Rating: 
Summary: Great characters, lackluster plot
Review: A little plot-heavy, but laced with terrific characters, this Leonard novel departs a bit by being less entertaining than his previous (or subsequent) works.The story of Bob Isom Gibbs (who likes to be called "Big" and whom Time Magazine named "Maximum Bob" for his tendency to impose maximum penalties on culprits) and his run-ins with Kathy Baker (not the actress) and a huge alligator are simply not as interesting as the plotlines of, say, Get Shorty and Out of Sight. However, Leonard--as always--is a genius at creating memorable characters. I would definitely like to know more about these people--especially Leanne, the new-agey wife of Gibbs who is also possessed by 12-year-old slave girl Wanda Grace. If you are already a Leonard fan, you'll likely enjoy this offering as well. However, do not make this your first trip to Leonard territory, as it is definitely not his best. Best to start with Rum Punch, Out of Sight, or Get Shorty and move on from there.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected.
Review: After watching the TV series on ABC, I expected MAXIMUM BOB to be a very funny and very off beat dark comedy. Instead i found a rather slow moving and predicatable crime drama that didn't quite hit the funny bone like i was told it would. Perhaps my expectations were to high. Despite that, the general plot and characters were good enough to keep me going. Unless you are already an Elmore fan, I don't recomend this book. It may give you a bad idea of what this normally creative author has to offer. Trust me, he is usually better.
Rating:
Summary: Meandering Elmore
Review: Although Leonard bestowed this book with a great title and two of his more memorable characters, he does none of them justice in this rather aimless story. Like much of his work, this is a quick-moving piece set in South Florida, and features a full parade of small-time criminals, cops, one or two truly nasty folks, and a wide array of curious characters who spout crackling dialogue. The catalyst for the action is hanging judge "Maximum" Bob Gibbs (who is said to resemble Harry Dean Stanton), a racist, sexist, philandering, cracker, caricature of a fella' who doesn't mind speaking his mind. Of course, this gets people mad at him, most notably recent sentencee Dale Crowe Jr. and his ex-con Uncle Elvin, recently returned from 15 years for killing a man. They plot to off him, with the assistance of a drug-addled doctor under house arrest, and his mincing "houseboy." All these folks are also in the orbit of the real protagonist, parole officer Kathy Baker and her love interest, cop Gary. Kathy is one of most engaging of Leonard's female leads, but her job sort of restricts her ability to influence events. So, enter Gary, a cool, low key hero type, who has the power to move events along, but also somehow manages to bore one to death. It all meanders along in Leonard's typical farcical fashion until a somewhat discordant murder or two heralds the beginning of the end. It's a rather mundane and anticlimactic conclusion for a Leonard novel, and one wonders if he just got bored by it. Another weakness is the judge's wife, a new-agey type who is sometimes possessed by the spirit of a young black slave girl, but whose interludes serve only to break the flow of things. There's also the houseboy, Hector, whose oddity is mentioned repeatedly by several characters, but never explained or explored. It's not awful, but it's not as crisp as most of his work, hopefully he'll bring Kathy back for a more fully realized adventure in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Meandering Elmore
Review: Although Leonard bestowed this book with a great title and two of his more memorable characters, he does none of them justice in this rather aimless story. Like much of his work, this is a quick-moving piece set in South Florida, and features a full parade of small-time criminals, cops, one or two truly nasty folks, and a wide array of curious characters who spout crackling dialogue. The catalyst for the action is hanging judge "Maximum" Bob Gibbs (who is said to resemble Harry Dean Stanton), a racist, sexist, philandering, cracker, caricature of a fella' who doesn't mind speaking his mind. Of course, this gets people mad at him, most notably recent sentencee Dale Crowe Jr. and his ex-con Uncle Elvin, recently returned from 15 years for killing a man. They plot to off him, with the assistance of a drug-addled doctor under house arrest, and his mincing "houseboy." All these folks are also in the orbit of the real protagonist, parole officer Kathy Baker and her love interest, cop Gary. Kathy is one of most engaging of Leonard's female leads, but her job sort of restricts her ability to influence events. So, enter Gary, a cool, low key hero type, who has the power to move events along, but also somehow manages to bore one to death. It all meanders along in Leonard's typical farcical fashion until a somewhat discordant murder or two heralds the beginning of the end. It's a rather mundane and anticlimactic conclusion for a Leonard novel, and one wonders if he just got bored by it. Another weakness is the judge's wife, a new-agey type who is sometimes possessed by the spirit of a young black slave girl, but whose interludes serve only to break the flow of things. There's also the houseboy, Hector, whose oddity is mentioned repeatedly by several characters, but never explained or explored. It's not awful, but it's not as crisp as most of his work, hopefully he'll bring Kathy back for a more fully realized adventure in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Elmore Leonard's Maximum Bob, Incredable!
Review: Elmore Leonard, author of Get Shorty and Rum Pounch, brings us Maximum Bob. A fantastic story with characters that come to life with an unbeatable plot!
Rating: 
Summary: Call it above-average Bob
Review: Having read 10 or so of EL's books previously, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from this one. And it has many of the same elements which make his books so enjoyable. At the same time, there are a number of distractions which make this read a little less enjoyable than others. Leanne, Bob's wife, doesn't contribute a lot to the story, and to me, seems to detract from it. Also, maybe most noteworthy is the slowness with which the main characters act. I won't blame it on Kathy, who isn't really in a position to enforce the law, but instead on Gary, who is a strangely lethargic Leonard character. Slow to get a haircut, slow to investigate, slow to draw ... Despite these minor details, it's interesting to see where Kathy might show up in the future. She's sharp. I wouldn't recommend this as "the" Leonard book to read, but it's still well worth spending a day on and a lot of fun, as EL is always. What's better? Bandits, Get Shorty, among others, in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: IT is an excellent review of florida revisited
Review: I am a extra actor in the flimming of the tv series iam a daily visitor to Judge gibbs courtroom you loves his style of hang em high justice he has a often funny way of prosecuting but also a very serious side for a satire it is well done Heck its better than Jerry springer
Rating: 
Summary: Not exactly a spellbinder; more of a snoozer
Review: I found Leonard's book to be uninspired and unsurprising. The character's were poorly developed; the plot was thin and transparent. The ending was predictable. Ho-hum.
Rating:
Summary: Another fun read!
Review: I picked up MAXIMUM BOB, as I always enjoy E.L. I can get into his books in one short sitting, and I'm most often captivated by his characters, with their very human characteristics and quirks. This is what I find makes good writing - if it's a little bizarre, then I find it that much more realistic. Leonard, Hiaasen and others have the gift to create something more than your average paint-by-number grist. I purchased this book through Amazon.com right after another great purchase, THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez, about an unlucky writer addicted to the personals. Both are fun, recommended books. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Maximum Read
Review: I read this book because I knew Leonard was a master of pacing and I wanted a refresher course. I wasn't expecting the tapestry of characters, the elegant choreography of the plot, the inevitability of both the violence and the redemption at the end. This is sophisticated writing that rocks so well on the page you don't notice how fine it is. If you want to know how to write, study Leonard and Maximum Bob.
|
