Saying our goodbyes to Robert B. Parker
It’s so sad that Robert Parker has passed away. Spenser and Stone will certainly live on for his many fans. His writing style spoke to young and old (my mom and I both read Spenser novels), male and female. The Spenser TV show as well as the made for TV movies of Jesse Stone added an additional audience. All librarians know his books moved off the shelves from the seventies through a lively readership of today. We’re all sorry there won’t be a new Parker novel to look forward to reading.
just a few titles to remember him by and the list goes on and on and on….
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Comments
Robert B. Parker gave so many so much through his writing. It is, for me, as if I’ve lost a close friend.
You are so right. My 82 year old mom enjoyed his books, and a few years ago I got my friend started on them. He read all the books in order right in a row, and I read them for the second time. This summer we rented the Jesse Stone movies again 4 nights in a row. I have been reading him since about his third book. The world is a smaller place with no Spencer, Susan, Hawk or Jesse to look forward to.
As has already been written, I feel as if I’ve lost one of my best friends. I find myself comtemplating life without Spenser. He was a favorite character by both my husband and I. We loved to read and share Spenser novels. And although we have a vast array of literary interests, when it came to entertainment, there was no better. What a loss to the literary world. I know he wasn’t an Ernest Hemingway (who influenced him heavily, among others), but for his genre, he was the equivalent. I will miss him dearly. My only comfort is that I can still pick up one of his novels every few years or so and get that same jolt only Spenser can give. My deepest condolences to his wife, sons, and family. Sincerely, persus in california
Robert Parker, my all time favorite author, will be missed sorely by me and everyone I have introduced his books to. My sincere sympathy to his family.
All the sentiments in the comments are exactly what I felt, and it’s good to hear from you. It’s nice to know so many feel so strongly about his writings and his contributions to his readers.
After reading the book review in the New York Times of the Godwulf Manuscript, I went out and bought the book. I have read all of his books since then immediately after publication. They were not only entertaining, but, as long, as one individual could envision a character who was relentless in the pursuit of justice, we could all believe that the ideal of justice for all could be achieved. No one more clearly presented that ideal and the right of even the weakest among us to achieve it than Robert B. Parker. I was 24 when I read the first book and now my son is 26 and he has read every one of the books as well. I met Robert Parker at a book signing once and was struck by the fact that he exuded humility despite all his success. Those of us who are devoted fans have lost a dear friend.
What a master craftsman who provided so much enjoyment for his readers. I was always waiting eagerly for the next Robert Parker book. I will miss him and his work so much. My deepest sympathy to his family and close friends and his dog.