I got into the Dog way back in the day, and I'm partial to
the old stuff. In trying to outdo himself and every other
writer in crime, the recent books almost read like parodies
of themselves, imho. So, here's a short list from someone to
whom once Ellroy meant a great deal.
1. Clandestine. An early attempt to explain his childhood,
and his first period novel. It has an excellent story, and
little of the excess that characterize all his later
work.
2. The Dahlia -- his greatest novel, by far. To me, "The Big
Nowhere" signals his trying too hard. The Dahlia is just a
more haunting, riveting story. Maybe because the story of the
"Black Dahlia" itself is so compelling. I defy anyone not to
become obsessed with Elizabeth Short after this read.
And lastly, don't forget "My Dark Places," his autobiography.
It explains it all, and I believe it's an honest wonderful
read. In many ways, this is his bravest, most readable work.
Oh, yeah. You find it in the "True Crime" section.
Dave
Carrie Pruett wrote:
>
> I'm curious, with the recent discussion of the LA
Quartet books, if I should
> give Ellroy another try. I read "LA Confidential" a
few years ago after
> loving the film, and though I liked a lot of things
about the book, it left
> a bad taste in my mouth. I thought the story was
good, but the stylized
> writing, rather cartoonish characterizations, and
the humorless, moralizing
> tone that seemed to be behind the whole exercise was
too much. So - if I
> felt that way about LAC, will I probably feel that
way about all of the
> books? I've heard "Black Dahlia" mentioned the most
often, is that the best
> one to start back with?
>
> Carrie
>
>
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