Los Angeles. In no other city do sex, celebrity, money, and crime exert such an irresistible magnetic field. And no writer ha...
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reviews
Dec 20, 2010
Margie
rated it: 
"Why," one might ask, "does she keep reading crime fiction if she doesn't like the genre?" The simple answer would be that Bette keeps loaning it to me. The real truth is that I'm an addict. I read because it's a compulsion. I'll even read if I'm not enjoying it.
I did not, however, manage to read the three fiction pieces in this collection. I just couldn't force myself to get through them. The alliteration and short sentences drove me mad. I had previously re More...
I did not, however, manage to read the three fiction pieces in this collection. I just couldn't force myself to get through them. The alliteration and short sentences drove me mad. I had previously re More...
Jun 19, 2010
tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE
rated it: 
Ellroy's mother was murdered when he was 10. The crime remains unsolved. This has influenced him ever since. He's obsessed w/ murdered & mutilated & tortured women, he's obsessed w/ brutal crimes set in a (usually) 1950s context.
This is a bk of 4 novella-length sections of True Crime / Crime Fiction that was previously published in GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly). Part One's called "Unsolved" & his mother merits contextualizing mention.
Part Two features his r More...
This is a bk of 4 novella-length sections of True Crime / Crime Fiction that was previously published in GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly). Part One's called "Unsolved" & his mother merits contextualizing mention.
Part Two features his r More...
Aug 03, 2009
Natalie
rated it:
Crime Wave is mostly James Ellroy's articles for GQ magazine, with a couple of short stories thrown in. As usual, the non-fiction centers directly on true crime, with Ellroy's persona-and-work-defining focus on murdered women. (The essay that would eventually become My Dark Places is in here, for example.)
The article that grabbed my attention the most was Ellroy's piece about O.J. and Nicole Simpson, which was written before the psychoretard antics of the trial really got under f More...
The article that grabbed my attention the most was Ellroy's piece about O.J. and Nicole Simpson, which was written before the psychoretard antics of the trial really got under f More...
Jan 16, 2012
Godzilla
rated it:
This is an oddity in the James Ellroy catalogue: it contains a mixture of novellas, set in context by Ellroy, memories of his mother's murder and his childhood, and some articles he wrote for GQ.
As a mixture it didn't really hang together well for me, but the comments surrounding the novellas were interesting. The critique of the OJ Simpson trial also held my interest, knowing how the trial actually turned out.
As an introduction to Ellroy, I wouldn't recommend this, but i More...
As a mixture it didn't really hang together well for me, but the comments surrounding the novellas were interesting. The critique of the OJ Simpson trial also held my interest, knowing how the trial actually turned out.
As an introduction to Ellroy, I wouldn't recommend this, but i More...
Feb 20, 2011
Alex
rated it: 
This is not Ellroy's best, but if you are looking for a little dose of him, this is not the worst you could do. The "true crime" reportage is fairly interesting, and Ellroy's 1990s views on the O.J. Simpson trial are, at least, provocative. The story on his mother's killer you probably know pretty well by now. The discussion of meeting Dick Contino was OK but not inspiring. The fiction included is really not his best; the Getchell stories are amusing in their silliness, but the Contino
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Jan 13, 2010
Jeffrey
rated it:
James is really loose with reality in this book which is partially based on his mother's murder in 1950s Los Angeles; he careens in and out of factual events with tall tales of mobsters, entertainers, scandal sheet writers, women, dope and violence. It's gritty.
Jan 28, 2008
Jim
rated it:
Ellroy is definitely an acquiried taste. His short, choppy sentences laden with alliterate adjectives along the lines of scandal rags can drive some people crazy. It is good to have some historical background of the period, knowledge of crime/police jargon, and penchant for noir---especially before tackling his novels. This collection of essays includes a few fictional pieces, but the nonfiction ones are the best, in my opinion. Loved the short essay on the OJ trial. He uses his writing as a con
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Jan 24, 2011
Eric
rated it:
A mixture of reportage and fiction, Ellroy's "Crime Wave" takes the reader once again into the unseemly side of his Los Angeles. The true crime stories sparkle, and there is an early telling of his mother's murder which later became "My Dark Places," but the fictionalized stories of private I's and gossip mag reporters felt kind of forced to me with their insistence on inputting the narrators into historical Hollywood events. Ellroy remains at his best when talking about hi
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Feb 21, 2010
Crime Wave : Reportage and Fiction from the Underside of L.A. (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) by James Ellroy (1999)
Feb 11, 2009
Jonathanfstick
rated it: 
This one is worth reading, if only for the first story "Dick Contino's Blues"
Jan 29, 2012
Tony
rated it:
Very well written and very interesting.
This book is a collection of articles written by Ellroy for GQ magazine. A number of the articles are descriptions of investigations into real crime and the story of the murder of Ellroy's own mother. Others are fiction.
Fiction: The author of LA Confidential delivers heavy, profane and dark prose that weigh the reader down in a dark sea.
Non-Fiction: Interesting and moving. You'll learn a lot.
Audio p More...
This book is a collection of articles written by Ellroy for GQ magazine. A number of the articles are descriptions of investigations into real crime and the story of the murder of Ellroy's own mother. Others are fiction.
Fiction: The author of LA Confidential delivers heavy, profane and dark prose that weigh the reader down in a dark sea.
Non-Fiction: Interesting and moving. You'll learn a lot.
Audio p More...
Aug 31, 2010
Hugh
rated it:
This collection of essays previously published in Esquire affords the reader an opportunity to bask in Ellroy's prose in fiction, nonfiction & memoir form. I appreciated seeing the ways in which each of these formats are attacked/enhanced by his distinctive style.
Dec 17, 2009
Mads
rated it:
By all accounts, Ellroy is an obsessive writer. Possibly a megalomaniac. His style is disconcerting in that he likes fragmented sentences and omits words--a kind of parody of masculine writing where adjectives and adverbs are banished. The effect is a brutish and unblinking narration. I could only tolerate Ellroy in small doses. He's either a maniac or a genius. Probably both.
Dec 16, 2009
Roberta
rated it: 
This one took longer than I expected it to, but it was most enjoyable.
There are few who write noir in today's age, and even fewer who write as well as James Ellroy.
I recommend that you read this one story at a time and set it down.
The Danny Getchell themes drive my brain nuts, and they're in the book back to back.
There are few who write noir in today's age, and even fewer who write as well as James Ellroy.
I recommend that you read this one story at a time and set it down.
The Danny Getchell themes drive my brain nuts, and they're in the book back to back.
Nov 30, 2007
Kit
rated it:
I got this signed by Ellroy way back when. He called me "red" (on account of my hair, one would guess) and then proceeded to tell me that he had it on good authority that Dan Quayle and (former California governor) Pete Wilson were both gay. Wonder who his source was.
May 21, 2010
Ward
rated it:
Nobody does it like this guy. Some of the reportage stands out more than the others, but the Dick Contino piece & the Hush-Hush stories strike gold.
Jun 08, 2010
Elki
rated it:
I couldn't finish it. Once the sleazy reporter took over, I lost all interest. I tried to skip ahead (a huge no-no for me) but I realized that I was forcing myself to read this one. Too bad.
Feb 27, 2008
Carrie Anne
rated it:
I love all Ellroy books, but this one was a great surprise. Great stories and a great take on the OJ trial.
Aug 19, 2008
Elena
rated it:
I like it. I like James Ellroy, and it's fun to read some of his shorter things.
Apr 23, 2008
melvinhiddenelder
rated it:
My San Gabriel River, my LA! I see this book, every salient detail.
Feb 12, 2012
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