Fun Trivia : Block, Lawrence

Structure Sub-topic of: Authors A-C Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 20 general entries.

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Block, Lawrence

What is Scudder's favorite bar?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


Jimmy Armstrong's. Even after quitting drinking, Scudder does a lot of his business in various bars. Mick Ballou is one of his best buddies, but thoroughly involved in crime of various sorts; Scudder meets Mick at Grogan's. Danny Boy Bell is one of Scudder's long-time informants; he usually meets with him at Poogan's Pub.



Almost as well known as Scudder is Bernie Rhodenbarr. What does Bernie do?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


All of these (Used book seller, Burglar, Reluctant crime solver). Bernie bought a used book store with the proceeds from one of his heists. At various times he gets involved with paintings, rare coins, baseball cards and gems. His favorite way to wrap up one of his topsy-turvy investigations is to gather all the principal characters in one room, usually with his cop friend, Ray, standing by. His staunch, funny friend, Carolyn, is a dog groomer. A great series!



The second of ten Bernie Rhodenbarr books was "The Burglar in the Closet." A motion picture loosely based on this novel was called just "Burglar." Who starred as Bernie in this movie?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi did a good job as Bernie, despite the imaginative casting. The author wonders why they had to add a car chase.



Chip Harrison is Block's most comic character. The first story about him was "No Score." Question: The second book was "Chip Harrison Scores Again." True or false?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


True. These books both contain chapters of only one sentence. Other books in the series are "Make Out with Murder" (aka "The Five Little Rich Girls") and "The Topless Tulip Caper." If you like Chip Harrison, you might also like Block's early (1971) "Ronald Rabbit is a Dirty Old Man."



Which Lawrence Block "Matthew Scudder" novel, considered by many to be his best, was made into a motion picture?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


Eight Million Ways to Die. This 1986 movie starred Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette and Andy Garcia; it was the last movie directed by Hal Ashby. Its locale was changed from New York to Los Angeles. The author always says he would like to forget another movie, "Nightmare Honeymoon," based on his 1967 "Deadly Honeymoon."



Evan Tanner is featured in eight Lawrence Block novels. What is his most notable characteristic?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


He never sleeps. Due to a brain injury from the Korean war, Tanner never has to sleep. He uses part of the time he saves to learn dozens of languages, using them in adventures all around the world. I really like this series, but it doesn't seem to be Block's most popular.



Another Block character is Keller. What does he do for a living?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


Assassin. Keller (with never a first name) takes on various jobs of murder from an elaborate referral setup. He is in the novels "Hit Man" and "Hit List," as well as several short stories. I am afraid I cannot agree with the many Block fans who like and approve of Keller.



In his 2003 novel, "Small Town," Block uses post-911 New York as the setting for a wildly steamy murder mystery. The appearance and disappearance of what small figurine has caused a great deal of confusion among readers of this novel?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


A Blue Rabbit. I have to say that this novel is not for the squeamish. And I am still not sure how the Blue Rabbit got all the places it did.



One of Block's non-fiction books is a guide for authors. What is its title?

Lawrence Block Novels and Characters


Telling Lies for Fun and Profit. I hope that this brief glimpse into the varied world of Lawrence Block will garner him some new or return readers. To learn more about Lawrence Block, visit his webpage.



Most of the books take place in or around Manhattan - where exactly does Bernie live, though?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


In an apartment on West End Avenue. The brownstone on West 25th is, of course, the home of Nero Wolfe. If you chose New Jersey, maybe you were thinking of Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar. Long Island is the stomping grounds of many of Susan Isaacs' characters; no burglars there, though both she and Block have novels with a dentist playing a main role.



In the earliest books in the series, Bernie was a burglar pure and simple (well, rarely pure and never simple). However, in later books he ostensibly goes straight, and gets a job. What business is he in?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


Used bookseller. Bernie buys Barnegat Books, and makes a little less than a living from it. He enjoys the business, though, and can always supplement his income by 'moonlighting'.



Bernie's best friend Carolyn works just down the street. What business is she in?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


Dog groomer. Carolyn is the owner and sole employee of The Poodle Factory. She also is not averse to a little moonlighting now and again.



Bernie gains a cat in the course of the series - what is this cat's name?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


Raffles. What better name for the cat of a burglar - and he's toilet trained, too! The incorrect options are all literary cats - Dinah belonged to Alice in Wonderland, Tobermory was the hero (or antihero) of one of Saki's stories, and Mehitabel was of course the pal of Archy the cockroach. One of Carolyn's cats is named Archie, too, but it's spelled differently, as he is named after Archie Goodwin.



Every less-than-official solver of mysteries has an "in" with the police department - Lord Peter has Chief Inspector Parker, Alex Delaware has Milo Sturgis, even Sherlock Holmes has Inspector Lestrade. Who is Bernie's?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


Ray Kirschmann. Ray always manages to make a nice collar and maybe a little something for himself, when he goes along with Bernie. None of the other answer options would ever make a deal with a burglar for a cut of the action - they just don't do that sort of thing at the 87th Precinct.



Like any dashing young hero, Bernie meets the occasional lovely lady through the course of the book. Does he always get the girl, in the end?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


No. He usually gets "a" girl, at one point or another, but seldom ends the story with the book's romantic interest. Once, in fact, it was Carolyn who got the girl.



Bernie's neighbour, Mrs Hesch, has helped him out in the odd way, now and then in the books. What does she know about his profession?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


She knows that he is a burglar and doesn't much care. In the first book in the series, "Burglars Can't be Choosers", Bernie's name and the details of his lifestyle were widely reported, and his building was buzzing with the news. Mrs Hesch was unfazed, however: "You know the kind of conversations you hear in the laundry room. There are crazy women in this building, Mr Rhodenbarr. One the other day, she's running off at the mouth like a broken record. 'We ain't safe in our own beds!' I said to her 'Gert,' I said, 'in the first place you'd be safe in anybody's bed, believe me.' And I said to her, I said, 'When did Mr Rhodenbarr ever hurt anybody? Who did he ever rob in this building, and who cares what he does over on the East Side, where the rich momsers deserve whatever happens to them?' You might as well be talking to a wall."



One of Bernie's targets ends up becoming a friend, who sometimes sets up jobs for him. What's his name?

The Burglar Who Liked to Play Quizzes


Martin Gilmartin. Marty is a rich man, who has many rich friends who sometimes find that they have more use for the insurance money than they do for various of their valuables. Handy to know an honest burglar.... Craig Sheldrake is, of course, The World's Greatest Dentist (from "The Burglar in the Closet") and Loren Kramer is the cop from "Burglars Can't be Choosers".