I DNF'd this for the time being, and some day may get back to it based on the positive ratings it's received.

S.G. Browne introduces a new concept in Lucky Bastard: that of the luck poacher, a person who can take a person's luck by a simple physical act such as a handshake. The problem I was having (through the first 120 pages) is that Browne spends so much time explaining this concept that he upset the flow of the story. Browne has a fine voice and I enjoy the humor he infuses in the story, I just need his high concept more evenly applied throughout the narrative.

Amusing, light reading. ( )

GREAT opening line! - "It's my understanding that naked women don't generally tend to carry knives." It actually was the reason I started reading this book! And I loved the diss of AT&T on page 17. I feel exactly the same way about them! The book is about Nick Monday, a private detective in San Francisco who is also a "luck poacher". What's a "luck poacher"? You gotta read this book to find out! I love the way it's written and I really love all the pop culture references, especially from two of my favorites - "Field of Dreams" and Indiana Jones! And the details and accuracy about the streets and places in San Francisco are a treat for a Bay Area boy! Bravo! ( )

3.5 stars
I started out not liking LUCKY BASTARD, S.G. Browne’s third novel after BREATHERS and FATED. I couldn’t (and still can’t) stand the sex-obsessed Nick Monday, whose topsy-turvy day of private investigating and ‘luck poaching’ in San Francisco includes every other thought being of a sexual nature. Until things really started running in the story I was feeling that perhaps a somewhat negative review was in the future. Nick turned me off just that much.

But something happened. The book made me start to think. It made me think about consequences, identity, reinventing oneself, the luck of certain people and why they have it. Hidden inside this story of a ‘luck poacher’ are some genuine nuggets of contemplative thoughts. I appreciate that. Any book that gives me the opportunity to consider the what, why, and where of life is ok by me.

Nick Monday is a private investigator who, on the side, poaches good luck from lucky people and then sells it on the black market. Over twenty-four hours his world goes nuts and he has the Chinese Mafia, the U.S. government, two women named Tuesday, a street urchin, an albino, and a mysterious woman on a scooter all interested in him and his activities. Some want to take from him, others want him to take for them, some want him to deliver something to them, others want him to deliver something to someone else. The pace gets faster through the book until after a while it feels like an episode of the television show, ‘The Amazing Race’! Run here and do this, run there and do that in a race against time!

As I may have mentioned, I did not care for the main character. Seriously, the idea of a 35-year-old man constantly picking up 20-year-old baristas is just a 35-year-old man’s wishful thinking. It would be just plain creepy to the young woman. I should know. I’ve been a 20-year-old woman. Add on another 10 years and yes, I believe a 30-year-old woman would easily date a 45-year-old man. But I digress.

San Francisco itself also plays a part in this story, as street names and landmarks are continually being mentioned, so those familiar with the city can imagine Nick running around from point to point.

The story does a great job of bringing all of the threads together to a satisfying and colorful conclusion and I would recommend LUCKY BASTARD. ( )

3.5 stars
I started out not liking LUCKY BASTARD, S.G. Browne’s third novel after BREATHERS and FATED. I couldn’t (and still can’t) stand the sex-obsessed Nick Monday, whose topsy-turvy day of private investigating and ‘luck poaching’ in San Francisco includes every other thought being of a sexual nature. Until things really started running in the story I was feeling that perhaps a somewhat negative review was in the future. Nick turned me off just that much.

But something happened. The book made me start to think. It made me think about consequences, identity, reinventing oneself, the luck of certain people and why they have it. Hidden inside this story of a ‘luck poacher’ are some genuine nuggets of contemplative thoughts. I appreciate that. Any book that gives me the opportunity to consider the what, why, and where of life is ok by me.

Nick Monday is a private investigator who, on the side, poaches good luck from lucky people and then sells it on the black market. Over twenty-four hours his world goes nuts and he has the Chinese Mafia, the U.S. government, two women named Tuesday, a street urchin, an albino, and a mysterious woman on a scooter all interested in him and his activities. Some want to take from him, others want him to take for them, some want him to deliver something to them, others want him to deliver something to someone else. The pace gets faster through the book until after a while it feels like an episode of the television show, ‘The Amazing Race’! Run here and do this, run there and do that in a race against time!

As I may have mentioned, I did not care for the main character. Seriously, the idea of a 35-year-old man constantly picking up 20-year-old baristas is just a 35-year-old man’s wishful thinking. It would be just plain creepy to the young woman. I should know. I’ve been a 20-year-old woman. Add on another 10 years and yes, I believe a 30-year-old woman would easily date a 45-year-old man. But I digress.

San Francisco itself also plays a part in this story, as street names and landmarks are continually being mentioned, so those familiar with the city can imagine Nick running around from point to point.

The story does a great job of bringing all of the threads together to a satisfying and colorful conclusion and I would recommend LUCKY BASTARD. ( )