I just finished "The Black Echo" which is supposed to be the
first Harry Bosch and the only Connely I read so far. Its in
Vol 1 of the Harry Bosch Novels. I also have Vol 2 and a few
others. I thought it was a great book but I agree. I don't
think its noir.
Another interesting note on "Black Echo" is that it involves
the Tunnel rats of Viet Nam, the soldiers who went into the
VC tunnels. Harry Bosch was one as well. I recently found two
other books that appear to be Viet Nam related but haven't
read yet: Crumley's "One To Count Cadence" and James Lee
Burke's "Lay Down My Sword and Shield." I'm interested to see
how they play out.
Bob Sankner
--- Brandt Dodson <
bldodson@roadrunner.com> wrote:
> Is Michael truly noir?
>
>
>
> Not by the way I define noir. And by the way,
an
> extensive discussion of a
> definition for noir came up a few years
ago.
>
> To my way of thinking, Noir involves more than
plot
> line and character arc -
> although those are certainly important elements
and
> cannot be excluded in
> any definition - it is more a 'feeling'. The city
or
> other setting becomes
> as much a character in the book as do the
> protagonist and antagonist.
> Chandler's LA is almost palpable and greatly
lends
> to the noir "feel" that
> is so prevalent - yet often so indefinable. On
the
> other hand, even with the
> right emphasis on setting, a novel can still not
be
> noir.
>
> Take, for example, the alphabet series by
Sue
> Grafton. You have a PI, you
> have a city that is a major character in her
books
> (her Santa Teresa is a
> fictional Santa Barbara) and yet I don't
think
> anyone calls her work - noir.
>
> I don't think Robert B. Parker's Spenser
series
> -although he does an
> excellent job, in most cases, of keeping
the
> paradigm established by
> Chandler and Hammett - represent noir
either.
>
>
>
> On the other hand, I think Loren Estleman
does.
> Again, my opinion.
>
>
>
> I like Michael's work, though I must admit I
haven't
> read a lot of it. I
> enjoyed The Closers and Blood Work, though
this
> wasn't a Bosch novel.
>
> But I think if you compare his writing with
novels
> that most people would
> agree are noir, you will find some stark
> discrepancies.
>
>
>
> Brandt
>
> www.brandtdodson.com <http://www.brandtdodson.com/>
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
> Is Michael truly noir?
> Any thoughts?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have
been
> removed]
>
>
Bob Sankner
"Cry havoc! Let slip the dogs of war!"
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