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Hap and Leonard
Of Mice and Minestrone
Pull up a seat and sit a spell. Master storyteller Joe R. Lansdale has cooked up a passel of tales for you about the unlikeliest duo East Texas has to offer.
Hap Collins looks like a good ol' boy, but from his misspent youth on, his best compatriot is Leonard Pine - black, gay, and the ultimate outsider. Inseparable friends, Hap and Leonard attend family gatherings, climb into the boxing ring, get in bar fights, and just go fishing - all while confronting racism, righting wrongs, and eating copious, delicious food.
Chock full of Lansdale's unique blend of humor, ferocity, and insight, 'OF MICE AND MINESTRONE' delivers five never-before-seen (plus one perhaps familiar) Hap and Leonard stories, a selection of the boys' favorite recipes, and an introduction from 'New York Times' bestselling author Kathleen Kent.
So come discover the legends of Hap and Leonard, created by Joe R. Lansdale his own self, and featured in the by 'Hap and Leonard' TV series starring Michael K. Williams ('The Wire'), James Purefoy ('The Following'), and Christina Hendricks ('Mad Men').
RUNNING TIME ➽ 5hrs. and 48mins.
©2020 Bizarre Hands. Introduction © 202 by Kathleen Kent. Introduction © 2020 by Bizarre Hands. Good Eats: The Recipes of Hap and Leonard © 2020 by Kasey Lansdale. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Hap Collins looks like a good ol' boy, but from his misspent youth on, his best compatriot is Leonard Pine - black, gay, and the ultimate outsider. Inseparable friends, Hap and Leonard attend family gatherings, climb into the boxing ring, get in bar fights, and just go fishing - all while confronting racism, righting wrongs, and eating copious, delicious food.
Chock full of Lansdale's unique blend of humor, ferocity, and insight, 'OF MICE AND MINESTRONE' delivers five never-before-seen (plus one perhaps familiar) Hap and Leonard stories, a selection of the boys' favorite recipes, and an introduction from 'New York Times' bestselling author Kathleen Kent.
So come discover the legends of Hap and Leonard, created by Joe R. Lansdale his own self, and featured in the by 'Hap and Leonard' TV series starring Michael K. Williams ('The Wire'), James Purefoy ('The Following'), and Christina Hendricks ('Mad Men').
RUNNING TIME ➽ 5hrs. and 48mins.
©2020 Bizarre Hands. Introduction © 202 by Kathleen Kent. Introduction © 2020 by Bizarre Hands. Good Eats: The Recipes of Hap and Leonard © 2020 by Kasey Lansdale. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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First published May 29, 2020
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About the author
Joe R. Lansdale
824 books3,866 followersChampion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 4, 2020
Joe R. Lansdale is an author who is not only prolific but consistently adept at whatever genre he chooses to spin his tales. The backbone of his works is the Hap & Leonard series which currently stands at 12 or so books.
How can you not love these guys? Hap is a philosophical white guy with a strong moral code & Leonard is tough, gay black man with an iron will. Growing up as best friends in east Texas, neither should have survived the ingrained racism & prejudice of the Jim Crow era. Lucky for us they did.
This collection of short stories takes us back to their early years. Hap is our travel guide & as he recounts these 5 vignettes, you get the feeling he’s shaking his head in mild amazement. He now grasps the significance of things that his younger self missed. Like the security of family, the mystery of his profound connection with Leonard & the importance of a good hot sauce.
The stories run the gamut. Funny, disturbing, poignant & violent…it’s all here. So grab your iced tea, pull up a chair & sit a spell as Hap reminisces about the good old/bad old days that shaped their friendship. There’ll be pie at the end. With real meringue, not that whipped cream crap.
The Kitchen: Hap is about 6 yr. old & recounts how extended family would gather at his grandmother’s with enough food to feed the county. The tradition of story telling is in the spot light & my God, I was starving by the end of this one (how can I be craving grits? I’ve never even had grits.)
Of Mice & Minestrone: Hap is 16 now & working at the local police station/jail for the summer. The racism is flagrant & it tells of his first brush with domestic violence & how it was “handled” by the cops. (And just as an aside, I may never have soup again 🤢)
The Watering Shed: Leonard comes on the scene & it’s the beginning of a friendship that breaks about a dozen rules of acceptable behaviour at the time.
Sparring Partner: Further adventures of Hap & Leonard in the summer before graduating high school. It highlights the real threat of not acting white enough or black enough but also shows how decency & kindness can pop up in surprising places.
There’s a wry humour that runs through all the stories but this one had some of the best lines. For example, Leonard takes Hap to an isolated old barn where they meet a group of black men. Needless to say, Hap kind of stands out.
“Leonard,” the big black man who had been doing the yelling said. “What the fuck is this?”
“It’s a guy named Hap,” Leonard said.
“He’s white.”
“Oh shit. You’re right.”
The Sabine Was High: Hap & Leonard meet up again after being separated for a time. While Leonard went to Viet Nam, Hap was in prison for dodging the draft. It sets up an interesting dynamic as the two swap stories of their experiences during a day of fishing.
Lansdale's atmospheric style makes for effortless reading. The dialogue is lean & the prose can swing from brutal to tender in a heartbeat. It's clear he loves these characters & you'll be rooting for them too as you fall under his spell. A must read for fans of the series.
How can you not love these guys? Hap is a philosophical white guy with a strong moral code & Leonard is tough, gay black man with an iron will. Growing up as best friends in east Texas, neither should have survived the ingrained racism & prejudice of the Jim Crow era. Lucky for us they did.
This collection of short stories takes us back to their early years. Hap is our travel guide & as he recounts these 5 vignettes, you get the feeling he’s shaking his head in mild amazement. He now grasps the significance of things that his younger self missed. Like the security of family, the mystery of his profound connection with Leonard & the importance of a good hot sauce.
The stories run the gamut. Funny, disturbing, poignant & violent…it’s all here. So grab your iced tea, pull up a chair & sit a spell as Hap reminisces about the good old/bad old days that shaped their friendship. There’ll be pie at the end. With real meringue, not that whipped cream crap.
The Kitchen: Hap is about 6 yr. old & recounts how extended family would gather at his grandmother’s with enough food to feed the county. The tradition of story telling is in the spot light & my God, I was starving by the end of this one (how can I be craving grits? I’ve never even had grits.)
Of Mice & Minestrone: Hap is 16 now & working at the local police station/jail for the summer. The racism is flagrant & it tells of his first brush with domestic violence & how it was “handled” by the cops. (And just as an aside, I may never have soup again 🤢)
The Watering Shed: Leonard comes on the scene & it’s the beginning of a friendship that breaks about a dozen rules of acceptable behaviour at the time.
Sparring Partner: Further adventures of Hap & Leonard in the summer before graduating high school. It highlights the real threat of not acting white enough or black enough but also shows how decency & kindness can pop up in surprising places.
There’s a wry humour that runs through all the stories but this one had some of the best lines. For example, Leonard takes Hap to an isolated old barn where they meet a group of black men. Needless to say, Hap kind of stands out.
“Leonard,” the big black man who had been doing the yelling said. “What the fuck is this?”
“It’s a guy named Hap,” Leonard said.
“He’s white.”
“Oh shit. You’re right.”
The Sabine Was High: Hap & Leonard meet up again after being separated for a time. While Leonard went to Viet Nam, Hap was in prison for dodging the draft. It sets up an interesting dynamic as the two swap stories of their experiences during a day of fishing.
Lansdale's atmospheric style makes for effortless reading. The dialogue is lean & the prose can swing from brutal to tender in a heartbeat. It's clear he loves these characters & you'll be rooting for them too as you fall under his spell. A must read for fans of the series.
December 20, 2019
Those familiar with the East Texas legend of Hap and Leonard will thrill to hear stories of their teenage years. For this of us not necessarily that familiar, it's still a worthwhile jaunt. Like an odd couple version of Starsky and Hutch, with one White, one Black, one straight, one gay, Hap and Leonard's Of Mice and Minestrone offer a countrified set of tales that you just enjoy hearing. And they are tales of the pair of them dealing with some of the Jim Crow era divisions, sparring with the champions, and camping out. Told with intelligence and witty humor, all are a joy to read.
May 11, 2020
Hap and Leonard are among my favorite fictional characters and I'm always excited to be reunited with them. Of Mice and Minestrone is fun and enlightening, especially if you're like me and wanted to know a bit more of Hap and Leonard's history.
The first few stories are from Hap's point of view and they added to my perspective of him. It seems that he was born with his sense of right and wrong. His parents are barely mentioned but they must have had a big impact on his life, because by his teen years he had a clear sense of what was justice and what wasn't. I enjoyed watching him put his beliefs into action, even when the end result wasn't what he expected.
The high points for me in this collection were two-fold-the first being THE SABINE WAS HIGH. We join with Hap as he picks up Leonard, fresh back from combat in Vietnam. I loved this story so much, because at its heart is a friendship between two people that shouldn't even be speaking to each other at that time in history, never mind being best friends. With Hap being a Vietnam War protester, and having gone to prison for his beliefs, everything we've ever been told about Texas, the South in general, about war protesters and war veterans, between straights and gays, all of it goes out the window. There is a true love there, transcending all the labels and ugly things, and that love is beautiful.
SPARRING PARTNER was the other standout tale for me. Both Hap and Leonard had experience boxing early on-just working out, and with Hap learning some martial arts moves. Here, though, the outside world learns a lot about the skills both of them possess. Filled with the humor and dialog that I have grown to love over the years, this story once again brought home Hap and Leonard's unique sense of justice.
There are 6 stories here, but the last one features Kasey Lansdale and some recipes for the foods eaten during the various tales, so it's not a narrative, exactly. But even the recipes are funny, "beat it like you're running from the police", (not an exact quote as I'm not allowed to quote directly from the book with an ARC), but you get the idea. It's not everyone that can make recipes funny.
I originally rated this 4 stars, but thinking about it overnight-I decided to change it to 5. I didn't think about the corona virus at all when reading this, and I read it over two days, but could easily have done it in one. I wanted to savor the experience. I think you should too! The only caveat to that would be that I recommend you reading the Hap and Leonard series in order. If you do, these tales will be that much more meaningful-providing insights into the lifelong friendship of Hap and Leonard.
My highest recommendation!
Available May 28th, 2020, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/2LpfITj
*Thank you to Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
The first few stories are from Hap's point of view and they added to my perspective of him. It seems that he was born with his sense of right and wrong. His parents are barely mentioned but they must have had a big impact on his life, because by his teen years he had a clear sense of what was justice and what wasn't. I enjoyed watching him put his beliefs into action, even when the end result wasn't what he expected.
The high points for me in this collection were two-fold-the first being THE SABINE WAS HIGH. We join with Hap as he picks up Leonard, fresh back from combat in Vietnam. I loved this story so much, because at its heart is a friendship between two people that shouldn't even be speaking to each other at that time in history, never mind being best friends. With Hap being a Vietnam War protester, and having gone to prison for his beliefs, everything we've ever been told about Texas, the South in general, about war protesters and war veterans, between straights and gays, all of it goes out the window. There is a true love there, transcending all the labels and ugly things, and that love is beautiful.
SPARRING PARTNER was the other standout tale for me. Both Hap and Leonard had experience boxing early on-just working out, and with Hap learning some martial arts moves. Here, though, the outside world learns a lot about the skills both of them possess. Filled with the humor and dialog that I have grown to love over the years, this story once again brought home Hap and Leonard's unique sense of justice.
There are 6 stories here, but the last one features Kasey Lansdale and some recipes for the foods eaten during the various tales, so it's not a narrative, exactly. But even the recipes are funny, "beat it like you're running from the police", (not an exact quote as I'm not allowed to quote directly from the book with an ARC), but you get the idea. It's not everyone that can make recipes funny.
I originally rated this 4 stars, but thinking about it overnight-I decided to change it to 5. I didn't think about the corona virus at all when reading this, and I read it over two days, but could easily have done it in one. I wanted to savor the experience. I think you should too! The only caveat to that would be that I recommend you reading the Hap and Leonard series in order. If you do, these tales will be that much more meaningful-providing insights into the lifelong friendship of Hap and Leonard.
My highest recommendation!
Available May 28th, 2020, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/2LpfITj
*Thank you to Tachyon Publications and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
June 21, 2020
Review now live at Grimdark Magazine.
Thank you to the fine folks at Tachyon Publications for providing a review copy of Joe Lansdale’s Of Mice and Minestrone.
I have read several Joe R. Lansdale stories over the years, but it’s only recently that I’ve been making a conscious effort to seek out his work. I have reviewed his new documentary, All Hail the Popcorn King for Grimdark Magazine, and I’ve also reviewed an earlier collection, Driving to Geronimo's Grave and Other Stories at my personal blog for NetGalley.
While Lansdale’s work is as varied as the regions of Texas, there is one common link through all of it: his brilliant storytelling. I had only dabbled in the world of Hap and Leonard before this, but it’s safe to say that after reading this collection, I’m hooked, and will be reading more of these stories sooner rather than later.
Established fans of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine will love these stories, which go back to their youth as their friendship was just getting started. It is also a great place to introduce new readers, as it gives a great taste of their background in the 1960s of East Texas, as well as a snapshot into the dynamic friendship between the two.
Five stories make up this collection:
“The Kitchen”, where we are introduced to another very important element of these stories, food. Not just any food, but the East Texas Southern cooking that serves as the foundation for all that is to come with these characters.
“Of Mice and Minestrone”, the title story where we see a young Hap Collins as he’s faced with some disturbing social issues of the time.
‘The Watering Shed”, a tale that shows that just because our heroes can go into a seedy backwoods bar, it doesn’t mean that they should.
“Sparring Partner”, the longest story in the collection, deals with an illegal boxing ring that’s about as safe an environment as the Watering Shed.
“The Sabine is High”, where our two main characters just want to hang out and go fishing.
This book is a remarkable study of friendship, as Hap and Leonard are faced with several challenges of their times and geographic setting. The late 1960s were a time of Vietnam, racism, and the old South good ole boy system where women were treated as property. Hap and Leonard weren’t defined by these issues, however, and had a strong sense of right and wrong which motivated their decisions.
I was actually born in the southern part of the East Texas region where these stories are set, and though my family moved away when I was quite young, I remember several occasions where we went back to visit family. These stories struck home for me and stirred up some of these memories. Starting out the collection with “The Kitchen” brought back those experiences of the family gatherings, and the food we had. This was a great way to settle in and get comfortable, before striking out with Hap and Leonard to face the challenges presented by the other stories in the book.
An extra bonus to these stories is the section at the back of the book, where recipes are included of the main foods experienced in the stories themselves. This section was written by Lansdale’s daughter Kasey, and she did a great job of providing entertaining recipe notes in Hap’s narrative voice. This was a great addition to the stories, giving them a little extra flavor. My arteries might just have hardened a little bit after reading these…
Thank you to the fine folks at Tachyon Publications for providing a review copy of Joe Lansdale’s Of Mice and Minestrone.
I have read several Joe R. Lansdale stories over the years, but it’s only recently that I’ve been making a conscious effort to seek out his work. I have reviewed his new documentary, All Hail the Popcorn King for Grimdark Magazine, and I’ve also reviewed an earlier collection, Driving to Geronimo's Grave and Other Stories at my personal blog for NetGalley.
While Lansdale’s work is as varied as the regions of Texas, there is one common link through all of it: his brilliant storytelling. I had only dabbled in the world of Hap and Leonard before this, but it’s safe to say that after reading this collection, I’m hooked, and will be reading more of these stories sooner rather than later.
Established fans of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine will love these stories, which go back to their youth as their friendship was just getting started. It is also a great place to introduce new readers, as it gives a great taste of their background in the 1960s of East Texas, as well as a snapshot into the dynamic friendship between the two.
Five stories make up this collection:
“The Kitchen”, where we are introduced to another very important element of these stories, food. Not just any food, but the East Texas Southern cooking that serves as the foundation for all that is to come with these characters.
“Of Mice and Minestrone”, the title story where we see a young Hap Collins as he’s faced with some disturbing social issues of the time.
‘The Watering Shed”, a tale that shows that just because our heroes can go into a seedy backwoods bar, it doesn’t mean that they should.
“Sparring Partner”, the longest story in the collection, deals with an illegal boxing ring that’s about as safe an environment as the Watering Shed.
“The Sabine is High”, where our two main characters just want to hang out and go fishing.
This book is a remarkable study of friendship, as Hap and Leonard are faced with several challenges of their times and geographic setting. The late 1960s were a time of Vietnam, racism, and the old South good ole boy system where women were treated as property. Hap and Leonard weren’t defined by these issues, however, and had a strong sense of right and wrong which motivated their decisions.
I was actually born in the southern part of the East Texas region where these stories are set, and though my family moved away when I was quite young, I remember several occasions where we went back to visit family. These stories struck home for me and stirred up some of these memories. Starting out the collection with “The Kitchen” brought back those experiences of the family gatherings, and the food we had. This was a great way to settle in and get comfortable, before striking out with Hap and Leonard to face the challenges presented by the other stories in the book.
An extra bonus to these stories is the section at the back of the book, where recipes are included of the main foods experienced in the stories themselves. This section was written by Lansdale’s daughter Kasey, and she did a great job of providing entertaining recipe notes in Hap’s narrative voice. This was a great addition to the stories, giving them a little extra flavor. My arteries might just have hardened a little bit after reading these…
June 10, 2020
I received this from Netgalley and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an outstanding example of why Joe Lansdale is one of my favorite authors. His writing is succinct, not overly flowery or excessive, and it draws in the reader almost immediately in every short story and book.
This one is no exception, and I loved all of the stories of early Hap and Leonard. My favorite by far, though, was the last one, "The Sabine was High". Nothing much happens, it's just a simple story that shows Hap and Leonard at their most basic: best friends hanging out and enjoying each other's company after prison (Hap) and Vietnam (Leonard).
This whole collection is excellent and I highly recommend it.
This book is an outstanding example of why Joe Lansdale is one of my favorite authors. His writing is succinct, not overly flowery or excessive, and it draws in the reader almost immediately in every short story and book.
This one is no exception, and I loved all of the stories of early Hap and Leonard. My favorite by far, though, was the last one, "The Sabine was High". Nothing much happens, it's just a simple story that shows Hap and Leonard at their most basic: best friends hanging out and enjoying each other's company after prison (Hap) and Vietnam (Leonard).
This whole collection is excellent and I highly recommend it.
June 28, 2021
Ho letto voti altissimi per questa raccolta di quattro racconti (auto-concludenti e molto rapidi) sul passato di Hap e Leonard ma, a mio parere, aggiungono davvero davvero poco all'immaginario collettivo dei due detective e risultano infine piuttosto piatti.
Faccio onestamente molta fatica ad arrivare a 3 stelle...
Faccio onestamente molta fatica ad arrivare a 3 stelle...
November 8, 2021
This is a collection of Hap and Leonard stories occurring before the first Hap and Leonard novel, Savage Season. I've read all of the novels except The Elephant of Surprise which is next on my agenda. I just can't seem to get enough of these two characters: Hap, a white liberal draft dodger, and Leonard, a black gay conservative who pulled a stint in Vietnam. Opposites definitely attract in this case because these two consider each other brothers.
The stories in this volume range from when Hap was still living with his parents and went to visit his grandmother and uncles for a dinner in The Kitchen to when Leonard is discharged from the Army and returns from Vietnam to come home to a camping and fishing night on the Sabine with Hap in The Sabine Was High. In between, the pair do what they do best: tell off-color jokes and fight for what's right including the rights of the blacks in the still Jim Crow era East Texas. Hap also gets involved in trying to save a women from spousal abuse in Of Mice and Minestrone and the pair decide to try to desegregate a redneck bar in The Watering Shed leading to some dire consequences. And finally in Sparring Partner, the pair are trying to make some extra money by boxing which leads to Leonard besting a mountain of a man and saving a young black man from a possible deadly beating.
As usual, I really enjoyed all of these stories and as an extra bonus, a section of recipes from the stories is included at the end written by Kasey Lansdale, Joe's daughter. Now on to Elephant of Surprise which will leave me only some of the story collections to read in the future. Hopefully, Lansdale will be writing more in the series.
The stories in this volume range from when Hap was still living with his parents and went to visit his grandmother and uncles for a dinner in The Kitchen to when Leonard is discharged from the Army and returns from Vietnam to come home to a camping and fishing night on the Sabine with Hap in The Sabine Was High. In between, the pair do what they do best: tell off-color jokes and fight for what's right including the rights of the blacks in the still Jim Crow era East Texas. Hap also gets involved in trying to save a women from spousal abuse in Of Mice and Minestrone and the pair decide to try to desegregate a redneck bar in The Watering Shed leading to some dire consequences. And finally in Sparring Partner, the pair are trying to make some extra money by boxing which leads to Leonard besting a mountain of a man and saving a young black man from a possible deadly beating.
As usual, I really enjoyed all of these stories and as an extra bonus, a section of recipes from the stories is included at the end written by Kasey Lansdale, Joe's daughter. Now on to Elephant of Surprise which will leave me only some of the story collections to read in the future. Hopefully, Lansdale will be writing more in the series.
May 16, 2025
Le prime esperienze di coppia
5 racconti per approfondire l'iniziale amicizia tra Hap e Leonard.
A parte qualche momento divertente, è una raccolta trascurabile.
5 racconti per approfondire l'iniziale amicizia tra Hap e Leonard.
A parte qualche momento divertente, è una raccolta trascurabile.
June 14, 2020
I have been reading Joe R. Lansdale practically from the jump --- ever since his debut novel, ACT OF LOVE, released in 1981 --- and am still trying to catch up. Lansdale cuts a wide swath across and through multiple genres and media to the extent that one wonders if perhaps there is a building somewhere in east Texas where a multitude of unknown, though extremely talented, writers labor 24/7/365 to feed the collective maw of readers whom he has acquired over the course of four decades.
Lansdale might be best known, at least in some circles, as the creator of the iconic duo of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine. He has been sharpening and defining this pair of odd-couple friends over the course of several novels (some of which have been adapted for a television series) and short stories since 1990. The newly published OF MICE AND MINESTRONE is a must-have collection of (mostly) original short fiction that partially pulls back the veil on their early encounters, a kind of “child is father to the man” retrospective that features some of Lansdale’s best writing.
The book consists of five stories, only one of which, “The Watering Shed,” has already seen the light of day. One might assume that Hap and Leonard’s past was informed exclusively by violent acts. As is demonstrated by two stories here, one might be wrong. “The Kitchen” revolves around a family visit to Hap’s grandmother’s house. It is noteworthy that nothing noteworthy occurs. There are no knife fights, no voices raised in anger, no physical altercations. It’s a beautifully simple description of a gathering among loved ones, told through the filter of Hap’s keen eye and memory. Fans will not want to skip it; they may even wish to save it for last, just to savor it.
Similarly, there is nothing specific in “The Sabine Was High” to make the heart race. It is a tale of Hap and Leonard as young men, meeting after a two-year absence of circumstance. They go fishing, not as a means of reacquaintance since such is not needed, but because it is what they do. Revelations abound for the reader, and the story contains one of Lansdale’s most interesting and subtle endings.
That is not to say that OF MICE AND MINESTRONE is all quiet and full of platitudes. The aforementioned “The Watering Shed” is classic Lansdale by any name and features a younger Leonard poking the tiger in a rural bucket of blood joint with a somewhat reluctant Hap backing his play. That things spin out of control can easily be predicted; the manner in which they do cannot.
“Sparring Partner” finds Leonard drawing Hap into what is supposed to be an easy-money scheme that morphs into an unusual rescue mission of sorts, one in which Leonard’s talent and penchant for fisticuffs is put on full display at a relatively early age.
A similar theme in a dissimilar setting is explored in the title story. A teenage Hap, ironically employed at the local police station, attempts to effectuate the rescue of an abused wife. The reader knows that it will end badly, but the plot spins in unexpected directions with surprising results. It is a brain worm of a story, for sure.
I am not kidding when I tell people that I would happily read Lansdale’s grocery shopping list if given the opportunity. I sort of get that chance in OF MICE AND MINESTRONE. As a bit of lagniappe, the collection includes “Good Eats,” a section devoted to recipes (provided by his daughter, Kasey Lansdale) for the mouthwatering vittles that Hap and Leonard chow down on with regularity when they are not otherwise compelled by circumstance to kick ass and take names.
It’s a great way to close out a volume full of rough but sparkling dialogue and memorable vignettes, which are exactly what brings Lansdale’s readers back, time after time.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Lansdale might be best known, at least in some circles, as the creator of the iconic duo of Hap Collins and Leonard Pine. He has been sharpening and defining this pair of odd-couple friends over the course of several novels (some of which have been adapted for a television series) and short stories since 1990. The newly published OF MICE AND MINESTRONE is a must-have collection of (mostly) original short fiction that partially pulls back the veil on their early encounters, a kind of “child is father to the man” retrospective that features some of Lansdale’s best writing.
The book consists of five stories, only one of which, “The Watering Shed,” has already seen the light of day. One might assume that Hap and Leonard’s past was informed exclusively by violent acts. As is demonstrated by two stories here, one might be wrong. “The Kitchen” revolves around a family visit to Hap’s grandmother’s house. It is noteworthy that nothing noteworthy occurs. There are no knife fights, no voices raised in anger, no physical altercations. It’s a beautifully simple description of a gathering among loved ones, told through the filter of Hap’s keen eye and memory. Fans will not want to skip it; they may even wish to save it for last, just to savor it.
Similarly, there is nothing specific in “The Sabine Was High” to make the heart race. It is a tale of Hap and Leonard as young men, meeting after a two-year absence of circumstance. They go fishing, not as a means of reacquaintance since such is not needed, but because it is what they do. Revelations abound for the reader, and the story contains one of Lansdale’s most interesting and subtle endings.
That is not to say that OF MICE AND MINESTRONE is all quiet and full of platitudes. The aforementioned “The Watering Shed” is classic Lansdale by any name and features a younger Leonard poking the tiger in a rural bucket of blood joint with a somewhat reluctant Hap backing his play. That things spin out of control can easily be predicted; the manner in which they do cannot.
“Sparring Partner” finds Leonard drawing Hap into what is supposed to be an easy-money scheme that morphs into an unusual rescue mission of sorts, one in which Leonard’s talent and penchant for fisticuffs is put on full display at a relatively early age.
A similar theme in a dissimilar setting is explored in the title story. A teenage Hap, ironically employed at the local police station, attempts to effectuate the rescue of an abused wife. The reader knows that it will end badly, but the plot spins in unexpected directions with surprising results. It is a brain worm of a story, for sure.
I am not kidding when I tell people that I would happily read Lansdale’s grocery shopping list if given the opportunity. I sort of get that chance in OF MICE AND MINESTRONE. As a bit of lagniappe, the collection includes “Good Eats,” a section devoted to recipes (provided by his daughter, Kasey Lansdale) for the mouthwatering vittles that Hap and Leonard chow down on with regularity when they are not otherwise compelled by circumstance to kick ass and take names.
It’s a great way to close out a volume full of rough but sparkling dialogue and memorable vignettes, which are exactly what brings Lansdale’s readers back, time after time.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
January 23, 2021
Talky Hap and Leonard short stories don't get the job done IMHO.
January 8, 2020
Some tales from the early days of Hap on his own, then Hap with Leonard, and finally a section with a few down-home recipes. Only one of the stories (The Watering Shed) has been previously published, the rest are new for this collection.
Joe R. Lansdale has a gift for telling a story. Humor, hard truths, wistful might've beens, seriously serious and shockingly irreverent. His stuff conjures up primal images of tribes of wanderers sitting around a campfire listening to the folklore of their people. In this case the primal wanderers are more likely to be something more along the lines of sharecroppers or Dust Bowl refugees but the basics still apply... The man can spin a yarn!
Aside from the introduction, and an extended reminiscence by Lansdale there are five stories in this collection. While all of the stories here are good I was particularly impressed with the story The Sabine Was High which is about the reunion of Hap and Leonard. The first time they reunite with each other after a significant time spent apart - one home from war, the other out of prison. An understated short story that at first seems inconsequential, almost meaningless, but it begins to grow on you and you realize the deeper things that are happening between these two friends. That they have endured great hardship that has changed them as individuals yet, at the same time, bonded them forever as spiritual brothers. It kind of sneaks up on you, such is the power of a Lansdale story.
I'm ambivalent about the recipe section. Presented as if Hap, and in one case Leonard, was sharing some of his favorite foods so that means the commentary is entertaining but I know the likelihood that I'll ever use these recipes is about the same as Leonard settling down and marrying Miss America (Leonard is gay). I didn't figure that section into my rating one way or the other.
End result? Of Mice and Minestrone fills you with a kind of bittersweet nostalgia for a time and place that you may not have ever known... but you sure would have liked to.
I wouldn't recommend Of Mice and Minestrone for anyone unfamiliar with the Hap & Leonard series but it's a must have for long time readers.
***Thanks to NetGalley, Tachyon Publications, and author Joe R. Lansdale (recipes from Kasey Lansdale) for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Joe R. Lansdale has a gift for telling a story. Humor, hard truths, wistful might've beens, seriously serious and shockingly irreverent. His stuff conjures up primal images of tribes of wanderers sitting around a campfire listening to the folklore of their people. In this case the primal wanderers are more likely to be something more along the lines of sharecroppers or Dust Bowl refugees but the basics still apply... The man can spin a yarn!
Aside from the introduction, and an extended reminiscence by Lansdale there are five stories in this collection. While all of the stories here are good I was particularly impressed with the story The Sabine Was High which is about the reunion of Hap and Leonard. The first time they reunite with each other after a significant time spent apart - one home from war, the other out of prison. An understated short story that at first seems inconsequential, almost meaningless, but it begins to grow on you and you realize the deeper things that are happening between these two friends. That they have endured great hardship that has changed them as individuals yet, at the same time, bonded them forever as spiritual brothers. It kind of sneaks up on you, such is the power of a Lansdale story.
I'm ambivalent about the recipe section. Presented as if Hap, and in one case Leonard, was sharing some of his favorite foods so that means the commentary is entertaining but I know the likelihood that I'll ever use these recipes is about the same as Leonard settling down and marrying Miss America (Leonard is gay). I didn't figure that section into my rating one way or the other.
End result? Of Mice and Minestrone fills you with a kind of bittersweet nostalgia for a time and place that you may not have ever known... but you sure would have liked to.
I wouldn't recommend Of Mice and Minestrone for anyone unfamiliar with the Hap & Leonard series but it's a must have for long time readers.
***Thanks to NetGalley, Tachyon Publications, and author Joe R. Lansdale (recipes from Kasey Lansdale) for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2020
This collection compiles five short stories from the formative years of Joe R Lansdale’s unconventional scoundrels, right at the time when they’re forming the solid bond that stands them in good stead in later life. Hap and Leonard superficially seem to have little in common; black, white, gay, straight; but together they make for an intimidating team.
Here they earn the spurs of adulthood at illicit fist-fights and in the hard-baked back alleys of East Texas. Their shared antipathy towards blank-faced discrimination might get Hap and Leonard into danger-laden scrapes but dextrous footwork, a bone-snapping jab and unshakeable loyalty are enough to extricate them from most predicaments… mostly intact. Most of the time.
Although I’m familiar with the characters, I’m not an H&L devotee. A couple of the tales in this anthology didn’t mean much to me, and I’m sure they’d have more significance to folk who’ve read the whole series. This probably isn’t the best introduction to the characters, then. As a collection it’s somewhat unfocused and a tad self-indulgent.
Lansdale’s regular readers may well love filling in the gaps in the characters’ back stories, but new readers would do better to start at the beginning of the series.
7/10
There are more reviews of current and classic crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net - see you there!
Here they earn the spurs of adulthood at illicit fist-fights and in the hard-baked back alleys of East Texas. Their shared antipathy towards blank-faced discrimination might get Hap and Leonard into danger-laden scrapes but dextrous footwork, a bone-snapping jab and unshakeable loyalty are enough to extricate them from most predicaments… mostly intact. Most of the time.
Although I’m familiar with the characters, I’m not an H&L devotee. A couple of the tales in this anthology didn’t mean much to me, and I’m sure they’d have more significance to folk who’ve read the whole series. This probably isn’t the best introduction to the characters, then. As a collection it’s somewhat unfocused and a tad self-indulgent.
Lansdale’s regular readers may well love filling in the gaps in the characters’ back stories, but new readers would do better to start at the beginning of the series.
7/10
There are more reviews of current and classic crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net - see you there!
February 9, 2023
This is not your typical Hap and Leonard story. Instead Joe Landsdale takes the reader back to their early years and lets you peek in on certain events that helped shape their lives. There is encounters with injustice, a few instances of early do gooding, and just hanging out together. Most of the tales are not long, but to make up for the shortness of the tales, their are recipes to help you capture the flavor of the times.
June 9, 2021
Hap e Leonard hanno un solo difetto: sono personaggi di fantasia ☹️
November 9, 2020
The prolific Joe R. Lansdale has published four new works of fiction this year. This was the third of the more mainstream ones that I read this year, the others being Jane Goes North and More Better Deals. I loved both of those books to varying degrees, but I have to say that this is, in my mind, the finest new writing Lansdale released this year (of the three out of four I have actually read). I've been a fan of Hap and Leonard for years, but the truth is, I wasn't all that excited about this one. I figured Lansdale had pretty much covered all that really needed to be covered regarding the characters' earlier days in his other H&L short story collection, Blood and Lemonade. But I was wrong. This book is fantastic. I think it may be the best of the Hap and Leonard books to date. I know this is high praise, but by God this book deserves that.
There is a beauty in the titular story that is really, really impressive. But then you get to "The Sabine Was High," which is just ridiculously good. It provides us a better look at the elements of the characters that have only been hinted at or mentioned briefly in the previous works. The story is primarily a long conversation between the two protagonists--let's be honest, Hap and Leonard talking with one another has always been the best part of these books--and this is a conversation that is revealing about the humanity of the two characters and also shows the depths of their brotherly love and friendship. This book is really beautiful and I'm glad I read this.
Jane Goes North was fun and kind of wacky. There was some real heart to that, but it was mostly Lansdale giving in fully to his comedic side. And then More Better Deals was a really dark brooding book that felt like a Gold Medal paperback. But this book combines those elements. It's both funny and dark, but also revealing in a way that goes beyond those. I think a big part of it is because Lansdale has been writing about these characters for so long that you get a sense that he really knows these men in a way that most authors don't really know their characters. Obviously Lansdale has been living with these characters for a long time because they really are, in essence, him as he's said many times. But he's also defined them as their own multi-dimensional beings outside himself. These stories are like flashback episodes of the TV show "This Is Us" where we suddenly learn new and key things about the characters within the constructs of what had already been established.
These stories are amazing. If I'm being honest, I wasn't so much in love with the inclusion of a quarter of a book's worth of recipes (mostly for food that plays key roles in the stories) and that felt a little like padding, but the stories themselves are well worth the price of admission. I adored the heck out of this book.
I feel like I inevitably include the phrase "Lansdale is a master" in every review that I write, but he goes above and beyond here, truly proving that point. This is one that I will most definitely be re-reading (other than the recipes).
There is a beauty in the titular story that is really, really impressive. But then you get to "The Sabine Was High," which is just ridiculously good. It provides us a better look at the elements of the characters that have only been hinted at or mentioned briefly in the previous works. The story is primarily a long conversation between the two protagonists--let's be honest, Hap and Leonard talking with one another has always been the best part of these books--and this is a conversation that is revealing about the humanity of the two characters and also shows the depths of their brotherly love and friendship. This book is really beautiful and I'm glad I read this.
Jane Goes North was fun and kind of wacky. There was some real heart to that, but it was mostly Lansdale giving in fully to his comedic side. And then More Better Deals was a really dark brooding book that felt like a Gold Medal paperback. But this book combines those elements. It's both funny and dark, but also revealing in a way that goes beyond those. I think a big part of it is because Lansdale has been writing about these characters for so long that you get a sense that he really knows these men in a way that most authors don't really know their characters. Obviously Lansdale has been living with these characters for a long time because they really are, in essence, him as he's said many times. But he's also defined them as their own multi-dimensional beings outside himself. These stories are like flashback episodes of the TV show "This Is Us" where we suddenly learn new and key things about the characters within the constructs of what had already been established.
These stories are amazing. If I'm being honest, I wasn't so much in love with the inclusion of a quarter of a book's worth of recipes (mostly for food that plays key roles in the stories) and that felt a little like padding, but the stories themselves are well worth the price of admission. I adored the heck out of this book.
I feel like I inevitably include the phrase "Lansdale is a master" in every review that I write, but he goes above and beyond here, truly proving that point. This is one that I will most definitely be re-reading (other than the recipes).
February 6, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for an advance copy of Of Mice and Minestrone, a collection of short stories centring on Hap and Leonard’s early years.
This is a slim volume consisting of 5 stories (one divided into two parts) and a collection of recipes referenced in the stories. There is also a very perceptive introduction by author Kathleen Kent.
I really enjoyed these tales of a young Hap and Leonard and their formative experiences. The stories are all new, except The Watering Shed which has been published before, and cover a variety of experiences from Hap’s point of view. I don’t read many short stories but am always prepared to make an exception for this dynamic duo. I like their chemistry and attitude, tough but fair until they aren’t, and I enjoy their banter which makes me laugh. I especially like the atmosphere of East Texas in the 60s where, despite the racism and poverty there is a certain innocence to life or is it perhaps because the characters are young? Whatever, they gradually lose the rose tinted glasses as they grow up. Hap has a distinctive voice and his way of looking at life lends a warmth to the narrative regardless of the story.
The recipes, written by Kasey Lonsdale, are equally amusing, full of helpful hints on how to cook them from Hap’s point of view, like how to adjust to taste. They all seem to be heart attacks on a plate and full of american terms and ingredients so I might not try them out but, on the other hand, they sound yummy.
Of Mice and Minestrone is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
This is a slim volume consisting of 5 stories (one divided into two parts) and a collection of recipes referenced in the stories. There is also a very perceptive introduction by author Kathleen Kent.
I really enjoyed these tales of a young Hap and Leonard and their formative experiences. The stories are all new, except The Watering Shed which has been published before, and cover a variety of experiences from Hap’s point of view. I don’t read many short stories but am always prepared to make an exception for this dynamic duo. I like their chemistry and attitude, tough but fair until they aren’t, and I enjoy their banter which makes me laugh. I especially like the atmosphere of East Texas in the 60s where, despite the racism and poverty there is a certain innocence to life or is it perhaps because the characters are young? Whatever, they gradually lose the rose tinted glasses as they grow up. Hap has a distinctive voice and his way of looking at life lends a warmth to the narrative regardless of the story.
The recipes, written by Kasey Lonsdale, are equally amusing, full of helpful hints on how to cook them from Hap’s point of view, like how to adjust to taste. They all seem to be heart attacks on a plate and full of american terms and ingredients so I might not try them out but, on the other hand, they sound yummy.
Of Mice and Minestrone is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 30, 2020
Am I surprised that I loved this collection of stories? Nope. Not at all. I have been a fan of Hap and Leonard from the first novel and Lansdale has done them justice in this collection. The stories are about the early years of Hap and Leonard's friendship, so there's a hint of nostalgia pervading all the stories. The first, in particular, was really touching.
There's plenty of the usual humor, banter, and local vernacular that make the series so much fun. And of course, plenty of ass-kicking and doling out of justice.
I meant to take this book in sips to make it last several days. Oops. One day. But it definitely merits rereading and now I have new recipes to try, too.
There's plenty of the usual humor, banter, and local vernacular that make the series so much fun. And of course, plenty of ass-kicking and doling out of justice.
I meant to take this book in sips to make it last several days. Oops. One day. But it definitely merits rereading and now I have new recipes to try, too.
May 22, 2020
As always Joe Lansdale signature telling with characters, actions, and words, potent and vivid, ones to crack a smile on a dull day and stir a heart with nostalgic immersion in a scene.
The stories:
The kitchen:
With the first tale the reader are brought to days of youth and nostalgia of Hap and his favorite breakfast, his meal fries and pinto beans, grandmas house and an evening holding stories told by elders passed down to stir and warm the night.
The reminiscings, along with humor, bring a smile on gloomy pandemic day, a craft this author has great craftsmanship at conjuring with words, evoking empathy, emotions, humor, rage and that blood flowing feeling alive as characters act and think and words settle.
“Even dreaming, I smelled the aroma of fried chicken and pies and biscuits and cornbread. Smells of family gatherings and the warm kitchens where it was all cooked. The smells of contentment and security, all the grand things that a child adores before the illusion of magic and endless possibilities is broken by experience and time and life’s plans tumble like meteors from the sky.”
A passage of words with psychological insight, a melody of dreams, feelings in plain view what one may dream of and wish to renew and live days of youth and naivety.
Of Mice and Minestrone:
Hap is sixteen driving a bronze ’64 Impala working temporary in a police station, before time to head back to school, and wants something more in life in Marvel Creek.
He finds himself in middle of a little husband and wife business, there will be drama unfolding and there is racism involved, these events to possibly stir change of heart and character for Hap into adulthood in Marvel Creek.
Nice words in task of description:
“Pop’s hands were like leather mitts and his face looked to have been irrigated, his wrinkles were so deep. His hair was snow white and cut close, and his eyes were as sad as those paintings of Jesus on the cross, and they had scar tissue above them, thick as tree bark and similar in appearance. He was big and slightly bent, and when he walked, he lumbered and limped.”
And words of wisdom:
“A fella can see something like what you saw, and it can hang in the back of his mind like a goddamn bat, but finally that bat will fly off. Sometimes it’ll come back and nest, but it won’t be around as much as it’s around now.”
The Watering Shed:
Thee Third story.
Involves rites of passage and mention of the bond of friendship and brotherhood between Hap and Leonard, as he mentions:
“Frankly, I don’t know how it happened, but since Leonard and I met, we had become friends, and had bonded because of certain incidents, and truth was, we were moving beyond mere friendship and were becoming like brothers. Him being black and me being white broke some unwritten rules, and me hanging with him and him being queer, that just made it all the worse as far as many Southern folk were concerned.”
Great smilies, another great skill of the author to crack a needed smile:
“We went in, Leonard bold as a cold, bare titty at a strip show, and me a little nervous, like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
There is trouble in watering shed and men tangle, words said, blood flows.
Sparring Partner:
This takes place after graduating high school.
He had just met the girl of which will be play big part later in Hap and Leonard stories.
Hap and Leonard both fighters and partaking in some boxing and for a small fee as sparring partners to a few fighters. There will be ten rounds of boxing, black and white men fighting against in the corners with Leonard in the fight.
There is fighting strategy and techniques talk, as well as the usual words in that region in that time thrown around with human battles.
The Sabine was High:
This final story with Hap and Leonard on a fishing trip as Leonard gets back from a war. Fishing and two friends out at night sleeping under the stars and talk of life, more Hap and Leonard ruminations with one back from battle.
Review also @ more2read
The stories:
The kitchen:
With the first tale the reader are brought to days of youth and nostalgia of Hap and his favorite breakfast, his meal fries and pinto beans, grandmas house and an evening holding stories told by elders passed down to stir and warm the night.
The reminiscings, along with humor, bring a smile on gloomy pandemic day, a craft this author has great craftsmanship at conjuring with words, evoking empathy, emotions, humor, rage and that blood flowing feeling alive as characters act and think and words settle.
“Even dreaming, I smelled the aroma of fried chicken and pies and biscuits and cornbread. Smells of family gatherings and the warm kitchens where it was all cooked. The smells of contentment and security, all the grand things that a child adores before the illusion of magic and endless possibilities is broken by experience and time and life’s plans tumble like meteors from the sky.”
A passage of words with psychological insight, a melody of dreams, feelings in plain view what one may dream of and wish to renew and live days of youth and naivety.
Of Mice and Minestrone:
Hap is sixteen driving a bronze ’64 Impala working temporary in a police station, before time to head back to school, and wants something more in life in Marvel Creek.
He finds himself in middle of a little husband and wife business, there will be drama unfolding and there is racism involved, these events to possibly stir change of heart and character for Hap into adulthood in Marvel Creek.
Nice words in task of description:
“Pop’s hands were like leather mitts and his face looked to have been irrigated, his wrinkles were so deep. His hair was snow white and cut close, and his eyes were as sad as those paintings of Jesus on the cross, and they had scar tissue above them, thick as tree bark and similar in appearance. He was big and slightly bent, and when he walked, he lumbered and limped.”
And words of wisdom:
“A fella can see something like what you saw, and it can hang in the back of his mind like a goddamn bat, but finally that bat will fly off. Sometimes it’ll come back and nest, but it won’t be around as much as it’s around now.”
The Watering Shed:
Thee Third story.
Involves rites of passage and mention of the bond of friendship and brotherhood between Hap and Leonard, as he mentions:
“Frankly, I don’t know how it happened, but since Leonard and I met, we had become friends, and had bonded because of certain incidents, and truth was, we were moving beyond mere friendship and were becoming like brothers. Him being black and me being white broke some unwritten rules, and me hanging with him and him being queer, that just made it all the worse as far as many Southern folk were concerned.”
Great smilies, another great skill of the author to crack a needed smile:
“We went in, Leonard bold as a cold, bare titty at a strip show, and me a little nervous, like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
There is trouble in watering shed and men tangle, words said, blood flows.
Sparring Partner:
This takes place after graduating high school.
He had just met the girl of which will be play big part later in Hap and Leonard stories.
Hap and Leonard both fighters and partaking in some boxing and for a small fee as sparring partners to a few fighters. There will be ten rounds of boxing, black and white men fighting against in the corners with Leonard in the fight.
There is fighting strategy and techniques talk, as well as the usual words in that region in that time thrown around with human battles.
The Sabine was High:
This final story with Hap and Leonard on a fishing trip as Leonard gets back from a war. Fishing and two friends out at night sleeping under the stars and talk of life, more Hap and Leonard ruminations with one back from battle.
Review also @ more2read
April 11, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
OF MICE AND MINESTRONE: HAP AND LEONARD: THE EARLY YEARS by Joe R. Lansdale is the latest collection of Hap and Leonard short stories, and those familiar with the full length novels as well as the television series (that ended much too soon) based on them will find much to like with this collection.
Hap and Leonard’s early days are quite different in the author’s mind than the portrayal of that time period as written in the television series, and I like Lansdale’s version of this part of their lives and the beginning of their relationship much better, as it’s a bit grittier and befitting the setting in rural Texas that the author has firmly established to illustrate the difficult road the pair followed flying in the face of racism and anti-gay sentiments towards Leonard in these stories, along with mistreatment of the two friends as a result of their interracial friendship that only helps to cement their bond even early on.
Lansdale also includes an interesting twist and the end of these short stories by including a section of recipes (along with help from daughter Kasey) that are based on both Hap and Leonard’s favorites that have been handed down over the years; including one from Leonard’s Uncle Chester, and in addition to making your mouth water you’ll laugh reading through the descriptions the two use while laying out the directions.
Enjoyable from start to finish, this should come as no surprise as Joe R. Lansdale writes stories that always deliver a message, and in spite of difficulties and heartaches experienced within, also provide more than enough laughs for fans of the duo’s rough and tumble experiences.
4 stars.
OF MICE AND MINESTRONE: HAP AND LEONARD: THE EARLY YEARS by Joe R. Lansdale is the latest collection of Hap and Leonard short stories, and those familiar with the full length novels as well as the television series (that ended much too soon) based on them will find much to like with this collection.
Hap and Leonard’s early days are quite different in the author’s mind than the portrayal of that time period as written in the television series, and I like Lansdale’s version of this part of their lives and the beginning of their relationship much better, as it’s a bit grittier and befitting the setting in rural Texas that the author has firmly established to illustrate the difficult road the pair followed flying in the face of racism and anti-gay sentiments towards Leonard in these stories, along with mistreatment of the two friends as a result of their interracial friendship that only helps to cement their bond even early on.
Lansdale also includes an interesting twist and the end of these short stories by including a section of recipes (along with help from daughter Kasey) that are based on both Hap and Leonard’s favorites that have been handed down over the years; including one from Leonard’s Uncle Chester, and in addition to making your mouth water you’ll laugh reading through the descriptions the two use while laying out the directions.
Enjoyable from start to finish, this should come as no surprise as Joe R. Lansdale writes stories that always deliver a message, and in spite of difficulties and heartaches experienced within, also provide more than enough laughs for fans of the duo’s rough and tumble experiences.
4 stars.
July 12, 2024
Of Mice and Minestrone, Joe R. Lansdale [Tachyon, 2020].
A Hap and Leonard series prequel focused on their early years. Described by Rambo-creator David Morrell as a “mosaic novel,” Of Mice and Minestrone is comprised of largely never-before published stories including:
“Of Mice and Minestrone”: When a battered woman Hap tried to help is murdered, her abusive husband—a “good old boy” who is friends with one of the local cops—is overlooked as a suspect, while an apparently shiftless Black man named Calabash provides a convenient scapegoat. A realistic and nuanced story of racial injustice.
“The Watering Shed”: Racial tension erupts into explosive violence.
“Sparring Partner”: Hap and Leonard help train a young boxer, Ty, who has more potential as a professor than a pugilist. Finding him hopeless (“(He)…floats like a butterfly, stings like a moth,” Hap quips), Leonard steps in the ring in Ty’s stead, and faces a formidable opponent named Hedge.
“The Sabine Was High”: Describes a fishing trip in which Hap and Leonard were reunited; Hap had gone to prison as a conscientious objector while Leonard had fought in Vietnam.
Lansdale is one of my favorite authors and this collection provides ample testimony to why.
***
Joe R. Lansdale is the “champion mojo storyteller” and “the last surviving Splatterpunk, sanctified in the blood of the walking Western dead.” (The Austin Chronicle) His forthcoming Hap and Leonard novel Sugar on the Bones is due in late July 2024 from Mulholland Books. Lansdale lives in Nagadoches, TX.
A Hap and Leonard series prequel focused on their early years. Described by Rambo-creator David Morrell as a “mosaic novel,” Of Mice and Minestrone is comprised of largely never-before published stories including:
“Of Mice and Minestrone”: When a battered woman Hap tried to help is murdered, her abusive husband—a “good old boy” who is friends with one of the local cops—is overlooked as a suspect, while an apparently shiftless Black man named Calabash provides a convenient scapegoat. A realistic and nuanced story of racial injustice.
“The Watering Shed”: Racial tension erupts into explosive violence.
“Sparring Partner”: Hap and Leonard help train a young boxer, Ty, who has more potential as a professor than a pugilist. Finding him hopeless (“(He)…floats like a butterfly, stings like a moth,” Hap quips), Leonard steps in the ring in Ty’s stead, and faces a formidable opponent named Hedge.
“The Sabine Was High”: Describes a fishing trip in which Hap and Leonard were reunited; Hap had gone to prison as a conscientious objector while Leonard had fought in Vietnam.
Lansdale is one of my favorite authors and this collection provides ample testimony to why.
***
Joe R. Lansdale is the “champion mojo storyteller” and “the last surviving Splatterpunk, sanctified in the blood of the walking Western dead.” (The Austin Chronicle) His forthcoming Hap and Leonard novel Sugar on the Bones is due in late July 2024 from Mulholland Books. Lansdale lives in Nagadoches, TX.
October 9, 2020
This collection of short stories is a welcome addition to the Hap and Leonard series. Focusing on their younger days we get to see how their enduring friendship has always been strong and has always led them into and out of life and trouble.
Whereever trouble is to be found in East Texas, Hap and Leonard are there, either running towards trouble or there right in the thick of things. Brothers from different mothers and quite fearless with a dose of reckless, the two of them ride together as if they are in the wild west. Sometimes the stories are about their adventures, but simply show the depth of their friendship and brotherhood.
I am always drawn into these stories because the storytelling is so rich and so very gripping. The poverty, racism, heat and hardship of East Texas come live, and in the midst of this is a solid friendship which survives each turbulent situation, dodgy jobs, dodgy relationships, adventures and life. I don't think I will ever be tired of reading about these two and this is another great volume.
I hope there will be many more stories to come.
Copy provided by Tachyon Publications via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Whereever trouble is to be found in East Texas, Hap and Leonard are there, either running towards trouble or there right in the thick of things. Brothers from different mothers and quite fearless with a dose of reckless, the two of them ride together as if they are in the wild west. Sometimes the stories are about their adventures, but simply show the depth of their friendship and brotherhood.
I am always drawn into these stories because the storytelling is so rich and so very gripping. The poverty, racism, heat and hardship of East Texas come live, and in the midst of this is a solid friendship which survives each turbulent situation, dodgy jobs, dodgy relationships, adventures and life. I don't think I will ever be tired of reading about these two and this is another great volume.
I hope there will be many more stories to come.
Copy provided by Tachyon Publications via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 26, 2022
Kitchen:
Story of backyard bbq’s as a kid and the feeling of complete comfort with open skies and stars.
Of Mice and Minestrone:
Hap works for the police station and witnesses a ‘good ol’ boy’ hit his wife. When she turns up dead he knows who did it without a doubt only to realize it wasn’t really him. But it’s a glimpse into his caring for others beyond what most would and it sometimes doesn’t work out in his favor. Even when he pays for her bus ticket out of town. He just learns that some days will be worse the others to the horrors his witnessed firsthand.
The Watering Shed:
Hap and Leonard go to the local dive bar to drink to prove their manliness when there’s a shootout they’re stuck in the middle of. Go figure.
Sparring Partner:
Hap and Leonard help correct a crooked boxing match that would have killed the kid, Ty, if he went in it. So much of their personalities still resonated when they were young. They were destined to be who they were from the start.
The Sabine Was High:
Story about them picking up where they left off. Hap coming from prison for not joining the draft and Leonard back from the war.
Story of backyard bbq’s as a kid and the feeling of complete comfort with open skies and stars.
Of Mice and Minestrone:
Hap works for the police station and witnesses a ‘good ol’ boy’ hit his wife. When she turns up dead he knows who did it without a doubt only to realize it wasn’t really him. But it’s a glimpse into his caring for others beyond what most would and it sometimes doesn’t work out in his favor. Even when he pays for her bus ticket out of town. He just learns that some days will be worse the others to the horrors his witnessed firsthand.
The Watering Shed:
Hap and Leonard go to the local dive bar to drink to prove their manliness when there’s a shootout they’re stuck in the middle of. Go figure.
Sparring Partner:
Hap and Leonard help correct a crooked boxing match that would have killed the kid, Ty, if he went in it. So much of their personalities still resonated when they were young. They were destined to be who they were from the start.
The Sabine Was High:
Story about them picking up where they left off. Hap coming from prison for not joining the draft and Leonard back from the war.
December 3, 2024
Another superb Hap And Leonard novel. For me Joe Lansdale’s stand alone novels can be hit and miss but Hap and Leonard is always a rip snorting ride through the slimy underbelly of East Texas. This collection of short stories finds our boys in a series of adventures just out of high school. A nice bonus is the back of the book has a series of mighty delicious recipes I look forward to trying out with the spouse. His daughter assisted with this portion of the book and she did a great job. Of the stories I would have to say Sparring Partner was my favorite although the title of the books story was equally excellent. This is the perfect time of year for a little Hap and Leonard. Get a hot tottie, some Jalapeño Cornbread pull your chair up to the fire and enjoy a some down south wisdom from a pair of straight shooters (well other than that Leonard is queer).
May 6, 2024
Lansdale non mi delude mai.
Non lo ha fatto nemmeno in questa versione western moderna.
Non conoscevo ancora Hap e Leonard nonostante abbia diversi volumi della serie, e ho scelto di cimentarmi con loro con questi racconti che richiamano le loro origini e il momento della loro conoscenza e la loro infanzia in buona parte.
Ho amato ritrovare il clima familiare che questo autore è sempre in grado di ricreare ma soprattutto ho amato le atmosfere texane, tipiche dell’America di certe zone in un certo periodo, con i cibi tipici, la violenza sulle donne e il razzismo a imperare, tanto da allegare alla fine una sorta di libro di ricette di Hap, ma anche con quei rapporti tipici da piccolo paese con la semplicità e la schiettezza a guidare le relazioni ma con un’atmosfera da disastro imminente.
Accanto alle risse e alle scazzottate troviamo la difesa dei diritti dei più deboli e la lotta per i principi sani accanto alla ricerca di un modo per sbarcare il lunario a volte legale a volte meno.
E quella catastrofe annunciata a volte arriva a volte no, ma la storia non delude mai.
Non lo ha fatto nemmeno in questa versione western moderna.
Non conoscevo ancora Hap e Leonard nonostante abbia diversi volumi della serie, e ho scelto di cimentarmi con loro con questi racconti che richiamano le loro origini e il momento della loro conoscenza e la loro infanzia in buona parte.
Ho amato ritrovare il clima familiare che questo autore è sempre in grado di ricreare ma soprattutto ho amato le atmosfere texane, tipiche dell’America di certe zone in un certo periodo, con i cibi tipici, la violenza sulle donne e il razzismo a imperare, tanto da allegare alla fine una sorta di libro di ricette di Hap, ma anche con quei rapporti tipici da piccolo paese con la semplicità e la schiettezza a guidare le relazioni ma con un’atmosfera da disastro imminente.
Accanto alle risse e alle scazzottate troviamo la difesa dei diritti dei più deboli e la lotta per i principi sani accanto alla ricerca di un modo per sbarcare il lunario a volte legale a volte meno.
E quella catastrofe annunciata a volte arriva a volte no, ma la storia non delude mai.
November 17, 2020
Joe R. Lansdale is my favourite author. I've been reading him since the 80's, and he has never let me down. As I said in a different review, I'm pretty sure these stories of young Hap & Leonard, are based in reality, and some would have been difficult to be part of. I love these guys, as kids or grownups, they're the best.
July 3, 2021
I racconti non sono probabilmente indimenticabili (si salva certamente Sparring Partner, in pieno stile Hap & Leonard), ma le ricette texane che hanno accompagnato negli anni le avventure del più improbabile duetto investigativo della letteratura americana sono una chicca da non perdere (anche perché scritte in pienissimo stile landsaliano, e quindi un passo oltre il divertente!)
April 15, 2020
I have always been a fan of Joe R. Lansdale and his Hap & Leonard stories and this is a great addition to the story about them. I must give thanks to Edelweiss, Tachyon Publications, Netgalley and Baker & Taylor. For those that haven't tried any books in this series you better start right now and add this one to your tbr pile.
July 28, 2020
Of course it was a great read because I love Hap & Leonard. Some new stories to flesh out the past that built these characters are always welcome. I especially loved the last story - "The Sabine Was High."
May 8, 2021
Incipit
All’epoca dovevo avere sei o sette anni, e questo raduno di parenti era un evento che si verificava ogni anno.
Cronache dal selvaggio West Incipitmania
All’epoca dovevo avere sei o sette anni, e questo raduno di parenti era un evento che si verificava ogni anno.
Cronache dal selvaggio West Incipitmania
December 25, 2020
This will mainly be of interest to Hap & Leonard completists. 5 short stories from their younger years that delve into their character development and motivations plus a section of recipes. Nothing exceptionally interesting or groundbreaking in either section but Lansdale does have a way of telling a story that grabs you and sucks you right in. He makes the characters seem real, like you are having a drink with someone while they tell you a story from their past.
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