Poll

I think that is not a bad idea at all. I've been looking at a different poll for a different GR book chat group, and Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away, seems to be in a perpetual "runner-up" category.

Someone give it the Susan Lucchi award, or something!

Lawgotham wrote: "I might be in the minority, but I’m hoping you keep it to one book a month (poll ties not withstanding). Speaking of which, looks like a second month in a row of that..."

I would prefer one book a month . . . but, we do get some awfully close votes in this group, and, I hate to disappoint (despite what my husband says.) We're probably just gonna have to play this plan by ear . . . every single month.

So, for the record - for March, the selections will be - The Asphalt Jungle and Thieves Like Us.

In April, we'll be reading Black Wings Has My Angel, AND, since that one is indeed a short book - only 136 pages - how about something by Mickey Spillane?

What say ye, people of Pulp Fiction?

I read I, the Jury, and although I didn't really like it (although I admit it was fast-paced), I've always meant to read at least one other Mike Hammer, namely Kiss Me Deadly, which is one of my favorite movies.

Interesting that Spillane stopped writing Mike Hammers at the height of his popularity for religious reasons.

Exactly like

Christopher wrote: "...namely Kiss Me Deadly, which is one of my favorite movies."

The best ending of any noir, ever! What a femme fatale! Holy crap!

That movie has plenty of coups de theatre..
Caruso, eh? A collectors' item..
Crack!
Not that I mind rewatching it, but the first time blew me away.

Melki wrote: "In April, we'll be reading Black Wings Has My Angel, AND, since that one is indeed a short book - only 136 pages - how about something by Mickey Spillane?

What say ye, people of Pulp Fiction?"

I'm in. I'd prefer I, the Jury. Of course we could always make a poll. Maybe we'll end up reading two... ;-)

Randy wrote: "I'm in. I'd prefer I, the Jury. Of course we could always make a poll. Maybe we'll end up reading two... ;-) "

I'm a stickler about starting any series with number one, so I, the Jury will definitely be in the poll. If you all have any non-Mike Hammer suggestions, let 'em rip.

Of course I didn’t realize Black Angels was a short book, A poll for a paired read is appropriate. By the way, I lucked out, my library system has a copy of Asphalt Jungle. A hold has been placed.

ALLEN wrote: "Spillane? I like the way you think. Some folks may object, though."

I want to read some Spillane and I was thinking of making a poll with four of his books, just to make sure one is chosen

Melki wrote: "Randy wrote: "Melki wrote: "You got some suggestions for books there, buddy?"

I've ALWAYS got suggestions! How about:

Books by Old Favorites:
- The Getaway or [book:A Hell of a W..."

I would rather go with one book per month and maybe choosing a second placed novel with high votes for another month without another poll. I don't mind what we are doing in March, since in a tie and with one book harder to find we have extra options, but I would prefer to stick with one book per month in principle

that being said, the next poll will be for May, and I would like to suggest as a theme "Other Pulp" books, preferably from the classic era - could be old planetary adventure, or searching for lost treasures in Africa, or pirates or something like that. I am open to suggestions for titles.

June could be Cornell Woolrich and July something modern

Might I suggest the masterpiece:
The Last Good Kiss (my review) by James Crumley, published in 1978, but it sure feels like a "classic".

William wrote: "Might I suggest the masterpiece:
The Last Good Kiss (my review) by James Crumley, published in 1978, but it sure feels like a "classic".

"

I thought we already read it, but it doesn't appear in the polls list. Actually it came second in February 2013, losing by only one vote, but since I already read it I believed the rest of the members did too.

Thank you.

Holy cow! This poll actually ended. I thought it would go on forever. I thought I'd throw out a suggestion regarding ties. In the group I am a moderator for, the head moderator holds off voting and usually only votes if needed to break a tie. I realize that I am suggesting that someone else forego exercising his right to vote which is kind of cheesy but this group seems to have a problem with tied ballots so I thought I'd throw the idea out there.

Tom wrote: ",,,this group seems to have a problem with tied ballots..."

It's only a problem if you don't want to read two books. ;-)

Algernon wrote: "...the next poll will be for May, and I would like to suggest as a theme "Other Pulp" books, preferably from the classic era - could be old planetary adventure, or searching for lost treasures in Africa, or pirates or something like that. I am open to suggestions for titles..."

That's a great theme. Here's a few suggestions:

For "Lost World" books...
- King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
- The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
- At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
- The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling
- The Moon Pool by Abraham Grace Merritt
- The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe
- Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
- Lost Horizon by James Hilton

For pirates...
- The Sea-Hawk by Rafael Sabatini
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Leigh Brackett has been called the Queen of Planetary Romance. I would rather include her than Edgar Rice Burroughs, next to good suggestions about Haggard, Sabatini and maybe something by Fredric Brown who wrote both hard-boiled and space invaders from Mars

How about GLADIATOR, by Phillip Wylie?

I like the "other pulp" theme.

For Hard Case p.b. fans there is , an adventure story.

I started Thieves Like Us. Damn it's good.

For a standalone Spillane: I'm curious about . Supposedly his first book he'd written after 9 years of devoting his life to the church. So it is very late in the game ('62), but I heard people say it's very good.

I think it's interesting that Mickey Spillane played Mike Hammer in a movie.

I can also remember his Lite Beer commercials, where he played a noir detective:



I think I spent most of my life confused about who was the writer and who was the detective.

Great picture!

This is me (on drugs):

I think many of us have seen the movie KISS ME, DEADLY. That's the only movie I know of that is demonstrably better than the M. Spillane novel that inspired it. (IMHO).

ALLEN wrote: "I think many of us have seen the movie KISS ME, DEADLY. That's the only movie I know of that is demonstrably better than the M. Spillane novel that inspired it. (IMHO)."

Outrageously good. The scariest femme fatale EVER. The most wonderful and outrageous film noir ending EVER. WOW!

With the added fillip (small spoiler) that Percy Helton gets his comeuppance for being snotty to Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker).

Christopher wrote: "This is me (on drugs):

"Mickey Spillane is Mike Hammer."
Chris, you're an MST3K fan; remember:
"Stockard Channing IS Peter Pan!"

ALLEN wrote: "Chris, you're an MST3K fan; remember:
"Stockard Channing IS Peter Pan!""

Well, no, but I was able to find the reference...

Is it from "Design for Dreaming"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0655395/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVuth...

"While she's dancing, the Japanese are making great cars!"

"Somebody invent rock'n'roll.. please?"

Christopher wrote: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVuth...

"While she's dancing, the Japanese are making great cars!"

"Somebody invent rock'n'roll.. please?""

Great short! "Pregnant woman and schnauzer optional."

What a pleasant surprise...the Asphalt Jungle arrived at my library today, transferred from another in the county. It’s a first edition by Knopf and placed in circulation August 19th, 1949. How cool! And it’s in really good condition.

How will we know when the group read starts? Will the same forum thread cover both Asphalt Jungle and Black Wings?

William wrote: "How will we know when the group read starts? Will the same forum thread cover both Asphalt Jungle and Black Wings?"

Asphalt Jungle and Thieves Like Us are this month, March. Black Wings and I the Jury are for April. The admins usually start a thread for each book and you comment when you like. Read either one first....

Thank you 😊