Comments on: George Higgins: The Teller Of Boston’s Stories http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit WBUR is Boston's NPR News Station, featuring NPR news and programs such as Car Talk, On Point, Here & Now, Only A Game and Radio Boston. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charlie Stella http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2739 Charlie Stella Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:34:05 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2739 He was a true MASTER in either category; literary or crime fiction. I heard that same first Eddie Coyle line read by my mentor as a college student way back in the day and I was hooked. I've read everything by him; his crime novels several times over. His first 3 (Eddie Coyle, Digger's Game and Cogan's Trade) are a collection of crime writing masterpieces. He was a true MASTER in either category; literary or crime fiction. I heard that same first Eddie Coyle line read by my mentor as a college student way back in the day and I was hooked. I’ve read everything by him; his crime novels several times over. His first 3 (Eddie Coyle, Digger’s Game and Cogan’s Trade) are a collection of crime writing masterpieces.

]]> By: david boeri http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2737 david boeri Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:09:14 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2737 Thanks for your comment, Albert. I agree with Sam Allis, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is the best crime movie ever made about Boston. Far more authentic than the Departed and others and original (the Departed being a lesser re-make of a fabulous movie set in Hong Kong) and true in setting, mood, dialogue, and plot to George's novel. So nice to hear from you too, Loretta. And you've reminded me gently that I did my arithmetic wrong. 1972 was THIRTY seven years ago, not twenty seven. I spent a rainy day Saturday in my easy chair, dug into The Penance of Jerry Kennedy, George's novel from 1985. My day's duties went undone; I couldn't put it down; further evidence of your late husband's gift. And Susan, fight for you your father did; I heard the stories. We remember him and all agree he left us too soon. David Boeri Thanks for your comment, Albert. I agree with Sam Allis, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is the best crime movie ever made about Boston. Far more authentic than the Departed and others and original (the Departed being a lesser re-make of a fabulous movie set in Hong Kong) and true in setting, mood, dialogue, and plot to George’s novel.

So nice to hear from you too, Loretta. And you’ve reminded me gently that I did my arithmetic wrong. 1972 was THIRTY seven years ago, not twenty seven. I spent a rainy day Saturday in my easy chair, dug into The Penance of Jerry Kennedy, George’s novel from 1985. My day’s duties went undone; I couldn’t put it down; further evidence of your late husband’s gift.

And Susan, fight for you your father did; I heard the stories. We remember him and all agree he left us too soon.

David Boeri

]]> By: Albert LaFarge http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2731 Albert LaFarge Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:45:03 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2731 Great piece. I watched the movie of EDDIE COYLE again (in its excellent new Criterion DVD version) just a few days ago, after an interval of about a decade, and it's as fresh as ever. The pacing is fantastic--the bank scenes are slow action in a hold-your-breath kind of way. And the dialogue is perfect pitch, very faithful to George's voices. I watched it again a couple of days later, this time with the new voice-over commentary by director Peter Yates, and it was every bit as thrilling. You see more each time. George really understood Boston, and people, and fiction. Great piece. I watched the movie of EDDIE COYLE again (in its excellent new Criterion DVD version) just a few days ago, after an interval of about a decade, and it’s as fresh as ever. The pacing is fantastic–the bank scenes are slow action in a hold-your-breath kind of way. And the dialogue is perfect pitch, very faithful to George’s voices. I watched it again a couple of days later, this time with the new voice-over commentary by director Peter Yates, and it was every bit as thrilling. You see more each time. George really understood Boston, and people, and fiction.

]]> By: Loretta Cubberley Higgins http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2728 Loretta Cubberley Higgins Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:16:48 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2728 David, et al What a wonderful, heartwarming discussion on George's novels. I would like to point out that the first edition of The Friends of Eddie Coyle ($5.95) was copywrited 1970. I have been informed by Picador (subsidiary of MacMillin) that Eddie and his friends is going to be reissued as a 40th anniversary. Yup, 40 years. I would hope that your listeners who have only seen the movie would be encouraged to read a classic, great novel. Thanks again Loretta Higgins David, et al

What a wonderful, heartwarming discussion on George’s novels. I would like to point out that the first edition of The Friends of Eddie Coyle ($5.95) was copywrited 1970. I have been informed by Picador (subsidiary of MacMillin) that Eddie and his friends is going to be reissued as a 40th anniversary. Yup, 40 years.

I would hope that your listeners who have only seen the movie would be encouraged to read a classic, great novel.

Thanks again

Loretta Higgins

]]> By: Susan Higgins http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2667 Susan Higgins Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:38:49 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2667 Thank you David for keeping my dad's legacy alive. I was thrilled to get emails about The Friends of Eddie Coyle being in the news again, but I think it is important to note that my dad didn't know that he had a heart problem. His death was totally unexpected. He stopped smoking when I was in college. My dad loved my brother and me and we miss him. Please don't judge a father who fought for custody of his kids. I am fiery when it comes to my dad, i feel the loss everyday. Thank you David for keeping my dad’s legacy alive. I was thrilled to get emails about The Friends of Eddie Coyle being in the news again, but I think it is important to note that my dad didn’t know that he had a heart problem. His death was totally unexpected. He stopped smoking when I was in college. My dad loved my brother and me and we miss him. Please don’t judge a father who fought for custody of his kids. I am fiery when it comes to my dad, i feel the loss everyday.

]]> By: Handsome Smitty http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2658 Handsome Smitty Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:59:23 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2658 Suze, it's about the ride. Ever watch a movie a second time, a third? You know the ending but you watch it over and over. Good writing does that in books, too. Pick up The Friends of Eddie Coyle today, by the time the end comes up you will have forgotten 'the spoiler.' The movie's just as good, too. Suze, it’s about the ride. Ever watch a movie a second time, a third? You know the ending but you watch it over and over. Good writing does that in books, too. Pick up The Friends of Eddie Coyle today, by the time the end comes up you will have forgotten ‘the spoiler.’

The movie’s just as good, too.

]]> By: david boeri http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2646 david boeri Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:08:49 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2646 I'm sorry you feel robbed of the suspense, Susan. But do you really think an a famous novel that's been out for 27 years, in hardcover, paperback, multiple printings, and a celebrated movie that was just re-released on DVD this spring needs a spoiler alert? And as for timing, Paul, the movie may have played last week, but the book festival is this week and we're talking about great novels. david boeri, a friend of the friends of eddie coyle I’m sorry you feel robbed of the suspense, Susan. But do you really think an a famous novel that’s been out for 27 years, in hardcover, paperback, multiple printings, and a celebrated movie that was just re-released on DVD this spring needs a spoiler alert?
And as for timing, Paul, the movie may have played last week, but the book festival is this week and we’re talking about great novels.
david boeri, a friend of the friends of eddie coyle

]]> By: Paul Sherman http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2637 Paul Sherman Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:09:28 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2637 Geez, great timing, folks. Why didn't you run this a week ago, when the movie played at the Brattle? Geez, great timing, folks. Why didn’t you run this a week ago, when the movie played at the Brattle?

]]> By: Susan Baylus http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/23/boston-in-lit/comment-page-1#comment-2612 Susan Baylus Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:14:45 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=11305#comment-2612 Next time when you decide to tell the entire story line, please announce a spoiler alert to those of us who are considering buying the book. Next time when you decide to tell the entire story line, please announce a spoiler alert to those of us who are considering buying the book.

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