At 04:11 PM 3/9/02 -0500, you wrote:
>If you missed anything, Kerry, it was that in this
situation, there
>wasn't any way to advance from addressing each others
opinions. They were too
>far apart. If two people look at the same color and
one sees black and the
>other sees white, they can note the differences, but
there isn't much to
>discuss without doing extensive research, writing a
couple of dissertations
>(and Neil's done with all that) and offering
rebuttals.
Sorry Jim, I just don't buy it, but I think Paul's gotten
more discussion about content since. And congrats on the
copping the lambskin Neil.
I read William Kennedy's Roscoe a week or so back. Now
there's a book about crime and corruption, with fascinating,
contradictory characters, larger than life yet thoroughly
credible. Sudden, unexpected violence that surprised but did
not seem out of place or context. A period piece that had me
making comparisons and looking for contrasts with current
affairs. Hard as they come while heartbreakingly
romantic.
I was thinking about it in terms of defining place. Simply
dropping local place names that provide context for people
who have been there is not enough. Kennedy does much better.
I've spent ten minutes in Albany (train stop on my way to
last fall's Bouchercon) but after reading Roscoe I have a
sense of that city. Of course, it may be entirely inaccurate
and is open to revision, but I now have a feel for the unique
place where Kennedy took me for a visit. I don't think the
same story could have been told, in the same way, anywhere
else.
One small brick Kennedy used to established time was the
title character's name. And I think some musical references,
and not just ones I was familiar with, were used as well.
Can't check it though, because I've loaned the book to a
friend. But I encourage anyone to read Roscoe and tell me I'm
wrong.
Kerry
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