Unflappably Westlakian

Why Me (see here), by Donald Westlake is on the hot seat this week. Like Dick Francis and Lawrence Sanders, I turn to Westlake when I want a comedy. You know what you're going to get when you read about Dortmunder. (That being said, I'm reading the book, I have no idea who Gus is nor who Bruno is . . . although that's a funny picture of Christopher Lloyd)

The first line is also vintage Westlake, not great, not even good, but gets the reader directly into the right frame of mind.

“Hello,” said the telephone cheerfully into Dortmunder’s ear, “this is Andy Kelp.” 

“This is Dort—” Dortmunder started to say, but the telephone was still talking in his ear. It was saying: 

“I’m not home right now, but—” 

“Andy? Hello?” 

“— you can leave a message on this recording machine—” 

“It’s John, Andy. John Dortmunder.” 

“— and I’ll call you back just as soon as I can.” 

“Andy! Hey! Can you hear me?” 

“Leave your message right after you hear the beep. And do have a nice day.” 

Dortmunder held both hands cupped around the mouthpiece of the phone and roared down its throat: “HELLO!”

Westlake, Donald E - Why Me?


Last thing on that movie poster . . . having gotten midway through the book,  I think it would be a horrible movie. I'm not surprised I didn't know about the movie. More surprised that it was made.