Found and bought this one from a local branch of the St. Louis County Library just recently.
Ever since I read my first Carl Hiaasen book (TOURIST SEASON) as a young 20-something year old all those years ago, I became fond of the comedy “caper” novels that Mr. Hiaasen and several others do so well. So when I found VINNIE’S HEAD, I knew I had to pick it up. It looked like it was right up my alley. As it turned out, I could not have been more correct.
The blurbs for the book are interesting. Of course there is the inevitable comparison to Mr. Hiaasen and such but two of the quotes mention the novel being akin to BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA, which was another selling point for me. I don’t think, however, Sam Peckinpah demonstrated the flair for comedy in BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (other than perhaps Warren Oates’ car being full of the flies that were trying to feast on Alfredo’s cranium) that author Marc Lecard does with VINNIE’S HEAD.
The novel tells the story of a small-time criminal, Johnnie LoDuco (sometimes known to his associates as “Douchebag”). The opening sequence of the book has Johnnie fishing in a New Jersey river and somehow snagging his friend Vinnie’s disattached head on the line. Wow, what are the odds? Despite what the aquatic life has done to the head so far, it’s a miracle that Johnnie even still recognizes it.
Johnnie gets spooked, of course, and he takes the head with him in a bag so no one will see it and associate him with it. So that we fully understand how he’s come to this point, the story goes into flashback mode and we get to know about Vinnie and Johnnie’s relationship and what happens to Johnnie because of his involvement in a robbery of cold cuts. Yes, cold cuts.
Chapter 4 really begins the tale of Vinnie and how his head comes to be removed. From there, it’s a wild ride. VINNIE’S HEAD, without giving much else away, is a rollicking, bad taste laugh-fest. And that’s a GOOD thing.
While the book does owe – and pays – its props to the humor of Carl Hiaasen, Robert Klane (WHERE’S POPPA?, WEEKEND AT BERNIES I & II) and others who have come before, Mr. Lecard certainly has his own style and literary “voice”, if you will. As such, I’m very interested to see what else he has in store for us.
Highly recommended if you have a sense of humor. If not, don’t bother because you won’t get it or enjoy it.
Ever since I read my first Carl Hiaasen book (TOURIST SEASON) as a young 20-something year old all those years ago, I became fond of the comedy “caper” novels that Mr. Hiaasen and several others do so well. So when I found VINNIE’S HEAD, I knew I had to pick it up. It looked like it was right up my alley. As it turned out, I could not have been more correct.
The blurbs for the book are interesting. Of course there is the inevitable comparison to Mr. Hiaasen and such but two of the quotes mention the novel being akin to BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA, which was another selling point for me. I don’t think, however, Sam Peckinpah demonstrated the flair for comedy in BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (other than perhaps Warren Oates’ car being full of the flies that were trying to feast on Alfredo’s cranium) that author Marc Lecard does with VINNIE’S HEAD.
The novel tells the story of a small-time criminal, Johnnie LoDuco (sometimes known to his associates as “Douchebag”). The opening sequence of the book has Johnnie fishing in a New Jersey river and somehow snagging his friend Vinnie’s disattached head on the line. Wow, what are the odds? Despite what the aquatic life has done to the head so far, it’s a miracle that Johnnie even still recognizes it.
Johnnie gets spooked, of course, and he takes the head with him in a bag so no one will see it and associate him with it. So that we fully understand how he’s come to this point, the story goes into flashback mode and we get to know about Vinnie and Johnnie’s relationship and what happens to Johnnie because of his involvement in a robbery of cold cuts. Yes, cold cuts.
Chapter 4 really begins the tale of Vinnie and how his head comes to be removed. From there, it’s a wild ride. VINNIE’S HEAD, without giving much else away, is a rollicking, bad taste laugh-fest. And that’s a GOOD thing.
While the book does owe – and pays – its props to the humor of Carl Hiaasen, Robert Klane (WHERE’S POPPA?, WEEKEND AT BERNIES I & II) and others who have come before, Mr. Lecard certainly has his own style and literary “voice”, if you will. As such, I’m very interested to see what else he has in store for us.
Highly recommended if you have a sense of humor. If not, don’t bother because you won’t get it or enjoy it.
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