Be Cool audiobook

4.5 Stars for Be Cool: Chili Palmer, Book 2 (audiobook) by Elmore Leonard read by Campbell Scott. This was the first time I’ve listen to this story. I’ve seen the movie a bunch of times and it’s a favorite of mine. It was really interesting to see how the Hollywood writers made changes to the story for the big screen. I guess I’m a little surprised how close it is to the movie. So many of the key scenes and dialogue was in the book. Sorry Elmore Leonard I think I like the story better with the changes. They add a level of humor that’s not in the book.

Elmore Leonard is one of my favorite authors. His dialogue is spot on and within a single page, and without even a physical description of his characters, you can picture his hero and villains — their mannerisms, their looks, their styles — by what they say and how they say it. By the end of the first page, the author has dropped me so deep into his character's world, every time, I read on with my imagination on fire.I will always be a student of his writing.In Be Cool, his reformed gangster and now film producer, Chili Palmer, who starred in his other novel Get Shorty, is now back being down on his luck in Hollywood. While Chili's first picture was a hit (Get Shorty), his second was a studio hack job, and Chili was forced to cash in on it as the Hollywood execs cashed out. While determined not to avoid the same mistakes for his third picture, he is in the tricky situation of a film producer and writer without an idea. But fortunately, he has the swagger and confidence to ride it out. Elmore Leonard, the author, then infuses Chili with a writing process in an art imitates life situation. Like his character, Elmore Leonard is not one to focus on plot. He is a character writer at heart. But once he knew who his lead was, he would then throw situations at them and write about how they would react. One scene would move onto the next in a seemingly natural, devil may care style, but it allowed the character's actions to drive the story than vice versa. It's a writing style I love myself. It makes the characters seem more real and the story more integrated and believable. Although I am sure Elmore Leonard did not have the swagger of a Chilli Palmer, this much-beloved book (and movie) was Elmore's way to showcase his particular writing style. Start with the characters, set up a scene and write. I am sure the plot twists were as much a surprise to the author as they were to the characters (and readers), as Elmore, like Chili, just let the story play out.I could go on, but it's best to read his books and find out for yourself. He wrote forty-seven novels — and while I am probably only halfway through the list, I love to re-read them. He is that good.Check it out.

The Story Of Linda MoonSet in Hollywood, Elmore Leonard's novel "Be Cool" is a sequel ten years removed from his novel "Get Shorty". Although I haven't yet read the earlier book or the films made from each book, I have been reading a good deal of Leonard. The works I have read are set in Harlan, Kentucky, Detroit, Florida, the Arizona territory, and now Hollywood. Leonard is able to capture something of the places and cultures he describes.I didn't find it necessary to know "Get Shorty" before reading this book, but it is important to know that "Be Cool" is a sequel, featuring the same main character, Chili Palmer, a former loan shark from Florida and Brooklyn who has managed to evade criminal prosecution and made a life for himself in Hollywood in the movies. His first film, "Get Leo" was a success but its sequel, "Get Lost" failed. Chili is looking for ideas for a third movie. There is a mirroring in Leonard's novel as it too is a sequel to an earlier successful novel and film.The scene is set in the quick-moving opening chapter which takes a couple of readings to come clear. An old partner in crime, Tommy, approaches Chili suggesting that Chili make Tommy's life the basis for a movie. Alas, Tommy is immediately gunned-down. Much of the rest of the book involves finding the killer. Chili wants to use life as the basis for art and seeks in reality the characters that will drive his film. He also wants a woman involved. Chili is something of a manipulator who tries to control events in a way that will make an effective story portrayed on screen. The woman in this case goes by the name of Linda Moon. Chili has heard her voice as she works setting up matches for a dating service and he becomes entranced. Linda is also a singer who has fallen on rough times in a competitive business.The book is a bit too long and cumbersome. The reader has to keep straight the search for Tommy's killer, Chili's ongoing plans for his film, his love and sexual interests, Linda's efforts to establish her musical career, and a host of sub-themes and stories of violence. The book also includes a host of characters, many of whom are well-developed including besides Chili and Linda, characters from the film and music industries, Russian thugs, and a Samoan body guard for one of the many crooked characters in the story.While Chili is the nominal main character, Linda Moon is the focus of the book. Leonard shows a great deal about her, beginning with her days as a child in west Texas to her love of singing and composing her own songs. Linda sings a mix of rock and country with light accompaniment and is shown as having artistic integrity for her style of music. Linda is also driven by ambition and the desire to make it big-time in popular music. She has a small band called Odessa which must change its name because it is already used by other groups. And so we have another play on words and on things as the band becomes known as the Linda Moon. The novel discusses the compromises an artist must make in the pursuit of success. Linda Moon, her music and her dreams come to life in this book.The seamy. thuggish side of the music business also gets a great deal of attention as well. in this book. In addition to Linda Moon, the novel includes several other strong female characters, particularly Elaine, Chili's producer at the studio and a possible love interest.The humor of the book is sharp and the plot takes many surprising twists with a great deal of mayhem and violence. Some of the broader themes of the book including the relationship between life and art and the search for love pass easily under all the banter and crime. The character development, dialogue, and setting more than make up for the sometimes cumbersome plotting. I enjoyed this book and want to read more of Elmore Leonard.Robin Friedman

A continuation of the Chili Palmer saga as begun in Get Shorty. Elmore Leonard in Be Cool does for Los Angeles what he had done in other novels for Detroit and Miami. The idea of a loan shark from Miami becoming a movie and record producer is basically a good one. I probably liked the Chili Palmer films by Barry Sonnenfeld as much as I liked the books, probably even a little more.Still, there were some interesting bits about the character of Linda Moon which didn't come across in the film, so I'd have to say that book or movie was a pretty close call.

Do you sometimes read a passage over and over, not because it sounds good, but because it sounds wrong? I had a moment like that in Elmore Leonard's Be Cool. It is the sequel to Get Shorty and was written in 1999. Chili Palmer is back, living dangerously and using his current real-life experiences as a setting for the screenplay he is putting together. So much so that the novel is constructed in large portions as if Chili is narrating his movie screenplay as his life is unfolding. So we have a book character telling us his life and imagining actors doing what is happening as scenes in a movie. I don't think I've seen that before.The scene that made no sense was this: Chili is at the late Tommy Athens' office with an associate and Tommy's widow and they are looking at his financial records to see if Tommy's company has potential. Chili's associate thinks the books have been "cooked" to impress potential clients. Tommy's widow remembers he keeps a set of financial records at home, too. The associate says if they don't show a different financial picture, "we're out of business before we start". Huh? The books at home would be financially worse, not better!Anyway, in this story, Chili had met Tommy for lunch to float an idea about a movie sequel. A car pulls up to the outdoor cafe and a gunman kills Tommy. Is Chili shocked? Disheartened? Scared for his life? No, he decides what just happened will make a perfect opening scene for the movie. He finds a struggling young singer, Linda Moon, and feels that her story could work for the film. But he needs to find out more about the music business in L. A., so he learns the business from a promoter, and tells Linda's agent that he will be managing her now. Before long, he has made enemies of her agent, her agent's goon, the police, the Russian mafia and a badass hip-hop rapper's gang. But it's all good to Chili, because hey, whatever happens is potential fodder for the movie.

Elmore Leonard pisses me off because he writes so well that, in my nimble mind, the task of writing a novel seems to be a no-brainer. I DO know better. Leonard is so much fun to read because he's so easy to read. That's not to say his writing is simple, far from it. He just does it so well, with a perfect flow to dialogue and exposition. Be Cool is the continued adventures of Chili Palmer and the usual cast of miscreants. Have fun.

This is Elmore Leonard at his best. This is the only book I ever bought twice because I lost the first copy and needed it to reread all the great Chili Palmer lines. The scene with the rock star floating in the pool and trying to threaten Chili, is one of the greatest fictional scenes in literature. "Is that really what you want to say?"

5 out of 5 For a fun breezy read from the master of the Crime Fiction genre Mr. Elmore Leonard (RIP)Chili ‘look at me’ Palmer, the ex-wise guy (okay so he was ‘loosely connected’) ex-loan shark from Brooklyn by way of Miami Beach, is in Los Angeles now where he has re-invented himself as a movie producer whose in dire need of material for a new film project. And he gets one; at a lunch meeting with a shady record producer which opens the book with a bang.Intrigued by this music business thing, he meets a lovely and talented singer by the name of Linda Moon who wants to be in a band of what she describes as a ‘rock ‘n roll with a twang’ thing, but she can’t follow this dream because she’s currently in another band under contract for a pimp by the name of Raji doing Spice Girls covers (This and many other pop culture touch stones’ like CD’s, MTV music videos, etc. Makes the book feel a bit dated)Soon enough Chili becomes the target of the Russian mob, the pimp and his 250 pound gay Samoan bodyguard by the name of Elliot Wilhelm whom for some reason is in the habit of arching his eyebrows. Amid such hostile environment Chili keeps his cool and wits about him. He’s like a talkative version of a hero in a Sergio Leone Western.This is a fun, breezy read and—as always—Elmore has a way of delivering huge chunks of the plot by way of witty dialog like nobody else in the business. Whenever I’m in need of inspiration in my own ‘literary’ endeavors I always turn to the works of Elmore Leonard for a jolt of inspiration. Which reminds me I should re-read: Tishomingo Blues, City Primeval, Hombre, La Brava…etc., etc., etc.

Better than its movie but more racist and somehow still about movies. Music part plays a small role.Both had huge Samoans.

Jesus, if I'm ever able to write dialogue this well I can die a happy man. This is a fun read, full of interesting characters and very funny scenes. There's Shylocks, gay Samoans, rappers, music execs and a healthy dose of gangsters. The characters develop in unexpected yet logical ways. And the interactions between characters is crisp and authentic.The story concept - if that's what you'd call it - is damn clever, too. The main character, Chili Palmer is putting together what's to be his third movie, and this the backbone of the book's plot. Palmer's creative process flows along with the story, so that "actual events" in the book become possible scenes for Palmer's upcoming flick. It made reading the book feel like having a magician explain the trick while he's doing it - and still finding yourself amazed.I haven't read this book's prequel (Get Shorty). But I was never lost or confused; Be Cool stands on it's own. And the small segments of backstory are so well integrated as to be invisible.Great story. Looking forward to reading it again.

Liked the book, Liked the character Chili Palmer as a Movie producer/ former gangster who uses his under world skills to get around in the shady world of crime thugs And make situations better for the other under dog characters in the book that he encounters while moving thru the movie making and music record business.

Elmore Leonard tackles the music industry in this book from 1999. He drops you right into a scene with Chili Palmer, a character from Leonard's book Get Shorty, and his friend Tommy having lunch, and then a guy with a bad wig and a gun changes it all. Ever the master at dialogue and mood, Leonard weaves this into a tale of music, mobsters, and mayhem.

Chili Palmer returns and tries to conquer the music industry. Right off the bat this is a weird sequel because while it focuses on Chili, he seems more of a bystander rather than the protagonist. Karen Flores is not in the novel which opens a can of worms when it comes to Chili’s relationships with women. In the first novel Get Shorty we know he has an ex and by the end we are led to believe that he has turned a page in his life not just when it comes to profession, but also his love life. It's hard to see him ever settling with someone. Still even in this novel it is to escape his past as a shylock as he is really good at telling how it is and giving it to you straight. That only leads to trouble. There are a couple of vivid characters in the novel, mainly Raji and Elliot. Looking at the overall story the more you want the character of Linda Moon to be the protagonist and Chili to be a supporting character with big presents in the story. Personally, I think it's weaker than Get Shorty and probably my least favorite novel that I’ve read thus far. Looking back on it I probably rated Get Shorty a bit higher than I should have, but I enjoyed both Chili Palmer books. Not counting the western short stories my favorite novel that I’ve read thus far are in order of favorite to least favorite: Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Mr. Majestyk and Be Cool.

At the Four Seasons...yeah LA not NY, you know I been back a week already. So I'm looking and who comes in but Chili Palmer. Yeah, the man himself. We go back to the old days and he comes over and we catch up. Gives me a Cohiba panatela and we don't light up account of the rules everywhere. And I ask him it bother him the reviews and stuff they say about Be Cool. How they say it don't "measure up" to Get Shorty and "formulaic." And he says, what, he's supposed to read guys who couldn't get something reviewed it would save their life. I nod and say fair point but what does he think about it. Being different than feel. He looks at his cigar and wishes for a nice one inch ash and says box office don't write books. And I say truer words, Chil, truer words. So then he says besides, look at Harlequin and all those chick-lit houses. They got rules for their stuff so tight they want it formulaic. I say I get that and was me I'd make 'em all use normal talk like his books. That'd be my rule. He gives me a wink and leaving says send the books and he'll sign. Then I finish my lunch? They tell me it's all taken care of.

Be Cool is that rare full-on sequel of Leonard’s, and oddly enough, like Stick following up Swag, I’d say its biggest drawback is Leonard falling a bit too in love with the dad fantasy of its lead; in this case Chili Palmer. He’s cool! He’s the coolest! All the ladies like him! I guess most Leonard leads have a bit of the old dad fantasy to them, but usually they’re quiet and professional, kinda “get on with things” type of guys. Chili is a slick huckster who can talk his way outta any situation, which makes him feel more overt a projection. I was bummed out that Elaine, the lady he has a professional relationship with in Get Shorty turns into a love interest here. C’mon, you can just be friends!It’s still fun though, since Leonard can essentially do these “turn the characters loose” narratives in his sleep. I liked Elliot and Vita, and Raji the dumb fuck!I’m wondering if this is where the turning point happens where the loosey goosey narrative takes over, cuz I had heard the typical Leonard approach starts to ramble a little bit in his old age. This was his last book of the 20th century, so let’s find out as I go along!

Chili's still got it, even after his adventures in Hollywood crash and burn. In search of a comeback, he wanders from the movies to the heart of the music industry. Music is to film as film is to the mob. Egos burn hot, and true talent finds itself at odds with assembly line sugar laced pop crap.While "Be Cool" didn't grab me as tightly as "Get Shorty," I found it a worthy sequel. As Elmore Leonard gives the other side of L.A. an effective satiric skewering, there is great appeal to be found in Chili schmoozing his way through another convoluted crime hairball. You may never look at Spice Girls covers the same way again.

It’s interesting to me that this book spends so much time focusing on a lackluster movie sequel, and then it became one. I haven’t seen Be Cool since the theater but I sure as hell remember it was PG-13 and a lot of weird changes were made to the characters. The Rock held it down though. Do you think Elmore Leonard wrote the part for him? I mean even in the book Elliott does The People’s Eyebrow basically. Hmm.I’m sad that Chili Palmer won’t return. At least not from Elmore Leonard, obviously. He deserved a little more. Maybe a trip into the wild world of book publishing!