More or less recent readings: Crumley's "Bordersnakes" - a
truly
excellent book, which I'll try to review; James Lee
Burke's
"Burning Angel", which opened up after a first, abandoned
attempt. This
time around I found it engrossing, and thoroughly enjoyed
it.
Bill Pronzini's "Demons" - while it bears the traces of
hasty
writing, it's a solid piece of work. Does anyone else want
to
compare Pronzini to John D. MacDonald? There are some
remarkable
similarities. On the other hand, I find no similarity at
all
with Thomas B. Dewey, the purported ancestor or avuncular
muse
of the "Nameless" series. "Bohannon's Book" by Joseph Hansen
-
Hansen is *seriously* underappreciated. This book of short
stories
is very entertaining and impeccably written. Finally got
around to
James Ellroy's "My Dark Places"; it's been overpraised.
It's
good reading but I found very little magic in it. This vein
of
self-exploitation is dangerous, though I hope not a
cul-de-sac.
I want the Ellroy of the L.A. Quartet!
Oldies: Re-read Joe Gores's first, "A Time of Predators",
a
remarkable debut (1969) which holds up very well. A violent
story
which seems made for the movies (has there been one?).
Also
re-read Goerge Harmon Coxe's first (1935) novel, "Murder with
Pictures",
a classic of the hardboiled genre which should get more
and
better press than it has. Finally, Fredric Brown's "Murder
can be
fun", a humorous and tightly written (and hugely
alcoholic)
yarn which abundantly exhibits Brown's virtues as a
writer.
It's also an interesting introduction to the world of
radio
script-writing in the forties, of which I suspect (no
evidence)
that Brown had some direct experience.
As promised, I'll try to send some reviews and to take
part
in the discussions. But under no circumstances will I
kiss
James Mountain's ass or argue with Peter "Fer de Lance"
Lance, who recently made the first page of the Wall Street
Journal as a
tough, dogged entrepreneur.
Regards, and please excuse the length. I don't post very
often.
Mario Taboada
Charlottesville, Virginia
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