Kurt’s review of White Jazz (L.A. Quartet, #4) > Likes and Comments
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Novel published as outline. I HATED this thing. As much as I loved his stuff up til this point, I’ve never read another.
Mtm66 wrote: "Novel published as outline. I HATED this thing. As much as I loved his stuff up til this point, I’ve never read another."
Yeah, this one divides a lot of his readers.
Re-read it last year; so compulsively page-turnable, though the final 'grand explanation' of the two families struck me as utter nonsense this time. Also, given that he's essentially spoofing Ed Wood, he could had way more fun with the cheap movie set. But, y'know, the demon dog wouldn't know from 'fun' if it bit him in the ass.
Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll with it. Reading it again, I was able to follow the plot better. I rank it up with American Tabloid as far as his books go. For those who haven't read him, I typically recommend The Big Nowhere first, not Black Dahlia.
Kurt wrote: "Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll with it. Readi..."
Amazing how closely our preferences align. I'd rank my Top 5 as Nowhere, Tabloid, Dahlia, Jazz, and My Dark Places.
Jon wrote: "Kurt wrote: "Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll w..."
Yeah, I would agree with that list. I haven't yet read the 2nd Quartet books. I have the 2 of them so far. I did like Widespread Panic (Freddy Otash) and am looking forward to The Enchanters.
I was ready to quit him for good after Blood's a Rover, but actually tried the first WW II one, got about 75 pages in, and THEN ditched him for good.
I made it all the way through the first WWII book, THEN ditched him for good. He drags poor Elizabeth Short into it yet again, this time making her Dudley Smith's niece(!). It's too bad she doesn't have any family left alive to sue him. Speaking of the Dudster, there was far too much of him in the book. He worked best lurking around the edges of the stories, like Darth Vader in Star Wars. And, just like ol' Darth, The Dudster is ruined by unnecessary prequels.
Bill wrote: "I made it all the way through the first WWII book, THEN ditched him for good. He drags poor Elizabeth Short into it yet again, this time making her Dudley Smith's niece(!). It's too bad she doesn't..."
I haven't read the WWII books yet, but I think I would agree with you on keeping Dudley Smith in the shadows.
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Mtm66
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May 07, 2020 02:41PM
Novel published as outline. I HATED this thing. As much as I loved his stuff up til this point, I’ve never read another.
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Mtm66 wrote: "Novel published as outline. I HATED this thing. As much as I loved his stuff up til this point, I’ve never read another."Yeah, this one divides a lot of his readers.
Re-read it last year; so compulsively page-turnable, though the final 'grand explanation' of the two families struck me as utter nonsense this time. Also, given that he's essentially spoofing Ed Wood, he could had way more fun with the cheap movie set. But, y'know, the demon dog wouldn't know from 'fun' if it bit him in the ass.
Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll with it. Reading it again, I was able to follow the plot better. I rank it up with American Tabloid as far as his books go. For those who haven't read him, I typically recommend The Big Nowhere first, not Black Dahlia.
Kurt wrote: "Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll with it. Readi..."Amazing how closely our preferences align. I'd rank my Top 5 as Nowhere, Tabloid, Dahlia, Jazz, and My Dark Places.
Jon wrote: "Kurt wrote: "Yes, I kept thinking of Plan 9 and Ed Wood as well in those scenes. The relationship with the families stretches credibility, but he's always at 11 with scenes and plots. I just roll w..."Yeah, I would agree with that list. I haven't yet read the 2nd Quartet books. I have the 2 of them so far. I did like Widespread Panic (Freddy Otash) and am looking forward to The Enchanters.
I was ready to quit him for good after Blood's a Rover, but actually tried the first WW II one, got about 75 pages in, and THEN ditched him for good.
I made it all the way through the first WWII book, THEN ditched him for good. He drags poor Elizabeth Short into it yet again, this time making her Dudley Smith's niece(!). It's too bad she doesn't have any family left alive to sue him. Speaking of the Dudster, there was far too much of him in the book. He worked best lurking around the edges of the stories, like Darth Vader in Star Wars. And, just like ol' Darth, The Dudster is ruined by unnecessary prequels.
Bill wrote: "I made it all the way through the first WWII book, THEN ditched him for good. He drags poor Elizabeth Short into it yet again, this time making her Dudley Smith's niece(!). It's too bad she doesn't..."I haven't read the WWII books yet, but I think I would agree with you on keeping Dudley Smith in the shadows.