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That’s How I Roll Audiobook
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(3.01) - 227 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
After pleading guilty to a series of homicides, Esau Till sits on death row, writing his life story. But his memoir is his one last chance to protect his brother. And, when it comes to his baby brother, Esau Till is a man without boundaries.
When the genetic cards were dealt, Esau drew a genius IQ—and a crippled body. His brother Tory drew a "slow" mind and almost superhuman strength. Very early on, Esau learned that the only way to guarantee his brother's safety was to make himself indispensable, so he became the top hired killer for both rival local mobs.
As the state gets ready to take his life, Esau plots going all-in on the last hand he will ever play.
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"Esau Till is writing his memoir from prison - death row as a matter of fact. But he is a man with a plan, the state may take his life, but he will do anything within his power to make sure that his developmentally disabled brother Tory-Boy is taken care of after he is gone. The story is told in non-sequential order, with Esau in prison, finally caught as one of the premiere contract killers of his location. When one of his bombs kills a federal agent, they track him down and his fate is sealed. Esau Till has a disability of his own, spina bifida, but even though he is confined to a wheel chair, his genius mind knows no bounds. After surviving a horrible family life under his sadistic biological father, aptly named The Beast, Esau slowly moves into a life of crime, first by selling painkillers and then using his technological skills to be a potent bomb-maker. All the while, his prime concern is being his brothers caretaker. Torn between working for two rival crime bosses, Esau plays both sides against the middle and gets as much work as he can ask for, building a network and a nest egg for Tory-Boy's care because Esau knows if the authorities don't get him, his condition will, it's just a matter of time. So as the clock ticks down to his either natural or state mandated death, he does whatever it take to make sure his brother is cared for. This was a fine book. It deals with themes that are familiar in Vachss' work, namely the sanctity of family and the nature of trust. One of the prime movers for Esau's good side was the town librarian, I was happy to see, and Vachss even gives a shout-out to his friend and fellow storyteller Joe R. Lansdale by naming the "good" crime boss after him. One of the most appealing things about Vachss' stories is that there always consequences for actions. There may be heroes, but there are no superheroes and everybody has to carry his own weight."
— Tim (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This novel could easily be mistaken for a memoir…Both chilling and realistic.”
— New York Journal of Books -
“Vachss’s tough-guy writing style grabs you by the hair and jerks you to attention.”
— Detroit Free Press -
“[A] this chilling tour de force.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Vachss combines his trademark black humor with his longstanding concern for children and their well-being…A smart, cynical glimpse into the human condition.”
— Kirkus Reviews
That’s How I Roll Listener Reviews
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" Andrew Vachss becomes a better writer with each book. His characters are more of him than many writers but there are so few writers like him that it is not all that unnerving. His plots pack plenty of punch, the pace is amazing and his characters are complex. His stories are not stories that exist elsewhere in literature and he is always worth a read in my book - plus the money always funds a good cause. "
— Tom, 2/8/2014 -
" That's How I Roll by Andrew Vachss (Pantheon Books 2012)(fiction - mystery) is the author's newest book. I've read almost all of his "Burke" series and a couple of his other books, but this is a stand-alone novel. Our protagonist here is on death row, in a wheelchair, and has only one goal in life: to protect and provide for the narrator's only relation, a mentally-challenged man-child named "Torrey-Boy," after the narrator is gone. This protagonist is a more sympathetic character than Burke was, and I like this approach better. My rating: 6/10, finished 3/30/12. "
— Dave, 1/23/2014 -
" Pretty much what I expected -- raw and overwrought. It's a variation on what Vacchs does over and over again: a killer with a heart of gold protects defenseless victims from ubiquitous evil. This time it's George protecting Lennie with a load of C-4. I think I'm done with Vacchs unless he finds a new pond to fish in. "
— Thomas, 1/13/2014 -
" Eh. "That's How I Roll" is about a killer in a wheelchair. Feels like a draft. "
— Jeremy, 1/12/2014 -
" Surprised by how much I actually liked this one. Started it with no real expectation other than something to read while I'm in a a reading slump. "
— Keith, 1/9/2014 -
" Vachss is an acquired taste. I read his book, Strega, years ago and was hooked. This is an odd book but very captivating. Read it if you like to see crime from the criminal's point of view. Not necessarily pretty and definitely not for everyone. "
— thomas, 1/7/2014 -
" Not as engrossing as previous Vachss novels. "
— Laura, 12/29/2013 -
" Brutally honest, unflinching, and surprisingly, a protagonist who is lmost heroic despite his crimes. "
— Victoria, 12/27/2013 -
" I would actually give this book 2.5 stars. It was OK. The beginning was rambling, but there were moments when the story picked up and I really enjoyed it. However, it was pretty inconsistent as a whole. "
— Christielli, 12/21/2013 -
" One of the best I have read by Vachss. One of the themes throughout his books is about loyalty amongst thieves, this one just ha[[ens to be the brother. Love it! "
— Lorilee, 11/27/2013 -
" This is basically the written confession of a wheelchair-bound professional bomber, Esau Till, who is creating his last bomb while on death row. "
— Jim, 11/6/2013 -
" Vachss is best at relating events with gut-level prose, whether it's a Burke novel or an effort such as this - a character study of an unusual death-row in mate. The structure felt a little choppy, but Vachss always portrays characters down to the bone and the same is true here. "
— Jim, 10/17/2013 -
" I used to like Vachss more than I do now. A bit too much recycling of his ideas. That said, I'll always read his writing. "
— Harry, 8/6/2013 -
" started off slow, but quickly became interesting "
— Kathy, 7/19/2013 -
" If you like noire style novels and writing, Vachss is great... "
— Thomas, 6/6/2013 -
" I love this guys writing. It pains me to give this two stars, but this novel doesn't have that Vachss feel. I never sympathized with the protagonist, and just couldn't get into the story. I get what he was doing, but sadly, I didn't like this one. "
— Brian, 5/26/2013 -
" First Vachss read, slow start but steadily moved along. Story of two brothers, one a genius with spina bifida (and bomb maker) and the other with apparent super human strength but mentally challenged. Mob, bikers, nazis, and a touch of romanticism. "
— Patrick, 5/24/2013 -
" Liked it, but wasn't wild about it like almost all of his other books. Usually Vachss hooks me in the first few pages and it's a must-read till the end. This one just didn't have that fire. "
— Andy, 2/19/2013 -
" I am a huge fan of Mr. Vachss, but I think this one could have been improved with a little editing. To me it felt like there was a bit of repetitiveness. To my mind, it would have made a better novella than a full fledged novel. "
— Shawn, 11/29/2012 -
" Vachss doesn't know how to write easy novels, just superb ones. Gritty, insightful, happy and profoundly sad all at the same time. "
— Elizabeth, 6/25/2012 -
" This book was like eating a burger on Atkins. Droning beginning and no frills in the end. All the good stuff was in the middle. "
— Victor, 3/4/2012
About Andrew Vachss
Andrew Vachss is a lawyer who represents children and youths exclusively. His many books include the Burke series and two collections of short stories, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, and the New York Times, among other publications. A native New Yorker, he divides his time between the city of his birth and the Pacific Northwest.
About Phil Gigante
Phil Gigante has narrated more than two hundred audiobooks, earning ten AudioFile Earphones Awards and three of the prestigious Audie Awards for best narration. An actor, director, and producer with over twenty years of experience in theater, film, television, and radio, he is currently the artistic director of Gigantic Productions and Little Giant Children’s Theatre.