What do you think?
Sunny Pascal #1
Bitter Drink
Beatnik detective Sunny Pascal is an expert at two cocktails and finding trouble. And when the filming of John Huston’s The Night of the Iguana hits a few snags with its sexed-up, star-studded cast in a Puerto Vallarta paradise, producer Ray Stark brings Sunny in to chill out the set. But matters get tipsy when someone’s found deader than dead, shot down by a gun belonging to one of the cast members. Now Sunny’s got to keep his Hollywood stars out of jail long enough for him to solve the case. But the trouble doesn’t stop with murder. The Mexican mafia and local newspapers wage a tension war against the hedonistic Americans, and if John Huston has anything to say about it, Sunny’s got to be the one to keep the show on the road. Only Sunny will be doing it his with a martini in one hand and a Colt in the other. Prolific Mexican comic book writer and Turn of the Screw Award–winner F.G. Haghenbeck gives us the spins with Bitter Drink , a tense tale of crime, passion, and cocktails.
169 pages, Paperback
Published July 24, 2012
About the author
F.G. Haghenbeck
49 books83 followersFrancisco Gerardo Haghenbeck nació en 1965, en Ciudad de México. Estudió arquitectura en la Universidad La Salle y trabajó en museos, y posteriormente en Televisa como creativo y productor. Fundó Costal de huesos, editorial dedicada al cómic mexicano.
En conjunto con Brian Augustyn y Oscar Pinto escribió el guion de Crimson, una serie de cómics de fantasía y horror, primero publicada por Image Comics y después como parte de la línea Wildstorm de DC Comics, entre 1999 y 2001.1 Su siguiente obra fue Alternation, publicada por Image Comics en el año 2004. Además creó el guion con Oscar Pinto y Brian K. Vaughan para una versión de Superman de DC Comics en 2002.
Editó y escribió Los 7 pecados capitales para el gobierno de la Ciudad de México, serie de cómics destinada a la denuncia y prevención de delitos, Los Chidos una historieta sobre control natal para emigrantes mexicanos y la colección Clásicos universales en comic de la Editorial Clío. En 2010 escribió la antología de comic Un mexicano en cada hijo te dio en Editorial Altea, de Grupo Santillana y el cuento para niños Santa vs los vampiros y los hombres lobo con Tony Sandoval para Editorial Norma.
Escribió las novelas Trago amargo, El código nazi y Solamente una vez: toda la pasión y melancolía en la vida de Agustín Lara. La primera es una novela policial ambientada durante el rodaje de la película La noche de la iguana, la segunda presenta una historia de espionaje en México durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, mientras que la última es una biografía novelada de Agustín Lara, publicada por la Editorial Planeta. En 2009 escribió la novela Hierba Santa, una biografía en código de realismo mágico sobre Frida Kahlo publicada por la Editorial Planeta, traducida a varios idiomas. En 2010 publicó el thriller Aliento a muerte, ubicado en la guerra del segundo imperio mexicano en la editorial Salto de Página. En 2011 publicó la novela El Diablo me obligó donde narra las aventuras de Elvis Infante, un "diablero" o cazador de demonios, en un mundo donde es habitual la caza y tráfico de ángeles y demonios. En este mismo año, volvió a presentar un caso del detective Sunny Pascal, en la novela El caso tequila.
F.G. Haghenbeck is a novelist, historian and comic-book writer. Has a degree in Architecture, LaSalle University Mexico city. He worked as museum designer, television producer and architect, until he was devoted to his literature career taking in full time job. Haghenbeck now is a well know fiction novelist on many countries. Is famous by his Noir-books, like the bestseller Trago Amargo (Bitter Drink), book winner of "Vuelta de tuerca award" for Best Mystery Novel 2006. Published on France (Denöel Edit.), Spain (Roca) and USA (Amazon Crossing). And bios of Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo: The secret book of Frida Kahlo (Atria) published on Germany, Holland, Brazil, USA, China, France, Serbia and Italy. Also wrote the books El Diablo me obligó, Aliento a Muerte and El Código Nazi.
On Comic books, he was the co-creator and co-writer of Crimson for DC Comics (1999-2002); creator and writer of Alternation (Image Comics, 2003); and the only professional Mexican writer in a Superman title (DC Comics). He wrote the graphic novel Corre democracia, corre with the artist Micro and Un mexicano en cada hijo. Also, the creator of the children's books Santa vs. los vampiros, and Niña Mar with the artist Tony Sandoval.
The author lives in Tehuacan, Puebla with a beautiful chef (his wife), a young anarchist (his daughter), and Brandy (his dog).
source
En conjunto con Brian Augustyn y Oscar Pinto escribió el guion de Crimson, una serie de cómics de fantasía y horror, primero publicada por Image Comics y después como parte de la línea Wildstorm de DC Comics, entre 1999 y 2001.1 Su siguiente obra fue Alternation, publicada por Image Comics en el año 2004. Además creó el guion con Oscar Pinto y Brian K. Vaughan para una versión de Superman de DC Comics en 2002.
Editó y escribió Los 7 pecados capitales para el gobierno de la Ciudad de México, serie de cómics destinada a la denuncia y prevención de delitos, Los Chidos una historieta sobre control natal para emigrantes mexicanos y la colección Clásicos universales en comic de la Editorial Clío. En 2010 escribió la antología de comic Un mexicano en cada hijo te dio en Editorial Altea, de Grupo Santillana y el cuento para niños Santa vs los vampiros y los hombres lobo con Tony Sandoval para Editorial Norma.
Escribió las novelas Trago amargo, El código nazi y Solamente una vez: toda la pasión y melancolía en la vida de Agustín Lara. La primera es una novela policial ambientada durante el rodaje de la película La noche de la iguana, la segunda presenta una historia de espionaje en México durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, mientras que la última es una biografía novelada de Agustín Lara, publicada por la Editorial Planeta. En 2009 escribió la novela Hierba Santa, una biografía en código de realismo mágico sobre Frida Kahlo publicada por la Editorial Planeta, traducida a varios idiomas. En 2010 publicó el thriller Aliento a muerte, ubicado en la guerra del segundo imperio mexicano en la editorial Salto de Página. En 2011 publicó la novela El Diablo me obligó donde narra las aventuras de Elvis Infante, un "diablero" o cazador de demonios, en un mundo donde es habitual la caza y tráfico de ángeles y demonios. En este mismo año, volvió a presentar un caso del detective Sunny Pascal, en la novela El caso tequila.
F.G. Haghenbeck is a novelist, historian and comic-book writer. Has a degree in Architecture, LaSalle University Mexico city. He worked as museum designer, television producer and architect, until he was devoted to his literature career taking in full time job. Haghenbeck now is a well know fiction novelist on many countries. Is famous by his Noir-books, like the bestseller Trago Amargo (Bitter Drink), book winner of "Vuelta de tuerca award" for Best Mystery Novel 2006. Published on France (Denöel Edit.), Spain (Roca) and USA (Amazon Crossing). And bios of Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo: The secret book of Frida Kahlo (Atria) published on Germany, Holland, Brazil, USA, China, France, Serbia and Italy. Also wrote the books El Diablo me obligó, Aliento a Muerte and El Código Nazi.
On Comic books, he was the co-creator and co-writer of Crimson for DC Comics (1999-2002); creator and writer of Alternation (Image Comics, 2003); and the only professional Mexican writer in a Superman title (DC Comics). He wrote the graphic novel Corre democracia, corre with the artist Micro and Un mexicano en cada hijo. Also, the creator of the children's books Santa vs. los vampiros, and Niña Mar with the artist Tony Sandoval.
The author lives in Tehuacan, Puebla with a beautiful chef (his wife), a young anarchist (his daughter), and Brandy (his dog).
source
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 4, 2018
no tenía muchas expectativas, pero me pareció un libro entretenido. Me gustaron los capítulos con nombres de bebidas y admito se me antojaron varias xD El final no me lo esperaba, lograron engañarme. En general, creo que fue una buena lectura :D
July 26, 2012
This review from September was originally posted only on my blog. Copying over here for your enjoyment...
Book Info: Genre: Crime Noir
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Whomever it appeals to
Disclosure: I received a free paperback galley from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Beatnik detective Sunny Pascal is an expert at two things: cocktails and finding trouble. And when the filming of John Huston's The Night of the Iguana hits a few snags with its sexed-up, star-studded cast in a Puerto Vallarta paradise, producer Ray Stark brings Sunny in to chill out the set. But matters get tipsy when someone's found deader than dead, shot down by a gun belonging to one of the cast members.
Now Sunny's got to keep his Hollywood stars out of jail long enough for him to solve the case. But the trouble doesn’t stop with murder. The Mexican mafia and local newspapers wage a tension war against the hedonistic Americans, and if John Huston has anything to say about it, Sunny's got to be the one to keep the show on the road. Only Sunny will be doing it his way: with a martini in one hand and a Colt in the other.
My Thoughts: This book; what to say about this book. Well, you could definitely make a drinking game out of it! Start each chapter with the described cocktail and song and, as you read along, set specific events to take an extra drink. Every time someone is killed or attacked, take a drink; everytime Sgt. Quintero says mis huevos (literally “my eggs”, but colloquially: “balls”), take a drink, etc. You wouldn’t get much reading done in any given day, but you sure would have fun doing it!
Speaking of Sgt. Quintero, he made me think: “Sadsack Gonzales, the saddest mouse in all of Mexico.” I loved his deadpan nature – “Sergeant Quintero explained everything so halfheartedly a mannequin could have done better” – and all his interactions with Sunny Pascal were just priceless. The author said that much of this book is based upon real events and actual conversations, but leaves it up to the reader to find out which actually happened and which came from his own imagination. I thought that was fascinating.
He has a real gift for description, as this description of John Huston proves: “He wasn’t as tall as he looked in photographs, just slightly shorter than a palm tree. His voice wasn’t that deep either, only a notch lower than a lawn mower. He puffed on a cigar the size of a rolling pin, perfuming the entire set. His face, underneath the Panama hat jammed down over his ears, radiated power – a god looking down upon mere mortals. He embodied the kind of power possessed by those who run the movie business. And that’s the only power that counts here.”
This book is a love-letter to Raymond Chandler and Paco Ignacio Taibo II; a feast of noir. It’s also a love-letter to Puerto Vallarta, a place I would have loved to have seen during the time of The Night of the Iguana, before it was taken over by tourists. If this sounds like your sort of book, you really won’t want to miss this – a fun, fast, and furious read. Recommended.
Book Info: Genre: Crime Noir
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Whomever it appeals to
Disclosure: I received a free paperback galley from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Beatnik detective Sunny Pascal is an expert at two things: cocktails and finding trouble. And when the filming of John Huston's The Night of the Iguana hits a few snags with its sexed-up, star-studded cast in a Puerto Vallarta paradise, producer Ray Stark brings Sunny in to chill out the set. But matters get tipsy when someone's found deader than dead, shot down by a gun belonging to one of the cast members.
Now Sunny's got to keep his Hollywood stars out of jail long enough for him to solve the case. But the trouble doesn’t stop with murder. The Mexican mafia and local newspapers wage a tension war against the hedonistic Americans, and if John Huston has anything to say about it, Sunny's got to be the one to keep the show on the road. Only Sunny will be doing it his way: with a martini in one hand and a Colt in the other.
My Thoughts: This book; what to say about this book. Well, you could definitely make a drinking game out of it! Start each chapter with the described cocktail and song and, as you read along, set specific events to take an extra drink. Every time someone is killed or attacked, take a drink; everytime Sgt. Quintero says mis huevos (literally “my eggs”, but colloquially: “balls”), take a drink, etc. You wouldn’t get much reading done in any given day, but you sure would have fun doing it!
Speaking of Sgt. Quintero, he made me think: “Sadsack Gonzales, the saddest mouse in all of Mexico.” I loved his deadpan nature – “Sergeant Quintero explained everything so halfheartedly a mannequin could have done better” – and all his interactions with Sunny Pascal were just priceless. The author said that much of this book is based upon real events and actual conversations, but leaves it up to the reader to find out which actually happened and which came from his own imagination. I thought that was fascinating.
He has a real gift for description, as this description of John Huston proves: “He wasn’t as tall as he looked in photographs, just slightly shorter than a palm tree. His voice wasn’t that deep either, only a notch lower than a lawn mower. He puffed on a cigar the size of a rolling pin, perfuming the entire set. His face, underneath the Panama hat jammed down over his ears, radiated power – a god looking down upon mere mortals. He embodied the kind of power possessed by those who run the movie business. And that’s the only power that counts here.”This book is a love-letter to Raymond Chandler and Paco Ignacio Taibo II; a feast of noir. It’s also a love-letter to Puerto Vallarta, a place I would have loved to have seen during the time of The Night of the Iguana, before it was taken over by tourists. If this sounds like your sort of book, you really won’t want to miss this – a fun, fast, and furious read. Recommended.
November 23, 2018
1 día y 140 páginas después, la segundva recomendación del blog amigo.
Ya tenía en la mente al autor y al libro, pero por motivos personales no los había leídos. El libro fue totalmente como lo esperaba: suave pero entretenido. Cómo dato curioso nunca había leído una novela noir en un solo día.
Es una novela ingeniosa, que se basa en un hecho real, pero dándole ese toque especial. Sobre todo la idea de poner un trago en cada capítulo es de esas ideas que te recriminas porque se te ocurrieron pero no las plasmaste.
Profundiza dónde debe, indaga dónde debe y te emociona. Tragos y giros de tuerca, ¿Qué más se puede pedir?
Quiero leer más del autor, y leería toda la serie.
Ya tenía en la mente al autor y al libro, pero por motivos personales no los había leídos. El libro fue totalmente como lo esperaba: suave pero entretenido. Cómo dato curioso nunca había leído una novela noir en un solo día.
Es una novela ingeniosa, que se basa en un hecho real, pero dándole ese toque especial. Sobre todo la idea de poner un trago en cada capítulo es de esas ideas que te recriminas porque se te ocurrieron pero no las plasmaste.
Profundiza dónde debe, indaga dónde debe y te emociona. Tragos y giros de tuerca, ¿Qué más se puede pedir?
Quiero leer más del autor, y leería toda la serie.
August 25, 2018
#re-read
Continuing in style: noir (recent but about 1960s), filming of The night of the iguana, bunch of drunk old Hollywood A-listers, #re-read, LOVED it the first time.
What an ode to alcohol! To be read while drinking cocktails of which we get recipes and stories, and listening to indicated music ❤️
I thought I'd never get tired of that distinct noir turn of phrase, but here after a while I got a feeling that it's dealt with a too heavy hand. Better used sparingly and with well calculated effect.
Might have worked better as a comic?
Still a good story, but not as much as the first time. Old 5 (amazing!), new 3 (liked it), times change.
BUT: I have a burning wish now to go see Puerto Vallarta (the author actually decided to move there!), and the old set of the movie :)
Continuing in style: noir (recent but about 1960s), filming of The night of the iguana, bunch of drunk old Hollywood A-listers, #re-read, LOVED it the first time.
What an ode to alcohol! To be read while drinking cocktails of which we get recipes and stories, and listening to indicated music ❤️
I thought I'd never get tired of that distinct noir turn of phrase, but here after a while I got a feeling that it's dealt with a too heavy hand. Better used sparingly and with well calculated effect.
Might have worked better as a comic?
Still a good story, but not as much as the first time. Old 5 (amazing!), new 3 (liked it), times change.
BUT: I have a burning wish now to go see Puerto Vallarta (the author actually decided to move there!), and the old set of the movie :)
July 5, 2022
Yeah, that was okay. Clear attempt at evoking old school gumshoe/detective/hard drinking, hard on his luck stories, this one is set in Mexico on the set of Night of the Iguana. It was a fun little mystery.
December 9, 2017
Para mi desgracia me gustó demasiado el personaje principal, sumado a los inicios de cada capítulo, que me distrajo lo suficiente su "incapacidad" y dejarse llevar por la manera que, cuando al fin me topé con el entramado de la novela, me cayó como agua helada de golpe; todo eso se desarrolló frente a mí todo el tiempo, ¡era obvio, lo dejé pasar!
Me sentí estúpido por no prestar atención y tenía ganas de repetir la lectura. No tenía caso, las pistas seguían ahí pero el final, ya lo sabía, no podría sentirme orgulloso de haber descubierto "algo".
Ligera y atrapante. Simpático personaje principal, con el que fácilmente enganchas, aún más si compartes sus vicios. Una trama con crítica social más o menos disfrazada, lo que le da un excelente plus al argumento.
Me sentí estúpido por no prestar atención y tenía ganas de repetir la lectura. No tenía caso, las pistas seguían ahí pero el final, ya lo sabía, no podría sentirme orgulloso de haber descubierto "algo".
Ligera y atrapante. Simpático personaje principal, con el que fácilmente enganchas, aún más si compartes sus vicios. Una trama con crítica social más o menos disfrazada, lo que le da un excelente plus al argumento.
September 19, 2012
Great read for all my Southern California surfcat types. I could imagine the whole setting because I drove a VDub van to Playa Mismaloya, surfing the whole way, back in the 70's. Could relate to Puerto Vallarta and points south. Camped there, saw the abandoned set to the movie Night of the Iguanas... actually watched a local family drown a sackful of cats there - what a juxtaposition of cultures. Also I enjoy noir ala Raymond Chandler... so this was very fun. Enough references to cinematic history, and interesting drink recipes each chapter - though I prefer my medicine straight.
May 25, 2018
Lo más rescatable de este libro? Aprender a hacer cocktails, me pareció una escritura demasiado básica que no termina de contar nada. Acabo de terminar de leer el libro y ya olvide casi todo sobre el. Una gran decepción
July 15, 2015
Ni tan negro ni tan beatnik, justo entre los dos.
February 3, 2020
A Zombie Noir -- But Zombie the Drink, Not Zombie the Walking Dead
This is a fun sun-drenched noir, with a little bit of everything and some snazzy Hollywood trappings. The setup is that our hero has to keep everyone safe and out of trouble as a handful of bigger than life Hollywood stars, (Burton, Taylor, Ava Garner, Sue Lyon, et. al.), film John Huston's steamy "The Night of the Iguana" in Puerto Vallarta.
We have a classic burnt out private eye hero in Sunny Pascal. He's in the Spade/Marlowe mold, but with a hard-drinking Latin twist. We have misbehaving celebrities, with just enough authentic touches and insider star power that it feels very you-are-there. The plot is all over the place, with plenty of bullets flying and fisticuffs. That's the Zombie part, because every ingredient you could think of has been tossed into the plot blender. Murder, mayhem, blackmail, graft, adultery, mafia, double crosses, two-bit gunsels, some Bay of Pigs, corporate greed, movie drama - it's all in there and it makes Huston's "Chinatown" look like a church picnic.
A few things, though, are especially appealing. Sunny is a fine narrator. Sometimes the hard-boiled patter doesn't feel quite right to American ears, but Sunny is engaging and decent enough to keep our sympathy and interest. The drinking is riotously over the top. Each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe and piece of the drink's history, and each of these intros sets the tone for what follows in the chapter. This actually works very well, and adds odd-ball charm to the whole project. The Hollywood name-dropping isn't very subtle, but it turns out that Richard Burton is awfully fun as a boozy sidekick.
So, I zipped through this and got a kick out of it. A nice find. (Please note that I found this book a while ago while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. It is currently a kindleunlimited choice. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a fun sun-drenched noir, with a little bit of everything and some snazzy Hollywood trappings. The setup is that our hero has to keep everyone safe and out of trouble as a handful of bigger than life Hollywood stars, (Burton, Taylor, Ava Garner, Sue Lyon, et. al.), film John Huston's steamy "The Night of the Iguana" in Puerto Vallarta.
We have a classic burnt out private eye hero in Sunny Pascal. He's in the Spade/Marlowe mold, but with a hard-drinking Latin twist. We have misbehaving celebrities, with just enough authentic touches and insider star power that it feels very you-are-there. The plot is all over the place, with plenty of bullets flying and fisticuffs. That's the Zombie part, because every ingredient you could think of has been tossed into the plot blender. Murder, mayhem, blackmail, graft, adultery, mafia, double crosses, two-bit gunsels, some Bay of Pigs, corporate greed, movie drama - it's all in there and it makes Huston's "Chinatown" look like a church picnic.
A few things, though, are especially appealing. Sunny is a fine narrator. Sometimes the hard-boiled patter doesn't feel quite right to American ears, but Sunny is engaging and decent enough to keep our sympathy and interest. The drinking is riotously over the top. Each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe and piece of the drink's history, and each of these intros sets the tone for what follows in the chapter. This actually works very well, and adds odd-ball charm to the whole project. The Hollywood name-dropping isn't very subtle, but it turns out that Richard Burton is awfully fun as a boozy sidekick.
So, I zipped through this and got a kick out of it. A nice find. (Please note that I found this book a while ago while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. It is currently a kindleunlimited choice. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
August 23, 2026
This is an unusual and entertaining combination of literature, mystery, history, and cocktails. The story has a distinctive atmosphere, and I especially enjoyed the way drinks become part of the narrative rather than simply an accessory to it.
The most charming detail is that each chapter includes a recipe for a different cocktail. This makes the reading experience feel almost interactive, you can follow the story and, at the same time, discover the drink connected to each chapter. It is a small but very creative touch that gives the book its own personality.
Also enjoyed the way the author combines the fictional story with historical and cultural elements, creating a world that feels both intriguing and atmospheric. The cocktails add another layer to the experience, giving the reader a taste "quite literally" of the period and mood being described.
The most charming detail is that each chapter includes a recipe for a different cocktail. This makes the reading experience feel almost interactive, you can follow the story and, at the same time, discover the drink connected to each chapter. It is a small but very creative touch that gives the book its own personality.
Also enjoyed the way the author combines the fictional story with historical and cultural elements, creating a world that feels both intriguing and atmospheric. The cocktails add another layer to the experience, giving the reader a taste "quite literally" of the period and mood being described.
June 12, 2023
Entretenido y con un ritmo ágil que ayuda a que las páginas se pasen como agua. La premisa es buena y consiguió atraparme desde el inicio; sin embargo, confieso que no conseguí conectar con el personaje principal —cuya voz narrativa e intentos de comedia no me terminaron de convencer—, y que conforme más avanzaba en la lectura, fui perdiendo interés en los personajes y el misterio. Aún así creo que la novela tiene algunos puntos fuertes, como: la propuesta de iniciar cada capítulo con nombres de bebidas y datos sobre su preparación e historia —detalles que además encuentran su relación, en mayor o menor medida, con lo que ocurre en el capítulo al que corresponden—, la crítica que hay sobre cierto tipo de intervención extranjera en los territorios latinoamericanos y la construcción de la atmósfera.
March 16, 2018
Una novela que se lee rápido y al mismo tiempo, se lee lento. Desde el inicio sabes que el misterio policiaco solo es una excusa para poner a poner a Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, etc., en una playa mexicana.
El misterio sobre el crimen se revuelve entre prisas y agujeros en la narrativa. Sin embargo, los diálogos jamás le fallan a Haghenbeck, por lo que la novela se salva.
Un plus del libro son las preparaciones de las bebidas, una breve reseña de su origen y una canción para acompañar el trago. Así, al terminar el libro, ya tienes nociones de mixología.
El misterio sobre el crimen se revuelve entre prisas y agujeros en la narrativa. Sin embargo, los diálogos jamás le fallan a Haghenbeck, por lo que la novela se salva.
Un plus del libro son las preparaciones de las bebidas, una breve reseña de su origen y una canción para acompañar el trago. Así, al terminar el libro, ya tienes nociones de mixología.
October 20, 2018
Un muy buen libro, con una historia muy interesante, Sunny Pascal, un detective que me gustó, aunque yo creo que va a evolucionar a medida que pasen los libros, no sé pero sentí algo tímido y apresurada la historia, pero muy bien construida, algo que me gustó mucho fueron los personajes muy carismáticos, mejor dicho bien construidos.
Esta historia arranca muy bien y tiene un final muy bueno, se los recomiendo mucho.
Esperen próximamente la reseña completa de este libro en mi canal de Youtube llamado Juancho Juanchito books.
Esta historia arranca muy bien y tiene un final muy bueno, se los recomiendo mucho.
Esperen próximamente la reseña completa de este libro en mi canal de Youtube llamado Juancho Juanchito books.
December 31, 2017
¡Vergas! Este es uno de los libros más aburridos y monótonos que he leído... y eso que ya me eché casi todo Villoro (los libros).
La escritura, plana y los personajes peor. Creo que -tal vez- funciona como guión para un cómic, pero como novela, sí está de hueva. La intriga jamás despega y a uno simplemente le vale madres lo que le pase a los personajes. Muy gris, en general.
La escritura, plana y los personajes peor. Creo que -tal vez- funciona como guión para un cómic, pero como novela, sí está de hueva. La intriga jamás despega y a uno simplemente le vale madres lo que le pase a los personajes. Muy gris, en general.
August 11, 2020
Es el primer libro que leo de este tipo y fue una decepción, me esperaba otra cosa completamente distinta por lo poco que me informe de el. La historia en si se me hacia confusa y no me atrapo del todo, los únicos personajes rescatables son Sunny y "el pinche Santa" pero por lo demás se me hizo muy aburrida la lectura, una decepción.
April 9, 2021
Haghenbeck, a traves de un mapa de cocteles, nos lleva al Puerto Vallarta de los años 60s, al set de la pelicula que puso al puerto en la mira del mundo. La forma de llevarnos a hechos que pasaron en esa epoca y conocer a la gente que existio entonces es magistral.
Se le recordara con orgullo a un gran escritor.
Se le recordara con orgullo a un gran escritor.
April 6, 2025
Sencillo, con vibra justo de esos autores en los que se basa Haghenbeck. El toque de las recetas y orígenes de los tragos muestra el due diligence sobre esos toques para aderezar las historias.
Posiblemente se pudo manejar mejor el tema de las conversaciones en inglés y en español para que entraran mejor las interacciones entre el protagonista y Billy Joe pero es más un detalle que una falla.
Posiblemente se pudo manejar mejor el tema de las conversaciones en inglés y en español para que entraran mejor las interacciones entre el protagonista y Billy Joe pero es más un detalle que una falla.
September 2, 2018
Not as clever as it thinks it is. Too bad, because the setup is dynamite.
Read
October 3, 2019Gorki gutljaj
Laguna, Beograd, 2011.
Laguna, Beograd, 2011.
September 24, 2008
''Trago amargo'' es una novela a caballo entre la originalidad y la tradición. me explico: el autor ha cogido los elementos clásicos del género negro americano (novelas de Hammett, Chandler, etc... y películas de John Huston) y tendencias más modernas como el 'remake' para elaborar esta novela.
Remake porque el autor sitúa la acción durante el rodaje de 'La noche de la iguana' (excelente película de John Huston basada en la obra de teatro de Tennessee Williams), y tradición porque al remontarse a esa época, el protagonista del texto se parece a un detective tipo Humphrey Bogart (fumador, alcohólico y loco por las rubias platino).
La trama es simple: Sunny Pascal, el detective, es contratado por los productores de la película como jefe de seguridad del rodaje. Cuando llega al set (la película se rodó en un escenario natural, una cala virgen muy cerca de Puerto Vallarta), conoce al director y a los actores (Ava Gardner, Sue Lyon, Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr...).
A los pocos días se produce un accidente y un hombre muere por el impacto de una bala de plata. El problema es que John Huston había regalado a cada una de las estrellas de Hollywood una pistola de oro con balas de plata, y todo apunta a que una de las estrellas puede ser culpable de asesinato...
Sunny, deberá no solo descubrir qué ha ocurrido, sinó también tratar de encubrir el asesinato para proteger la reputación de las estrellas y evitar que la prensa empiece a rumorear. Poco a poco se verá atrapado en un misterio en el que todos tienen algo que ocultar y en el que incluso deberá lidiar con la mafia mexicana.
Uno de los puntos fuertes de la novela es su ritmo rápido y que muchas de las cosas que cuenta están basadas en hechos que ocurrieron durante el rodaje de la película yque cualquiera puede consultar en la biografía de John Huston ''A libro abierto''.
Además, cada uno de los capítulos se abre con la receta de un cocktail, una breve explicación sobre su orígen y una canción especialmente seleccionada como banda sonora para su degustación.
Pero 'Trago amargo' no es solamente una novela que entretiene, y mucho, sino también una denuncia a la especulación y al papel de la mafia, y de la industria cinematográfica, en el desarrollo urbanístico de Puerto Vallarta...
July 13, 2012
Advance Reader's Copy: This is an interesting, very slim novel oddly centered around the filming of the famous "Night of the Iguana" film. Each chapter is prefaced by a cocktail recipe with a blurb about the cocktail's history. That was often the most interesting part of the chapter. However, the story's premise is intriguing. The narrator is a Mexican PI from Hollywood who is hired to watch the cast of characters in case any problems develop while on location in Puerto Vallarta.
Written in the style of Chandler, the author imagines the intrigue surrounding the cast of Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sue Lyons, and Ava Gardner. That cast alone is worth the read! The PI character is probably the least interesting. If the author continues the PI as a series, he needs to develop this character a bit more. He seems to be a clownish drunk with an immense capacity for a limitless variety of cocktails. I haven't a clue why the fellow would decide one day to drink gimlets and the next day to drink mint juleps. Strange behavior for a Chandler type. He does get beaten up a lot, which is in character.
I did enjoy the imagined dialogue between the actors, as well as the cocktail history. These were the highlights, but I'd like to see more by this author. There's potential.
Written in the style of Chandler, the author imagines the intrigue surrounding the cast of Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sue Lyons, and Ava Gardner. That cast alone is worth the read! The PI character is probably the least interesting. If the author continues the PI as a series, he needs to develop this character a bit more. He seems to be a clownish drunk with an immense capacity for a limitless variety of cocktails. I haven't a clue why the fellow would decide one day to drink gimlets and the next day to drink mint juleps. Strange behavior for a Chandler type. He does get beaten up a lot, which is in character.
I did enjoy the imagined dialogue between the actors, as well as the cocktail history. These were the highlights, but I'd like to see more by this author. There's potential.
November 22, 2012
¡Me ha encantado el libro! La historia, los personajes, los diálogos, uno de mis films favoritos es "The Night of Iguana", la cual cobro un sentido diferente al leer el hilo de Haghenbeck. La manera de como presenta a un encantador alcohólico como lo es Sunny Pascal, lo sugerente de brindar las recetas de los cócteles acompañados de un exquisito 'Soundtrack'.
He de confesar que leí cada capítulo acompañado de la música sugerida y que en más de dos ocasiones repetía las rolas para no perder el hilo de la historia, me pasó con "Summertime Blues" de Eddie Cochran y "I´d like to hate Myself in the Morning" de Shirley Bassey.
Alimentó mi sed de morbo.
Buenísimo. Todo Haghenbeck, simplenente genial.
He de confesar que leí cada capítulo acompañado de la música sugerida y que en más de dos ocasiones repetía las rolas para no perder el hilo de la historia, me pasó con "Summertime Blues" de Eddie Cochran y "I´d like to hate Myself in the Morning" de Shirley Bassey.
Alimentó mi sed de morbo.
Buenísimo. Todo Haghenbeck, simplenente genial.
July 28, 2012
I would say this is more of a 3-. I am a huge Raymond Chandler fan, and this book was reviewed as a modern-day Chandler so that was a big draw for me, and I liked the premise where every chapter is named after a mixed drink, with a recipe and some history about the drink. But it all seemed a bit contrived to me, like it was trying too hard to both incorporate all the drinks in the story (didn't always succeed) and to sound too much like Chandler's voice, rather than the author's own voice with Chandler influence. Plus, the plot was confusing. But it was still fairly entertaining for a nice, light read.
May 30, 2013
An amazon ebook only publication. Nice mix of booze, movies and tough guy. Set in Puerto Vallarta during John Huston's filming of "Night of the Iguana" w/ Burton and Taylor. Each of the 26 chapters in this slim, 170 pp "book" begins w/ a cocktail recipe, the history of the cocktail, and a song to go with it. Haghenbeck admits to being influenced by Chandler and Taibo.
Fun, quick read w/ a bit of Hollywood/film history, cocktails, and a touch of Tough Guy. Here's hoping amazon decides to translate and publich more of his work.
Fun, quick read w/ a bit of Hollywood/film history, cocktails, and a touch of Tough Guy. Here's hoping amazon decides to translate and publich more of his work.
November 18, 2012
Entertaining enough read. Short with a few things going on at once. This is more or less brain candy reading. And, an excuse to write about alcohol. Though I did learn a few things about certain drinks that were interesting, I don't think I'll be rushing out, or to Amazon.com to buy another novel by F.G. Haghenbeck.
January 6, 2011
very entertaining. I felt like i was in a detective movie, the way it is related, it creates an ambiance. The most impressive aspect as a whole is that it is not fiction, it is based on what actually happened in that set.
August 4, 2012
Reading this short novel made me rent Night of the Iguana. Book was crazy history about Puerto Vallarta.. murders, jewel heists, land grabbing (by the Movie Moguls), divorce, Liz and Richard, and cocktails. I'll have a kamikaze.
August 3, 2016
Entrada triunfal de Sunny Pascal; detective sin bandera ni hogar ni nada, sólo con un buen sentido del humor.
El libro tiene un estilo muy dinámico el cual no te es difícil imaginar en comic, te lo terminas en 4 hrs con una buena sensación en la garganta.
El libro tiene un estilo muy dinámico el cual no te es difícil imaginar en comic, te lo terminas en 4 hrs con una buena sensación en la garganta.
January 27, 2013
An excellent job integrating cocktail themes to chapters and bringing to life the very specific slice of history during the "Night of the Iguana" filming. A top shelf effort.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews