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Re: RARA-AVIS: Hardboiled
On Mon, 13 Jan 1997 AnnyMiddon@aol.com wrote:
: This may have been answered before, and will doubtless be a FAQ -
: but what is the definition of Hardboiled? I've been calling Sara
: Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski books hb for years now. Am I right in
: doing so?
I don't think so, I'm afraid. Her stuff is the kind of thing that
passes for hardboiled these days, but I find it pretty soft. Maybe I
should pick up the latest one and see if she's different, but in terms
of hardness, the V.I. I remember would last about two seconds against
someone out of Ellroy's _White Jazz_[1], and the Continental Op would
roll right over her.
And if anyone says Kinsey Millhone is hardboiled, I'll need a good
stiff shot of whiskey to get level.
Bill
[1] This contradicts what I wrote in my previous mail, in a way.
Ellroy usually centres on three or four main characters, and has a big
cast of supporting characters. Maybe his novels aren't hardboiled but
noir, if you know what I mean. His leads qualify individually,
though.
--
William Denton : buff@vex.net <-- Please note new address.
Toronto, Canada <-- I'm not at io.org any more.
http://www.vex.net/~buff/ Caveat lector.
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