L.A. Times audiobook

Last year I took an incredibly helpful course at UCi called Intermediate Novel Writing. The next semester's Advanced Novel Writing course was cancelled, so here I am –– still an intermediate novelist (currently at amateur status but I hope to turn pro soon.) So, this course relied on a number of books but the main text was Techniques of the Selling Writer, authored by Dwight V. Swain, a college professor in the 1960s. There was much to like about this book but the one element I took issue with was the author's focus on a main character's morality and the idea that fiction should present the protagonist's willingness to "sacrifice self-interest to the larger cause of his own standards." [Techniques of the Selling Writer, 128].I certainly don't require such self-sacrifice, not do I agree with all of the things Swain says about the function of an individual within society. I like the lone wolf, the anti-hero. And I like books (and movies) where the bank robber gets away with the money.I think one of the better aspects of the late 20th century is the embrace of the anti-hero, the Jack Bauer character. Further, I don't need to like a character to want to read about him or her anymore than I need to feel like a candidate would be a fun person to share a drink with in order to elect him or her) President. Thus we have Vinnie Callabrese.In L.A. Times, our main character is not just anti-hero, he's almost anti-human. The dark embodiment of every Hollywood climber's secret desires, Vinnie changes his name to Michael Vincent and becomes an independent producer while still at NYU. He's also a collector for the mob, a man who's already killed his abusive father and is willing to end anyone else who gets in his way.From bagman for "The Family," to indie darling to studio exec, Michael makes all the right moves. Until he doesn't. Because changing his name, zip code and occupation doesn't alter his DNA and it's in his blood to be a sociopathic killer.As a Hollywood striver myself, I enjoyed his journey. I don't need my protagonists (or even my friends) to be especially moral or likable so long as they are interesting.

The story about mafia-hard guy turned movie producer but with much if his problem solving tactics intact is one of the best offerings of Stuart Woods that I've read. In striking contrast to many of his other overly good and cunning protagonists, this one is a true anti-hero - to the point that he's actually quite unlikeable. Absorbing, fast-paced and with a dose of black humour.

This is the first book I read by Stuart Woods and he's been around a long time.The main character is a mob thug, who also happens to have the desire of becoming a movie producer. He writes too. Eventually he makes it to the big time screens by using his mob connections for help. But even mobsters take their debts seriously among themselves, and this is something the lead guy seems to forget, and finds himself having to pay up.The author writes with good clarity. It's a page-turner. The drama is fast-paced, and I found this interesting. You'll enjoy this book even though it's from the 90's. The story is still real enough even today.

A good book where the underbelly of Hollywood and the Mafia come together. Michael thinks he has it all figured out but he is wrong, oh how wrong he is. It was a quick read and got right to the point.

Una novela de suspenso con todas las letras. "Debía tomar una decisión. O le volaba los sesos al policía en ese mismo momento, o lo incorporaba a su ambiente. ¿Qué era lo que acostumbraba a decir Lyndon Johnson? Es mejor tener a un enemigo en la carpa meando hacia afuera, que a uno afuera meando hacia adentro." Quiero aclarar que lo leí en español, pero aquí en Goodreads no me figura mi versión así que bueno, me quedo con esta... la tapa es la misma de todos modos.Debo admitir que las novelas de bolsillo de los 90 no son mi prioridad y si tengo la oportunidad siempre las rechazo pero ésta en particular me la recomendaron muchísimo y hacerle caso a mi novio fue lo mejor que pude haber hecho.Traíción en LA nos cuenta la historia de Vinnie, un ex mafioso de Nueva York que decide dejar toda su vida atrás, se cambia de nombre y se muda a Los Ángeles donde se transforma en uno de los productores de cine más importantes de Estados Unidos. Pero la sombra de su pasado lo va persiguiendo y Vinne hará todo lo posible para que su nueva vida no se vea afectada por su trabajo anterior.Es un libro muy, muy dinámico. No te da tiempo a procesar lo que acaba de pasar porque la acción es constante, es un libro que no se detiene en ningún momento y no tiene momentos de relleno.Tiene un plot extenso y muy bien desarrollado. Los personajes quizás carecen de desarrollo pero todos y cada uno tiene un papel muy fundamental en la trama.Lo que más me gustó de este libro fue conocer todo lo que sucede en el interior de un estudio de cine. Qué es lo que hace un productor, qué es lo que hace el director, cómo se prepara un guión, cuál es el proceso de compra de un guión o de los derechos de un libro, hay escenas adentro de la celebración de los Premios Oscar; muchas cosas que no me había dado cuenta que eran interesantes hasta ese momento.La prosa es muy sencilla y el libro está en un 90% narrado en diálogos —creo que eso fue lo que lo hacía tan dinámico— y los momentos de acción no son densos ni descriptivos.En fin, es una novela que no te cambia la vida, pero al final del día te queda esa sensación agradable de haberte topado con un libro tan sencillo pero genial. Fue una compañía muy muy muy agradable este fin de semana, si son amantes del género entonces tienen que darle una oportunidad a esta novela.Seguime en:InstagramTwitterMi blog

The story is interesting & fast-paced, but the characters don't change much. Vinnie Callabrese begins life in Little Italy in NYC and ends it in Los Angeles. He is conditioned to violence by his abusive father. Vinnie, however, has a mind for details, seeing both the big and little pictures, and for recognizing a story that can be shown on the Big Screen. He loves movies and wants to be a producer, a job which will demand his specific talents. After "accidentally" killing the loan shark for whom he works, Vinnie (now Michael Vincent) flees to California to fulfill his dream of being a movie producer. The new venue does not change him as his violence continues and even escalates. Vinnie/Michael continues to use people, steal from his friend/employer, and kill whoever oppose him. Only after his death does he see the souls of all whom he murdered dragging him to hell. Too bad he didn't figure out that his actions have consequences before he died.

I first read this book 20 years ago and thusly have read more than thirty Stuart Woods books. The truth is, while mostly fleet and fun, none of those books hold a candle to this. This is the third or fourth time I've read it, easily making it my most re-read book ever. Reading it this time, I do see some clunky writing here and there but the whole thing is far too engrossing to ding it for that. What really redeems Michael, an otherwise loathsome character, is that he genuinely loves movies and his artistic ambition is pure. This helps keep Michael engaging despite Woods, as usual, depiction of his main character being the world's greatest lover capable of bending any woman to his will. 20 years later, the pure pulp of this book still has me riveted.

I just LOVE Stuart Woods!His books are nothing short of fun to read and extremely engaging. The stand-alones are as good as or better than the series. I would love it, however, if he continued with the Ed Eagle series. No matter ... if Woods’ name is on it, I’ll read it!

This was the first Stuart Woods book I read and it was so good I have been hooked by this author ever since! Great plot and new insight into the world of Hollywood.

Very good for a quick summer read. I couldn't put this one down.

vintage woods, just catching up on some his earlier works

A protagonist who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. You don't know whether to hate him or admire him. Another good read from this author.

This is a stand-alone book from Stuart Woods. Very enjoyable read but I think I like the series books better.

A re-read for me. After turning a film student's directorial debut into a hit movie, New York mobster and movie fanatic Vinnie Callabrese takes off for the bright lights of Hollywood, where he begins a new life as Michael Vincent, Producer. A natural born wheeler-dealer, he lands not only a major studio deal, but also a gorgeous actress girlfriend. It isn't long before Michael Vincent is one of the most successful producers in town, given his knack for bringing in films under budget -- not too difficult when you're willing to lie, seduce, intimidate, and even kill to get what you want. But some of the people from his past have long memories and a far reach, and now it's Michael's turn to watch his back. Because even in the land of make-believe certain enemies -- and their bullets -- are very real.This is a very entertaining story. Stuart Woods wrote this when he was releasing one novel a year, not two or three with the help of boiler plates and ghost writers. Definitely worth checking out!

This story was awesome! You have to suspend your belief like you do when reading any fantasy story. Vinnie or Michael Vincent as he’s known in his second life is an absolute sociopath. This is like a combination of Scarface, and Godfather goes Hollywood. You can’t help rooting for Michael to succeed, he’s just so evil. Lol Loved the way he wrapped it up in the end and basically everyone got just desserts. Well done, Stuart. This is one of his early stand alone novels that shows why he became a mass media icon in the fiction world.