Get Real

I have read most of Westlake's books and enjoyed them. This one tops them all -- it is a hilarious satire on reality shows. The gang signs up to do a reality show about them doing a heist, with unpredictable results. Narrator does a fabulous job -- thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Westlake's band of lovable, goofball crooks and sleazy reality show types, combined with the narrator's hilarious and brilliant renditions of each of them, make this a must-listen. And so timely with the reality show genre metastasizing every day on dozens of channels. Donald Westlake, wherever you are, I salute you. You will be sorely missed.

While this is one of my favorite Dortmunder books so far, I write this with a bit of sadness given Donald E. Westlake is no longer with us and likely this was the last of his books.

In an odd twist for the Dortmunder novels, the gang is asked to be part of a reality television series. What could have been a really bad book (I thought the worst concerning some of the plot points), the characters stick to their negligent ways and the TV Series turns into an opportunity for the theives to steal something more worthwhlie than airtime.

Without giving the end away, I can tell you that the book holds true to all the other Dortmunder novels and the ending left me with a smile on my face.

-Bill

I've been a Dortmunder fan for many years. The plots are always a hoot, the sarcasm runs thick, and the irony is always on.

My only beef with this version was the narrator. I listened to all of the Dortmunder books back in the Books on Tape days and that narrator NAILED the characters. This narrator, not so much and he especially falls short compared to the BOT narrator that I grew to enjoy so much.

Aside from the acting, the premise of this book is still well worth the credit.

Dortmunder and his gang ought to be pushing 80, now, given that they were pushing 40 back in 1970, when Donald Westlake began chronicling their burglarious exploits. In fact, they still seem to be pushing forty in "Get Real;" so one can only assume that they are all immortal. That makes me happy, since I never tire of their capers. The Dormunder gang provides just about the funniest, most entertaining listening one could wish for. In "Get Real," they encounter a new twist: A reality T.V. show producer wants to film them doing what they do best. Presenting them with a lucrative deal which they can't refuse, the producer talks them into the plan; but the producer has no idea what he has gotten himself into with these lovable criminals. Look forward to the gang's usual shenanigans: traipsing across roof-tops; climbing through windows; plotting burglaries in the back room of the O. J. Bar & Grill, where "the regulars," as always, are engaging in absurd, hilarious, low-brow conversations. William Dufris, the narrator of "Get Real," does a spectacular job of voicing all the characters. In particular, he turns in an inimitable performance of a foreigner in the O. J. speaking jibberish that sounds like a cross between German and Chinese. That scene, alone, makes it worth listening to "Get Real." I recommend this audiobook to anyone who isn't too serious. Sadly, I just learned that Donald Westlake died in 2008; so with "Get Real" we will be listening to the last of Dortmunder, and Company. On the other hand, since they are immortal, maybe some other author will take up the job of documenting their exploits ....

Complete fluff. Abrupt ending, but overall a fun listen.

It took a little while to get into the story and 'suspend disbelief', but proved an enjoyable listen in the end.

What a delightful find. I saw the advertisement on the Audible front page and although I wasn't familiar with Mr. Westgate's Dortmunder series, I was intrigued by the premise and reassured by the good ratings.

A reality show producer looking for his next big hit after "The Stand" (a reality TV show he produces chronicling the life and drama of running a roadside farm stand) hits upon an idea to recruit a team of actual thieves (the Dortmunder gang) and film them planning and then executing a real burglary.

The money is good, the risk to the gang manageable, and Dortmunder has ideas of his own to sweeten the take for the gang. John Dortmunder is one of the cleverest (and unlucky) criminals you are likely to meet, so the reality TV show promises to be very interesting indeed.

This was such a fun listen and I was sad when it ended. Even more so since Mr. Westlake passed away in 2008 and the Dortmunder gang is most likely in retirement. However, there still are 13 other Dortmunder books for me to enjoy.

Not sure.

I love the whole gang, especially Dortmunder and May.

Dortmunder is always my favorite, but I also love the topics of discussion among the regular patrons of the bar.

Yes

This is the last novel about John Dortmunder and his gang of thieves that Westlake wrote before his death in 2008. You don't have to read them in order; the first one was The Hot Rock. Even minor characters are colorfully portrayed and the gang members seem like old friends. This one has a clever premise and Westlake is just having a lot of fun spinning out the twists in the story in his own sweet time.

He does a great job with the characters.