The Hustler -- the Walter Tevis novel

9BallPaul

9BallPaul

Banned
Most of the time we talk about The Hustler, we're talking about the excellent movie starring Paul Newman. But the real treat is reading the fine prose that sent the story to Hollywood.

Tevis wrote like an angel and deserves a re-read if you're in the mood. It's been 40 years for me since I read it the first time, and the second time through is just as satisfying.

Put it on your summer reading list, you won't regret it.
 
I'd be interested in reading the book. I read "color of money"
and it's totally different than the movie.
 
BobTfromIL said:
I'd be interested in reading the book. I read "color of money"
and it's totally different than the movie.
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Yeah, Color of Money will be my next Tevis read. I hated the movie because of Tom Cruise's pitiful performance -- treating a cue as a baton during a match is never cool where I come from -- but I trust the book will be a major upgrade.
 
My Dad put a copy in my suitcase when I joined the Army. I didn't read it until 1963 up in Faibanks, Alaska. I believe I've read it twice since then. Johnnyt
 
first edition

i have a mint condition first edition copy, with the dust jacket. i read it about ever 5 years
 
Well I'm hooked. Now I got to buy the book. I just bought one on ebay for $7.63 including shipping.
 
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I read my '60s paperback copy every so often. As usual with books made into movies, much more detail.
 
color of money book

I read the color of money book and it's completely different from the movie. I've never read the Hustler, I am not a big book reader, but in this case I might buy a copy and read it. I think someone should put out a new movie that has good appeal to how the game is today. I think the last book I read was " The Hot Zone ", It kept me really interested, I read it in 2 days. It is about the Ebola Virus, and I would recommend it to be a good read.
 
Review from Time Magazine: "If Hemingway had the passion for pool that he had for bullfighting, his hero might have been Eddie Felson."

Further from Time: "A succession of scenes in which a smoky, seedy world becomes sharply alive, and where crises are intense even though the scene is grubby and the game is only pool."

Well, that last part stings a bit, but this is a great read nonetheless.
 
Good Idea...........

9BallPaul said:
Most of the time we talk about The Hustler, we're talking about the excellent movie starring Paul Newman. But the real treat is reading the fine prose that sent the story to Hollywood.

Tevis wrote like an angel and deserves a re-read if you're in the mood. It's been 40 years for me since I read it the first time, and the second time through is just as satisfying.

Put it on your summer reading list, you won't regret it.
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...........I like the idea, and you`ve prompted me to read it again!

Thanks.
 
The movie The Hustler was IMO, very true to the book and both were excellent. The Color of Money was a modern movie and thus made by committee, and although pretty good, nothing like the book, which was, like all of Tevis's books, excellent.

Another great read is Tevis's The Queens' Gambit and of course

The Man Who Fell To Earth

I mean really Walter, write some good stories man.

Kevin
 
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And for anybody who likes science fiction...try and find a copy of Tevis's: Mockingbird - an excellent book primarily about the relationship between two people and an intelligent, despondent robot, taking place in the New York area in a dark apocalyptic future...imo, The Hustler & Mockingbird are his two best books.

- Ghost
 
1 Pocket Ghost said:
And for anybody who likes science fiction...try and find a copy of Tevis's: Mockingbird - an excellent book primarily about the relationship between two people and an intelligent, despondent robot, taking place in the New York area in a dark apocalyptic future...imo, The Hustler & Mockingbird are his two best books.

- Ghost
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Wow what a treat, a Tevis book I haven't read.

Thanks for the tip

Kevin
 
9BallPaul said:
Yeah, Color of Money will be my next Tevis read. I hated the movie because of Tom Cruise's pitiful performance -- treating a cue as a baton during a match is never cool where I come from -- but I trust the book will be a major upgrade.
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Tom Cruise's character "Vince" isn't even in the book. It's very different than the movie.
 
1 Pocket Ghost said:
Hey Kevin....If you do find a copy and read it (library might have it) shoot me a pm and tell me how you liked it.

- Ghost
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They didn't have it on my Kindle, but they did have one Tevis book "The Big Bounce" which I hadn't read. and it was free (I love that price so much). So currently I'm sidetracked.

Thanks again

Kevin
 
Bobby said:
Tom Cruise's character "Vince" isn't even in the book. It's very different than the movie.
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That's Hollywood for you. Only a hack could invent a character as poorly drawn as Vince. I've always suspected that Cruise himself added all the flourishes (based on his show-off bartender movie) but I can't say that with any authority.

Cruise's clumsy performance all but ruined Color of Money for me, and there wasn't nearly enough of Grady Seasons. And of course, Newman had the great Jackie Gleason propping him up in The Hustler. Whereas Gleason is a legitimate giant of the screen, Cruise is an annoying bug.
 
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