I’ve got to assume that Denis Johnson has already sold the film rights to Nobody Move. This short, incredibly quick-based story reads like a screenplay. It’s almost nothing but action and dialog. With action that tends towards the exciting and snappy dialog that brings to life the cast of dumb criminals, the entire book flies along like a high speed car chase.
The review I read compared Johnson’s writing to that of Elmore Leonard. I think one of the most brilliant things Elmore Leonard has ever said is, “I try to leave out the parts that people skip.” Johnson has also apparently followed this rule, as there isn’t a single skip-worthy passage to be found in Nobody Move.
Nobody Move is a perfect summer read, just the perfect size for packing up in a suitcase or taking to the beach. It’s not a book to sit and savor on a cold winter afternoon, but something to breeze through on a hot summer day with a cool drink in one’s hand. It’s short and sweet with characters that are disturbingly real.
My Books
