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    The Jealous Kind: A Novel
    The Jealous Kind: A Novel
    The Jealous Kind: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Jealous Kind: A Novel

    Written by James Lee Burke

    Narrated by Will Patton

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling author and “the reigning champ of nostalgia noir” (The New York Times Book Review) James Lee Burke returns with a powerful novel in the Holland Family series set in 1950s Texas, as the specter of the Korean War looms.

    On its surface, life in 1950s Houston is as you’d expect: stoic fathers, restless teens, drive-in movies, and souped-up Cadillacs. But underneath that surface lies a world shifting under high school junior Aaron Holland Broussard’s feet. The underlying class war between the haves and have nots is growing steadily, along with the menace of conflict overseas in Korea, providing a harrowing backdrop to his growth to manhood. But when Aaron spots the beautiful Valerie Epstein at a drive-in, he steps in when he sees her fighting with her boyfriend, Grady Harrelson. Aaron’s newfound confidence helps catch Valerie’s eye, and the two begin dating. Grady is a live wire though, and presents a looming problem for Aaron.

    You will recall the feelings and inspirational power of your first love, and empathize with Aaron’s extraordinary challenges to protect himself and the ones he loves in “this dark, atmospheric story” (Publishers Weekly). The Jealous Kind illustrates how first loves, friendship, violence, and power can alter what traditional America means for the people trying to find their way in a changing world.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateAug 30, 2016
    ISBN9781508211693
    Author

    James Lee Burke

    James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author, two-time winner of the Edgar Award, and the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in Fiction. He has authored forty novels and two short story collections. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

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    Reviews for The Jealous Kind

    4.5/5

    127 ratings19 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I read this after the other two Aaron Holland Broussard novels (the second, ANOTHER KIND OF EDEN and the third, EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD). I actually think that approach worked, for me at least, because it saved the best for last.

      THE JEALOUS KIND easily belongs on any list of Burke’s most essential books. (Top 15 at least; maybe even top 10?) The things you expect of any James Lee Burke title are all there: essentially good people hyper-aware of (and scared by) their capacity for violence — on both conventional sides of the law — crooked cops, colorful mobsters, rich right wing freaks, psychopaths, drunks and the occasional truly uncategorizable but not necessarily bad-intentioned weirdo. (E.g., Wyatt Dixon in both the Billy Bob Holland and Robicheaux series.) Lush descriptions of nature and of 1950s culture. You know the drill.

      But because JEALOUS KIND actually takes place in the 50s, the aspects of Burke’s style and attitudes (as expressed via his narrators) that occasionally seem overly naive or pastoral (to a degree that the narrator is self conscious of them and knows they’re flaws, but can’t stop them) make perfect sense here. If you want to know why Burke ticks the way he ticks; read this. It is close to an ur-text for the man if not quite his absolute best work. (For me, the latter is a tie between JOLIE BLON’S BOUNCE or THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN.)

      To the best of my knowledge he never had direct experiences with the mob or greaser gangs, but those are just him disguising one of the best Bildungsromans I have ever read in genre clothes.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the reader immensely. I listen to lots of audiobooks and think he is one of the best! Also enjoyed the writers way of looking at the world. I lived in Houston, years ago and he captured both the essence of the climate and city. Same with Galveston. I look forward to listening to more of James Lee Burke’s novels.
    • 5/5
      What a great story by a greater writer oh my God. These kind of stories aren't written anymore. This would make such a good flick and I just had one in my head the whole of the Reed from start finish I couldn't wait to hear the next sentence. His characters, fully developed. The storyline, straight as an arrow till the end, but all over the place, in a good way. Antagonist protagonist everything that makes a story great, there for the reading or in this case hearing.
    • 4/5
      On the surface this is a coming-of-age, first love story. But as with most of James Lee Burke's books, there's much, much more going on below the surface.
      This one is set in Houston in 1952. Aaron, the narrator, is a rising high school senior with a difficult home life. He loves his parents, but he knows they're ..."different". When he meets Valerie Epstein,the meeting sets his life on a roller coaster of first love, mobsters, greasers, class warfare, and murder. If you've read James Lee Burke before, especially the Dave Robicheaux series, you know to expect atmosphere and introspection, and this one doesn't skimp on either. While it's technically the second in the Holland Family series, I didn't feel I'd missed anything for not having read the first one, although it's in my audiobook library and I will definitely get to it. I actually listened to much of this one, and have to give credit to Will Patton's narration - his voice is somehow perfect for James Lee Burke's writing. Listen if you can.
      My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
    • 5/5
      This guy is a gritty and literate writer with great story telling ability
    • 4/5
      This book, set in Houston in 1952, is one of a group of related books (not really a series) about the extended Holland family. In this book, jealousy is the initial catalyst for the problems of 17-year-old Aaron Holland Broussard and his best friend Saber Bledsoe, but from the time Aaron rescues Valerie Epstein from her jealous boyfriend the boys are plunged into a world of mobsters, molls, drug dealers, pedophiles, bad cops and particularly troublesome father/son relationships. It is not necessary to have read any of the other Holland books in order to enjoy this one. As usual, the author's elegant use of language is a pleasure to read even if the story is not terribly plausible. I think mobsters are more likely to murder their prey than to play with it, but then what do I know? Aaron is a good character, wise beyond his years, but it is the emotionally needy, impulsive character of Saber who could break your heart.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
    • 3/5
      I love James lee Burke’s writing style. But the main character seemed way too mature for his age. I understand that much of the book revolved around the relationship of sons and fathers. But Aaron was way too wise for his age.
    • 5/5
      Excellent and fast paced. Truly captured Houston in the 1950s.
    • 3/5
      The author can still write a sentence that is amazing. Sadly many of them in this book seemed to have been recycled from his many other books. This book was like a Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell (his much longer running series) book rewritten with high school versions of these two characters. The story is so over the top and outlandish and unreal, that it is laughable. The usual themes about evilness and characters justifying their terrible behavior because of their moral high ground are pounded into the reader at every opportunity.
      Because it takes place in the early 1950’s the reader isn’t completely smothered by the authors insane liberal beliefs which has been the case with a number of his other books, but too much of this book is been there done that with different characters.
    • 3/5
      I did enjoy the story here, the first of the Holland novels I have read. The problem with it, in my opinion, is that anyone who has read any of Burke's Robicheax novels can see the 2 main characters of this novel are VERY like Dave and Cletus in those books. Young Holland seemed a self-flagellating do-gooder in his mind and his best friend the wild and reckless quasi criminal. I could not seem to shake these comparisons as I read this which kind of spoiled my enjoyment of it. Still Burke and his quality writing, though.
    • 5/5
      I have been a James Lee Burke fan for quite a while now (not that I've yet read every one of his many books). THE JEALOUS KIND is absolutely terrific - a coming-of-age story featuring 17-year-old Aaron Holland Broussard (grandson of Hackberry Holland, one of Burke's series characters). Not only does this novel take you back to a particular era in 1950's America, with colour and rich detail, it mixes its lead character up with members of the Mob and other lowlifes, and the danger and excitement that entails. It is also about grace and mercy - qualities which young Broussard has in abundance, and which he offers, at the end of the book, to a heroin-addicted mob woman and a dying detective. Not only that, but Burke depicts in all its glorious colours the flowering of young and abiding love. As always, his descriptions of landscape, human feeling, and the particular milieu in which his story is set, are eloquent. A must read from the master.
    • 5/5

      This novel is mind-blowingly great. It reminded me of James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause, but with the depth and background that a great novelist can inject into a story. Set in 1952 Houston, it is a story of a high school kid, Aaron Broussard, his encounters with rich punks from the other side of town, his run-ins with leather-jacketed hoodlums, corrupt police, and a continuing descent into a world of mobsters and double-crossers. His world-bending romance with the most beautiful young girl in town and lifelong friendship with another kid sets him on a collision course with jealous suitors connected with the underworld. He juxtaposes his encounters with tough guys with his father's service in the war and his courage. In many ways, its as if the curtains were lifted and he can see how evil has reared its ugly head. This is written in absolutely tremendous prose and there are so many great phrases in this story. Without going into too much detail, it is far more than a simple coming-of-age story and is simply a tremendous post-war classic.
    • 4/5
      Even when Burke is describing villains and violence his prose is so luminous that the reader doesn’t flinch. That is especially true when Will Patton is reading the audiobook because his voice has a laconic mellifluousness that is just perfect for the words. That said this was not my most favourite of JLB’s books. The main character didn’t quite ring true for me but that could be because he was a 17 year old boy and even when I was also 17 the males seemed like they were a foreign species.Aaron Holland Broussard is between junior and senior grades in the summer of 1952. He lives in Houston with his mother and father in a good area of town. He is working for the summer at a gas station and spends his free time with his buddy Saber, sometimes in Galveston on the beach. That’s where he comes between Grady Harrelson and his girlfriend, Valerie Epstein. Grady and Valerie are having an argument in Grady’s car at a drive-in restaurant. Aaron stops to ask if everything is okay and Valerie finalizes the argument by throwing Grady’s ring at him and leaving the vehicle. Harrelson blames Aaron for the breakup and everything bad and good in Aaron’s life follows from that. Harrelson’s father is immensely wealthy and involved with the mob. So Grady is friends with the son of a mobster who gets involved with the quarrel. On the other hand, when Aaron goes to check that Valerie made it home safely he falls in love with her and she with him. Valerie lives in a poorer part of Houston and her friends from the neighbourhood initially are suspicious of Aaron and give him a hard time. Aaron is such a decent guy that he wins over the leader and they become friends. Saber takes a different path from Aaron that summer and gets involved with drugs and car theft which also brings him to the attention of the mob. It is quite the coming-of-age summer for Aaron and Saber.This book is part of the Holland family saga that JLB has been writing for years. Aaron’s mother is the daughter of Hackberry Holland Sr. and has inherited the family mental health issues. Aaron’s father fought in World War I and has a drinking problem but comes across as a sympathetic character who is concerned about his son and wife. I guess it is all fodder for Aaron’s later career as a writer which makes me wonder if there is not some autobiographical detail in Aaron’s character.
    • 4/5
      Coming of age in the 50s...this book contains youthful antics, crime, mafia and an enduring relationship beginning. All that culminated in a great ending, but dragged somewhat in the middle as the story developed fully. Jealousy is the initial catalyst and it evolves into a war that our hero tries to eek out of, but is unable. Great character development and I felt that I knew all of them pretty well by the end.
    • 5/5
      Great book, my first James Lee Burke. What incredible language and descriptions. I loved the descriptions and the characters. Aaron Boussard, the title character, is a "bad boy" that is good to the core. My favorite character, though, is his best friend Saber Bledsoe. I listened to this audio book, and the reader, Will Patton, is fabulous.
    • 3/5
      If you like your coming of age stories filled with youth antics, crime, and the mafia, this book is for you. There is certainly plenty of action contained in this novel, but I still found it hard to get into and somewhat difficult to finish. The Jealous Kind definitely had its moments - I'm not likely to forget the bull riding scene anytime soon! - but overall, this book just didn't do much for me.
    • 5/5
      Awesome book. One of the best JLB books I have read. JLB is great with character development in all of his novels and this one does not let the reader down. Aaron, the lead character, is the guy you want in your corner, the bad boy the girls want to date, the son worried about his family and a stand up kinda guy. Great read!
    • 5/5
      TEXAS HISTORICAL FICTION / SUSPENSEJames Lee BurkeThe Jealous Kind: A NovelSimon & SchusterHardcover, 978-1-501-10720-7 (also available as an ebook, an audio book, and on Audible), 288 pgs., $27.99August 30, 2016 It’s 1952 on Galveston Beach and seventeen-year-old Aaron Holland Broussard hits a drive-in for a burger after a day in the salt. Feeling lucky after swimming through a school of jellyfish without being stung, Aaron intervenes in an argument between the beautiful, brilliant Valerie Epstein and her mob-connected boyfriend Grady Harrelson (who “always struck a pose that seemed to capture our times—petulant, self-indulgent, glamourous in a casual way, and dangerous, with no self-knowledge”). Before it’s all over, this innocent intervention exposes a vast right-wing conspiracy of garden-variety hoodlums, the Galveston branch of Murder, Incorporated, stone-cold hitters straight from Sicily, corrupt cops, former spooks, and Ayn Rand–reading would-be brownshirts of River Oaks. Aaron’s mother is bipolar, reminding him of “a crystal glass teetering on the edge of the drain board,” and his father is an alcoholic who belongs to “that generation of Southerners drawn to self-destruction and impoverishment as though neurosis and penury represented virtue.” Consequently, when the bad guys come for him, Aaron must depend upon Valerie, and his best friend Saber Bledsoe, “the trickster from classical folklore.” James Lee Burke’s patented form of classical themes are all here: misuse of power and authority, how fear can corrupt decent people, violence, responsibility, religion, love, regret, (what should be) the sacred communion of sex, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, courage, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption. The Jealous Kind is made of those “interlude[s] in time when the potential for good or bad could go either way.” The intricate plot advances steadily with plenty of foreshadowing and twists to keep the pages turning. Burke’s characters are genuinely complex and allowed to develop realistically throughout the novel. Aaron’s first-person narration (“a young person on the edge of discovering the world and shaking away the scales of . . . youth”) is written from the perspective of sixty years hence. This lends a certain dissonance when Aaron appears to be wiser than his years, but this is a small flaw and infrequent. Burke, owner of two Edgar Awards and named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, possesses a unique voice with such deliberate word choice that it creates its own atmosphere. He writes sentences that make you want to go outside where “[t]he sky was black, creaking with electricity, like someone crumpling cellophane” amid “trees swelling in the wind” to fill your lungs with the “odor of rain striking a hot sidewalk.” Grady Harrelson’s father has “an antiseptic cleanliness about him that made [Aaron] wonder if his glands were capable of secretion.” We’re on Burke’s planet now. Burke scrapes the nostalgic shellac from the Father Knows Best version of the 1950s to expose the fault lines of socioeconomic class, despite an uncharacteristically sweet and sentimental final paragraph. Burke’s protagonists don’t go looking for trouble, but when trouble comes looking for them they have to shut it down, or it will keep returning and make of their lives rented things. The Jealous Kind is a coming-of-age tale about how to be an honorable person in an often less-than-honorable world.Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
    • 5/5
      Thanks to a combination of selective memory, old movies and television shows, and iconic musical memories, we tend to think of the 1950s as a simpler, safer time that went by too quickly. That’s as true for those of us who actually lived through the decade as it is for those of us who simply wish we had. Somehow, however, I doubt that Hackberry Holland’s grandson, Aaron Holland Broussard, would agree. Aaron, the latest addition to James Lee Burke’s Hackberry Holland family tree series (and the main character and narrator of The Jealous Kind), sees the decade differently from the vantage of his Houston neighborhood. And all the trouble starts relatively innocently fifty miles from home in the parking lot of a drive-in seafood restaurant near the Galveston beach one night when Aaron, never bashful about speaking out, intervenes in an argument between an older boy and a teenage girl he had never seen up close before that very moment. As he probably secretly hoped he would, Aaron ends up with the girl, but he also ends up with something else that night: a vicious enemy with connections that can make him wish he had never gotten out of his car that night – Valerie or no Valerie. Now Aaron is the target of every gangbanger on the streets any time he even approaches Valerie’s neighborhood, and it seems as if she and his best friend Saber are all that even remotely stand between him and the beating of his life.But then there is a whole lot of Holland blood in this Broussard boy.When he and Saber decide to carry the fight to those threatening them, they trigger a battle that will suck in even the powerful fathers of their young enemies, men at the heart of the criminal boomtowns that Houston and Galveston are fast becoming. Aaron Broussard is about to learn things about himself and everyone he loves best that no boy should ever have to learn at his age. He will have to find the courage to live with the type of constant fear that often cripples grown men. Aaron calls fear like that “a pebble that never leaves your shoe,” but it turn out to be much, much more than that.The Jealous Kind vividly captures a moment in Houston/Galveston history during which both cities were up for grabs if you were man enough to take them. As Burke reminds us, Houston was “the murder capital of the world” then and a town called “Cut and Shoot” was just forty miles up the road (it’s still there). Those were the days. This is a must-read if there ever was one.