shooting Jordan Peeles IMAX-Sized Spectacle of Horror, The Frenetic Editing of Elvis Is a Matter of Perspective, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: Creating Sonic Scale for a Small Shell, 33 Must-See New Movies to See This Summer Season, The 15 Best Films of 2022 Weve Already Seen, Hollywoods Big Risks: 25 Daring Studio Films from the Last 15 Years, Every Studio Film Directed by Female Filmmakers Coming Out in 2022 and 2023. View cart for details. Until they're attacked on the street and she's murdered. This book was so much better than the first one. Of course, they made changes in the script but it has the blood, heart and guts of the book it feels like my film.. Thats why were sitting back here by the dumpster and you came in with a hat sitting halfway down your nose. Trying to figure out what I thought of this book (which I picked up before I go see the movie), but I'm still so confused. That's how much filler there is. Driver didnt know that much about Felix, about his background anyway. Reassessments were made at the corporate level. It could be more concise and succinct and that alone would make for a better read. Short, punchy, enjoyable and violent tale of a driver who does Hollywood stunts by day and is a robbery driver by night. But dont get too excited. by Poisoned Pen Press. I felt bored, and the only time I jerked to attention was for a simile, some of which were good, and some of which made me feel as if I was watching the author labor over them. This particular cell of the warren was the southeast unit of a quadraplex cut from what had been a respectable single-family house back when what was now the central city had been cozy suburbs. It was hot going hotter; sunlight caught in the fine sheen of sweat on Elsas forehead. Start by marking Driven (Drive, #2) as Want to Read: Error rating book. And you know how few things go the distance around here. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Dozens of boxes, furniture, a potbelly stove, framed paintings, an ancient Fender speaker cabinet. Long time back. Or will have. A local author with a strong knowledge of southern AZ will also give you a setting that is very familiar, especially for a long term resident itself who knows who places have developed (and undeveloped). Reading DRIVEN cemented my appreciation for James Sallis's talent, which I'd first experienced last year with SALT RIVER. An enjoyable sequel. April 3rd 2012 Can a sequel be better than the first book? Reading DRIVEN cemented my appreciation for James Sallis's talent, which I'd first experienced last year with SALT RIVER. Driver glanced through the window. James Sallis has published fourteen novels, multiple collections of short stories, poems and essays, the definitive biography of Chester Himes, three books of musicology, and a translation of Raymond Queneau's novel Saint Glinglin. I think of it as a kind of noir tribute written by a "literary" (which is to say non-genre) novelist. If your looking for the character to be same in the book as he was in the story, this not the book for you. Just in case it turns out you need it. They are dysfunctional, not always likeable, definitely broken but also incredibly compelling. Refresh and try again. Walking down the street one day, he and his fiance are attacked by two men and, while Driver dispatches both, his fiance is killed. How? Driven, a switchblade of a little novel, picks up about seven years after Drive. Now I find myself hoping that there will be another book. !function(d,s,id) Plot wise it's somewhat similar, once again someone's after the Driver for sins of his past and he must resolve the sit. Very quick and enjoyable novella. That is one cool hat, though.". He understood then what had delayed the second mans attack. But it happens seven years later, after the pretty satisfying double cross and revenge that concludes the first book, Drive. Driven isn't a bad book but it is a sort of frustrating one. Didnt understand how he could live without it. If your looking for the character to be same in the book as he was in the story, this not the book for you.

A good hard-boiled noir read. Let us know whats wrong with this preview of, Published Again, it centers on Driver, the quiet, enigmatic Hollywood stuntman who, in the first book, moonlighted as a getaway driver on heists. We spend the next 130 pages following Driver as he dodges more hit men, trying to figure out where they're coming from and why they're even after him. This is a top 25 read, for a good while this was also my favourite book. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Books, Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. Engaging and quick.

Sallis is pretty prolific, so there is a lot more of him to delve into. This is a similarly short book, packed with powerful prose and a keen eye for the nooks and crannies of human nature. Johnny brought the beers. Walking down the street one day, he and his fiance are attacked by two men and, while Driver dispatches both, his fiance is killed. The car cut hard again to avoid collision and, losing its center, careened off the road, came within a hair's breadth of turning over, came back down on four wheels rocking. So why bring it in close? He carried utility luggage, a duffel bag, with utility clothes. The foods crap, but its dependable. I think of it as a kind of noir tribute written by a "literary" (which is to say no. This book was so much better than the first one. Oh, like persuade whoevers on your trail what a bad idea that could turn out to be. By the time the man was down, that same foot hit his throat. They came for him just after 11:00 on a Saturday morning, two of them. He's very much modeled now on Bryan Cranston's portrayal of the character, which was also a bright spot in the film. Walking away from Elsas body had been the hard thing. Pages are unmarked. It is as if he sat down in the front of the typewriter and wrote a quick story without sending it too any proofreaders. There were Felix apartments, nondescript houses and duck-holes, scattered all around Phoenix. One way or another, Felix had been off the screen all his life. I like the main character. I didn't much care for the first book but this sequel feels so unnecessary and completely unlike the quality I've come to associate with Sallis and his Lew Griffin novels. Then, without looking back, In the bathroom, cabinet under the sink. Driven tells how that young man, done with killing, becomes the one who goes down "at 3 a.m. on a clear, cool morning in a Tijuana bar.". It isn't as good as the first one, simply because the first one covered Driver's basis and established his personality already and those were the most interesting parts. It's probably the right book for someone, but that someone isn't me. The story is through the eyes of the intended victim who hasn't exactly grown up and lived in the sterling life. The side characters were much better. ". His you-never-know principle, that also being his rejoinder to pretty much whatever life threw at him or anything asked of him: why he did things, the actions of others, what he thought the chances were of the sun coming up tomorrow. He spun, slamming his foot and the whole of his body weight against the outside of the mans right knee, and heard it give. Kinda didnt take in as to how the hoods full of stray cats? 2022 IndieWire Media, LLC. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less, item 1 Driven: The Sequel to Drive by James Sallis, item 5 Driven By James SallisThe sequel to Drive, Paperback, item 6 Driven: The Sequel to Drive by James Sallis: Used, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 6 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 39 product ratings, 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 366 product ratings, 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 14 product ratings, 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 554 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 140 product ratings, 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 39 product ratings. //]]>, Be the first to ask a question about Driven. {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; There was clearly a demand for a sequel after the success of the movie Drive, but author James Sallis didn't seem to have much of a story in mind. James Sallis says he had no intention of writing a sequel to Drive, his 2005 neo-noir thriller that, with the help of dreamy lead Ryan Gosling, later became one of the moodiest films of 2011.