Touch [Paperback]

Elmore Leonard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1988

Here is a new bestseller from the acclaimed author of Glitz and Bandits.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Turned down as a marketing problem because it couldn't be "labeled" 10 years ago, this novel will almost certainly be another of Leonard's big hits. He writes in the sparse, word-perfect prose style that distinguishes Glitz, Bandits and all his bestsellers to tell a tender, funny, suspenseful story. The hero, Charlie Lawson, once served as Brother Juvenal in a Catholic order; now he cares for alcoholics in a Detroit hospice. Charlie/Juvenal cures those he touches through miracles manifested by the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ that appear on Charlie's body. The phenomenon lures a flashy promoter, Bill Hill, aiming to get rich by exploiting the reclusive, gentle man who is also the intended prey of rabid right-winger August Murray. Murray plans to get the healer on his side, fighting against the ecumenism of Vatican II rules, especially the ones forbidding the Mass being said in Latin. Both Hill and Murray are losers when smart, attractive Lynn Faulkner and Charlie fall in love, before the astonishing finale that makes one believe the couple will live happily ever after. Major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'A wry take on fame and the miraculous.' CATHOLIC HERALD --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380703866
• ISBN-13: 978-0380703869
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #856,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elmore Leonard has written more than forty novels, including bestsellers Up in Honey's Room, The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, Tishomingo Blues, Pagan Babies, and Glitz. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty and Out of Sight. He lives with his wife, Christine, in Bloomfield Village, Michigan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A quick but good read, June 10, 2002

By 

[e-mail] (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touch (Elmore Leonard Library) (Paperback)

The only problem I have with this book is that it's too short. Perhaps where it ends is the right point, because it makes you think for yourself what actually happened, and what whould happen to the main characters after the incident. But take it as a compliment that I wanted to read more about these characters.

The story is about a stigmatic who may also have healing powers. One of the good points of the book is that they explain the phenomenon of those who have stigmata. For those uninitiated, this is the condition where humans periodically experience the wounds suffered by Christ at his crucifixtion. They actually get holes in their hands and bleed. This has been documented enough to prove it does indeed exist. Whether it is due to an extreme power of self-suggestion or an actual miracle I will leave to the reader.

Ditto with the healing power. The main character seemingly has this, and Leonard teases us by not showing any healing until the end, and that is even written to make us wonder. It does, however, have the actual stigmata occur, and when it does, it is powerful writing by the author.

Of course, being a Leonard novel, you have to surround him with a cast of con men and hucksters that see how they can benefit from this. What is tantalizing is that we never really know if the central character is good or just another con man. We think he's good, and we want to believe he's good, but Leonard just leaves little hints to make us wonder ourselves.

I'll also not reveal if he's a good man or not, and for that matter, I might be wrong myself. I highly recommend you read it and make your own decision.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book/Quick Read, January 23, 2001

By 

Peach "jmp" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touch (Elmore Leonard Library) (Paperback)

The book was actually written in the 1977 but took 10 years to get published because of the religious undertones. I honestly don't understand what the fuss was about but then again that was over 20 years ago. It's a story about a man, Juvenal, who has the ability to heal the sick and when he does heal them he gets the wounds of Jesus, stigmata. Juvenal does not claim to be a saint however the rest of the world disagrees. All Juvenal wants to help those in need and to be left alone. However, there are too many people who want a piece of him. They want to exploit this miracle for a profit. And then there's Lynne... with Lynne Juvenal has found a soulmate, someone who he can talk to and who understand him. Now this 'saint' has a girlfriend and people are up in arms. Should Juvenal live his life for the Church or for himself?

I highly recommend this book; it's a fairly quick read and very unique story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blood but no bullets, March 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Touch (Paperback)

After reading this book you have to suspect that Elomore Leonard not only has a superb ear for dialogue but also a feel for the supernatural. In "Maximum Bob" the heroine could see "auras". In "Killshot" there was character assessment by graphology. In "Touch" I learned all about stigmatas through the ages. Now when you've got used to Leonard's character's having itchy trigger-fingers it's a sudden change to find one (Juvenal) who heals by laying on of hands. And he does it without claiming anything, expecting anything or extorting anyone. There are plenty of other characters in the book to do that. Leonard's "tour de force" comes late in the book in the confrontation between good and evil (the latter represented by a talk show host). My blood boiled as I read how a saint could be given a satanic spin by someone who is intent on boosting their viewing figures (more seating room in the Colosseum, please!)