[books 2008] catching up

[inulro]

39.The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
I finished this just before we went away. Many thanks to badnewswade for the recommendation. I had a blast with this.

For those that don't know, this is LA Noir set in the 40s and 50s but written in the late 80s. For the most part it brings 40s LA alive in the same way as Chandler does, though once you know, there's some things that stick out. For example, Ellroy uses "fuck" a lot more often than Chandler, and the sex is more explicit. Or so it seemed to me. There's also a lot about how quickly LA was changing in the post-war years (a key plot twist involves the removing of the "LAND" from the end of the "HOLLYWOOD" sign), which I don't know if anyone was picking up on at the time.

I think I need to go watch the film again. And get hold of the rest of the LA Quartet, and then watch the film of LA Confidential again.

40. The Murder Room by PD James
Another long flight, another PD James mystery. See my review of The Lighthouse. I think everything I said there applies.

Which isn't to say I don't love this stuff.

41. The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Interesting counter-factual in which Roosevelt is defeated by Charles Lindbergh (the aviation hero and Nazi sympathiser) in the 1940 election, from the point of view of a small Jewish boy living in New Jersey.

Never having read any Roth before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Mostly I just found it an interesting and reasonably well-written counter-factual history exercise, but there was a part at the end that made me cry. Books don't make me cry. Ever.

While I did enjoy this, I'm not in any great hurry to read the rest of his stuff, which doesn't really appeal.

42. Predator's Gold by Philip Reeve
Sequel to Mortal Engines, a recent Bibliogoths selection which was universally loved. Most excellent airplane reading, because it's easy but exceptionally good. The action never stops. Once again, really high body count for a Young People's book, yet still not as dark as Philip Pullman.

Comments

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

I love the LA Quartet. I went to see LA Confidential at the cinema and everyone else - who hadn't read the book - loved it, whereas I thought it was dreadful. The book is so much better.

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

James Ellroy adaptations lose a lot. What I love most about his books is the energy and aggression in his prose. The stories themselves are secondary to the way he tells 'em and you just can't translate that onto the screen; "Black Dahlia" being the most extreme example on both sides of the coin. One of my favourite books.

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

*makes mental note to add Philip Reeve to my to-read list*