Group Reads -> August 2022 -> Nomination thread (Noir - won by Laidlaw by William McIlvanney)

[Roman Clodia]

Ben wrote: "As this is noir month can we really trust the voting or the count? Stop the Steal!"

Hahahaha!

[Sid]

Ben wrote: "As this is noir month can we really trust the voting or the count? Stop the Steal!"

Guidelines have been followed at all times and no rules have been broken. I think that settles the matter fully and finally.

[Ben]

Just a cursory review indicates that two of the Laidlaw votes have been cast by books and one by a dog, so it appears that 3 of the 6 votes should be disallowed.

[Sid]

Ben wrote: "Just a cursory review indicates that two of the Laidlaw votes have been cast by books and one by a dog, so it appears that 3 of the 6 votes should be disallowed."

I shall not comment until the Full Review is published in nine months time.

[Pamela]

Ben wrote: "Just a cursory review indicates that two of the Laidlaw votes have been cast by books and one by a dog, so it appears that 3 of the 6 votes should be disallowed."

One dog, one vote! Universal suffrage for dogs!

[Nigeyb]

The poll has ended



Our official Noir group read is....


Laidlaw (1977)

by

William McIlvanney


The unorthodox, complex, sardonically humorous, intriguing policeman Jack Laidlaw makes his debut in an engrossing tale of murder. In Glasgow, the city with the worst slums in Europe, a city of hard men, powerful villains, bitter victims and cynical policemen, Laidlaw uses unconventional methods.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks to everyone who got involved

[Ben]

Including the dogs and the books!

In the interest of avoiding civil war I will accept the (clearly rigged) vote. Farewell, My Lovely Democracy

; )

[Sid]

Ben wrote: "Including the dogs and the books!

In the interest of avoiding civil war I will accept the (clearly rigged) vote. Farewell, My Lovely Democracy ; )"

I accept full responsibility for all of it. And now I'm just going to carry on as if nothing had happened.

[Rosina]

Rustles pages in triumph.

[Nigeyb]

Satire alive and well


Hurrah

[Susan]

Hurrah! Looking forward to reading this in such excellent company!

[Kathleen]

This is going to be fun! Looking forward to August.

[Pamela]

Just thought I would add that I am currently reading The Wrong Case by James Crumley which I picked up at random and found it is NOIR! It is very similar so far to Chandler et al - drunken PI, glamorous woman looking for her brother, mysterious criminal boss - but is quite a fun read.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Pamela

[Brian E]

Nigeyb wrote: "I've never read anything by Jim Thompson and am keen to sample his work. I've loved many of the film adaptations. .."

When I was looking up various Jim Thompson books, my Goodreads feed showed that Nigeyb rated Pop. 1280 as 3 stars and also gave 4 star ratings to The Grifters and The Getaway with all 3 ratings dated as June 22, 2012?

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Brian. Baffled how that happened. Off to put that right.

[Nigeyb]

Done. Now I'm wondering if I had read them? Certainly not as recently as 2012 though. V odd. Off to inspect my bookshelf now for other possible inaccuracies. Thanks again Brian

[Roman Clodia]

There's a great definition/discussion in the first comment on this list about noir and female noir:

www.goodreads.com/list/show/92187.Fem...

And fascinating to see some of our favourites (Shirley Jackson, Ottesa Moshfegh, Elizabeth Bowen) appear on the list.

After enjoying my first Vera Caspary, I'm keen to read her Bedelia which sounds like an early 'black widow' story.

[Roisin]

Jan C wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "I'll nominate
Black Betty by Walter Mosley

I love noir, and was very impressed by the first book in this series, and Mosl..."

Oh no! I missed this vote. Good nomination. Not that my vote would have made a difference, sadly. Will definitely be reading this in July/August.

[Stephen]

I finished Laidlaw yesterday. Really enjoyable an loved the existential and philosophical thoughts in the midst of a gritty crime novel. Some of the writing was very lyrical with original metaphors and phrasing.