Hi Miker and Andrew-
> Andrew wrote:
> Anyway, I'd also like to say that though I've
only
> read The Zebra Striped-Hearse and a Lew Archer
short
> fiction collection, Ross McDonald is special to
me,
> because he was the first hard-boiled writer I
ever
> read.
>
> ***********
> I finished THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE about a month
ago.
> I'm glad I gave him another go after the
mediocre
> DARK TUNNEL. Ross looks to be coming from
the
> Chandler camp, both in plot and the word play.
The
> plot involves the wayward crazy daughter of a rich
guy
> (Chandler's BIG SLEEP and LONG GOODBYE). I have
heard
> that Ross wrote one book over and over, and with
only
> two under my belt I can already see the
pattern
> developing. I'll cherry pick a couple more and
then
> move on.
>
> One difference from Chandler, in the little that
I've
> read, was the center of turbulence. Chandler's
work
> has got a spotlight on Marlowe, whereas
Macdonald's
> emphasis is on the wounded family, with a more
subtle
> involvement from Lew. Macdonald's work is
less
> self-conscious.
Interestingly enough, THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE was my first
exposure to MacDonald's work as well. Since then I've read
everything of his I can get my hands on. The ones I've
enjoyed the most were: THE CHILL, BLACK MONEY, THE WYCHERLY
WOMAN, THE DROWNING POOL, THE FAR SIDE OF THE DOLLAR, and I
even enjoyed one that others have expressed reservations
about: THE BLUE HAMMER. THE GALTON CASE and THE GOODBYE LOOK
are probably tied for the two I've enjoyed the most. As has
been said here repeatedly, MacDonald DID write one book over
and over, but I think if it more as a sort of symphonic
grouping of variations on a theme. Of course if I didn't like
his way of doing it, I probably wouldn't be so
charitable.;)
All the Best-
Brian
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