RARA-AVIS: When Genre and Literature Collide

From: Jack Bludis (buildsnburns@yahoo.com)
Date: 03 Jul 2008

  • Next message: davezeltserman: "Re: RARA-AVIS: Savage Night graphic novel"

    I haven't been contributing much lately, being down to the end of my three-year project, but here is the url of what I thought was an interesting review of a book of Michael Chabon's book of non-fiction entitled, MAPS AND LEGENDS, Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands. (It appeared in last Sunday's NYTimes book review.

    My impression is that many if not most here have a similar impression that genre can, and often is, literature.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/books/review/Kamine-t.html?_r=1&ref=review&oref=slogin

    I hope this is of interest to a few of you.

    Jack Bludis

    http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JackBludis

    --- On Thu, 7/3/08, rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com <rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

    > From: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com <rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com>
    > Subject: RARA-AVIS: Digest Number 2013
    > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > Date: Thursday, July 3, 2008, 9:21 AM
    > There are 21 messages in this issue.
    >
    > Topics in this digest:
    >
    > 1a. How Like An Angel
    > From: demack5@comcast.net
    > 1b. Re: How Like An Angel
    > From: funkmasterj@runbox.com
    >
    > 2a. Re: How important are chapters?
    > From: terry bowman
    > 2b. Re: How important are chapters?
    > From: Rob Kantner
    >
    > 3. Richard Stark Covers
    > From: Bill Crider
    >
    > 4.1. Shell Scott
    > From: Joy Matkowski
    > 4.2. Re: Shell Scott
    > From: Ed Lynskey
    > 4.3. Re: Shell Scott
    > From: James Reasoner
    >
    > 5a. Re: Ed McBain on writing dialog and keeping a fresh
    > viewpoint
    > From: Patrick King
    >
    > 6a. A Crime SuspenStory
    > From: Jeff Vorzimmer
    > 6b. Re: A Crime SuspenStory
    > From: Gerald W Page
    >
    > 7a. Chapters
    > From: capnbob@nventure.com
    > 7b. Re: Chapters
    > From: davezeltserman
    > 7c. Re: Chapters
    > From: Allan Guthrie
    > 7d. Re: Chapters
    > From: James Reasoner
    > 7e. Re: Chapters
    > From: Gerald W Page
    > 7f. Re: Chapters
    > From: DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net
    > 7g. Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > From: Ron Clinton
    > 7h. Re: Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > From: Jeff Vorzimmer
    > 7i. Re: Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > From: BaxDeal@aol.com
    >
    > 8. The Violence and the Fury
    > From: ssshapir
    >
    >
    > Messages
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 1a. How Like An Angel
    > Posted by: "demack5@comcast.net"
    > demack5@comcast.net infogirl2k
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 7:03 am ((PDT))
    >
    > >I just finished reading How
    > >Like an Angel and enjoyed it. I didn't really find
    > the ending that
    > >downbeat for a hardboiled book.
    >
    > Really? I seem to recollect a lot of people of people
    > dying--or maybe they just disappeared. It's been a
    > while since I read it. But the last line (which I actually
    > saw coming) reflected a tragedy of sorts--at least, I
    > thought so.
    >
    > Debbi
    >
    > --
    > Debbi Mack
    > IDENTITY CRISIS
    > A Sam McRae Mystery
    > http://www.debbimack.com
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (2)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 1b. Re: How Like An Angel
    > Posted by: "funkmasterj@runbox.com"
    > funkmasterj@runbox.com gogomasterj
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 9:51 am ((PDT))
    >
    > ----- Start Original Message -----
    > Sent: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:03:08 +0000
    > From: demack5@comcast.net
    > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com (Rara Avis)
    > Subject: RARA-AVIS: How Like An Angel
    >
    > > >I just finished reading How
    > > >Like an Angel and enjoyed it. I didn't really
    > find the ending that
    > > >downbeat for a hardboiled book.
    > >
    > > Really? I seem to recollect a lot of people of people
    > dying--or maybe they just disappeared. It's been a
    > while since I read it. But the last line (which I actually
    > saw coming) reflected a tragedy of sorts--at least, I
    > thought so.
    > >
    > Well, I saw it coming too.
    >
    > Jordan
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (2)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 2a. Re: How important are chapters?
    > Posted by: "terry bowman"
    > foolesgold@gmail.com foolesgold
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 7:06 am ((PDT))
    >
    > This is a topic that's near and dear to my heart. I
    > don't have a problem
    > with the way anyone else formats their books, but I am
    > moving away
    > from numbering and/or naming chapters. While the words will
    > always
    > be the most important element in any story, the way the
    > words fall on
    > the page can add or detract from the overall appeal of the
    > book. Being
    > an old slam poet and spoken word guy probably gives me this
    > view.
    >
    > I'm playing with dropcaps as a way to go from scene to
    > scene, while
    > using line breaks to pause or skip within a scene. But I
    > believe that
    > there is no true 'right' or 'wrong' in this
    > matter. It's all aesthetics and
    > personal preference.
    >
    > tb
    >
    > --- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Kantner"
    > <rob@...> wrote:
    > >
    > > Like many, I've always segmented books into
    > chapters. Sometimes
    > > chapter breaks are consistent with episode breaks,
    > sometimes not. My
    > > habit has been to put a chapter break at a place where
    > there's an
    > > element of suspense that will propel the reader to
    > start the next
    > > chapter rather than picking that place to quit
    > reading.
    > >
    > > But I've had the thought, in working on the new
    > one -- how important
    > > is it to break a book into chapters? If you have
    > episodes with an
    > > obvious break in between them, what is the point of
    > also designating
    > > chapters with numbers, etc.? Back in the day, chapters
    > often had
    > > titles, which when done right provided another element
    > of suspense.
    > > That's not done much any more (and I've never
    > done it).
    > >
    > > Longwinded way of asking the wizards of RA, especially
    > as readers: how
    > > important is it, in your mind, for a book to be
    > divided into chapters?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Rob Kantner
    > > www.robkantner.com/
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (7)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 2b. Re: How important are chapters?
    > Posted by: "Rob Kantner" rob@9sg.com
    > charris5005
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 7:21 am ((PDT))
    >
    > Thanks to all the responders. Very helpful and interesting.
    > May I just
    > add that I _do_ have structure for the book - there's a
    > teaser labeled
    > "prologue," a postscript labeled
    > "epilogue," and the balance is
    > organized into 5 parts identified with names of seasons but
    > not
    > numbered. (The story begins during one summer and ends
    > during the
    > following one.) Having done the spade work, I've gone
    > into draft, and
    > that's where I ran into the consideration about having
    > (and numbering)
    > defined chapters. I'm not going to mess with them. The
    > way the tale is
    > set up, I think it will rip along better without having
    > those gulfs to
    > jump across.
    >
    > Rgds
    > Rob Kantner
    > www.robkantner.com
    >
    >
    > --- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "terry
    > bowman" <foolesgold@...> wrote:
    > >
    > > This is a topic that's near and dear to my heart.
    > I don't have a problem
    > > with the way anyone else formats their books,
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (7)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 3. Richard Stark Covers
    > Posted by: "Bill Crider"
    > macavityabc@gmail.com macavityabc
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:06 am ((PDT))
    >
    > A while back, Juri asked if I could do a slideshow of the
    > pb original covers
    > of the Richard Stark/Donald Westlake books about Parker. I
    > did, and it can
    > be seen here: *http://tinyurl.com/5c7axw
    >
    > Bill Crider
    > *
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (1)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 4.1. Shell Scott
    > Posted by: "Joy Matkowski"
    > jmatkowski1@comcast.net joymatkowski
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:39 am ((PDT))
    >
    > On my summer vacation, I read Prather's Case of the
    > Vanishing Beauty and
    > found it just as you described it. The "tomatoes"
    > stuff isn't annoying, and
    > the piles upon piles of metaphors are indeed funny. I
    > figure spacing these
    > books is better than reading them all at once because I
    > could get tired of
    > "hotter than a welder's torch" and
    > "getting less attention than rest rooms"
    > pretty quickly.
    > The plot revolved around a fake for-profit religious
    > cult in California,
    > an overused theme. Even Christopher Brookmyre did one of
    > these. But not many
    > books also focus on knife-throwing acts and their targets.
    > I look forward to reading the rest of this stash,
    > spread out over the
    > next year or so.
    >
    > Joy
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (41)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 4.2. Re: Shell Scott
    > Posted by: "Ed Lynskey" e_lynskey@yahoo.com
    > e_lynskey
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:26 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > Your reading experience with Shell Scott is similar to
    > mine. He's an author to read on occasion for a change
    > of pace. I've a copy of his STRIP FOR MURDER around
    > somewhere I'll probably give a try this summer. Shell
    > Scott is a good summertime leisurely read.
    >
    >
    > Ed
    >
    > --- On Wed, 7/2/08, Joy Matkowski
    > <jmatkowski1@comcast.net> wrote:
    >
    > > From: Joy Matkowski <jmatkowski1@comcast.net>
    > > Subject: RARA-AVIS: Shell Scott
    > > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > > Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 12:39 PM
    > > On my summer vacation, I read Prather's Case of
    > the
    > > Vanishing Beauty and
    > > found it just as you described it. The
    > "tomatoes"
    > > stuff isn't annoying, and
    > > the piles upon piles of metaphors are indeed funny. I
    > > figure spacing these
    > > books is better than reading them all at once because
    > I
    > > could get tired of
    > > "hotter than a welder's torch" and
    > > "getting less attention than rest rooms"
    > > pretty quickly.
    > > The plot revolved around a fake for-profit
    > religious
    > > cult in California,
    > > an overused theme. Even Christopher Brookmyre did one
    > of
    > > these. But not many
    > > books also focus on knife-throwing acts and their
    > targets.
    > > I look forward to reading the rest of this stash,
    > > spread out over the
    > > next year or so.
    > >
    > > Joy
    > >
    > >
    > > ------------------------------------
    > >
    > > RARA-AVIS home page:
    > http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (41)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 4.3. Re: Shell Scott
    > Posted by: "James Reasoner"
    > jamesreasoner@flash.net james53jr
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:46 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > STRIP FOR MURDER has the funniest scene in the whole Shell
    > Scott series, as far as I'm concerned. Those who have
    > read it probably know which scene I'm talking about.
    >
    > James Reasoner
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: Ed Lynskey
    > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 2:26 PM
    > Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Shell Scott
    >
    >
    > Your reading experience with Shell Scott is similar to
    > mine. He's an author to read on occasion for a change
    > of pace. I've a copy of his STRIP FOR MURDER around
    > somewhere I'll probably give a try this summer. Shell
    > Scott is a good summertime leisurely read.
    >
    > Ed
    >
    > --- On Wed, 7/2/08, Joy Matkowski
    > <jmatkowski1@comcast.net> wrote:
    >
    > > From: Joy Matkowski <jmatkowski1@comcast.net>
    > > Subject: RARA-AVIS: Shell Scott
    > > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > > Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 12:39 PM
    > > On my summer vacation, I read Prather's Case of
    > the
    > > Vanishing Beauty and
    > > found it just as you described it. The
    > "tomatoes"
    > > stuff isn't annoying, and
    > > the piles upon piles of metaphors are indeed funny.
    > I
    > > figure spacing these
    > > books is better than reading them all at once
    > because I
    > > could get tired of
    > > "hotter than a welder's torch" and
    > > "getting less attention than rest rooms"
    > > pretty quickly.
    > > The plot revolved around a fake for-profit religious
    > > cult in California,
    > > an overused theme. Even Christopher Brookmyre did
    > one of
    > > these. But not many
    > > books also focus on knife-throwing acts and their
    > targets.
    > > I look forward to reading the rest of this stash,
    > > spread out over the
    > > next year or so.
    > >
    > > Joy
    > >
    > >
    > > ------------------------------------
    > >
    > > RARA-AVIS home page:
    > http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (41)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 5a. Re: Ed McBain on writing dialog and keeping a fresh
    > viewpoint
    > Posted by: "Patrick King" abrasax93@yahoo.com
    > abrasax93
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 10:53 am ((PDT))
    >
    > --- On Wed, 7/2/08, Duane Spurlock
    > <duane1spur@yahoo.com> wrote:
    >
    >
    > In this interview with Evan Hunter, "Ed McBain"
    > says he has some 87th Precinct books planned for posthumous
    > release. Anyone know if he ever wrote those books, and if
    > there are plans to publish them?
    >
    > http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=nGU33qL_ sv0
    >
    > - Duane Spurlock
    > ******************************************
    >
    > Ed McBain is one of my favorite authors. Thanks for that
    > great link.
    >
    > Patrick King
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (2)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 6a. A Crime SuspenStory
    > Posted by: "Jeff Vorzimmer"
    > jvorzimmer@austin.rr.com jvorzimmer
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 11:38 am ((PDT))
    >
    > After reading David Hajdu's The Ten-Cent plague, I
    > started (re)reading some issues of EC's Crime
    > SuspenStories comic books and was surprised to find that
    > the very first story in the first issue was the same story
    > as the very first episode of Alfred Hitichock Presents with
    > very minor differences. In the EC version, entitled
    > "Murder May Boomerang" the crime victim was an
    > older man, rather than the young female in AHP's
    > "Revenge". Somebody on the list was just asking
    > recently about this story, so it was kind of a coincidence.
    > Could these stories have come from the same source? The EC
    > book doesn't credit anybody but the artist, Johnny
    > Craig,
    >
    > Jeff
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (2)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 6b. Re: A Crime SuspenStory
    > Posted by: "Gerald W Page"
    > geraldpage@earthlink.net
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:25 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > I remember an interview, probably with Al Feldstein, where
    > he said that the EC stories he wrote were all worked out by
    > him and publisher William Gaines. Gaines was a big reader,
    > so he would read stuff in the evening and come in the next
    > day and work out his version; Feldstein would then write
    > it up. They probably couldn't get away with that today,
    > although maybe they could, too.
    >
    > The most famous result of this is that they used a Ray
    > Bradbury story, and Bradbury happened to read the comic
    > book. Instead of threatening to sue them, he wrote them a
    > letter asking for payment and suggesting they work out an
    > arrangement that would allow them to use Bradbury stories
    > in the future. That's why EC comics ended up publishing
    > so many Bradbury tales. Years later Ballentyne Books
    > reprinted a bunch of them in paperback and Bradbury's
    > intro is (I think) where I got the information about his
    > part.
    >
    > I remember that they also used one of HP Lovecraft's
    > stories once, I think it was "The Terrible Old
    > Man." Derleth was a comic fan, but I don't know
    > that he ever complained about it.
    >
    > Feldstein edited most of the EC Comics but Harvey Kurtzman
    > and Johnny Craig (who were better writers than Feldstein)
    > usually had a book of their own going. If Johnny Craig was
    > listed as the editor, he probably prepared the stories,
    > either in script form or thumbnails.
    >
    > Jerry
    >
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: Jeff Vorzimmer
    > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 2:38 PM
    > Subject: RARA-AVIS: A Crime SuspenStory
    >
    >
    > After reading David Hajdu's The Ten-Cent plague, I
    > started (re)reading some issues of EC's Crime
    > SuspenStories comic books and was surprised to find that
    > the very first story in the first issue was the same story
    > as the very first episode of Alfred Hitichock Presents with
    > very minor differences. In the EC version, entitled
    > "Murder May Boomerang" the crime victim was an
    > older man, rather than the young female in AHP's
    > "Revenge". Somebody on the list was just asking
    > recently about this story, so it was kind of a coincidence.
    > Could these stories have come from the same source? The EC
    > book doesn't credit anybody but the artist, Johnny
    > Craig,
    >
    > Jeff
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (2)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7a. Chapters
    > Posted by: "capnbob@nventure.com"
    > capnbob@nventure.com Garryowen7
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:24 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > I'm a big advocate of chapters. Ever try to read Moll
    > Flanders? One long slog, IMO. Chapters leave handy places
    > to stop reading, break up the narrative into cohesive
    > sections, and help create reference points as one Avian
    > pointed out. I've read books with 12 chapters and
    > equally-long books with 50 chapters. I've read chapters
    > of 50 words or less, and some that were as sprawling as
    > Texas. Each worked for me in the context of the novel. If
    > someone wants to get cute and literary and eschew chapters
    > (as well as punctuation, capitals, paragraphs, etc.), be my
    > guest. I won't read it.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7b. Re: Chapters
    > Posted by: "davezeltserman" davezelt@rcn.com
    > davezeltserman
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:30 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > If done rights, chapter breaks enhance the book by giving
    > you a good
    > place to pause to reflect or to put the book down for the
    > night.
    > Chapter headings may be archaic but they can still be
    > effective, as
    > demonstrated by The Dain Curse. I also like what Ken Bruen
    > has done
    > with quotations at the top of each chapter. A good example
    > of a recent
    > HCC reprint that does chapter breaks well is Zero Cool by
    > John Lange.
    >
    > --Dave Z.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7c. Re: Chapters
    > Posted by: "Allan Guthrie"
    > allan@allanguthrie.co.uk al_guthrie65
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:36 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > I don't think anyone's arguing against chapters,
    > Capn. Unless I've missed a
    > post somewhere. I love them, personally. The more the
    > merrier. Postcard
    > style.
    >
    > Al
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: <capnbob@nventure.com>
    > To: <rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 8:23 PM
    > Subject: RARA-AVIS: Chapters
    >
    >
    > > I'm a big advocate of chapters. Ever try to read
    > Moll Flanders? One long
    > > slog, IMO. Chapters leave handy places to stop
    > reading, break up the
    > > narrative into cohesive sections, and help create
    > reference points as one
    > > Avian pointed out. I've read books with 12
    > chapters and equally-long books
    > > with 50 chapters. I've read chapters of 50 words
    > or less, and some that
    > > were as sprawling as Texas. Each worked for me in the
    > context of the
    > > novel. If someone wants to get cute and literary and
    > eschew chapters (as
    > > well as punctuation, capitals, paragraphs, etc.), be
    > my guest. I won't
    > > read it.
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7d. Re: Chapters
    > Posted by: "James Reasoner"
    > jamesreasoner@flash.net james53jr
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:47 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > I like chapters in a book, too, although I don't care
    > if they're numbered or have titles. I even like having
    > numbered sections within each chapter, although that's a
    > pretty old-fashioned technique. I used to dislike short
    > chapters, but I've found that the older I get the more
    > I like them (sort of like large print). They say people
    > shrink as they get older; maybe my attention span is, too.
    >
    > James Reasoner
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: capnbob@nventure.com
    > To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
    > Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 2:23 PM
    > Subject: RARA-AVIS: Chapters
    >
    >
    > I'm a big advocate of chapters. Ever try to read Moll
    > Flanders? One long slog, IMO. Chapters leave handy places to
    > stop reading, break up the narrative into cohesive sections,
    > and help create reference points as one Avian pointed out.
    > I've read books with 12 chapters and equally-long books
    > with 50 chapters. I've read chapters of 50 words or
    > less, and some that were as sprawling as Texas. Each worked
    > for me in the context of the novel. If someone wants to get
    > cute and literary and eschew chapters (as well as
    > punctuation, capitals, paragraphs, etc.), be my guest. I
    > won't read it.
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7e. Re: Chapters
    > Posted by: "Gerald W Page"
    > geraldpage@earthlink.net
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:28 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > Chapters are a great way to control the rhythm of a long
    > story, and a lot of
    > writers frankly use them to make a story easier to read.
    > Max Brand and
    > Alexander Dumas Sr. were master at this.
    >
    > Jerry
    >
    > From: capnbob@nventure.com
    >
    >
    > I'm a big advocate of chapters. Ever try to read Moll
    > Flanders? One long
    > slog, IMO. Chapters leave handy places to stop reading,
    > break up the
    > narrative into cohesive sections, and help create reference
    > points as one
    > Avian pointed out. I've read books with 12 chapters and
    > equally-long books
    > with 50 chapters. I've read chapters of 50 words or
    > less, and some that were
    > as sprawling as Texas. Each worked for me in the context of
    > the novel. If
    > someone wants to get cute and literary and eschew chapters
    > (as well as
    > punctuation, capitals, paragraphs, etc.), be my guest. I
    > won't read it.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7f. Re: Chapters
    > Posted by: "DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net"
    > DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:59 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > Capn Bob wrote:
    >
    > "If someone wants to get cute and literary and eschew
    > chapters (as well
    > as punctuation, capitals, paragraphs, etc.), be my guest. I
    > won't read
    > it."
    >
    > Sounds like Selby's Last Exit to Brooklyn. But
    > somehow, he pulled it
    > off.
    >
    > But I'm with you in general. I like chapters, with or
    > without number of
    > title, long or short, but more than just a few spaces
    > (though those are
    > fine within chapters). I see the spaces as the scene
    > breaks and the
    > chapters as commercial or episode breaks. That's how
    > Michael Koryta
    > uses them in the book I'm currently reading, A Welcome
    > Grace, for
    > instance
    >
    > I think the best chapter breaks have at least a little bit
    > of a
    > cliffhanger, make it hard to stop, make you think, sure,
    > it's late, but
    > maybe I have time for just one more chapter, then another,
    > . . . Or
    > they give you a little added incentive to pick it up gai
    > the next day.
    > Plus as someone (I think Patrick) wrote, they give you an
    > opportunity to
    > pause and digest.
    >
    > Mark
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7g. Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > Posted by: "Ron Clinton"
    > clinton65@comcast.net ronclinton65
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 5:52 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > I finally got around to reading THE FINE ART OF MURDER, and
    > was intrigued by
    > the following statement by George Tuttle:
    >
    > "The best remembered of these super-size [Gold Medal]
    > novels was the noir
    > classic DRIVEN by Richard Gehmen (sp). Dick Carroll
    > thought so much of this
    > book that he made arrangements to have the book published
    > simultaneously by
    > the hardcover publisher David McKay. For publicity, Gold
    > Medal and David
    > McKay jointly gave a cocktail party on April 1, 1954, to
    > celebrate [its
    > release]."
    >
    > Has anyone read this novel? I'd heard of it in passing
    > once or twice
    > before, but had never sought it out and am now thinking
    > perhaps I should.
    > For a "noir classic" it seems to have kept a
    > pretty low profile.
    >
    > Ron C.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7h. Re: Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > Posted by: "Jeff Vorzimmer"
    > jvorzimmer@austin.rr.com jvorzimmer
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:33 pm ((PDT))
    >
    > > Has anyone read this novel? I'd heard of it in
    > passing once or twice
    > > before, but had never sought it out and am now
    > thinking perhaps I should.
    > > For a "noir classic" it seems to have kept a
    > pretty low profile.
    >
    > It's very good, yes. A noir classic, no. I believe
    > it's the only novel
    > Gehman ever wrote. Everything else I've seen by him is
    > non-fiction. I
    > recently picked up a book he wrote on Sinatra and The Rat
    > Pack. The first
    > biography of The Rat Pack I think. Haven't gotten
    > around to reading it.
    >
    > But, anyway, Driven is one of those novels that's
    > highly praised, but
    > difficult to find. It seems the harder a good book is to
    > find, the more it's
    > praised.
    >
    > Jeff
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 7i. Re: Gehman's DRIVEN...
    > Posted by: "BaxDeal@aol.com" BaxDeal@aol.com
    > baxdeal
    > Date: Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:36 pm ((PDT))
    >
    >
    > In a message dated 7/2/08 8:34:04 PM,
    > jvorzimmer@austin.rr.com writes:
    >
    >
    > > It seems the harder a good book is to find, the more
    > it's
    > > praised.
    > >
    > >
    >
    > such is the stuff of legend
    >
    > John Lau
    >
    >
    > **************
    > Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for
    > fuel-efficient used cars.
    > (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)
    >
    >
    >
    > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (9)
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > ________________________________________________________________________
    > 8. The Violence and the Fury
    > Posted by: "ssshapir" ssshapir@yahoo.com
    > ssshapir
    > Date: Thu Jul 3, 2008 2:11 am ((PDT))
    >
    > I recently watched Hitch-Hike (aka. Autostop rosso sangue).
    > A 70's
    > Italian noir flick with Franco Nero, David Hess and Corinne
    > Clery.
    > It's dark and cynical and harboiled as hell. Based on a
    > novel by
    > Patrick Kane called `The Violence and the Fury'.
    >
    > Does anyone know anything about this book and its author?
    >
    > Thanks in advance.
    >
    > Sean Shapiro
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Messages in this topic (1)
    >
    >
    >
    > RARA-AVIS home page: http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
    >
    >
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