Noting the discussion of jazz greats and their sordid lives
-
made me think of "LA Confidential" (book). Who is it
Vincennes is supposed to have thrown in a trash can, Charlie
Parker? I was thinking Davis at first but that's probably a
little anachronistic.
On the legal thriller front, I'm finishing up Don Winslow's
"California Fire and Life" which comes at the law from an
unusual angle (fire insurance investigation and "bad faith"
suits). Though it contains certain glaring improbabilities,
the cross-examination scenes are exceedingly well-done (not
quite "My Cousin Vinny" but then what is? ; Winslow was
apparently a PI/insurance investigator rather than a lawyer,
but he obviously paid attention.
Grisham was actually a securities lawyer IIRC and probably
never tried a case in his life, though per the introduction
to "A Time to Kill" he used to spend a good deal of time in
the local courthouse WATCHING cases. My take on Grisham is
that he shows flashes of potential to be a good writer of
thrillers (chase scenes in the firm), HB (there's a great
scumbag burned-out lawyer scam artist in the Brethren), or
local color (the rainmaker, and parts of the brethren). If he
had more discipline or maybe a better editor he could write
some decent books; but way too much of his fiction is too
earnest or too lazy or too slick. He's crying all the way to
the bank, of course.
Carrie
*****************
"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of
those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain
passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your
skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a
fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife
and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can
even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge." -
Raymond Chandler, "Red Wind."
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