Pulp Fiction discussion
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I just finished Book one of the Ed Brubaker Fatale graphic novel trilogy Vol. 1: Death Chases Me. Next up, Southern Gods. 
Robert wrote: "Currently reading THE MARTIAN https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...Like Tom Hanks in Castaway, but on Mars.
...Looking forward to Matt Damon movie."
Haven't read the book, saw the movie in 3D a few weeks ago. Pretty good...and this coming from someone who is not a major fan of either Matt Damon or "space" movies.
Southern Gods is in my hands at the moment -- on page 57. I love reading this at night when it's dark .... Creepy stuff.
Started Galveston Saturday afternoon. I can't believe it took me so long to get around to buying it.
I've recently finished Highsmith's This Sweet Sickness -- extremely disturbing, but as I noted, which of her books isn't?
Mod
Algernon wrote: "Although I'm still not up to date with the western crime series about Walt Longmire, I managed to start another one: "Iron Lake" by William Kent Kruger. It looks like I picked a winner, as I like K..."I read my first Krueger last month. Ordinary Grace isn't part of the Cork O'Connor series but it was still really good!
Hope I will finish Harry Bosh's novel "Lost light" this evening..
I just finished reading The Drop, the book that was made into James Gandolfini's last movie. I can still say that Dennis Lehane has never disappointed me. My review is here. 
I once again started reading too many books concurrently and was able to finish off the last two yesterday. Now with a clean slate I'm starting pulp noir novel Junkie! (1952) by Jonathan Craig on the eReader, and eBay find Victoria Winters (1967), a Dark Shadows novel, in paperback.
Edwin wrote: "and eBay find Victoria Winters (1967), a Dark Shadows novel, in paperback."I have about 20 of the old Dark Shadows books. They are mildly entertaining.
Edwin wrote: "I once again started reading too many books concurrently and was able to finish off the last two yesterday. Now with a clean slate I'm starting pulp noir novel Junkie! (1952) by Jon..."I have several books by Craig, including 'Junkie!'. It's on my TBR list, as are so many others.
Jonathan Craig's So Young, So Wicked is a terrific noir novel. I've been meaning to read more of his books for some time now.
Edwin wrote: "Jonathan Craig's So Young, So Wicked is a terrific noir novel. I've been meaning to read more of his books for some time now."Thanks for reminding me about JC Edwin. I have the 3 you mentioned & additionally; Alley Girl (1954)
& Red-Headed Sinners (1953)
. I adore the artwork on the covers of Pulp/Noir & HCC novels. Books by James M. Cain, Orrie Hitt, Chandler, JC, the HCC series, Gil Brewer, et al, all look gorgeous on my Kindle Fire. The Android graphics are amazing & really make the covers 'POP'.
I'm currently reading: Complete Novels
.I've read 'The Red Harvest', 'The Dain Curse' (both Continental Op novels) & have almost completed 'The Maltese Falcon' with Sam Spade. The Falcon is my favourite of the 3 so far. 'The Glass Key' is up next, followed by 'The Thin Man'. I tried to read 'The Thin Man' last year, but just couldn't get into it.
I'm half way through an eBook copy of Nineteen Seventy-Four
, but put it on hold while i read 'Hammett', as it's a library book.
Finished
. Gritty, violent, relentless & oh yeah, well written.Reading Scrapper
. A beautifully written Dystopian tale about isolation, deterioration & desolation & maybe redemption. Enjoying so far.Thanks for the rec Still.
Paul wrote: "Finished . Gritty, violent, relentless & oh yeah, well written.Reading Scrapper
. A beautifully written Dystop..."Re David Peace's Red Riding Quartet: one of the best series of books ever written. I made the mistake of not only reading them all at once, but then I watched the films all at once and couldn't sleep for days afterward. The man is a genius writer, and that series rises way above most of what's out there in print right now. Those books, along with Raymond's Factory series are some of the best works in modern crime ever published.
Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished . Gritty, violent, relentless & oh yeah, well written.Reading Scrapper
. A beautifully w..."I agree on both counts Nancy. Raymond's another delight to read.
Mod
by Ron Rash. I love it, should appeal to fans of Daniel Woodrell for the look at a small community in the Appallachians, and to fans of James Sallis, for the lyrical prose.My first by Ron Rash, but I think I will push "Serena" closer to the top of the waiting list next year.
I just finished off The Neon Rain, the first book in James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series. My review is here. 
Started reading: The Last Policeman
. I've been wanting to read this for sometime. I thought the premise intriguing.
Paul wrote: "Started reading: The Last Policeman. I've been wanting to read this for sometime. I thought the premise intriguing."I'm looking forward to your review.
Tom wrote: "Paul wrote: "Started reading: The Last Policeman. I've been wanting to read this for sometime. I thought the premise intriguing."I'm looking..."
Been looking at lots of Dystopia/Fantasy/Crime hybrids lately Tom. There's some great stuff out there.
I have this trilogy & it's been on my TBR list for sometime.
Finding a theme, I finished this month's Pulp Fiction Group Read The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes and then started The Girl with the Sweet Plump Knees and The Girl with the Jade Green Eyes.
Mod
And they should start a book club with the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and the Girl On The Train.
Myself, I'm reading the third Charlie Hardie book by Duane Swyerczinsky : Point and Shoot.
The first two were like runaway trains with the brakes misplaced, and I expect the last one to head in the same direction.
Algernon wrote: "Edwin wrote: "Finding a theme, I finished this month's Pulp Fiction Group Read The Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes and then started The Girl with the Sweet Plump Knees ..."Must read those soon Al. I have all 3 & they have been on my TBR list for far too long:/
Edwin wrote: "Jonathan Craig's So Young, So Wicked is a terrific noir novel. I've been meaning to read more of his books for some time now."Thanks for the recommendation. I reached a point where I just had to keep reading to the end. That hasn't happened recently.
Paul wrote: "Started The Lady in the Lake
, 4th in the Marlowe oeuvre.I am hooked after reading the first page."
Oh! That's one of my favorites!
I just finished my last book of 2015; Background to Danger by Eric Ambler. I absolutely love his books! He is one of the 'three dead Brits' whose books I am determined to read in their entirety. Now I need to track down a copy of the movie version and watch that. My review is here.
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First chapter is a hoot!
Algernon wrote: "Started today, but I will count it for 2016 : Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon, my first by him because I heard it is the most accessible and it is inspired by noir.First chapter is..."
It's downright hysterical. I listened to it in my car and couldn't stop laughing.
Tom wrote: "I just finished my last book of 2015; Background to Danger by Eric Ambler. I absolutely love his books! He is one of the 'three dead Brits' whose books I am determined t..."Eric Ambler is really, really good.
Mod
..."
Part of the dialogue reminds me of Tortilla Flat and Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck, two of my favorite tales of California slackers. But I am sure Pynchon will add more layers to his story than Steinbeck.
Algernon wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Algernon wrote: "Started today, but I will count it for 2016 : Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon, my first by him because I heard it is the most accessible and it is insp..."Just wait. I'm sort of giggling now, thinking about that book. Thanks for a happy start to my day!
Mod
I have already downloaded the movie version, but I will hold off until I can finish the book without any visual preconditioning.
I am also hunting through my mp3 collection for all my psychedelic tracks. First gem found: Peter Sarstedt - "Where Do You Go To My Lovely".
"Inherent Vice" is very good. I still haven't seen the film adaptation, the idea of filming a Pynchon novel is very daunting as is!
Algernon wrote: "Glad to be of help.I have already downloaded the movie version, but I will hold off until I can finish the book without any visual preconditioning.
I am also hunting through my mp3 collection for ..."
The film is very good. In fact, watching the movie prompted me to buy the book.
Finished The Last Policeman
several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paul wrote: "Finished The Last Policeman several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Interesting. I had a totally different take on it by focusing on character and circumstance rather than plot.f
Read the first half: http://www.crimesegments.com/2013/07/...
Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished The Last Policeman several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Intere..."
That's written, based on having read the first two books Nancy, so you're writing it with fore-knowledge. Like i said in my review, this is NOT a full review of the trilogy, nor with hindsight based on the first two books, so yes, you may very well have a different take.
And reading & our preferences & perception of books is a subjective thing, isn't it?
Paul wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished The Last Policeman several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
actually, I was commenting on the difference in perspective, not on your review per se. I enjoy reading other people's takes on novels I've read, since my approach to most books is mainly as an examination into character/human nature under particular circumstances rather than focusing so much on plot.
I certainly didn't mean to upset you -- and I apologize if you think I was being argumentative; it wasn't at all the motivation behind my comment. The point I was trying to make is that I find the differences in approach interesting. It's a normal sort of comment for me to make.
foreknowledge - hence the mention of reading only the first half so you don't read about book #2.
I'm reading Lock 14 by Georges Simenon. Simenon really had a knack for capturing the cultural sense of time and place in his stories, despite not doing it in a sociological way like Hammett or Sjöwall did - you really get the atmosphere of France in the 1930s captured well. This story involves a lot of foreign visitors causing the conflict, having several culture clashes driving the story.
Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished The Last Policeman several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goodreads.com/rev..."
I didn't think you were being argumentative, nor was i offended. That's the trouble with 'posts'. They're one dimensional. There's no nuance, body language or any other expression other than the written word. Should be enough, but is often not;P
Simon wrote: "I'm reading Lock 14 by Georges Simenon. Simenon really had a knack for capturing the cultural sense of time and place in his stories, despite not doing it in a sociologic..."He's a great writer.
Paul wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished The Last Policeman several days ago.Here's my initial review:
https://www.goo..."
cool.
Simon wrote: "I'm reading Lock 14 by Georges Simenon. Simenon really had a knack for capturing the cultural sense of time and place in his stories, despite not doing it in a sociologic..."I see his Maigret series is being reissued, this being one. Nice new covers. Don't know if they're a new translation though.
Pulp Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
The Killer Inside Me (other topics)The Little Sister (other topics)
Deadly Mistake (other topics)
De Tanden van de Draak (other topics)
De Ondergang van de Donderdraak (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Raymond Chandler (other topics)Raymond Chandler (other topics)
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)
Naomi Alderman (other topics)
M. John Harrison (other topics)
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Like Tom Hanks in Castaway, but on Mars."
Only way better!