Customer Reviews

We'll Always Have Cleveland: A Memoir of a Novelist And a City

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I just recommended this book to the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland ~ suggesting that they purchase the book in quantity and distribute it as a gift to visitors and convention-goers here. Mr. Roberts has written a fabulous tribute to Greater Cleveland people and places, and this memoir holds broad appeal for readers whether they're visitors, newcomers, or longtime residents.

Special note to Milan Jacovich fans ~ We'll Always Have Cleveland is filled with fascinating details about the creative processes Mr. Roberts has used to bring Milan to life on the page, the ways and reasons Milan has evolved, and what the future may hold for this beloved private investigator.

I also recommend the book to writers and students of writing for its insights into Mr. Roberts' methods as a novelist, in particular his daily regimen and dedication to the craft.

We'll Always Have Cleveland stands alone as an eloquent, funny, and engaging tribute to this city and its people.

Les Roberts has written a beautiful book and it is one that goes beyond "a memoir of a novelist and a city" as sub titled.
Every person who has the urge to be a writer should buy this book as it looks into the craft as few books or writing workshops have in the past. I do mean to infer that this is a "how to" book. It is appealing because like his Cleveland detective character, it is honest and down to Earth.

I have had the good fortune to know many authors over the years and know full well that you cannot judge the character of the author by the people who come alive in their books. However, while Les Roberts explains how he and Milan differs, there is an honesty there, a way of speaking that links the two together. It must be added that once I discovered Les Roberts I have made a point of buying all his books and can vouch that the non Cleveland ones are also excellent. I am not a big mystery fan and have not been for decades, however Les Roberts has brought me back to the genre'.

I also have to mention that I spent the first ten of my seventy years in Cleveland and have the curse, I cannot root for any other teams than the Indians and Browns. "We'll Always Have Cleveland" is a true tribute. It is a tribute more to the people than the city itself and it is not just an Ohio story. It is an American story. I was only half way through the book when I began ordering copies for friends.

Thank you for great reading, both now and in the past.

As frequently happens, the newcomer to a particular area quickly becomes more of a native than those who can legitimately claim that title. Such is the case with novelist Les Roberts, and his adopted home town. An outsider when he first came here nearly twenty years ago, Les Roberts is now more of a Clevelander than many who were born and lived their entire lives here, in the shadow of the Terminal Tower.

This book is sub-titled "A Memoir of a Novelist and a City" and indeed, it is. But it's really more of a love letter from the novelist to his city. Born in Chicago, the hopeful actor spent time in New York before moving to Los Angeles, where his writing career began. He wrote-and eventually produced-bunches of programs for television, the most famous being "Hollywood Squares". This trade-as a producer-is what first brought him to Cleveland nineteen years ago. He liked the city and its inhabitants so much that he decided to make it his home. It's been mutual love ever since.

Other than being too short and not having an index, it's a nearly perfect paean to a particular place and the people who made it that way, and continue to keep it so. It's both a guided tour of Cleveland, and the wonderful, even unique places within or without its boundaries, as well as a basic introduction to the author, who seldom meets a stranger.

It may just be coincidence but there are thirteen chapters, just as there are thirteen Milan Jacovich books. However, the chapters are not consigned to any particular book, nor is the story told in any particular order.

You know it's true love as you listen to Les talk about his city; he praises the people-their warmth and sincerity, but doesn't flinch from the warts to be found here, either. As a sociable guy, he's acquainted with all levels of folks, from the movers and shakers to the not-so-fortunate. He may kiss, but he doesn't tell. All.

He's a lot like his city: he's contrary, for one thing. He's one of at least two people in the city who doesn't constantly have a cell phone in his ear. He's curmudgeonly; you can read all about that in Chapter Ten, but don't be surprised if you find yourself in agreement with him, too. And he's tough, in several ways. So, in Chapter Thirteen, he lays it all out for his city-the good and the bad. He doesn't presume to know all the answers, but he certainly does know a good many pointed questions.

He's in demand as a teacher/lecturer at various writer's conferences, etc., and demonstrates why with a tid-bit on page 19. There, he explains the `writer's eye' without which there can be no writer. Of course, if you read any of his books, you'll know he's a darned good writer. But, also, if you read his books, then come to visit his town, just go look out a window. You'll find it all out there, just like he said it was.

I'm a former Clevelander and have read and enjoyed all of the Milan series. This new autobiography revealed to me that Les came here from a big pond where he was a little fish, to a little pond to become a big fish. Too much namedropping and schmoozing in these memoirs to suit me. True Clevelanders don't go this route, but Hollywood refugees do.

Let's get back to what Les does best, writing about Milan.

this is an open look at the city of Cleveland, the process of writing, love, life, and above all else food and drinks all seen through the eyes of author Les Roberts. he obviously has a passion for what he writes, and his enthusiasm for Cleveland can be infectious. i recommend all of his mystery books and this book as well. (i also recommend the five dollar burgers and bloody mary's at night town in cleveland heights!)

I bought this for a friend who is also a fan of Les Roberts. She was thrilled with the book. I do have one I bought from Amazon a few years ago. Both in excellant condition. Thanks.

It was great to learn the back round of Cleveland, Les Roberts, Milan Jacovich, Saxon and much more. Just when you thought you knew all there was to know, you find a small or not so small detail that makes things a little more clear and/or exciting. Les gives insight that makes all his works that much better.

If you love Cleveland as I do (after traveling there on and off over 15 years), and if you are a devoted fan of Les Roberts' Milan Jacovich mystery novels, then you'll appreciate this book. Roberts has to be one of the rare truly honest people I've ever read (and met, once). He'd be a great President for the U.S.A. Move the capital to Cleveland, Les.

After a delay of nearly five months, Les' memoir is finally here. It started out as a request from his new publisher, Grayco, that Les write a "Milan's Cleveland" book but morphed soon thereafter into Les' own autobiography. A majority of what Les has written is a review of our conversations over coffee at Starbucks and my treating him to lunch at Jack's Deli and P.F. Chang's; the same stories he tells during his talks, signings and classes. This memoir, although enjoyable as told by the true master story-teller that Les is, reads like a who's who of local personalities and restaurants.

Les "loves" Cleveland for the same reason any intelligent businessman does, because he was able to make a buck here. Other than appearing at benefits, young girlfriend in tow, or judging contests, I don't believe Les has ever dedicated himself or made a sizable contribution to any "cause" other than himself. Many of the people he calls his "friends" work tirelessly and contribute endlessly to further many different causes dear to the hearts of Clevelanders, from the revival of downtown Cleveland to finding a cure for cancer.

Roberts came to Cleveland because he received a timely offer to create our lottery show and because of mutual disenchantment with "Hollyweird" as he calls it. Coming to Cleveland from "shee-shee" California, Les was a big fish in a small pond and used his experiences and chutzpah to sell himself. The idea to write a series of novels set in our city was a stroke of sheer genius, and anyone I've asked has told me, quite frankly, that they'd rather have new Milans than a "memoir" of the author. Although a recent "Milan's Cleveland" tour promoted by a local trolley tour company to be hosted by Les never got off the ground. As fans, we tend to think of our favorite authors only in conjunction with the characters they create. Not so many of us are interested in their private lives, so witnessed by the dearth of mid-list author's memoirs on the shelves.

Les told me he wanted to disassociate himself from his Milan era. It's a shame because all except the last few Milans were really, really good. I wish him success with his "thrillers", but can't help but wonder if re-inventing Milan wouldn't prove more profitable.

NEWSFLASH!!! Roberts has just announced that he is "mapping out" another Milan novel in answer to "a thousand" requests from fans for a continuation of the series. Perhaps he has finally realized that Milan Jacovich is his meal-ticket here in Cleveland.