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Tough Guys Don't Dance

norman mailer

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Norman Mailer peers into the recesses and buried virtues of the modern American male in a brilliant crime novel that transcends genre. When Tim Madden, an unsuccessful writer living on Cape Cod, awakes with a gruesome hangover, a painful tattoo on his upper arm, and a severed female head in his marijuana stash, he has almost no memory of the night before. As he reconstructs the missing hours, Madden runs afoul of retired prizefighters, sex addicts, mediums, former cons, a world-weary ex-girlfriend, and his own father, old now but still a Herculean figure. Stunningly conceived and vividly composed, Tough Guys Don’t Dance represents Mailer at the peak of his powers.
 
Praise for Tough Guys Don’t Dance
 
“Spectacular . . . [Norman Mailer] makes every word count, like a master knife thrower zinging stilettos in a circle around your head.”—People
 
“As brash, brooding and ultimately mesmerizing as the author himself . . . [Mailer strikes a] dazzling balance between humor and horror.”—New York Daily News
 
“A first-rate page-turner of a murder mystery . . . full of great characters, littered with dead bodies and replete with plausible suspects.”—Chicago Tribune
 
“[Tough Guys Don’t Dance] has that charming Mailer bravado.”—The New York Times
 
Praise for Norman Mailer
 
“[Norman Mailer] loomed over American letters longer and larger than any other writer of his generation.”—The New York Times
 
“A writer of the greatest and most reckless talent.”—The New Yorker
 
“Mailer is indispensable, an American treasure.”—The Washington Post
 
“A devastatingly alive and original creative mind.”—Life
 
“Mailer is fierce, courageous, and reckless and nearly everything he writes has sections of headlong brilliance.”—The New York Review of Books
 
“The largest mind and imagination [in modern] American literature . . . Unlike just about every American writer since Henry James, Mailer has managed to grow and become richer in wisdom with each new book.”—Chicago Tribune
 
“Mailer is a master of his craft. His language carries you through the story like a leaf on a stream.”—The Cincinnati Post


From the Paperback edition.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1984
Places
provincetown massachusetts, 

This edition

Format
240 pages, Hardcover
Published
September 10, 2002 by Random House
ISBN
9780375508745
ASIN
0375508740
Language
English
Characters More characters

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About the author

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norman mailer

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Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.

Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, and Tom Wolfe, Mailer is considered an innovator of creative nonfiction, a genre sometimes called New Journalism, but which covers the essay to the nonfiction novel. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice and the National Book Award once. In 1955, Mailer, together with Ed Fancher and Dan Wolf, first published The Village Voice, which began as an arts- and politics-oriented weekly newspaper initially distributed in Greenwich Village. In 2005, he won the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from The National Book Foundation.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
38(38%)
4 stars
28(28%)
3 stars
34(34%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Its_Judd
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Dark, violent and truly outstanding! This is one of the books that I have read most frequently.

And the movie, unfortunately, is rather underrated. It is also one of the movies that I have watched most often.

It is highly recommended to read the book first!

Moreover, I have mostly read it in its Swedish translation. Although there is nothing amiss with the translation, the original text truly outshines it.

The original language brings out the essence and nuances of the story in a way that the translation cannot fully capture.

It allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in the dark and violent world created by the author.

The vivid descriptions and powerful narrative make it a truly captivating read.

Whether you are a fan of the book or the movie, it is definitely worth exploring the original text to fully appreciate the genius of the work.

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TomatoFork
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Novela negra is a captivating genre that I delved into and found myself intrigued from start to finish.
In this particular novel, the central character, Tim, meets an unknown couple in a bar. He strikes up a friendship with them, but after drinking excessive amounts, he wakes up the next day with no memory. Greatly concerned, he discovers a pool of blood in his car and the head of a blonde woman in a marijuana plantation on his property. This leads him to doubt himself. From then on, corpses will appear in the novel like grapes in a cluster.
The author skillfully weaves a web of manipulations, intrigues, entanglements, misunderstandings, sex, drugs, very sordid situations, and all kinds of malice among the characters. The story unfolds in a thrilling and suspenseful manner, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. It explores the darker side of human nature and the consequences of one's actions. Overall, it is a fascinating and engaging read that leaves a lasting impression.

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Sloth_Cafe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I was really quite into this for approximately two-thirds of it. It had the distinct feel of a stoner-noir, with those really bad nightmare vibes. In fact, "cursed weed" actually plays a significant role in this, on top of various other mysticisms such as ghosts and fate.

However, then everything wraps up rather cleanly in the last stretch. This left me pondering and wondering what the point of any of it truly was. Mailer is an extremely talented prose writer, and this work really feels like it's attempting to make a statement on something. But to be honest, I'm really at a loss as to what that could be.

Even though I felt like it fumbled the landing in the end, I still think it's worthy of a glance. It stands out as a distinctly quirky noir book that has its own unique charm and elements that are worth exploring and considering.

Overall, while it may not have completely hit the mark for me in terms of its overall message and conclusion, it still has enough interesting aspects to make it a worthwhile read for those interested in the noir genre or unique literary works.
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Rasukix
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Easily the worst thing I have ever read.

I only read it to compare to the batshit Wings Hauser film which I have seen previously.

Norman Mailer is truly a terrible person. His actions and behavior have often been controversial and have left a negative impact.

Moreover, he is also a shitty writer. His works lack the depth and quality that one would expect from a renowned author.

The storylines are often convoluted and the characters are one-dimensional.

His writing style is not engaging and fails to draw the reader in.

In conclusion, I would not recommend anything written by Norman Mailer to anyone.

It is a waste of time and energy to even attempt to read his works.

There are far better authors and books out there that are worth spending your time on.
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Porzio
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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As I have previously mentioned, I rarely read books again. However, I have done so twice recently. Norman Mailer's Tough Guys Don't Dance, 1986 (Tough Guys Don't Dance, 1984) was one of my favorites in high school, and now at a more mature age, I wanted to revisit the work and update my understanding of the book's content and style before delving deeper into Mailer's oeuvre.


Norman Mailer has been titled at times as one of the most significant post-World War II American writers (e.g., two Pulitzer Prizes), and at other times as an unforgivable, naïve, provocative literary horror, a homophobic misogynist, or a ridiculous left-wing conservative. At least he doesn't leave anyone cold. During my reading years, Mailer had a great impact on me with his arrogant habit and his anarchical and contemptuous style towards literary conventions. It's probably not entirely without reason that Mailer has also been named the Jörn Donner of the United States.


Tough Guys Don't Dance is perhaps not Mailer's only thriller. Despite a rather promising initial setup, the novel immediately descends into such meandering on the first few pages that it may very well drive a large part of the readers away from the book. Amid all the meandering, Mailer's narrative is deliberately vulgar, almost rowdy, and makes one wonder what kind of dark obsessions the writer truly harbors in the depths of his soul. Mailer cultivates refined words and rowdiness side by side as if he has difficulty deciding whether to give in to the intellectual or the ruffian image.


The story of the novel progresses painfully slowly: at the beginning of the book, Mailer's narrative is like channeling the stream of consciousness onto paper - sometimes we stumble for several pages describing the history of Cape Cod and its impact on the present day, and then we are jerked into motion just enough to be able to jam again and ponder the protagonist's ethics or the personal history of his parents through flashbacks. Around the middle of the novel, Mailer seems to wake up again to drive the story forward, and the plot forms quite a bunch of murder mysteries, although it develops rather chaotically. Also, the meanderings and ponderings at the beginning of the novel somehow find their purpose at the end of the novel.


Mailer is an interesting and quite versatile writer. For example, The Castle in the Forest, 2007 (The Castle in the Forest, 2007) does not much resemble this novel that I am now evaluating. I have had several other Mailers sitting on my bookshelf for years, and just a few weeks ago, I ordered three more novels for my collection, so the intention is to get to know the writer's work and his world of ideas more closely in the near future.


My rating is 3.2 out of 5 stars.
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DeadIEnd
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Boo, what do you mean tough guys don't dance?

Tough guys don't lose track of their business either. XX, step it up, Timmy.

There's gay angst and emotionally removed dads. But babes, we are so lucky we have women to serve, to balance out male anger, and to bring at least some emotional variety to the book.

I loved the beginning. I hated the middle. I liked the end. And I ADORED it when I was on the last page.

This story seems to be a wild ride of emotions and experiences. The concept of tough guys and their supposed lack of certain qualities is challenged. The presence of women as a balancing force is an interesting aspect. The narrator's changing feelings towards different parts of the book add an element of unpredictability. Overall, it's a tale that keeps the reader engaged and guessing until the very last page.
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Noble_Steal
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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DNF.

Life is indeed too short to waste on something that is considered a travesty. In the context of DNF, it could refer to a game that fails to meet expectations or a task that seems impossible to complete.

We should focus our limited time and energy on things that bring us joy, fulfillment, and growth. Instead of persevering with something that is clearly not working or enjoyable, it might be wiser to cut our losses and move on.

There are so many other wonderful opportunities and experiences waiting for us in life. We should not let the fear of giving up or the need to prove ourselves hold us back from exploring these possibilities.

So, the next time you find yourself in a situation where you are tempted to continue with a DNF, take a step back, assess the situation, and consider if it is really worth your time and effort. Remember, life is too short to waste on travesties.
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0rend1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Before reading this book, one must mentally prepare oneself very well to be ready for what comes.

In "The Tough Guys Don't Dance", Mailer immerses us in an oppressive, bitter, and dizzying atmosphere that those who have been under the influence of alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, or marijuana will understand. The story, dark to the core, puts us in the shoes of Tim Madden, a frustrated writer and addict to excesses who spends his free time philosophizing about life, people, and his past. Ah, and by free time, I mean the moments when he is not trying to deal with his inner poison and uncovering a tangled conspiracy of colorful characters who seek to point him out as a murderer.

The book is a whole journey through the lonely streets of Provincetown, and during the final third, one simply cannot stop reading. Especially prominent is Tim's father, Doug, who will utter phrases worthy of your Instagram photos.

If you are a tough guy (or gal), one of those who don't dance, this book is for you.
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