Customer Reviews

Savages: A Novel

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Winslow has been compared to Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard for his hip novels of Southern California and the sly wit of his writing. But anyone who has read The Power of the Dog will understand this author's grasp of politics and culture, appropriately cynical about the nature of bureaucracy, the war on drugs and the folly and waste of it all, as played out in his two protagonists in Savages: Ben and Chonny. Ever the idealist, Ben chooses to walk away when the Baja Cartel makes a move on their hugely lucrative marijuana business. But like the flip side of a coin, Chon is more pragmatic, understanding that acquiescence will be mistaken for weakness. The pair is at an impasse until the involvement of their friend, Ophelia, makes it impossible to embrace the way of the temperate.

In his inimitable staccato style, Winslow blows through the consciousness of the three friends and the simian brain of the Baja Cartel, who can only be met with similar force. The result, while often hilarious, is ultimately tragic, when the way to power is only through savage methods. Winslow makes pithy and poignant comments on our So Cal version of civilization, with an unwavering eye and an acerbic sense of justice. It's always a pleasure to read a local author's perceptions of the all-too-familiar places in my city and neighboring jurisdictions, as familiar to me as Ben and Chon's lives are unfamiliar (but accessible thanks to Winslow). That is Winslow's gift: like it or not, you gain entry into his world, beautiful, sleek, troubled and decidedly more often than not, savage. Luan Gaines/2010.

Is there such a thing as intellectually crude humor? There must be because how else could you explain this book? I read this book based on a tip from some friends who live in So-Cal. And you really can't go wrong with book recommends from buddies who live in So-Cal. Up till this book I hadn't read anything by Mr. Winslow so I went in with my mind wide open. Which was a good idea because I needed all the cerebral space for every little bit of everything this book had to offer.

The last time I tried this I got a nosebleed but I'm feeling lucky. So here goes... Mexican drug lords want to take over the booming, exotic weed trade from a pair of hard working yet laid back dudes. These dudes (Ben & Chon) share a bed partner whose name is Ophelia. Ophelia, or "O", is known for being quirky and having the most earth shattering orgasms known to man or Brazilian gods. Ben & Chon are the Yin and Yang to each other and opposite in almost every way, sans one. Don't mess with their weed. Period. The Mexican drug lords not only ignore this one simple rule, they compound their idiocy with blackmail. Even Forrest Gump wasn't that stupid. The Texas Chainsaw Mexicans send Ben & Chon a pretty gruesome message via Skype. Who said low-life drug dealers can't be techno-geeks?

Ben & Chon... well... they comply. But HOW the comply is what makes this story total badass! `Savages' is a mind trip mix of Zen, fiction, Woodstock, Cytherea on "e", prose, violence, and one heck of an startling ending. I never ever, ever, ever, ever saw that one coming. What really had me going with this book were the blatant violence and the genius blending of uncontrived intellect and gutter humor. 100% pure Middle East Opium blend of sharp, pungent wit. Sum this up in two words? Decadently indecent.

One of the best kept secrets in America today is author, Don Winslow. Like the writer, Joe R. Lansdale, it seems that only a fraction of the readers in this country know about Don. That's about to change. The next twelve months will bring Don Winslow to the forefront for fiction readers to see with the publication of Savages and then Satori in March of 2011. Savages is already in the process of being turned into a movie by Oliver Stone with a screenplay by Winslow, and Satori will be the sequel, or prequel, to the famous espionage thriller, Shibumi, which was written by the late, great Trevanian back during the early eighties. I managed to nag an advance copy of both books, and I can tell you that as a forty-year fan of Trevanian, Don Winslow has captured the author's style of writing perfectly in just the first ten pages. Let me also mention that Winslow is the author of the "Neal Carey" detective series, Isle of Joy, The Life & Times of Bobby Z (which was turned into a movie), The Power of the Dog, The Winter of Frankie Machine (Robert De Niro is making that into a film), California Fire and Ice, and The Dawn Patrol. All of the novels have proven to be excellent in scope and writing style (Winslow changes writing styles with almost every book--he's like a chameleon) and storyline, not mention character development. This author is a master of the written word much like Nicholai Hel in Satori is the master of death.

Now, what about Savages?

This is the story of two Laguna Beach bums who know how to make and distribute the best home-grown marijuana in the country. These guys have it made and are sitting on top of the world, until the Mexican Baja Drug Cartel decides it wants to take over their business. That's when everything hits the fan, figuratively speaking. The two beach bums aren't your ordinary pair of bums. Ben is the son of two shrinks and also holds two majors-one in marketing and one in botany--from the University of California in Berkeley, while Chon is the son of an old marijuana dealer and is a former Navy SEAL. These guys are pretty cool, until you get them riled up, and the drug cartel does just that when it kidnaps their love interest and very close friend, Ophelia (aka O), and threaten to cut off her head if the guys don't compile with their demands. Of course, that's when Chon goes into action. Even Ben, who has been spending his money on charities and philanthropy projects, is going to have to get bloody in this operation because the Baja Drug Cartel is no mom-and-pop's store. This organization is as serious as a heart attack and won't hesitate to put down Ben and Chon, rather than risk the lost of respect from the competing drug dealers. In fact, they have a killer named Lado, who gets off on removing the heads of their competition with a chain saw. Can Ben and Chon take on a drug cartel as vast as this one? You're going to have to read the book to find out.

What truly amazes me as both a reader and an author is how easily Don Winslow changes his writing style to accommodate the novel. Pretty much every author has their own unique way of telling a story that carries over from book to book. Don Winslow doesn't. His novel, Isle of Joy, is written in a style that's completely different from The Power of the Dog and The Winter of Frankie Machine. The Dawn Patrol is different from the three previous books, and Savages is totally different from anything he's written before. I can also say the same thing for Satori. How this author manages such an incredible feat is beyond me. He's certainly not afraid to take chances. The only constants in all of Winslow's novels is the high caliber of storytelling, the fully developed characters (even the minor ones), the large number of plot twists that keep you trying to guess where the story is headed, and the surprise ending that often leave you breathless.

His newest novel, Savages, is just such a book. It clearly offers the reader high-octane entertainment that travels at the speed of a Magnum bullet, knocking you right off your feet with the unexpected. Winslow's books are as addictive as meth is to a junkie. If you don't believe me, get yourself a copy of The Power of the Dog, or California Fire and Life, or The Winter of Frankie Machine. It won't be long till you're trying to find everything he's written. I can promise that once Satori comes out in March of 2011, this author is going to be on everybody's bestseller list and his earlier novels are going to be nearly impossible to find, unless you're willing to pay an arm and a leg for them. Pick up Savages and see for yourself how great this writer is, and then remember that I told you so!

SAVAGES by Don Winslow has received some wonderful pre-publication publicity due to its being tapped for film adaptation by Oliver Stone even before the first tree was chopped to lay the book to paper. Please do not wait for the movie to read the book.

The plot and execution of the novel is simple enough, from its cheerfully obscene opening words to its apocalyptic, nihilistic ending. Two guys have made a fortune on the development and sale of two new strains of marijuana. The Baja Cartel wants to take over their business, handling distribution and sale while the two entrepreneurs continue to grow and harvest. It's a fairly easy, connect-the-dots storyline.

The brilliance of SAVAGES and the genius of Winslow lies in the story's fleshed-out, true-to-life characters. The two brains behind the primo weed are Ben and Chon. Ben is the brains of the business, in terms of the development of the new marijuana strains and the marketing of them. Chon is the enforcer, the ex-ops guy who handles the wet work that goes with the territory that these kinds of businesses drive through on a daily basis. Both are very good at what they do. Closer than brothers, they share the affection of Ophelia --- known as "O" for more than one reason --- who is simultaneously their strength and weakness.

All goes well until a faction of the Baja Cartel approaches them with a non-negotiable business deal that is more or less the modern-day equivalent of indentured servitude. Chon responds in the only way he can --- that cheerfully obscene, all-purpose greeting and response and exclamation --- resulting in the Baja Cartel ratcheting things up a notch or three by kidnapping O and threatening to return her in pieces unless Ben and Chon respond to the offer they shouldn't refuse. That's when things really get interesting.

Winslow takes what appears to be an unfixable position and turns it around a bit, playing on the foibles of the aforementioned characters and a number of other ones who you'll have to read the book to meet, folks of a sort who you are familiar with in real life whether you know it or not. Ben, Chon and O are of course the most interesting. They are simple enough on the surface but defy easy explanation or categorization. And along the way, Winslow demonstrates with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer that anything you do to resolve the drug problem will only make it worse in one way or another. There really aren't any good guys in SAVAGES, not even Ben, who diverts a healthy part of his time and ill-gotten gain to soft-hearted and, yes, soft-headed social projects. Chon? He gets the fact that giving in to an enemy, even when it is practical, will be interpreted as a sign of weakness. But he is working for a drug dealer. O? Please. But the three of them are sympathetic characters nonetheless, from first page to unfortunate last.

Don Winslow is a dark, immensely talented puppy whose refusal to lighten up has arguably cost him the extent of the popular acclaim he truly deserves while adding to the richness and reality of his art. While SAVAGES may not be the book that makes him a household name, it will resonate brilliantly in the part of the house where everyone is scared to go. And that's going to happen whether the movie does or not.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Yes, this is the story of two men who are drug dealers but it is also a well told novel where the reader becomes interested the central protagonists. These two men were minding happy in their simple life when a Mexican drug cartel tries to take over their business. It also answers the question if it is possible for a person or persons to stand up to the murder and firepower of one of the major Mexican drug gangs.

When dealing with ex-mercenary, Chon, it's helpful to realize that he enjoys pain. He's a former SEAL who has been back to Afghanistan twice. He and his partner, Ben, have a mauijuana opertaion in Laguna Beach that is very profitable. Chon's feeling is that dope creates balance in a person's life.

Chon and Ben are informed that the Mexican Baja Cartel intends to control all of the marijuana in Southern California. They don't want any competition but want the partners to stay in business and sell their produce to them. Then, the Cartel will make most of the profit.

When representatives of the Cartel approach the men with their offer, their offer is turned down. Actually, Chon and Ben feel that they have made enough money. They will stop selling marijuana and offer the Cartel their entire business.

The Cartel's leader tells them that they don't have a choice. Their business wouldn't be as lucerative without their management. Then as a show of strength, they kidnap Ophelia, "O" who is Chon and Ben's playmate. The Cartel demands a ransome and three years of cooperation in order to get her back.

This mistake sets the heroes on a plan to disrupt the Cartel's business. But, how will they be able to rescue O from this group of killers? What happens next is part of an excellent story.

The novel is a quick read. Chon and Ben are intriguing characters, rebels against authority and witty in their responses. Winslow has a good ability in giving his characters good dialogue and the story flows from the pages with ease.

A film adaptation is under way and I can't wait. 3 1/2 star review moved up to four with the enjoyable characters and smooth story.

I regard myself as a fan of Don Winslow. In my view, this is by far the most disappointing book that he has written recently. Although focusing, as many of his books do, on the complicated relationship between the United States and Mexico (particularly in the context of the war on drugs) this book has nowhere near the depth of other titles such as "Power of the Dog." Unfortunately, it also lacks likeable characters of the type featured in "Bobby Z" or in the Boone Daniels books. The novel is short, and the never-ending coolness grates. Although not totally irredeemable, compared to his other books, "Savages" fails on most levels.

Savages is a unique romp on the wild side. Its anti-heroes, Ben, Chon and O (or multiple O as she's fondly known) are a cast of characters you gotta love. Ben and Chon are the greatest developers and suppliers of hydroponic weed in Laguna Beach and they have a loyal following. Their weed can be custom made for just the kind of high you want. They provide for the rich and famous. They live well and have been happily supplying their customers for years.

Chon is a hard-edged guy with two tours of Afghanistan under his belt as a SEAL. He knows how to target shoot from a mile away and killing a man does not faze him. He's not one to piss off. When he was a child, his father put him on a mantel and told him to jump. Chon jumped and his father didn't catch him. Maybe that's why Chon doesn't trust anybody.

Ben is Chon's partner but they are as unalike as any two friends can be. When he's not working on their weed plantations or stash houses, Ben is gone for months at a time, in Africa helping Congolese women or putting in wells in Myanmar. He's got a sense of social conscience. He was raised in a loving, liberal Jewish household by two psychotherapists who were also communists.

And then there's O, or multiple O, both nicknames short for Ophelia. She is close friends with both her men, more than friends actually. She can't choose one over the other nor does she want to choose. She loves them both and they are all happy with the relationship that they have. She has a mother named PAQU who is not Indian. It's O's nickname for her and stands for Passive Aggressive Queen of the Universe. Actually, despite making fun of her mother, O and she are friends.

Everything is great in Laguna Heaven until the Baja Cartel wants to take over Ben and Chon's operation. Ben and Chon don't want any part of this arrangement so the cartel kidnaps O to try and get them to reconsider. Ben and Chon decide to take their chances and save O along with the respectability of their business. They take on the cartel.

We get to hear about all the bad guys, their home lives and the drug cartel wars. In this sense it reminded me of the best of The Sopranos. Lado, `The Cold One', one of the top men in the cartel has a miserable home life. He's having an affair with a beautician and his wife can smell it on him. Naturally, she doesn't want Lado to get near her. In the wicked cartel world, Lado is known for his sadism and wickedness. He beheads people, for god's sake. At home, he watches little league and eats a lot. Esteban is Lado's protégé and he is guarding O. Together, they watch `The Biggest Loser' and `Bachelorettes'.

It is a wonderful read. It is written in terse, pithy, crisp language. The chapters are often less than a page long and are frequently formatted like poetry. The format fits the fast-paced movement and action themes of the book deliciously. I guarantee, you're in for a wild read with these savages.

I'am extremely pleased with the author's courage to diverge from SOP, take the poetic licence and burn it, then catch the wave and let it r i d e !!!
To move in sync with the author I reread the first few pages a few times. I have read many of his novels & know him to be of high calibre, doesn't waste ammunition, & takes the target out. If you ride with him on Savages, look again at the book cover, it doesn't lie. It conveys the gun as a speeding bullet. That to me is the art of it. In essence, it covers what the author has crafted inside: literature in artistic form & story. It is simply brilliant and very moving.
In broad brush stroke there are two parallel worlds captured here, each juxtaposed and entwined in a double helix of evolution. One is a world that has & is being corrupted in the name of civilization. The other is & has been a poetic world of savage beauty, even when expressed in her violence.
One is swallowing the other up.
The Ba
lance has gone.

The ending can be no other than what it is.
and Their savage nature is the beauty of it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!!!!!

This book is in line with Winslow's other SoCal books with it's hip vibe and cool lingo, but not everyone will enjoy this type of writing.
It actually reads more like a movie script. Speaking of which, Oliver Stone has said to be putting up his own money to direct and make this movie, which I'm looking forward to seeing.
The plot moves fast and hard with it's cursory f-bombs, violence, gangs, drugs, and some twisted comedy mixed in. I would have preferred a different ending, but overall a really good fast paced book.

Ben is a dogooder/social justice idealist; Chon (formerly KA John) is an ex-Seal. Together they grow hydro weed in the OC. Lots of it. One day they receive a message from the Baja Cartel. The BC wants to deal the product (where the big profit margins lie) and force Ben and Chon to be their growers. To enforce the point they kidnap their mutual lover, Ophelia, and threaten her with GBH (or worse). Another option is negotiated. The boys can stop supplying the BC if they fork over a cool $20 mil.

While the boys find a (very bloody) way out of their problem, Ophelia persuades her sympathetic jailer to let her have pizza, wi-fi and the opportunity to watch missed episodes of The Bachelorette.

In a jacket blurb Christopher Reich describes Savages as "the finest novel I have read in years." I wouldn't go that far, but I'd put it in my top ten or twelve, along with Don Winslow's lovely The Winter of Frankie Machine and his epic, The Power of the Dog. The latter might actually be my number one, tied with Ellroy's Blood's A Rover (who also hypes Winslow's book) and anything written by James Lee Burke.

Savages is part Elmore Leonard, part Cormac McCarthy, with each at the top of their game. It is, by turns, laugh out-loud funny and seriously grim. The blood flows like the Nile and the jokes come rapid fire. Welcome to the other side of life on the border. Winslow has now taken his seat at the table of the crime fiction gods. Whatever he attempts, in whatever mood, form, tone or sub-genre, the result is the same--a masterpiece.

Very highly recommended.