Whew, I finally couldn't take it any more. I had to have GP's
name spelled correctly and get rid of Adams. I agree with
those who feel all the period details just slow the story If
I care so much to learn what was what was being played in pop
and soul in 1976 D.C., I'd look it up. It seems to me
Pelacanos is trying to write a straight novel with hard
boiled elements.I think he would have a more powerful story
if most of it were stripped away. For a hard boiled author
immersing the reader in a certain time and location he should
read Chandler who didn't need to so bloat his books with so
much extraneous material.
When I read Gone with the Wind lo these many years ago, I was
amazed how many things someone can tell by merely looking
into another's eyes. I had never been able to do that. I
still can't. Here is a passage from KS, page 47 of the
pb:
"I see you've noticed Vivian", said Marchetti, good naturedly
enough but with an edge. Karras saw a hardness in Marchetti's
eyes, but a surface hardness with only insecurity beneath the
veneer.
I don't think that's too much different than GWTW.
Another pretty neutral observation is that, like the Lethal
Weapon movie series, the African American is more stable with
a steady relationship, while the White is the free spirit.
That's contrary to the usual stereotypes of the past..
Mark
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