Kate Derie (cluelass@cluelass.com)
Tue, 02 Nov 1999 11:37:34 -0800
This is the first time I've been able to read one of the
"readings" -- my husband has every book written under the
Stark name. I am reading a 35-cent Pocket Book edition -- I
hope it's not a priceless collector's item.
I am finding the book stark indeed. I am fascinated by
Parker's world view -- that if he needs something that he can
take, he simply takes it, but he still needs to have money to
buy certain things he can't take -- so he takes the money.
There seems to be no questioning of whether another line of
work might be equally lucrative but less stressful --
stealing is his vocation. And he apparently files tax
returns, as he mentions having some property that he uses to
conceal his ill-gotten gains, but why? Why not evade taxes
too? I guess because that's not part of his job description,
as he sees it.
On the other hand, why not run his businesses legitimately
and live on the income from them? Again, because of how he
sees his vocation -- he's not a capitalist, he's a criminal.
There is a definite undercurrent of ideology here -- the
plastic surgeon who couldn't make a legitimate living because
of his Commy connections, and Stubbs, who was beaten into
submission by strike-breakers. It seems like Westlake is
almost telling us that Parker does what he does as part of
the class struggle.
I'm only halfway through and I look forward to seeing where
it goes -- it's like being in a fog because I can't tell what
the book is "about" -- a not-so-simple caper, or betrayal, or
revenge. Maybe that is part of the definition of hardboiled
-- not fitting into a prefab format.
PS If anyone is interested in pre-publication discount on the
Deadly Directory 2000 (over 750 listings of mystery-related
businesses & organizations), email me and I will give you
the details.
Regards, Kate Derie Creator of the ClueLass HomePage, http://www.cluelass.com
Editor of the Deadly Directory, http://www.deadlyserious.com
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