24/7 : Living It Up and Doubling Down

by Andres Martinez

Release Date: 07 November, 2000

Edition: Paperback

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Las Vegas: some like it lukewarm, by fermed

... Surely Mr. Martinez and his publisher could have pooled their creative resources and baptized this book differently. "24/7" does have a meaning, however: it represents the business hours of Las Vegas casinos (open 24 hours a day, seven days a week). And 365 days per year, except of leap-years when they are open 366, if I may add.

It will be fun reading most of this book, provided you have recently been to Las Vegas, frequently go there, or intend to go there any time soon. If you don't fit into one of those categories, skip the book and read something else. I canot envison someone enjoying this book without having personally experienced, or being on the verge of experiencing, at least some of the places Mr. Martinez writes about.

The book is based on the following proposition: an aspiring writer approaches a publisher with this cockamamy plan: He, the writer, will accept a $50,000 advance on a book he intends to write about going to Las Vegas with $50,000 and spending a month at the gambling tables, moving from hotel to hotel, from game to game. The $50K (advance) and the $50K (gambling kitty) will be one and the same. See? The publisher agrees and forks over $50,000. "NO! " you say. "YES! " I say; and that is how the books starts: the withdrawing of the $50 grand "book advance" from the bank, the day before departure to Las Vegas.

The rest of the book is a mixed bag, at times hilariously funny, and at others downright boring. Mr. Martinez is a likable fellow, a graduate of law school with a serious talent as a comic writer. The book contains a lot of filler material (history, geography, pop psychology) much of which should have been spared and all of which is highly skipable. Given the fundamentally extraordinary notion on which the book is based, the final result of this tale is a semi-success. Perhaps if Mr. Martinez had been a drug addled psychopath with criminal intentions and awful habits the book formula would have produced a more lively tome. But then, probably, no publisher would have entrusted him with the original cash.

This book is NOT a manual about gambling, and it offers very little by way of wagering tips or hints. It is a trip to Las Vegas in the company of an interesting, funny, uptight, straight-as-an-arrow companion. Some will be irritated about being guided by such a fellow through Sin City, while others will find it a wonderful experience. To each their own cup of tea.

Living it up and doubling down with 24/7

First of all, I would like to apologize to all passengers within earshot of seat 10D on flight AA 963. I realize this was a long overnight flight (Dallas to Sao Paolo, Brazil) but I simply could not put this book down. As you could tell, this book is highly entertaining, and at times, very, very funny. I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Martinez' vivid description of the action as he puts his $50k advance on the line places the reader next to him at the tables in the various casinos he visits. The colorful characters he meets simply jump off the page and introduce themselves to the reader as well. His witty observations, keen insights, and wonderful narrative style make this book a delight to read, regardless of the reader's interest in gambling or Vegas.

My only advice is: don't read this book on a long overnight flight. There's no chance you'll get any sleep and you may get looks from fellow passengers who are desperately trying to.

I can't wait to read Martinez' next book.