I haven't read this yet. I was put off by Arnott's first -
the highly feted
"The Long Firm". Which I really, really, disliked. I found it
clumping, inelegant, filled with cyphers and archytypes
rather than characters, poorly paced and and and. Well, I
just didn't like it very much! I will persist however, he
continues to attract rave reviews and is, I suppose, only
just starting out. Like many a new British noir novelist he
has been tagged the
"British Ellroy", and as the cited review says there is an
obvious debt. Other main Brit Ellroy, David Peace is, in my
opinion a better writer but seems to be going down a
stylistic (White Jazz) cul-de-sac, as many on the list think
Ellroy has. BTW, one of the reasons I disliked The Long Firm
so much was because I am very very familiar with the history
Arnott rewrites. With Ellroy, I am coming to Angeleno history
with a blank sheet, so others on the list might not have the
same problem and enjoy a, not innacurate, picture of British
swingin' sleaze! Anthony Frewin does the job better in his
porno-vice noir Swingin' London novel, London Blues, No Exit
Press.
Yours, with a red right hand. Colin, of England
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