Man, when I finally did try a Fletch book, I was bitterly
disappointed. The author was trying really hard to be funny,
but it fell flat on me (to be more precise, it sounded
impossibly silly). I've never read another since. Somebody
must buy this series: Salvation Army stores are full of the
paperbacks. They say that humor is the hardest, and they're
right. Besides, it doesn't age well (Twain and a few others
excepted).
By the way, did anyone else catch the Ken Burns biographical
program on Mark Twain? I thought it was well done,
particularly because it treated Twain's financial problems
and his ultimate loneliness and bitterness in some detail. I
think Burns chose not to speculate on Twain's adoption of
female grandchildren (such speculation appeared in a
biography which, I recall, was thoroughly trashed by Vidal in
the NYRB).
I mention Twain because he is a literary ancestor and
inspiration of the realistic school of American
writing.
Regards,
MrT
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