The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart by Lawrence Block

I think it was Lawrence Block's website that made me realize my perception of Bernie has been off from the beginning. Block describes him as a young guy - perpetually young, unlike the aging Scudder. I'd pictured him as older. But now that I've shaved 15 years off my mental picture, I like him so much more. Still, I'm surprised at how often in these stories I am able to figure out what's happening before any of the other characters. I wonder if that happens to the other readers too, or if it's just a coincidence that my knowledge of a few esoteric topics just happens to be relevant each time. For example, on this one I knew what "CAPHOB" meant from the very beginning, though the meaning ended up being largely irrelevant in the end. I've only seen a couple of Bogart films in my time, but enough to be amused at the gradual Bogartization of Bernie's worldview as he gets more immersed in the two-Bogart-a-day film festival.

The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams by Lawrence Block

I realize it's weird - and possibly irritating as hell - to read all the books in a series and complain in each post about how disappointing they all are. I realize that I should just STOP READING a series I don't particuarly enjoy. But I am a lazy reader. I spend a lot of time zoning out on planes, and Bernie's an unchallenging companion on these trips. I keep swearing off him, but then the next time I find myself on a jetway I can't help picking up the next one. Damn you, Kindle, in your enabling ways.

The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian by Lawrence Block

The plot on this one is just plain dumb, and a lot of the events of the story strain credibility to say the least. I've grown weary of Bernie's gatherings at the end of each story. I love it when Nick Charles brings together all the players and suspects in someone's living room at the end of a Thin Man movie to explain to everyone what really happened and to incite the guilty to confess. I love that the guilty party always does. But Bernie is no Nick Charles, Lawrence Block is no Dashiell Hammett, and this is not the 1930s. I appreciate the homage, but it just doesn't work in a modern setting.

The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza by Lawrence Block

I wonder about Lawrence Block's hobbies, and how much of himself goes into Bernie, Keller, and Scudder. There are similarities across characters that can't be coincidence - they've got to be parts of Block himself. One theme I enjoy is the collecting of stamps and coins. It's such a dorky pastime to have, and it amuses me greatly to see it given such prominence in his mystery series.

The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block

I like Bernie as a bookseller. It suits him. I also like Carolyn, and I'm glad that Bernie has a sidekick now. But she's pretty much a carbon copy of Dot from the Keller series, which takes a bit of the shine away. They don't talk, they banter, and this gets old after a while.

The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block

I'm still wanting to like this series more than I actually am enjoying it. How many times can a single burglar stumble across a murder in the course of his burgling, requiring that he dedicate himself to solving the crime to clear his good (bad) name? The answer so far seems to be "at least twice". So far, I like the writing, and I like the characters, but the plots leave me completely cold.

Burglars Can't Be Choosers by Lawrence Block

I'm not quite sure what to make of the Bernie Rhodenbarr series just yet. I'm obviously coming to the end of Block's Scudder series, and am trying both his other series (Keller and Rhodenbarr) on for size. I don't know that Bernie's a good fit, but I'll probably keep reading until I'm sure. I actually think Bernie himself is great, and I like the lighthearted caper feeling to the story, especially in contrast to the dark depression of the Scudder series at its end. But I didn't enjoy the fact that I could predict nearly every twist and turn of the plot, nor was the resolution very satisfying. We'll see.