Miker wrote:
> Noir is often a parade of the worthless and lost, so
I
> don't mind that in Macdonald's work, but I have a
hard
> time stomaching Archer's continuous narrative
contempt
> for them. I would much prefer allowing the
characters
> themselves to project their essence rather than
to
> have to endure Archer's incessant
whining.
I finished BLACK MONEY a few days back, and have been
following the discussion with interest, especially miker's
voluminous condemnations of the book. This is the first
chance I've had to really address the topic, so sorry if I'm
weighing in a bit tardily.
That said, well, gee, Mrs Lincoln, aside from that, how was
the play? It's obvious that miker REALLY dislikes MacDonald's
style. I didn't get that Archer's contemptuous of those he's
investigating. In fact, I believe it's Archer who, when asked
whether he has a passion for justice, replies that he has "a
passion for mercy." I find Archer to be one of the more
compassionate of the social critic-type of lone wolf private
eyes. He's not as ruthless as any of Hammett's protagonists,
and as Mr. T. rightly points out, he is not as cruel as
Marlowe can be, etc.
Over the past few years on this list we've covered in minute
detail the notion that MacDonald wrote variations on the same
plot over and over again, so that observation is nothing new
here. I personally think BLACK MONEY is pretty good. I was
both surprised and satisfied by the ending, although I agree
that these people (the "French" Gatsby clone aside) seem far
too willing to talk in detail with a private investigator
whom they just met.
Is BLACK MONEY in the same league with such highpoints in
MacDonald's career as THE CHILL, THE WYCHERLY WOMAN, THE
GALTON CASE, THE GOODBYE LOOK, or THE DROWNING POOL? I don't
think so, but I still enjoyed reading it.
I was interested in the line of discussion that mentioned
MacDonald intended BLACK MONEY to be a re-telling of THE
GREAT GATSBY. That was an interesting comparison to make, and
I could really see what he was trying to do with it.
All the Best-
Brian Thornton
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 06 Jan 2005 EST