November 2021 Group Read: The Killer Inside Me, by Jim Thompson

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Please join Aditya here to share your thoughts about Jim Thompson's The Killer Inside Me. There is also a spoiler thread. Have fun!!

[Aditya]

I read it earlier in the year, won't re-read again but look forward to discussing it with all of you. I find Thompson's writing both dark and funny. He will convince you the underlying secret to civil society is that under all the lying society is not that civil.

My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Aditya wrote: "I read it earlier in the year, won't re-read again but look forward to discussing it with all of you. I find Thompson's writing both dark and funny. He will convince you the underlying secret to ci..."

As soon as I can dig out my copy, I'll be joining you. I've already read it as well but am looking forward to a second round.

[Aditya]

Nancy wrote: "As soon as I can dig out my copy, I'll be joining you. I've already read it as well but am looking forward to a second round."

You have named the threads as The Killer Beside Me.

[fleurette]

I'm intrigued by the synopsis. I will try reading it this month.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Aditya wrote: "Nancy wrote: "As soon as I can dig out my copy, I'll be joining you. I've already read it as well but am looking forward to a second round."

You have named the threads as The Killer Beside Me."

So I did. Changed now, but I'm not surprised at my mistake -- too much happenng in my brain at the moment.

[Lisa]

This is a good one! I've read it recently and I'm planning on lurking around for the discussion :)

[Lily]

I really enjoyed this book - it's dark and shocking while also being an easy and compelling read. Lou is a complex and fascinating character. layered with good and bad traits which make him a rounded person who feels terrifyingly real.

[Tom]

I also have already read this and can't recommend it highly enough.

[Fraser]

I really enjoyed it, but wished the plot was as interesting as Lou. The Postman Always Rings Twice is the benchmark (for me) in this respect for this genre.

[Aditya]

Lily wrote: "I really enjoyed this book - it's dark and shocking while also being an easy and compelling read. Lou is a complex and fascinating character. layered with good and bad traits which make him a round..."

Lou's self-awareness helps. His justification for doing things is so well written.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Well, I will be a bit delayed in reading along. I went to find my copy of this book, and it is buried in my shelves behind 2 towering stacks of book boxes at the moment (there due to our remodeling project) so it's virtually inaccessible. I just bought another copy, so it will be a couple of days.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

My copy arrived, and I'm just starting chapter 3. I'd completely forgotten about all of Lou's grating habit of spouting clichés.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Okay, so I finished today, and I still think his Pop. 1280 is the better of the two books. Now I'm moving over to the spoiler thread.

[Aditya]

Nancy wrote: "Okay, so I finished today, and I still think his Pop. 1280 is the better of the two books. Now I'm moving over to the spoiler thread."

I liked this more than Pop 1280. Pop 1280 was funnier but its ending did not work as well for me.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Nancy wrote: "Okay, so I finished today, and I still think his Pop. 1280 is the better of the two books..."

Agree.

[Lisa]

Nancy wrote: "Okay, so I finished today, and I still think his Pop. 1280 is the better of the two books. Now I'm moving over to the spoiler thread."

I loved Pop 1280 too!

[Jayne]

Enjoyed the story, this is the first JIm Thompson I’ve read. The story telling was timeless, although written and based in the 1950’s it didn’t feel dated at all. Lou was a fabulous and intelligent character.