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09 Oct 08
Originally posted by SeitseI have been a huge Ellroy fan. His first decent novel was The Black Dahlia. His next "The Big Nowhere" was a huge step up, it's sequel "L.A. Confidential" is better known because of the movie. The "sequel" to that, White Jazz" was probably the culmination of his writing style. I wouldn't start with Jazz w/o reading the other 2 first. It would be difficult to get a handle on the style. These 4 novels are commonly refered to as the "LA Quartet" among his fans. American Tabloid was good but it took me forever to get through his last "The Cold Six Thousand" which is a direct sequel to Tabloid. I thought his style went around the bend in that one. I'll read his next novel anyway though. Some may think his style is "gimmicky" but the same could be said of Cormac McCarthy.
Yes!
I want to take a dive into it. What do you recommend?
09 Oct 08
Originally posted by darvlayHA! Mark my words: You will fall in love with it.
By the way, I don't know if you saw my post but I found a copy of "Hopscotch", which you recommended, at my local bookstore and bought it for the discount price of $8.
I haven't dove into it yet but I read the first few, I guess introductory pages they were, and it sounds incredible. It's next on the list!
There are 2 ways to read it: From point A to point Z, or following the chapter map Cortázar provides. Read it from A to Z first.
09 Oct 08
Originally posted by Buzz MeeksI'll tell you my James Ellroy story: He was living in Kansas City when I met him about 10 years ago. The film version of LA Confidential had been out for a while and was very successful here in the states, launching the careers of Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce as a result. Ellroy, while pleased with the success of the film, was disappointed that it did little for the sales of his book. One day, he was in his local Blockbuster store -- where all the clerks knew him -- and a little gray-haired lady was returning a copy of LA Confidential. The clerk told her that the man behind her was the author of the book that the film was based upon. She turned around and introduced herself and then said: I just loved this film. Upon which Ellroy said: Have you read my book? She said: Why no, I don't read much. Ellory then said: Well you can go hell.
I have been a huge Ellroy fan. His first decent novel was The Black Dahlia. His next "The Big Nowhere" was a huge step up, it's sequel "L.A. Confidential" is better known because of the movie. The "sequel" to that, White Jazz" was probably the culmination of his writing style. I wouldn't start with Jazz w/o reading the other 2 first. It would be difficult ...[text shortened]... may think his style is "gimmicky" but the same could be said of Cormac McCarthy.
09 Oct 08
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI don't recall if 10 years ago mobiles had cameras, but it would have been gold to have that on youtube!
I'll tell you my James Ellroy story: He was living in Kansas City when I met him about 10 years ago. The film version of LA Confidential had been out for a while and was very successful here in the states, launching the careers of Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce as a result. Ellroy, while pleased with the success of the film, was disappointed that i ...[text shortened]... you read my book? She said: Why no, I don't read much. Ellory then said: Well you can go hell.
09 Oct 08
Originally posted by SeitseCouldn't watch it all. Waaaay too disturbing.
What do you think about Breaking the Waves?
It pretty much placed Dogma on the spotlight. Well, part of the spotlight.
Dancer in the Dark was much better. In fact, I didn't realise they were part of the same trilogy. I'll have to check out Idiots.
D
09 Oct 08
Originally posted by darvlayNo, I was making a vapid hipsteresque catch-all statement with dramatic effect and no content at all. I also think those authors are really good, except maybe for Auster (I don't know, I've not read any).
I like a bunch of American authors: Don DeLillo, Thomas Pynchon, Cormac McCarthy, Paul Auster, Chuck Palahniuk.
These guys are all rather well-known, no? Are you just implying that they are not as good as Wallace?
(Which is not to say that "Infinite Jest" isn't so much better than, say, "Choke" that the fact that they are both "literature" makes that word pretty much too broad to use.)
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10 Oct 08
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterThat sounds like Ellroy. Priceless. After reading "My Dark Places" you have to wonder what he's really like.
I'll tell you my James Ellroy story: -- and a little gray-haired lady was returning a copy of LA Confidential. The clerk told her that the man behind her was the author of the book that the film was based upon. She turned around and introduced herself and then said: I just loved this film. Upon which Ellroy said: Have you read my book? She said: Why no, I don't read much. Ellory then said: Well you can go hell.