|
The Widening GyreRobert B. ParkerPublished 1983 |
|
Reviewed and Researched by Lisa Shea
Spenser's working for a Alexander, a politician who, for once, is straight. Alexander's wife has been fooling around, though, and he's being blackmailed. He wants Spenser to straighten it out and spare his wife, who he loves. Meanwhile, Susan is going for her post-Doc down in DC and has left her school job. Spenser goes between Boston and DC in the course of his job.
It turns out Joe Broz's son, Jerry, is doing this all on his own. Joe tries to have Spenser shot to cover up, and Hawk and Quirk come to Spenser's aid. In the end Joe agrees to take care of the situation to protect Jerry. And Spenser and Susan end up together, spending Christmas with Paul and his new girlfriend. A bit distant, but together.
Buy The Widening Gyre from Amazon.com
Spenser for Hire Master Listing
|
Lisa's Notes This was an interesting one because of the Susan-Spenser situation. Here Spenser's working for a politician who's willing to throw his career away to save his wife, for love. And meanwhile Susan's throwing away her relationship with Spenser because she wants to focus on her job. She's talking the talk, drinking the drink, spending all her time at pot lucks. Not missing Spenser because she purposefully wants to be clear of him - to "learn to be herself". They have many conversations about this situation. On one hand she fights against love - "everything comes down to self interest" - and on the other hand she says it's other peoples' fault she doesn't have a center yet. She went from her dad's house to her ex's to her "friend" (as she says frequently, meaning Spenser). But really, wasn't there a number of years between the ex and Spenser? And if she totally subjugated herself to these other men, wasn't that her own fault? She claims everyone saw her in the context of her mate, but is that even true? Did anyone in Smithfield care that she saw Spenser? No, they knew her for HER. Hawk respected her. Sheesh, even Spenser respected her quite openly. For her to claim everyone else saw her that way was a cop-out. If SHE saw herself that way, that was her problem to handle. Not necessarily by driving Spenser away because she was incapable of being herself with a male present. That's childish. Spenser is very surly in this, which is supposedly because of Susan's behavior, but isn't he shown to be self reliant without her in other books? Susan "she's away" He is drawn right away to the dark-haired art director. He blows her a kiss partway through the story. They do quote Joplin with "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose". Spenser says "my people are Irish - I was raised Catholic". Spenser wields a S&W .38 Chief special with a 2" barrel. He wears his .38 and backup .25 at the airport. He read Legends of the Fall in Nov; story ends in Dec. About Booze - Paul asks Spenser about the hard drinks he's consuming and Spenser says "it's come to seem soothing lately". Then when asked about the fireplace being laid, Spenser says "it saved time in case I met someone who wanted to jump on my bones". He seems to have completely lost himself just because of Susan. Paul is a little too Yodaish. The Susan-Spenser relationship is just as bizarre. Spenser says "there were times when I wanted to strangle her. But never when she was with me." Funny, there were times I wanted to strangle them both. Spenser broods and just says "she's away" and such when asked. Susan goes on about "let us be true to one another, dear". Spenser is on a dog kick. "a dog might suffice" as an audience. "Maybe I should get a dog. man's best friend." He becomes fond of Rembrandt and Vernier. In the meantime, Susan is being about as selfish as she can get. She figures Alexander will drop out to make wife feel guilty. What??? She also says she buys tons of clothes on alimony to "exploit the oppressor". What???? Didn't she choose to marry her ex, didn't she push herself to be a certain way with him? And now she's going to take his money to "punish him"?? And to top it all off she argues about 'finding herself', that she wants to find herself. Is she finding her inner greed?? In the end, in December, she sleeps and he thinks she's remote. If only she would become even MORE remote and he would stop moping about it!! |
|
Traveling in Spenser's Footprints * office berkeley and boylston * Sheraton hotel in Boston * U Lowell Aud * Raytheon plant andover * Jordon Marsh - Peabody * Colonial hilton inn, lynnfield * marriot - springfield * downtown springfiled civic center * The Student Prince - German in Springfield * globe w/wayne cosgrove * Acapulco - Newbury St * apt Marlboro St * run on Charles * Harbor Health Club * Ritz bar * DD on Boylston * Quirk - polie HQ * Cambridge - sandwich at Elsie's * back at Summer Ave in Spirngfield says Louis Noeln on wheeler - white cape * apt - paul - "world's best beer" * Susan in Wash on internship address memorized * Alexanders yellow house 31st and O street * the class reunion - H street * brick hse 3 blocks from pres * Mezza mall - chevy chase * hamburger - hamlet * Cannon Hosue office building * national gallery * Hay Adams by white house * The market in DC * Gerry Broz - M and 35th * Georgetown U Library * baltimore Harbor Place * office building state st 11th floor Joe Broz * ran river with 25 * shoots under mass ave bridge * foot bridge over swan boat lagoon |
|
Spenser's Menu and Drinks * murphy's irish whiskey * jug wine * beer * draft beer * more irish whiskey * 3 Carta Blanca * Rolling RockExtra Pale - none. 3 buds * ale in cafe * broiled scallops in lemon butter * brandy & soda * black coffee * Irish whiskey * home - steak - red wine * large black coffee * drink half of coffee - tree falling in forest * Old Ebbitt Grill - beer * budweiser * beer * crab cakes * 3 bottles pinot noir then brandy with soda * "the shallow kind that people serve Champagne in and shouldn't" * couple of beers * molson * pigeon and gewurztraminer |
Buy The Widening Gyre from Amazon.com
Spenser for Hire Master Listing