Pulp Fiction discussion
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Algernon wrote: "I'm on holiday for almost a month, so I loaded my reader with shallow thrillers and comedies and whatnots, all ready for the beach or the park bench. First one I picked mostly based on the title, a..."
Carl Hiassen's fun, although a bit hit or miss. If you are in the mood for Florida crime books, check out Charles Willeford's "Miami Blues", the first in the 1980s-era Hoke Moseley series. Willeford's got a wry, dark sense of humor that permeates his dumb-criminal, down-at-the-heels detective stories. He sort of invented Florida crime fiction, I think he was there before Elmore Leonard decided to take a break from Detroit. He was trawling Miami Beach's art deco district before it became fashionable on "Miami Vice".
Carl Hiassen's fun, although a bit hit or miss. If you are in the mood for Florida crime books, check out Charles Willeford's "Miami Blues", the first in the 1980s-era Hoke Moseley series. Willeford's got a wry, dark sense of humor that permeates his dumb-criminal, down-at-the-heels detective stories. He sort of invented Florida crime fiction, I think he was there before Elmore Leonard decided to take a break from Detroit. He was trawling Miami Beach's art deco district before it became fashionable on "Miami Vice".
Jame wrote: "Algernon wrote: "I'm on holiday for almost a month, so I loaded my reader with shallow thrillers and comedies and whatnots, all ready for the beach or the park bench. First one I picked mostly base..."I have his The Black Mass of Brother Springer Here's a good article about Charles Willeford and Florida crime that I found while researching this novel:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/a...
Algernon wrote: "I'm on holiday for almost a month, so I loaded my reader with shallow thrillers and comedies and whatnots, all ready for the beach or the park bench. First one I picked mostly based on the title, a..."Lucky you! A month of holiday!
Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
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I already read and enjoyed Miami Blues, I have somewhere around here his "Cockfighter" which I hope to include. Another Florida writer I hope to read more of is Tim Dorsey. So far I only tried
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Yeah ... but it's after six months in the desert.
Algernon wrote: "Jame wrote: "Algernon wrote: "I'm on holiday for almost a month, so I loaded my reader with shallow thrillers and comedies and whatnots, all ready for the beach or the park bench. First one I picke..."My husband absolutely loves Tim Dorsey's books and keeps telling me I need to read them. He's not a big reader, so when he finds an author he really likes, he reads everything they wrote.
Started Black Wings Has My Angel I can already see the writing on the wall. By the way - I have two copies so if anyone (in the US) wants my Black Mask reprint edition, I'll give it to you & pay postage to get it there.
Been a while since I chanced the fevered mind of James Ellroy. "The Big Nowhere" is rectifying the situation.
Just picked up "The Big Nowhere" today, really am kind of all over the place right now on Ellroy's books, am currently reading "L.A. Confidential" and "White Jazz" at the same time, so now I have a third one to add to the list. Recently finished both "The Cold Six Thousand" and "The Black Dahlia", really enjoys his L.A. Quartet & Underworld USA books.
In the midst of reading Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye. Horace McCoy. Gotta say- it's some good stuff. Hard-edged but with some weird trimmings.
The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston , cause my dad lend it to me and said it was a bit weird and unconventional. Lets see...
Damnotion wrote: "In the midst of reading Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye. Horace McCoy. Gotta say- it's some good stuff. Hard-edged but with some weird trimmings."Shhh! Still on the TBR, unread. Now I'm looking forward to it.
Frank wrote: "The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston , cause my dad lend it to me and said it was a bit weird and unconventional. Lets see..."This is really a series that should be read in order.
Tom wrote: "Frank wrote: "The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston , cause my dad lend it to me and said it was a bit weird and unconventional. Lets see..."This is really a series..."
reallly? Thanks for letting me know, I'll try to read the other books first. But is it worth my time? Since I see this is book 8, I heard the author himself saw this as a standalone? Thats why I just assumed I could start here.
Frank wrote: "The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston , cause my dad lend it to me and said it was a bit weird and unconventional. Lets see..."FYI - I read that one as a standalone and hated it. Some people rave about the series so the others might be different. For me, it put me off ever reading any more of them.
AndrewP wrote: "FYI - I read that one as a standalone and hated it. Some people rave about the series so the others might be different. For me, it put me off ever reading any more of them. ."It's an unusual series and some books are better than others.
I found an old copy of a book called, Black Sheep, Run. It looks like gloriously seedy detective pulp.
The Complete Drive-In byJoe R. Lansdale. The foreword of Don Coscarelli is already awesome. Looking forward to the rest of this
I finished reading The Legend of Barney Thompson by Douglas Lindsey, its apparently the first book in a series of black comedy about a loser type middle aged man who becomes inadvertent murderer.This is first time reading morbid, darkly funny crime novel in the Scottish version. The protagonist is potentially a killer but its full of colourful characters, quietly humorous scenes. It wasa very diffrent novel, it stays being schizophrenic between black comedy, dark real dark crime novel. Sort of a Jack Taylor novel but without as much noirness, hardcore protoganist that is far from a quiet, boring man.
Have you guy read it? It was very well written, funny as calm britcom way with dose of serial killer, police-book surface story.
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..."
I haven't even heard of Lindsey yet, but I love Christopher Broomyre who also combines crime with black comedy and I am sure to give it a try.
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by William Kent Krueger. It's a standalone about boy growing up in Minnesota in the early 60's, dealing with a summer of death. I think I will love it, even if I am only a couple of chapters in. The style reminds me a little of Robert McCammon in "Boy's Life"
Algernon wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "I finished reading The Legend of Barney Thompson by Douglas Lindsey, its apparently the first book in a series of black comedy about a loser type middle aged man who becomes inadve..."The owner of my fav local bookshop recommended to me, i didnt know Lindsay either by name. Only Lindsay i knew before was the guy who wrote Dexter books.
I really like blending of humor, crime so it was perfect combo for me. I have to look up Broomyre now :)
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sorry, it's Brookmyre and his signature series featurea a guy named Parlabane - a Scottish investigative journalist
Algernon wrote: "currently reading by William Kent Krueger. It's a standalone about boy growing up in Minnesota in the early 60's, dealing with a summer of death. I think I will ..."I really liked this one.
Algernon wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Algernon wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "I finished reading The Legend of Barney Thompson by Douglas Lindsey, its apparently the first book in a series of black comedy about a loser type ..."Thanks for the info. I have read so little scottish fiction specially in my fav genres like crime. So scottish authors POV, the setting is fresh to me compared to all the irish, english, american crime books i have read.
Mohammed wrote: "Thanks for the info. I have read so little scottish fiction specially in my fav genres like crime. "Gordon Ferris is pretty good. I read one of his books set in the post WW II era and really enjoyed it.
Algernon wrote: "currently reading by William Kent Krueger. It's a standalone about boy growing up in Minnesota in the early 60's, dealing with a summer of death. I think I will ..."I enjoyed this book a lot. Believable. Well written. Moving.
Finished Gun, With Occasional Music
.Another excellent read. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye didn't quite sustain itself, but was still worth reading.
Started The Hot Spot by Charles Williams. Also known as Hell Hath No Fury. It's a smooth read so far.
Started The Hot Spot by Charles Williams. Also known as Hell Hath No Fury. It's a smooth read so far.
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Started The Hot Spot by Charles Williams. Also known as Hell Hath No Fury. It's a smooth read so far."
It's one of my favorites and it has a pretty good movie adaptation.
Hell Hath No Fury is one of my favorite classic noirs!
Paul wrote: "Finished Gun, With Occasional Music.Another excellent read. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Im actually ashamed of myself for not having read this author,book already. I have heard high praise for him for years, comparision to PKD, that the fact he is a big fan of PKD and that good taste.
Nice review of the book, comparing it to PKD, Hammett its like its tailored made for fans like us :)
Mohammed wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished Gun, With Occasional Music.Another excellent read. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Im..."
I'm sure you would love it Mohammed. I would also recommend Motherless Brooklyn
, if you haven't already read it.
I've just started reading Dick Francis's Gamble by Felix Francis. The protagonist's American friend is shot dead in the middle of a crowd at a racetrack and he has no clue who shot him or why he was shot. So far I've been enjoying it.
Im having an nice, effective reading in my two weeks vacation in Germany. I read Lindsey and now i finished very quickly Kindred by Octavia Butler,which was a time travel story about a modern black women getting stuck as black person, slave in 1820s southern US. It was my first novel of Butler and it was much better than i expected despite the fame of the author. It was a haunting tale, very effective portrayal of race, identity issues circe 1976 and 1800s.
I'm getting towards the climax of Joe Hill's new book, The Fireman. It's different than I expected which, in this case, is a good thing. Hill interests me. The more of his books that I read, the more I recognize his father's style in them but, and this sounds totally contradictory, I also see more of Hill's own distinct talent. 
I started reading Hell of a woman by JT, i just hope the woman of the titel is not as horrible as the women in The Grifters, that mother was truly from hell ;)
Some reviews of The Fireman are less than favorable, but I liked it very much and gave it a positive review since it was deserved in my opinion.
Almost finished with Paradise Sky, really enjoy all the Hap & Leonard books, and this one has many of the same qualities, which means I laugh hard enough for my sides to hurt. Joe R. Lansdale really tells great stories with an offbeat sense of humor that gets me everytime.
Just starting Hard Red Spring, an ambitious novel that looks at 100 years of Guatemalan history as seen through the eyes of Americans who chose for whatever reason (political, commercial or religious) to make that turbulent land their home. I'm looking forward to revisiting, literarilly, this beautiful country that I spent time in in my youth.
Finished reading another Hard Case Crime offering. House Dick
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Reading Clinch, by Martin Holmen. It's Scandinavian crime set in the 1930s, about a former boxer/convict who collects debts for a living. It's not your average Scandinavian crime fiction -- very dark, no cutesy stuff at all. Published by Pushkin-Vertigo, which has some amazing crime novels in its repertoire.
This morning I started reading The Handmaid's Tale. I think I started this once before but didn't finish it. I guess I'm not in the same frame of mind now as I am totally intrigued and want to know more of what is happening. 
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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My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just started The Vaults
'Fifty-to-One' was also an excellent offering from the Hard Case Crime stable.