Lay Down My Sword and Shield

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The hero of James Lee Burke's recent best-seller Rain Gods, cousin to lawman Billy Bob Holland and a genuine product of the South, both old and new, Hackberry Holland makes his first appearance in this early gem from "America's best novelist" (The Denver Post).

Against the backdrop of growing civil rights turmoil in a sultry border town, the hard-drinking ex-POW attorney yields to the myriad urgings of his wife, his brother, and his so-called friends to make a bid for a congressional seat - and finds himself embroiled in the seamy world of Texas powerbrokers. And when Hack attempts to overturn an old army buddy's conviction, and crosses paths with a beautiful union organizer who speaks to his heart in a way no one else has, he finds both a new love and a new purpose as he breaks free from the shackles of wealth and expectation to bring justice to the underserved.

©2010 James Lee Burke (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Maybe it's time for James Lee to hang 'em up.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. Not when you have read as many of his books as I have. His gifts are so outsized that I have come to expect truly marvelous entertainment from him, particularly when he is paired with the remarkable Will Patton. However, the well just has to run dry sooner or later, and I am afraid that in Hack Holland we are seeing the grisly death of Mr. Burke's outlandish writerly talents. When he sinks this low, he becomes compulsively violent. Other readers have commented on this, and it is most certainly true. The violence is relentless and by now pointless. We know that Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell and now Hack Holland have all brought back the horrible nightmares of Korea and Viet Nam, as have minor characters galore, but the piling on is serving to diminish the point here, not to heighten its emphasis. The reader can only listen to so many nightmares about grisly murders, decapitations, etc. etc. etc. before the shock value of these wears off completely. By this time I have lost the point. At first I understood the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that these men bring home and try to cope with in their lives after war, but these thousands of pages cannot serve simply to make those points over and over again. The books, and this one in particular, are so much about conflict in so many relationships across such a broad spectrum of people in Texas that you wonder how it is that they don't just kill each other off and be done with it. There'd be no one left to write about, I spose.

If you’ve listened to books by James Lee Burke before, how does this one compare?

As above, the emphasis on conflict in its multifarious manifestations (sorry; I won't do that again) just begin to make the mind roll over and lose the point completely. Let's see: Texas law enforcement is a rotten, corrupt-to-the-core pigsty; politicians are lying whores who will say and do anything for money and their own despicable personal gain and ambition (gee whiz!), the women are just as nasty as the men, etc. Are we taking notes here?

Would you listen to another book narrated by Will Patton?

I do love Will Patton. His voice is delightful, with that gravelly texture that is easy to snuggle up to at night. He is a great selling point for any audiobook.

Did Lay Down My Sword and Shield inspire you to do anything?

Like, move to Texas, become oil-rich and run for political office? Uh, no.

Any additional comments?

No. Time to either retire, or to change the focus, and as the boys at Monte Python would have it, do something completely different. How about exploring some uplifting aspect of human nature? I hear uproarious laughter. Just a thought. Doesn't sell many books.

Terrific

There’s no better writer than James Lee Burke and I could listen to Will Patton read the phone book and be happy. On to the next one. Love you guys!

Background for series

What did you like best about Lay Down My Sword and Shield? What did you like least?

This is all about the life story of the Hackberry Holland, the new series. There is very little plot or story otherwise. I fast forwarded through much, especially the Korean War POW part which is a major portion of the book.

Has Lay Down My Sword and Shield turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all. I will probably listen to the next story but after a long break with other books. I love the genre. James Lee Burke's preaching can be tiresome.

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narrative is always excellent. I don't like when the narrator tries to do a different voice or accent for each character. Paxton read with an accent and emotion appropriate for the story. He is perfect for the Burke stories.

Was Lay Down My Sword and Shield worth the listening time?

Only if you plan on reading the series, so you have the background. I am really not sure. if you care why Holland was a drunk and philanderer and left her former life to become a sheriff?

Any additional comments?

Disappointing based on reviews I read.

Beautiful writing

Regardless how one views the story, the writing is delightful. Filled with rich descriptions and flowing with artistic panoramas, the author draws beautiful pictures of Texas, a subject he obvious dearly loves.
But the characters are just as rich. The story is filled with symbolism. The play between the ghost of the past and the present reality is carefully crafted to anticipate the future. Relationships are so raw and so real.
Among the themes of self delusion and self destruction arise the Phoenix of the changing paradigm of self evaluation.
Every detail of story is magnificently unfolded against a visual landscape that includes smells and sounds and details to further the plot.
The agonizing moments of alcoholic malfeasance ache with authenticity as do the hollow rituals of domestic failure.
The story is painfully real and in places even hard to stomach. But that sense of reality makes the twists in the plot perfection.
This is a truly masterful book and I highly recommend reading it.

A good listen

Unlike other characters written by James Lee Burke, the lead character in this book is a jerk. The story is good as all the authors books are, but just be prepared to enjoy the story but not like who it is about.

Interesting characters and historical perspective

If you could sum up Lay Down My Sword and Shield in three words, what would they be?
Classic Burke novel

Any additional comments?
Burke has a clear, lyrical voice that creates a palpable world within his novels. Hackberry Holland fits the family mold familiar from Burke's other series -- strong characters with heart and unique sense of righteousness.

With Patton as the reader, this book will transport you into another era.

Great reading, good story: sensitive lawyer

A Korean war vet, lawyer, and new Democratic candidate for Congress from Austin TX in the '70s, the protagonist "Hack" is bitter, estranged from his wife, brother, others, self. Though he holds himself to a high standard, he also questions his own worth just a little less than he discounts the motives of those around him. He has the attractive sensibilities of a hippie (open-minded and anti-bigotry) together with the appetites of a good ol' boy (drinking, driving fast, and whoring). His deep secret - which forms the spine of the narrative - is sufficiently important and well presented. The reading by Will Patton is outstanding, a great pleasure with perfectly fitting voices. The story is just a little less than compelling, too much of a great guy with a deep soul...who is righteous and drinks way too much.

Another hit for Burke and Patton

What did you love best about Lay Down My Sword and Shield?

James Lee Burke is an amazing writer and there is no better narrator than Will Patton for his works. This book makes you laugh out loud, makes you think, gets you lost in the descriptive power of Burke's words, and you even like the characters. What a combo.

What did you like best about this story?

The Burke and Patton team. Can't be beat!

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

They were all good, some more caricatures and really flesh and blood people. But they populate the story well and make it all come alive.

If you could take any character from Lay Down My Sword and Shield out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Really?

Fans of Dave Robicheaux . . . dont overlook this!

Would you listen to Lay Down My Sword and Shield again? Why?

I don't typically listen to a book twice, but I would consider it with this one because the story is rich and the characters are deep.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciate Burke's old school ethic exhibited through the conviction of his protagonists.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Will Patton is Hack Holland. His interpretation of the character is spot on perfect.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"Coming to a theater near you . . . a Lone Star political masterpiece for the ages!"

Incredible, as usual

Another wonderful book by James Lee Burke. And another excellent reading by Will Patton. Always pleased with this duo.