Hap and Leonard: Blood and Lemonade: Hap and Leonard

In this collection, Joe R. Lansdale stitches all the young Hap and Leonard short stories into a mosaic novel with the use of a framing device. Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are driving around East Texas reminiscing on their early life. Each place they visit leads them to recount another adventure, tragedy, or personality-forming encounter.The framing device was slightly awkward, but the quality of the stories was consistently high. This is in many ways the most mature, cohesive of the four Hap and Leonard short story collections. At times funny, poignant, and heartbreaking.For fans of the novels, it is illuminating to see how Hap’s self-contradictory character developed from the things he saw and suffered during his formative years—particularly his deep sense of compassion for animals juxtaposed with his penchant for resorting to violence against humans at the first sign of trouble.Other recurring themes from the novels—racism, conservationism, respect for women, and (most importantly) choosing your family based on shared values over blood kinship—are explored here as well.Most Hap and Leonard fans will find all but two or three of these stories to be new material. Fans of Lansdale who make it a point to read all of his limited-edition and small press books will note that of the fourteen stories, only five are actually original to this collection: “Blood and Lemonade”, “In the River of the Dead”, “Stopping for Coffee”, “Coach Whip”, and “Squirrel Hunt”..The other nine stories appeared previously in other Lansdale collections, although each has been revised for this volume, at least slightly, for sake of continuity:• “Tire Fire”, “Down by the Riverside”, and “The Bottom of the World” first appeared as bonus content in the limited-edition hardback publication of Fender Lizards.• “Parable of the Stick”, “Short Night” and “Apollo Red” first appeared in Miracles Ain’t What They Used to Be. (Note that in its original incarnation “Apollo Red” did not actually feature Hap Collins as its narrator.)• “Not Our Kind” and “The Boy Who Became Invisible” appeared in Hap and Leonard.• “The Oak and the Pond” first appeared in Hap and Leonard Ride Again.

I love Lansdale and I especially love the Hap and Leonard stories. These are a seemingly random collection of short stories. But 5he stories, when taken together form a kind of loosely related series that feel “novelish.” The fellas get into and out of all kinds of trouble and teach their own brand of justice and philosophy. Don’t hesitate. Buy this book now so you can begin reading it soon. Mine arrived in one day.

Lansdale describes this as a “mosaic novel: like a notebook where someone has been randomly recording events of their life.” Each of the chapters is a stand-alone short story, recording the early life of Hap Collins – the pre-teen and teenage years. Each of the stories is a little gem, many featuring the relationship between Hap and his father. In the “Parable of the Stick,” Hap learns a lesson that will help him deal with bullies throughout his life: “Self-defense is permissible.” “Tire Fire” records the first meeting of Hap and Leonard. It’s hard to pick one favorite, but mine might be “Squirrel Hunt,” the bittersweet story of an abused woman. All in all, a lovely collection.

Let's face it, any of Joe Lansdale's "Hap and Leonard" books is going to be a good read. This one is a collection of shorter pieces that appeared hither and yon, all now swept into one nice pile for your convenience. Lansdale is one of those authors who makes me want to stand under his study window shouting "Hurry, hurry!" Unfortunately he can't write 'em as fast as I can read 'em. Dang. As always, here he manages to be funny, suspenseful, bittersweet and startling, sometimes all at once.

Wonderful collections of stories tied into a mosaic with Hap and Leonard reminiscing as they talk and travel about their hometown. Not all of the content is original, and some of it has been printed before in other Hap & Leonard collections, but enough it is new for the reader to enjoy the excellent stories giving insight into Hap and Leonard's earlier days and how their friendship developed.

I have enjoyed reading every Hap and Leonard story that Joe R Lansdale has shared. I am from SE Oklahoma, fairly close to those East Texas locales Lansdale writes about. Comfortable, I'm comfortable with these characters. As he describes how they grew up in this novel I had to smile as the memories of my own raising synced in.

This was a very much anticipated novel,and I really enjoyed reading it. If you are a Lansdale fan then this is a must read for you. Loved the TV show but the novels are more my cup of tea. Keep them coming Joe.

Another great book from this author: never disappoints.

Great set of short stories. Some of which I have read and some I have not. Great introduction to Hap and Lenard and perfect reminder if you have read the series previously.

Great.

Good dialogue as ever from Mr. Lansdale but not quite as gripping as some of the earlier hap and Leonard books