Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

A Time to Scatter Stones by Lawrence Block

1 review

magicschooltokoro's review

informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Stalking and Sexual content

I haven't read the author before or the rest of the series the main character is based from, but it did kind of seem to be superfluous and unnecessary to including this novella revisiting the character in his retirement. Most of the novella is told in dialogue, similar to play. We learn of a recovery method group from prostitution based off of the AA model, so there's discussion of both and comparisons, stories. It's not slow paced, but there's not much happening besides dialogue and the day sessions of our retired cop doing private investigation for the sake of his wife's sponsee to handle the spiraling stalking problem from an obsessed client. The stories and recovery discussion, the scene of retrieving a friend for a favor in police witness sketching and that character, and some of the observation and reminiscing were the best apsects or parts; not enough to really liven up the story. Really only for hardcore fans of the Matthew Scudder series, but probably still could be passed without missing out on much. It still had too much of a dated masculine tone to it, though I could see where Block might have been attempting to keep up to date about themes in discussion with his wife about sex work and recovery. I still want to read some of the author's more classic work and pulp noir. Capricorn values vibes. I wanted to test out the author with something quick I could finish, as I loaned from the library. But I have been, as of late, into this kind of genre.