I was on this list before (before it moved to Yahoo!), but
left after I went back to school. Going back to school for a
potential Masters in Folklore at the University of North
Carolina meant I no longer had time to read for leisure. I
finished my classwork in that program last year. That gave me
more free time again, but reading has always taken a lot of
focus and it took me a while to get back into reading for
leisure. Last year, I watched the movie Written in
Blood
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316904/)
where the killer left clues from Sherlock Holmes stories.
After watching that, I pulled out a copy of the complete
works of Sherlock Holmes that I had been given years ago, but
had hardly read. I read it cover to cover. Now I had the
ability and desire to read for leisure again.
I went on two separate tracks: I went to http://members.aol.com/funnybutfatal/mysteries.html
and picked out authors of humorous mysteries: I really
enjoyed Dave Barry's Big Trouble. I also have really enjoyed
reading Donald Westlake, both his humorous and non-humorous
mysteries
(although I prefer the humorous ones). I also really liked
Carl Hiassen's Sky Dip. I also read some Simon Brett and Bill
Crider, which I liked but not as much as the three
above.
The other track is noir/hard boiled: I've pretty much read
all the Dashiell Hammett I can find, he's my favorite noir
writer. I am currently reading Raymond Chandler, I have read
most of his stuff, but I am filling in the gaps. I am
currently reading Killer in the Rain, a book of short
stories, all reprinted for the first time since Chandler
cannibalized all of them into his novels. While I have read
all of the novels they come from previously, the short
stories are interesting and also give insights into the
process from the novels themselves. (I previously found
interesting the change from the original, serialized, version
of Hammett's Thin Man to the final version.)
I am hoping to find some recommendations for both of the
categories above. With regard to noir, I particularly enjoy
short stories. I am working full time now and spend most of
my free time on week nights reading rather than watching TV.
I also plan to read more Philip K Dick, but realize that's
outside the scope of this list. I am open to offlist
responses.
Thanks,
Jordan
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