--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "hardcasecrime" <editor@...> wrote:
>
>
> I'm well known to be a fan (and of course a publisher) of Lawrence
> Block, so take this with a grain of salt if you must, but honestly,
> saying you think Block's not worth reading because you've read EVERYBODY
> DIES, THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART, and THE BURGLAR WHO TRADED
> TED WILLIAMS is a lot like saying you think James M. Cain's an overrated
> hack because you read GALATEA, THE MAGICIAN'S WIFE, and THE INSTITUTE.
> Or that Ed McBain's not worth reading because you read JIGSAW (which,
> incidentally, is one of the weakest novels I've ever read). Every
> author's got better and worse books, and if you're going to form an
> opinion of an author based on just a few examples, you owe it to
> yourself to choose the ones that are widely considered to be his best.
>
> If, after you read some of these, you still don't like Block, so be it
> -- no author, no matter how good, pleases everyone. But all this talk
> about how McBain is objectively better because he writes realistically
> and honestly conveys emotion, etc., etc., is utter nonsense. McBain at
> his best does do those things, but so does Block, every bit as well.
>
I didn't say that Block lacks those things. I was talking about Evan Hunter, specifically about his short stories, which should be better known.
I have a much higher opinion of the Burglar series than most people here. I value humor, and Block knows how to write it brilliantly. He's very versatile.
Best,
mrt
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