I wrote
> >The challenge [...] is to apply the things
I
> >like about noir/hb [...] to novels that do
not
> >neccessarily need to revolve around a dead body
or a
> >zillion dollar coke deal.
>
Charlie replied
This is interesting. I think you're on to something
here. Could you give
> just one example of this kind of challenge being
pulled off?
>
Hmm, well it's often happened in reverse - writers whose
straight literature had the virtues I tend to admire in hb
fiction often failed to find an audience till they took up
the full trappings of the genre - James Lee Burke, Chester
Himes, Charles Willeford, etc - but in most cases it's at
least arguable that their best work remains their non-genre
work - I'm thinking of The Lost Get Back Boogie, The
Primitive, Cockfighter/Pick-Up,
Meanwhile non genre hb might include - based on a quick
survey of books I can see from where I'm sitting - Richard
Price, Daniel Woodrell's last three books, Walter Mosley's
Socrates Fortlow books, some Russell Banks, Ernest Gaines,
Albert French, Jonathan Lethem, Lesley Glaister - obviously
it's also a question of marketing, not to mention bookshop
shelving.
John
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