Galveston

A Novel

By: Nic Pizzolatto

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

From the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series True Detective and soon to be a major motion picture comes a dark and visceral novel set along the wastelands of Galveston.

On the same day that Roy Cady is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he senses that his boss, a dangerous loan-sharking bar-owner, wants him dead. Roy is alert to the possibility that a routine assignment could be a deathtrap. Yet what the would-be killers do to Roy Cady is not the same as what he does to them, and after a smoking spasm of violence, they are mostly dead and he is mostly alive.

Before Roy makes his getaway, he realizes there are two women in the apartment, one of them still breathing, and he sees something in her frightened, defiant eyes that causes a fateful decision. He takes her with him as he goes on the run from New Orleans to Galveston, Texas—an action as ill-advised as it is inescapable. The girl's name is Rocky, and she is too young, too tough, too sexy—and far too much trouble. Roy, Rocky, and her sister hide in the battered seascape of Galveston's country-western bars and seedy hotels, a world of treacherous drifters, pickup trucks, and ashed-out hopes.

Recalling the moody violence of the early novels of Cormac McCarthy and Denis Johnson, this powerful, potent, and atmospheric thriller is impossible to put down.

©2010 Nic Pizzolatto (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Impressive.... Pizzolatto's insightful portrayal of the heroic Roy...is rough and tumble real." ( Publishers Weekly)

Awesome, gripping and compelling story...

I was totally absorbed by the characters, story line and descriptions of Galveston and the gulf coast. I used to live there and this story makes me want to go back. Great narrator as well. Thanks for writing this book.

Great Moody "Read"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes -- with fully realized characters and an involving noir plot, the book keeps you engaged to the point that, as another reviewer commented, you don't want to stop listening.

Any additional comments?

Contrary to the views of a couple of other reviewers, I thought the narrator was perfect for this book. His cadence nicely matched the tone of the book and properly reflected how people in that area actually speak.

A magnificent Southern Noir

Kramer's narration does not do justice to Pizzolatto's unnerving story. Disappointing. I was expecting more.

First Class Writing

What made the experience of listening to Galveston the most enjoyable?

Quality, literate writing. Interesting use of simile and metaphor, imagery, rhythmic word choice. Not quite James Lee Burke, but definitely moving towards that.

What about Michael Kramer’s performance did you like?

Fit the characters, decent female voices, main character perfect. Some less than ideal edits, but overall very good.

Any additional comments?

Not what I was expecting, more of a character study than a crime novel, but very pleased I listened.

Just shoot me

This book might win runner-up in the bad Hemingway contest. " I thought of Maria. I checked the .9 mm in my shoulder holster. I needed the .45, but it was lost somewhere in the sea of dust bunnies under Stella's bed." All read in a gravelly monotone that is supposed to sound hard-boiled.

The hero is a wounded soul. Check. Everyone's a bad guy. Check. Everyone's corrupt. Check. A few have a spark of integrity. Check. I cannot finish. Check.

Disappointing - cash-in on True Detective?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I don't know if this is salvageable. It reads like an early effort by a writer imitating James Lee Burke. Alcoholic protagonist, hooker with heart of gold, New Orleans mobsters (but these are Russian, which really doesn't fit New Orleans), starts out fairly strong with mobsters trying to murder protagonist, who kills a bunch of them and goes on lam to Galveston with 18 y/o hooker. Then it skips about 20 years and picks up with hero hiding out under new name at seedy hotel or apartment complex. Dreary, boring, not one character you can relate to. Big "climax" is hero taking trip down memory lane while hurricane blows in.
Hero is a little like Rust in True Detective, even drives beat up Ford pickup, loner.

Would you ever listen to anything by Nic Pizzolatto again?

based on this book, no, but I know he can do great work - TD.

Did Michael Kramer do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

he did okay.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Galveston?

I'd reject the whole book and tell author to start over, maybe that it was a good first draft.

Any additional comments?

I suspect the author was asked what else he had ready to go and dusted this one off.

BORING

What disappointed you about Galveston?

I bought this because the writer did "True Detective" on HBO. This was very boring, My husband & I tried to listen to this on a 4 hour drive. We ended up just turning it off,

What was most disappointing about Nic Pizzolatto’s story?

I guess I had too high of expectations because he did "True Detective"

Great book if you want to get depressed

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Not having the man character dying of cancer, being a murderer, or being in such an unbelievable story line. And the other characters in the book were not any better.

Would you ever listen to anything by Nic Pizzolatto again?

Yes if he could narrate a book not so God awful depressing.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment big time! I couldn't even finish it.

Any additional comments?

When a story makes me want to jump off a bridge it is time to stop listening to it

This is a non starter all the way to the end.

Would you try another book from Nic Pizzolatto and/or Michael Kramer?

I doubt I will ever choose another book by this author as I simply did not enjoy this book. The narrator did a fine job in fact he is the reason I was able to slog through to the end.

Would you ever listen to anything by Nic Pizzolatto again?

No, I felt the story was weak, the ending disappointing, and it totally turned me off of this writer.

Did Michael Kramer do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Sure. I really felt Mr. Kramer's character portrayal was well performed and even allowed for a very life like image in the imagination. I only rated the narration with three stars because I am torn. I am not certain if the main character is a one note single dimension player or if some of the fault here lies in the reading.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Galveston?

This is a very dark tale where our beaten down hero not once gets the good end of the stick. I would have let his meeting with his lamented love go better and I would also have allowed for a happier ending.

Any additional comments?

I was raised in Galveston. This is what originally drew my attention to this title. I do not think this author captured the feel of the island although I will admit I would never have had cause to go into some of the areas mentioned in the story.

Narration puts me to sleep.

Has Galveston turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Michael Kramer's monotone will put you to sleep. Hard to follow ,I tend to wander away from his dialog.

Any additional comments?

After 30 minutes of listening I could not take it anymore.