I agree with most of the "Wait a
minute" side of the current thread, especially Neil's latest
comments. I heard a talk by mystery writer Terence Faherty
(who doesn't write hard-boiled, but whose books I enjoy)
recently in which he was calling for writers to govern
themselves and using Ellroy as an example of one who doesn't.
It helped me to see why I find much of Faherty's work flawed
by constipation and repression, evil obscured, ugliness in
deep shadow.
There are great moments and great
ideas that can be celebrated effectively in hard-boiled
prose, but the whole stew must be available to tell the story
at hand, whatever it is.
Jim
Blue
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