James Lee Burke short story in April edition of Esquire

[BOSSHOG]

He's writing a collection of short stories about Katrina to be published soon. One of the stories will be in next months Esquire. His next Robicheaux book will be out in July.

[slestak]

1. Esquire is terrific

They have a Iraq veteran named Colby Buzzell writing for them who is just amazing. He really gives readers a keen insight into the mind of these kids who are coming back from Iraq.

[BOSSHOG]

2. If you've never read Burke

give him a read. He's a fantastic story teller. His hero is extremely tragic and there is massive violence in his books as well as a ton of colorful characters set in and around New Orleans. I'm looking forward to the Esquire edition. Thanks for the info.

[Richardo]

3. Chief, do you recommend starting at the beginning and going in order?

That's how I like to do series...What's the first Robicheaux novel?

[BOSSHOG]

4. I would recommend

starting at the beginning. Because the Robicheaux story flows from book to book. His first three:

- The Neon Rain
- Heaven's Prisoners (made into a movie with Alec Baldwin playing the lead)
- Black Cherry Blues

I like Baldwin but he was miscast. Robicheaux ain't Alec Baldwin in my head. If you are familiar with New Orleans and like for the bad guy to eventually suffer intense pain and misery at the hands of an alcoholic Vietnam Vet and his trusted sidekick, these stories are for you. Robicheaux is an incredibly tragic character but a very good human being. Thanks for asking.

Check out: http://www.jamesleeburke.com/

[Richardo]

5. I saw your original thread the other day...

...this seems like a good complimentary series to Dennis Lehane's Boston novels.

[pitohui]

6. it's here

my issue was delivered today and the story blurbed on the cover

[Saboburns]

7. Big James Lee Burke fan here

Some of the best characters I've had the pleasure to read about. Lots of grey shades involved in his stories, not much black and white.

He has a wonderful website message beard and he responds to most questions publicly.

http://jamesleeburke.com/forum/index.php

[BOSSHOG]

8. I wouldn't want Dave and Clete pissed of at me

I'm rereading "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead," soon to be a movie. I hope Alec Baldwin doesn't play Dave again. I like Alec but he ain't Dave Robicheaux.

[Paladin]

10. A Movie of "Confederate Dead"?

So glad to hear it; it's probably my favorite mystery of all time. Guess I'll drag it out and re-read it for the third or fourth time.

Runner-up in terms of Burke's novels: "A Stained White Radiance." Although as far as I'm concerned, Burke's stories are similar to sex and Cuban cigars: the worst I've had was magnificent....

[bikebloke]

9. One of my favourites

James Lee Burke doesn't care for the junta. In his last couple books, he's made some pointed comments at the evil cabal (In the Moon of Red Ponies & Crusader's Cross).

I can't get enough of his prose. Someone wrote that his work is literature disguised as mystery.

[BOSSHOG]

12. He takes a nice swipe at bush

in the short story he wrote in April's Esquire; saying he couldn't believe the president was in Air Force One when it flew over New Orleans because if he was on the plane he would have stopped and gone to the people on the ground and assured them that the country was behind them. Slam, bam.

[babylonsister]

11. I love Burke! I'd cast Ed Harris as Dave. nt

[BOSSHOG]

13. Burke is the man alright

But I can't figure out who should play but certainly not Alec Baldwin who played him previously. I like Baldwin but not as Dave. Jack Nicholson would be a stretch. Maybe the guy who plays Grissom on CSI. Looking forward to burke's next book in July.

[bikebloke]

14. Hard to cast Dave

The character is so deep, I can't come up with an actor to really fill him out. It's kind of like casting Ian Rankin's John Rebus novels. I had to stop comparing actors with the novel and just enjoy the film on its own.And it was pretty good.

Clete would be fun to cast.

[BOSSHOG]

15. The Father on the Walton's

comes close to my view of Dave. Old, grizzled yet with a heart of gold. A tall Danny Devito as Clete?? Michael Chiklus with a few extra pounds? After all he did play the Thing. Clete is the Thing that eats Po-Boys. If the movie producers stay true to the book (Electric Mist/Confederate Dead) they are gonna have to come up with a young, nubile, attractive female FBI agent sidekick for Dave. J-Lo?

[Paladin]

17. I'll Tell You Who Was BORN To Play Clete

Brian Dennehy. He could do a flawless Clete in his sleep.

And....I think James Lee Burke might agree. I suggested Dennehy as Clete to him at a book-signing in Houston a few years ago, and he seemed to like the idea.

I turned up at that book-signing after work, figuring to duck in and out in a hurry---wrong. There were at least 200 people in line outside the bookstore, waiting to buy a signed copy of Burke's latest novel and shake his hand. Burke is huge down here.....

[bikebloke]

16. Pegasus Descending

James Lee Burke's latest to come out this summer, in case anyone wants to place their library holds when it's listed in the system.

http://www.jamesleeburke.com/