Djibouti: A Novel

I like Elmore Leonard, a very good entertaining novelist and this story was quite interesting with many good characters. The violence - but then again, the story is in a violent place filled with poverty. What can one expect? We see it on the news. Could be a good movie. I'll read more of this author's books.

I started this Elmore Leonard novel with high hopes but never got totally engaged and set it aside before the half-way point. It felt forced and I was very aware of the writing process. I am a fan of Leonard's remarkable story-telling gift, bit this one is like an ignited cherry bomb that does not go off. Interesting cover art, however. Maybe next time.

What WAS he thinking? The two principal characters spend pages telling each other things that both obviously already know. It's clumsy, poorly executed exposition. Like Monday editions of soap operas where they have to bring viewers up to date on what they might have missed last week. I keep waiting for one of them to say, "Wait--why are you telling ME this? I was there." And the attempts to make the dialogue hip-sounding are laughable.

I admire Leonard, but he totally misses on this one.

The story of Djibouti starts out with 2 characters -- a film-maker and her cameraman. The description of the characters and their interactions make you instantly connect with them and draw you into the story. I can already envision this book being made into a screenplay and shown on the big screen -- it has the romance and action that would make for a blockbuster hit, but I digress... The other characters involved are a wealthy sailor and his model girlfriend that get involved with the film-maker and her quest to make a documentary about pirates. Somewhere along the way, the documentary focus moves from being about the pirates to the pirates that are terrorists. Without giving anything more away, I found this an entertaining book and recommend it to you!

The deft writing style of Elmore Leonard hides in the background of his latest novel, Djibouti, as this master storyteller delivers character, dialogue and plot to readers. The clever ways in which Leonard shows off his skills prove that at age 85 the author not only has maintained his craft, he continues to improve and excel. The setting for this novel involves Somali pirates, a documentary filmmaker and an old guy who still has game. Consistent with the characters, the structure of the novel includes reviewing what has been filmed and how to make a story from the images. Most readers are likely to enjoy Leonard's expert storytelling in this finely written novel.

Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended)

The audio version helps bring some life to the characters, but I was hugely disappointed. I've read everything he wrote, but this was not good. If this had been sent in anonymously to publishers, it would not have been printed. The editors and publishers should be ashamed for allowing this to be printed, so that they could cash in on Elmore Leonard's stellar reputation. Didn't anyone have the guts to tell Elmore to reshape the book or just plain drop it?

Elmore Leonard usually writes great novels with some really far out characters - this one is the exception. Barely entertaining and not really worth reading. Guess Elmore was trying for one more score.

In Elmore Leonard's new novel, he writes of Somalia pirates and life in the Djibouti area.

Dara Barr is a noted filmmaker. She reads about the Somalia pirates becoming more brazen and decides to do a documentary about them. She is accompanied by a philosophical cameraman and confidante, Xavier LeBo, who stands six foot six and is a vigorous seventy-two years old.

They travel to Djibouti, in Northeast Africa, a country bordering Somalia. Dara views the pirates as the underdogs. The people of Somalia have an annual income of under $1,000. and have high malnutrition and a short life expectancy. However, they are brave enough to attempt to stop the massive tankers crossing their waters.

In their search, Dara and Xavier meet various, interesting people, none of whom seem to be what they first appear. There is the wealthy pleasure seeker, Billy Wynn, who lives on his yacht. His companion is Helene, a former model. He promises to marry her if she's proven acceptable by not becoming seasick or restless on his yacht. Billy has another side of him in reference to his dealings with pirates and al Qaeda terrorists.

Xavier introduces Dara to her first pirate, a likable man named Idris. Idris is now retired and drives his Mercedes as a status symbol. He informs Dara that he can introduce her to other pirates and one of his friends is Jama, an African American al Queda Muslim, who becomes a cold hearted killer and wants to make a statement by setting off an explosive bomb. This character seemed an exaggeration of a killer, in the sense of the killer in "No Country for Old Men." He kills his al Queda advisor with the result that there is a order to kill him by other al Queda terrorists. He kills Somalai pirates and when their relatives come looking for him, you would think that they would have sense that they were looking for a killer but they walk right into death. Again and again this happened and it was unbelievable.

The story was interesting and the characters were certainly different. It was bothersome that Dara could be detached and be drinking champagne while all the misery and killing was taking place around her. Xavier was a colorful character and one who would remain in the reader's mind in the future.

I think that readers will enjoy the story telling a part of the Somalia philosophy that is not highly publicized. The novel is contemporary and attempts to answer the question of, is al Queda helping to finance the pirates.

The pacing was well done and the dialogue masterful.

Djibouti (the Republic of Djibouti) is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia as well as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is the title of Elmore Leonard's new book and takes us far away from his usual Detroit or other US local. It is the story of Dara Barr, a documentary film maker, and her faithful companion, employee, body guard, camera man, etc., a 6 foot 6inch 72 year old African named Xavier. Leonard always gives us interesting characters. It takes place in and around Djibuti for the most part and is a story about pirates who hold boats for ransom. Dara is in the process of filming a documentary about piracy and is as least somewhat sympathetic to them. Many other characters are in this tale that becomes more interesting after the initial chapters. There is a billionaire Texan and his girl friend who are traveling the world in his yacht. He is also the owner of a 600 caliber elephant gun that figures prominently in this tale. There is a pirate chief with a Mercedes, a Saudi diplomat who is somewhat shady, two al-qaeda operatives, and many others. The al-qaeda operative that is one of prime characters is an American born, Miami, black man who turns to Islam during his jail sentence and becomes a terrorist and deadly killer who enjoys killing almost anybody, particularly if they know his original American name. Add into the mix a large liquid natural gas carrying ship being held for ransom and you definitely have an explosive mixture.

I enjoy reading Elmore Leonard and this book is a worthwhile addition to his many previous books.

Another example of a once-good author writing into his dotage and falling on his face.
This is one of the most ridiculous books I have ever read. Stupid meaningless dialogue,
cardboard characters,outlandish plot. Millionaires, billionaires, film makers, pirates, alQaeda, bare-boobed blondes, khat chewers, howitzer-sized rifles all have their moments
in what seems like the outpouring of a guy on crack. Don't make Leonard any richer by buying this book. Don't even borrow it from the library.

I am amazed at the negative reviews for this book Djibouti. Yes, its setting and plot are completely different from the Detroit, Dade County, Los Angeles and now Harlan county books we have come to love, but I actually learned a lot about the current state of pirating that has been taking place in that part of the world for the last decade. I read the book a few years ago, but felt I had to jump in and swim against the current of bad reviews of Djibouti. I found it to be just as good as any of his other books, and I learned a lot that caused me to jump on my laptop and search for more news articles about that part of the world. Definitely will make sure that Djibouti is never part of any cruise or trip I take, but glad to have had Mr. Leonard take me there.

I love Elmore Leonard's writing, but I thought this novel was a pale imitation of the master's work, like one of those posthumous novels, where some writer who doesn't understand the original author's work grabs and early draft and tries to polish it. This book had all of the ingredients of a solid Elmore Leonard novel, but they never came together and left a bad taste in my mouth.

After making a serious mark as a writer of westerns, then caper novels, here leonard follows a female documentary filmmaker, at the Horn of Africa, there to make a film about Somali pirates. Not much action at first (the Arabian Sea ain't small, ships are far between), so she hob-nobs with pirates enjoying their wealth in Djibouti and a filthy rich dude with a posh yacht and a model for a girlfriend. An American convert to Islam is on the scene, apparently an al Quaeda minion. Then a LNG tanker appears, and we're not sure if it is a target ... or is already a floating bomb. People then turn out to not be what they seemed, and the film (which you "see" as the lead characters watch their rushes) changes shape and focus. Tight dialogue, great description. Story speeds up as it goes along.

One of the few books you could not recommend anyone to read, let alone a Leonard fan. He must have decided to something different near the end of the his career: part political, part cut and paste writing. Reminds me of novels where the author has gone on vacation and then writes a location mystery. (John D. used to do that). Maybe he got fixated on the Somali's watching TV. Hope he has another one in him.

A unique perspective and a detailed take on human relationships. The very-now subject of piracy makes for a thrilling backdrop to this story of human failure, greed, and desire.

Leonard has a unique writing style that is easy to read but never dumbed down. I loved this book!

Back with substance, just like the good old days. Great snappy dialogue. Great snappy plot. Great snappy pacing. I almost feel like I'm reading the golden age of Swag & Cuba Libre again. Loved it!