RARA-AVIS: "A Darker Shade of Noir"

Bill Hagen (billha@ionet.net)
Sat, 29 May 1999 23:53:42 -0500 (CDT) Sandra Hess writes,

>I've just started WHORESON. It's a fast and easy read. But is it hardboiled?
>Setting isn't enough of a reason to qualify a book as a hardboiled read. It's
>certainly not a mystery. The style doesn't feel hardboiled. There's
>something or
>another missing from this book...cuz it ain't hit the mark for me. I'll
>save the
>rest of my comments for June.

I appreciate Sandra jumping the gun a bit, since I'm going to hit the road
before June comments arrive.

I agree with Sandra's comments. This first person novel initially reminded
me of Richard Wright's BLACK BOY, but it lacks the adult reflectiveness
(ie. the adult who is telling about himself at a younger age). Halfway
through, it reminds me more of some of D. Defoe's work, like MOLL FLANDERS.
This happened and I did that and felt that--it all seems to be happening
in a present tense. Like Defoe, too, it "delivers the news" about pimping
and whoring. You learn the jargon, although I was lost in the craps
game...and still don't know what a "booster" is, as opposed to a whore.

But I'll read on...

Bill Hagen
<billha@ionet.net>

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