I liked the idea of a month about procedurals (are they?
aren't they? which are? what's the relationship to the HB
school), and since it's been a topic of debate lately I hope
the interest will continue. Sorry for not sending out mail
about next month earlier.
Then let's do the historical survey, by decade. Everyone will
have lots of time to prepare for the first month and track
down whatever early stuff they want to read. We could pick
our top ten per decade, perhaps. That'll take us right up to
summer of next year!
----------
Aug 2002: Hardboiled PBOs: Fawcett Gold Medals Sep 2002:
Procedurals and their relation to the hardboiled
Then an eight-month look at the history of hardboiled and
noir writing. Pick a book from the given decade, read it, and
send out your comments. We'll see how the writing changed
over time.
Oct 2002: pre-1930 (make your case for proto-hardboiled
writers) Nov 2002: 1930-1939 Dec 2002: 1940-1949 Jan 2003:
1950-1959 Feb 2003: 1960-1969 Mar 2003: 1970-1979 Apr 2003:
1980-1989 May 2002: 1990-present (and: whither
hardboiled/noir writing?)
----------
Having a theme for a month, where people can read any book by
a particular author or in a certain series or on a certain
topic, is easier all around than the old book-of- the-month
readings we'd do. It brings up a lot more discussion on the
list and it doesn't tie everyone to a certain book that may
be hard for them to find. I encourage everyone to read
something related to the theme of the month and mention it on
the list. All the regular RARA-AVIS talk goes on as well, of
course.
Suggestions for future themes include: the continuing
question of hardboiled women writers, Barry Gifford, W.R.
Burnett, Nick Tosches, politics, gangster-related books, and
moral ambiquity.
This message is automatically sent out twice a month.
William Denton List-Owner
-- William Denton : Toronto, Canada : http://www.miskatonic.org/ : Caveat lector.
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