ELMORE LEONARD - Lucky 7 Recommendations

Many novelists, when asked to recommend their favorite books, naturally go for the classics. To quote a Matthew Fisher lyric, it's no use "saying Shakespeare or The Bible." Or Hemingway (Elmore was a fan of "For Whom The Bell tolls"). How about some slightly more obscure but good titles?

First, an unexpected title from a well known author. Leonard's choice for Steinbeck: "Sweet Thursday," a tome he said showed the difference "between honest prose and show-off writing."

2, 3 and 4, in titles that influenced him: "A Stretch on the River" by Richard Bissell, "The Heart of the Matter" by Graham Greene and "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy.

And lastly, a pair of books from authors that Elmore fans should love, too: "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" by George V. Higgins and "Paris Trout" by that "awfully good writer," Pete Dexter.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare! Ides of March

CAESAR: Ha! who calls?

CASCA: Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!

CAESAR: Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR: What man is that?

BRUTUS: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March...

CAESAR: What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR: He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Trivia note: In Caesar's time, the "ides" didn't necessarily fall on the 15th. Some months, it was a day or two earlier.