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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > July > 23 > Entry
Sex and drugs and violence…
“Savages” by Don Winslow (Simon & Schuster, 302 pages, $25.00)
Don Winslow writes books that are perfect summer reads. I have read a couple of them and when I picked up his latest, “Savages,” I was looking forward to more of the same. Winslow seems to enjoy writing crime novels set with the backdrop of the surfing subculture of San Diego.
“Savages” is a major departure from what I expected. Surfing is barely mentioned and this one is set in Orange County and more specifically, the affluent, conservative environs of Laguna Beach.
This is the story of two friends, Ben and Chon, and their girlfriend, Ophelia. That’s right, folks, these guys share their girlfriend, “O” or “the Big O” (I won’t even get into why they call her that) and these guys run a major marijuana growing and sales operation in southern California.
They run “grow houses” all over the area where they cultivate super powerful weed. Ben is a botanist and he has come up with some marijuana strains that are very potent. They have a cadre of growers and dealers in their multi-million dollar operation.
Ben spends most of his time overseas. He’s a philanthropist and he invests a lot of money in attempting to raise the standard of living for impoverished residents of third world countries. Chon stays home with Ophelia (they are all roommates) and he supervises their business endeavors. Chon is the enforcer. A former Navy Seal, he served in Afghanistan. It was Chon who assassinated a member of a biker gang that once tried to muscle in on their drug sales turf.
The “savages” of the title are Chon’s description of individuals who are willing to do anything to further their goals. Chon knows. He is a savage himself. A Mexican drug cartel from Baja decides to muscle in on their marijuana operation. The Baja Cartel demands that Ben and Chon turn over their operation. They want them to keep running it but the cartel wants to cash in and skim off most of the profits.
To enforce their brutal business plan, they kidnap “O.” These are the bare bones of “Savages.” The rest of the book involves the unfolding drama of these two guys fighting this drug cartel in the hope of saving their girlfriend.
“Savages” is violent. There are explicit sexual situations. Bad language. Constant, excessive consumption of high quality herb. Thrills. Blood. Evil. Luxury. I could not put it down.
This compulsive page turner kept me up and reading until 4am when I reached the ultimate carnage at the end. Oh my, what a lovely summer read.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By librojeem
July 28, 2010 10:58 AM | Link to this
Guess Mr. Winslow and his publishers had to put this out now and not take a chance on California’s impending vote on pot legalization obsolescing his plot line.
By Max
July 25, 2010 10:48 AM | Link to this
I guess I’ll stay with ‘Gatsby’ as the standard of romantic tragedy….LOL…..
By Insider
July 24, 2010 3:46 PM | Link to this
AND, I also enjoy graphic novels : ) Not a bit ashamed of it either. “Every picture tells a story ‘don’t’ it?”
By Insider
July 24, 2010 3:38 PM | Link to this
I never read romances. Ever. Currently finishing “Another Door Opens” by Jeffrey A. Wands and will follow it with “The Secret Doctrine” by H.P. Blavatsky. Would not want anyone to assume I am some kind of ‘romance reader.’ Not a shot. Seldom submitted to even shelving them at work.
By Insider
July 24, 2010 3:31 PM | Link to this
Yeah, it sounds like “No Country For Old Men” kinda—which has been on tv for two weeks now. hmmm…go figure. I must not be privy to the “Proper Readers Etiquette” because I usually read what I want whenever I feel like it. Oh Well, to each his own.
By vick
July 24, 2010 2:24 PM | Link to this
Gothic romances? Definitely cold weather reads, Max.
By Max
July 24, 2010 2:09 PM | Link to this
Vick, again, thanks for clearing that up….I tend to question what is ‘generally accepted’ and this is one of those, maybe. So, the genre is basically ‘gothic romances?’…LOL….
By vick
July 24, 2010 1:57 PM | Link to this
Max, “summer reads” will frequently include one or more of these elements: beaches, mountains, blazing weather, profanity, minimalist language, steamy dialogue, hot romance, blazing sex, smoky taverns, gunfire, and intermittent thunderstorms.
By Max
July 24, 2010 1:11 PM | Link to this
‘Glad to see subcultural hedonism didn’t die in the 1960’s, or, the urban myths naturally reSURFacing. Still, this sounds, suspiciously, like a ‘B’ movie, action -adventure plot sans special effects and annoying sound track. By the way, VICK, unlike movies (they have their own commercially centered ethos) what distinguishes a summer ‘read’ from other books? Are these comic books without the pictures?
By vick
July 24, 2010 9:39 AM | Link to this
An interesting observation, Raoul. At one point the pot growers are so blitzed on their own product when some cartel assassins show up that it becomes a genuine occupational hazard. Let it be noted that only the lowest ranking cartel members seemed to use this particular product during normal “work” obligations.
By Raoul
July 24, 2010 7:39 AM | Link to this
You would think all that good weed would mellow people out.
By Insider
July 23, 2010 7:56 PM | Link to this
I think everyone is already too hot with the temperature and they’re just trying to stay cool. I sure didn’t want to be the first to comment…lol. It doesn’t sound like a bad read, but I’m still hanging with the paranormal.
By Mark from St Paul
July 23, 2010 4:09 PM | Link to this
Hmm. Sex and drugs but no politics and no comments.