We’ll Always Have Cleveland by Les Roberts
Reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
It’s called “A Memoir of a Novelist and a City” and indeed, it is. But it’s also much, much more than that, too. Actually, it’s really more of a love letter from the novelist to the city. An outsider when he first came here nearly twenty years ago, Les Roberts is now more of a Clevelander than many who were born and lived their entire lives here, in the lee of the crooked river and the shadow of the Terminal Tower. Les was born in Chicago, and as a hopeful actor, spent time in New York City. From there, he moved to Los Angeles, where his writing career began. He wrote—and eventually produced—bunches of programs for television, the most famous one being “Hollywood Squares”. It was as a producer that he first came to Cleveland nineteen years ago. He liked the city and its inhabitants so much that he decided to make it his home. It was a good day for Cleveland when he did so.
Other than being too short, it’s a nearly perfect paean to a particular place and the people who made it that way, and continue to keep it so. It’s both a guided tour of Cleveland, and the wonderful, even unique places within or without its boundaries, as well as a basic introduction to the author, who seldom meets a stranger.
There are those purists who will complain ‘there’s no index!’ Well, no, there isn’t. If you want to know if you’re in the book—read it! Actually, it’s better not to have one in this case; that way, you’ll have to read the entire book, and you’ll enjoy it all immensely!
Whether by design or otherwise, there are thirteen chapters, just as there are thirteen Milan Jacovich books. However, the chapters are not consigned to any particular book, nor is the story told in any particular order.
It’s almost as though you were invited into a warm, charming home on a cold, snowy night—in Cleveland, where else?—and after you and the host are seated in front of a roaring fire, he begins to chat. You may not have known the host very well prior to this occasion, but very soon you’ll be good friends.
You know it’s true love as you listen to Les talk about his city here; he praises the people—their warmth and sincerity, but doesn’t flinch from the warts and wens to be found here, either. As a sociable guy, he’s acquainted with all levels of folks, from the movers and shakers to the not-so-fortunate. He names names, but like the gentleman that he is, he always stops short of telling all.
He’s a lot like his city: he’s contrary, for one thing. He’s always listed his number in the phone book, whereever he’s lived, including here. However, he seldom answers it! He’s one of at least two people in the city who doesn’t constantly have a cell phone in his ear. He’s curmudgeonly; you can read all about that in Chapter Ten, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself in agreement with him, too. And he’s tough, in several ways. So, in Chapter Thirteen, he lays it all out for his city—the good and the bad. He doesn’t presume to know all the answers, but he certainly does know a good many pointed questions.
Along the way, while declaring his affection for Cleveland and its people, and shedding a bit of light on himself as a real person, he also shows why he’s in demand as a teacher/lecturer at various writer’s conferences, etc. On page 19, he explains the ‘writer’s eye’ without which there can be no writer, but also tacitly demonstrates that one must have an ear and a brain that absorbs literally everything in order to assimilate it all and then find the right words to put those images on paper, so that others can see what he sees.
But, first and foremost, Les Roberts is a writer, and a damned good one. Let his words show you his town, and then go look out a window. You’ll find it all out there, just like he said it was.
-- Kelly Ferjutz
For more info about the book:
http://www.grayco.com/cleveland/wahc
To read a book excerpt:
http://www.grayco.com/excerpts/wahc/
To purchase the book:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1598510142/clevelandbooks
Or, of course, your local bookstore.
Les Roberts will speak and autograph copies of his new memoir "We'll Always Have Cleveland" at the following dates, times, and locations:
Sat. May 20 2 - 3 p.m.; Borders Books & Music, 9565 Mentor Ave., Mentor; 440-350-8168
Thu. May 25 7 - 8 p.m.; Borders Books & Music, 6025 Kruse Dr., Solon; 440-542-9480
Sat. June 3 12 noon - 1 p.m.; Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Eaton Collection, 28801 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Village; 216-765-7520
Sat. June 17 2 - 3 p.m.; Northrop Bookstore, 8080 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Falls; 440-235-7323 (:divend:)