Chong writes:
<< A very informative article [New Yorker] on the life
and work of Chester Himes. I'm surprised Mr. Als, the writer,
didn't like James Sallis's biography of Himes. >>
I felt sorry for Sallis because Als dismissed the book
without saying much about it. At the same time, I'd praise
all writers involved. The article on Himes seemed good,
though not too focused on the crime fiction. I haven't read
enough Himes to judge Als here, but he wrote a superb article
on Flannery O'Connor in the New Yorker a few months ago
(O'Connor--not you regular h-b writer, but she does have the
mass murdering Misfit, and in Wise Blood, Hazel Motes runs
over Hoover Shoats (I think it is ) with a car and then tells
him to shut up as he is dying--h-b enough for me;
John--Maltese Falcon--Huston directed the adaptation).
By Sallis, I just read Long-Legged Fly and Moth recently.
Both are good, though Fly is better and definitely worth
seeking out. Not a straightforward narrative--more like
connected vignettes--some of which don't resolve as expected.
How are the other Sallis novels? Titles, count?
Doug
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