Re: RARA-AVIS: Willeford

Mario Taboada (matrxtech@sprintmail.com)
Fri, 31 Jul 1998 23:02:08 +0000 It's not for me to tell anyone how to read Willeford (or anything) - but
if you do read him expecting realism and logical continuity you are
setting yourself up for an almost sure disappointment. As someone
pointed out (James Rogers?) he has more in common with the "magical
realists" (Rulfo, Garcia Marquez) and even with certain absurdists
(Queneau, Bioy Casares, Peter Handke) than with the hardboiled school of
action that is the nominal subject of this list. His very special modus
operandi doesn't fit any established mold of crime writing.

By the way, _The Shark-Infested Custard_ is one of my favorite
Willefords. His use of dialogue in this novel could serve as a textbook
on the subject - it's perfectly nuanced and placed in each and every
instance.

Regards,

MT
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