SPOILERS!! THE GLASS RAINBOW ending and plot discussed here

[LeeCook]

You're right....the 3 books were amazing. I just had a hard time with the names and places, since I'm obviously not Swedish! I hope they get the legalities of the 4th book settled, so there might be a new release. As for the Robicheaux series, I'm not demeaning the possible end of the series...that's for the author to decide. Who knows? He might surprise us all for one more book. Personally, I haven't heard from Billy Bob Holland in some time, but whatever work JLB releases will be devoured by me.

LC

[jmsazboy]

OMG!!

I just finished (yeah, it's Midnight) and I am crawling out of my skin, I am waiting for my girlfriend to get up and ask me what is wrong!

This is a killer, I don't know what I will do without Dave and Clete!! Great ending and I hope the next book starts off with both of them waking up in a hospital!

I literally will not sleep the rest of the night.

Great book....guess I may have to warm up to this Hackberry Holland fella....

[veronicat]

I have my own fantasy that it was Larsson's girlfriend all along who wrote the books. LOL. I hear she has one on her computer that she is holding for ransom. It is a horrible story how his family took everything but she got nothing. In terms of a new book from Jim, I will be satisfied with whatever this Muses demand. LOL.

[veronicat]

OOPs I meant whatever HIS Muses demand. Just woke up, not done with first cup of joe yet. Sorry. lol

[penelope]

I don't agree that the series has run its course since they both had near death or after death experiences which would color all their choices BUT I do agree that this book is a suitable ending if the series is finished. I love it that the term "re-read" is used so much on this message board. THat is exactly what I have been doing! LOL

The Swedish names and places didn't diminish the incredible Larsson books at all. I thought they were absolutely amazing!

veronicat, I know where you are coming from in stating the series hasn't run its course, however, Dave and Cletus are over 70 years old. Just how long can we expect them to chase and run and wrestle and fight?

I've read and re-read the final chapters, and I still just do not know.

I agree with you about the re-read. I am starting again.

Glad you like Last Car to Elysian Fields. I can't say it's one of his best, because I can't choose which is best. I like them all. I do think In the Electric Mist was somewhat a turning point in the series. I went back and started with Neon Rain which is a terrific book. But I love to watch Jim grow as a writer throughout the series.

If you've not read White Doves, please do. It's one of the very best Civil War novels out there, IMO.

[veronicat]

Penelope, I have read all of Jim's books. LOl...including the non Dave and Clete books. I am also one of those who stated that if this was then end, we all know our boys are all right. It certainly was a brilliant ending. Just that some other readers thought that they have run the course. There is always more work to do it seems. I would love to think of Dave and Clete fishing while some younger ones would pick up their cause...but they don't make them any better than Dave and Clete and be it Montana or New Iberia I suppose they will always find the trouble in a town. You are right. They are old and that is why I thought this book would be a brilliant end to a beloved series. As far as Elysian Fields goes, I love it when there is a bad to the bone character who acts in a noble way be it Max Coll or Troyce Nix. I find them fascinating...and hopeful for the rest of us!

[penelope]

Penelope, I have read all of Jim's books. LOl...including the non Dave and Clete books. I am also one of those who stated that if this was then end, we all know our boys are all right. It certainly was a brilliant ending. Just that some other readers thought that they have run the course. There is always more work to do it seems. I would love to think of Dave and Clete fishing while some younger ones would pick up their cause...but they don't make them any better than Dave and Clete and be it Montana or New Iberia I suppose they will always find the trouble in a town. You are right. They are old and that is why I thought this book would be a brilliant end to a beloved series. As far as Elysian Fields goes, I love it when there is a bad to the bone character who acts in a noble way be it Max Coll or Troyce Nix. I find them fascinating...and hopeful for the rest of us!

How about Molly & Alafair out to get revenge? I'd love to see those two in action. Tripod has enough teeth left to bite a few legs and Snuggs can do some scratching with his powerful claws!

[mlerc]

All right. Know I am going to get my head cut off here, as I have NOT read the book yet, but even I can get the Armaggedon (sp?) tone of the conversation here. What I do not get is the age discussion. Is there some detail in a much earlier book that tells how old Dave and Clete are. Know that Hack is in his 70's and had been a POW in the Korean War. Thought Dave and Clete were in their 60's and vets of Vietnam. For instance, if he was 22 in '68, then they would only be '64 now. Certainly feeling their pains, and maybe need to bring on a VFlowers type of sergeant (from Sandford) to do the major battling stuff (to preserve muscle and bone in the podjos). But dying??? On the other hand, JLB could have a great new character in mind, maybe developed with Pete Flores from RAIN GODS, or just Alafair and Molly as Penny suggested.

Hmmmm
Marilyn

[penelope]

All right. Know I am going to get my head cut off here, as I have NOT read the book yet, but even I can get the Armaggedon (sp?) tone of the conversation here. What I do not get is the age discussion. Is there some detail in a much earlier book that tells how old Dave and Clete are. Know that Hack is in his 70's and had been a POW in the Korean War. Thought Dave and Clete were in their 60's and vets of Vietnam. For instance, if he was 22 in '68, then they would only be '64 now. Certainly feeling their pains, and maybe need to bring on a VFlowers type of sergeant (from Sandford) to do the major battling stuff (to preserve muscle and bone in the podjos). But dying??? On the other hand, JLB could have a great new character in mind, maybe developed with Pete Flores from RAIN GODS, or just Alafair and Molly as Penny suggested.

Hmmmm
Marilyn

Hey Marilyn,

We're not taking heads today, but you gotta read the book!.

My cousin who was a pilot in VN and shot down on his 98th (of 100) mission, is 73. Other cousins who served range in age from 63 to 68, so I see your point. Just depends on when they went in and at what age. Having said that, I think Dave's age has been alluded to in one of the books (possibly this one, but don't take that to the bank) but sometimes small details get by me these days. My perception is that Dave is somewhere around 70. His college degree is mentioned in this book and we don't know if he worked a few years before getting drafted or joining of his own accord.

One of the reasons Jim is such a great writer is that he allows each reader to come to her/his own conclusions.

Best,

Pen

[Byron]

I've had time to think about the ending and I think I know what bothers me so much about it. See, I was born in New Orleans in 1951 and lived there until 1964 when the family moved to Jacksonville. All my life I've had these memories of fishing on the salt out of Empire, of fishing on Lake Pontchartrain with my father and grandfather. Of riding the street car down St. Charles to Audobon Park. Of running up and down Monkey Mountain and the merry go round in City Park (which my grandfather supervised a crew of men to dig out all the lagoons). Of day parades in the Quarter, or beignets and chocolate milk at Cafe du Mond at night.

All those memories came alive every time I read a JLB book about Dave and Clete. Those books kept the memories of the great city of my childhood alive and fresh. Right after I started reading TGR, I was on Google Earth to find the best way to get to New Iberia. I even saw some of the places and restaurants that Dave ate at like Mulattes'.

Now, it's gone. Oh, I'll re-read the books again (which reminds me, I need to re-do the book shelves again), but somehow it just won't be the same. I don't know if anyone can understand this, but it's what I feel. And when you get right down to it, I have Mr. Burke to thank for keeping all those memories fresh. Thanks, James, for all the moments on the front porch when I could smell the salt, taste the oyster loaf, see the rain in Jackson Square.


Byron