----- Original Message ----- From: "Robison Michael R CNIN"
<
Robison_M@crane.navy.mil>
> From SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER, I gather that Goodis
has
> a three-prong approach to writing. First he makes
you
> really empathize with the characters. Second, he
makes
> you think that they might really get out of this
mess
> OK. Third, hope is crushed beneath the heel of
fate,
> and the most horrible depressing things happen to
the
> characters you care most about.
>
> Great, ain't he? I've got my eye on THE BLONDE ON
THE
> STREET CORNER.
Interesting observation, Mike. Take CASSIDY'S GIRL, for
instance. The eponymous protagonist rapes his wife in the
first chapter. You shouldn't care what happens to him, yet
somehow you do. Goodis simply has an affinity for writing
about losers. And, yes, he can certainly shovel on the
grief.
Of his books currently in print I'd recommend DARK PASSAGE
(despite the fact that some parts are very badly written,
it's full of typical Goodis scenes - the one where the
protagonist has a conversation with his dead mother is a
classic), OF TENDER SIN and THE MOON IN THE GUTTER above
BLONDE. Bottom line, though - they're all just different
degrees of magnificent.
Anybody read SOMEBODY'S DONE FOR? I'm considering forking out
for it next pay cheque.
Al
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