Pulp Fiction discussion
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Reading Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.
Algernon wrote: "Frank wrote: "Just finished Wild at Heart as part of the Sailor & Lula: The Complete Novels omnibus. Now it's time for a break and I started my first Elmore Leonard ever..."Brilliant movie and cast.
Just finished The Wheelman
.Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Half way through Donnybrook
Didn't take to The Empty Trap- despite the effusive praise on the back cover- so I ditched it in favor of a few of the Continental Op stories. They are a bit different from Red Harvest in being a little more on the amusing side & not focused on social critique. At least the ones I'm reading.
52 Pick Up (the movie) wasn't bad. Had a nice sleazy atmosphere. The ending was pretty dumb.
Wild at Heart is of course a very entertaining movie (nothing tops Blue Velvet though). Id be curious to look into the source material.
52 Pick Up (the movie) wasn't bad. Had a nice sleazy atmosphere. The ending was pretty dumb.
Wild at Heart is of course a very entertaining movie (nothing tops Blue Velvet though). Id be curious to look into the source material.
The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly is a Mickey Haller book, #22 in the Harry Bosch Universe. It was well read, but uneven. Still, I wound up giving it 4 stars in my review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Endless Hour by Dan J. Marlowe is the second in his Drake series. It's similar to Richard Stark's Parker series, but the character is a bit more human. I gave this book 4 stars in my review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm currently readingBrannan’s Chase the second book in the "BRANNAN" series of modern pulp adventures. Its headlong narrative and the tropical setting keeps me turning the pages.
I just finished reading Darktown, the new novel by Thomas Mullen based on the experiences of the first black officers hired by the Atlanta Police Department in 1948. It's an exciting story that I really hope gets made into a movie. Recent events have made this a very timely story. Here is my review.
Tom wrote: "It's an exciting story that I really hope gets made into a movie. Recent events have made this a very timely story."I believe it's in development as a TV series with Jamie Foxx attached. So we'll see how that goes!
Richard wrote: "Tom wrote: "It's an exciting story that I really hope gets made into a movie. Recent events have made this a very timely story."I believe it's in development as a TV series with Jamie Foxx attach..."
Excellent! Foxx would be great. A bit old, maybe.
The Drop by Michael Connelly was an excellent addition to the long running Harry Bosch series. It's hard to believe how fresh the story felt when it is #17 in that series or #23 in the HB Universe. I gave it a 4 star review & can't recommend it or the series highly enough for anyone who likes police procedurals.
Finished this excellent example of Country Noir. A Single Shot
.My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started Wolf Moon a noir-western in memory of the late author Ed Gorman who was a prolific writer of hard-boiled mysteries, westerns, and horror novels, as well as a noted anthologist and editor of many mystery and pulp fiction collections. Gorman passed away over the weekend.
Paul wrote: "Finished this excellent example of Country Noir. A Single Shot.My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Speaking of "country noir," I was looking at a book that I thought might be interesting until I saw it labeled as "gospel noir." (The Apostle Killer). What is with this thing about labeling everything as some sort of noir?
Nancy wrote: " I was looking at a book that I thought might be interesting until I saw it labeled as "gospel noir." (The Apostle Killer). What is with this thing about labeling everything as some sort of noir? .."Dark gospel? Hmmm.
Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished this excellent example of Country Noir. A Single Shot.My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."..."
I agree. The term 'Noir' IS inclined to be overused. Country noir is a fairly well established sub-genre though. Also called Redneck, swamp, trailer-park noir. So i suppose it should be used strictly for it's original definition. Although noir is itself a definition applied in hindsight too, so who knows.
Paul wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished this excellent example of Country Noir. A Single Shot.My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/sh..."
I love your answer -- "so who knows."
Operation Flashpoint by Dan J. Marlowe is the fourth in his Drake series. I'm afraid it jumped the shark. It was still fun, but I miss the grit of the first couple. I still gave this book 3 stars in my review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started They Don't Dance Much, but it brought to mind something Nabokov sniped at Faulkner - "corncobby chronicle". Perhaps I should be less impatient but I summarily dropped it in order to read Stark's The Hunter, which, judging from the first 10 pages I can tell I'm going to enjoy a lot.
Finished Brannan’s Chase whish had a tremendous clffhanger ending that kept me asking; "how is he going to get out of this?" right up to the last page. Terrific adventure all the way. Reading Brannan's Run now the first in the series and its shaping up to be another gripping read.
Not currently reading, but Abe Books sent me a list of Pulps for sale. I have read some & thought the prices were out of this world. I also get a chuckle out of the '1st edition' in some of the descriptions, as if they weren't just single runs. This is a fun blast from the past.https://www.abebooks.com/collections/...
Mod
by Blake Crouch, because I heard it has some horror / supernatural elements that make it a good pick for October. I'm also hoping references to "Twin Peaks" turn out to be true.
Algernon wrote: "Started today : by Blake Crouch, because I heard it has some horror / supernatural elements that make it a good pick for October. I'm also hoping references to "Twin Peak..."Speaking of "Twin Peaks," has anyone started reading "The Secret History of Twin Peaks" novel that just came out? It's written by Mark Frost, co-creator of the show, and I just started but it's fascinating so far.
Mod
Bran wrote: "Algernon wrote: "Started today : by Blake Crouch, because I heard it has some horror / supernatural elements that make it a good pick for October. I'm also hoping referen..."I have that. Thought it looked interesting, as i loved Twin Peaks & Lynch is one of my favorite directors.
I really like the Alan Grofield novels, a spin-off of Richard Stark's Parker novels. Grofield is more fun & certainly has a better sense of humor than Parker, though. I've read all 4 now & this one, The Blackbird, third in the series, is the best. I gave it 4 stars in my short review.
Jim wrote: "I really like the Alan Grofield novels, a spin-off of Richard Stark's Parker novels. Grofield is more fun & certainly has a better sense of humor than Parker, though. I've read all 4..."I always felt i was looking around for Parker, though the Grofeld stories are entertaining enough.
Reading Brannan's Run now and it really is unputdownable. There's also a tremendous twist that you won't see coming. Its a contemporary thriller set in Thailand. Enjoy !!
Just finished (finally) reading I, the Jury by Mickey Spillane. How does it hold up after 68 years? Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paul wrote: "Jim wrote: "I really like the Alan Grofield novels, a spin-off of Richard Stark's Parker novels. Grofield is more fun & certainly has a better sense of humor than Parker, though. I'v..."I've read one Grofeld novel ...Parker figures in it prominently.
Blackbird?
I always enjoy Grofeld.
I wanted to finish reading the later Parker novels before embarking on the Grofeld series.
I don't recall Parker figuring in any of the Grofield novels prominently, although I suppose that could be a matter of definition. Parker might instigate, be referred to, &/or even have a brief appearance, but he's not really part of them. Alan is all on his own to make the books play out properly. They're the same situations Parker might find himself in & are ultimately handled in much the same manner, but Grofield is a much more charming character. No less ruthless, just nicer, more charming, & wittier about it.
The Blackbird and Slayground share the same first chapter, more or less, but after that Parker disappears from The Blackbird to have his own adventures in Slayground. I don't think he plays much of a role in the other three Grofield books.
I'm pretty sure the first two Grofield books grow directly out of The Handle, book 8 in the Parker series. He's not actually in them, but Grofield mentions Parker setting him up in the hotel where he's recovering. These tie in with what happens in The Blackbird. The 4th book Lemons Never Lie also has Meyer in it, a character from one of the Parker books.Unfortunately, I read most of the Parker books all the way through before finding the Grofield books & then read those out of order. Not the end of the world, but it would have been nice to read them chronologically.
Jim wrote: "I don't recall Parker figuring in any of the Grofield novels prominently, although I suppose that could be a matter of definition. Parker might instigate, be referred to, &/or even have a brief app..."on one of the sites dedicated to the Parker series that novel (Blackbird) is listed as #11 or #12 or so in the Parker series proper.
Agree that Parker is only partially involved in between capers following The Handle.
I'd have to go downstairs and go through my collection to respond definitively.
Still, if you do ever put together a definitive chronology, please post it. I'll follow it for a future reread, not that I seem to do that very often now since there are so many good, new-to-me books available. Occasionally I'll get into a funk & reread an old favorite for a comfort read. The Parker/Grofield books would fall into that category along with the Matt Helm books. (Next year the last book in that series should be published!!!)My reading has sure come a long way from when I was a kid. The only libraries I had semi-regular access to were the school's or the book mobile, plus whatever was in the house. Even a decade later, I was limited to a few libraries, book stores, & occasional mail/special orders. The Internet has sure been a boon to my reading. No more missing books in a series for years or even decades & plenty (too many?) to choose from.
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly was another wonderful addition to the Harry Bosch Universe, although Harry barely appears. Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, stars & does a great job bringing out the truth in court. Plenty of twists & turns, great characters, & all, as usual. I gave it a 4 star review.
Jim wrote: "Still, if you do ever put together a definitive chronology, please post it. I'll follow it for a future reread, not that I seem to do that very often now since there are so many good, new-to-me boo..."Will do, Jim.
It's late.
I'll try to find a link to the site I read about the connection to the series Parker proper and Grofeld tomorrow or *gasp* *shudder* election night USA.
Still wrote: "I'll try to find a link to the site I read about the connection to the series Parker proper and Grofeld tomorrow or *gasp* *shudder* election night USA."
Is it this one? This timeline seems accurate.
http://www.donaldwestlake.com/bibliog...
Richard
Richard wrote: " is it this one? This timeline seems accurate."
Thank you!
That's the one I was looking for.
Well, The Hunter was a great read (as some of you are well aware). The Man with the Getaway was very good too -though 1 small false note was I didn't really believe he'd have been so hung up on Lynne. I'll surely keep going with this series.
Reading New Hope for the Dead by Willeford now. I found a few interesting remarks on the Hoke books from the author-
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988...
Reading New Hope for the Dead by Willeford now. I found a few interesting remarks on the Hoke books from the author-
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988...
Damnotion wrote: "Well, The Hunter was a great read (as some of you are well aware). The Man with the Getaway was very good too -though 1 small false note was I didn't really believe he'd have been so hung up on Lyn..."Slayground & The Sour Lemon Score (in addition to The Hunter) were stand outs for me. Although you can't really go wrong with any of the original 16 Parker novels.
Brilliant novel, certainly an early study of PTSD, and very different from the also great film. Ride the Pink Horse is another study of the connection between disorientation and isolation from basic human impulses.
Mod
Finished In a Lonely Place, then watched the film. What the heck? Aside from the names, you wouldn't even know it came from the novel. The book was much better.
Operation Breakthrough was a disappointment. Such a shame. I could only give it a 2 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jay wrote: "Brilliant novel, certainly an early study of PTSD, and very different from the also great film. Ride the Pink Horse is another study of the connection between disorientation and isolation from basi..."Nice.
I own both novels and both films are favorites - I own the DVDs.
Can't remember reading either novel, though.
Must put these on my "to read very soon" list.
Pulp Fiction
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Was planning on it, yes. Slightly worries me that it's a movie made by Cannon, slightly less worried cause it's Frankenheimer.....