I liked BRANDED WOMAN myself, although I think it's major
interest lies in how it's formally skewed: it's kind of an
experiment, in other words.
Recent hb or hb-like books I've read include:
KC Constantine's THE MAN WHO LIKED SLOW TOMATOES. I've been
reading alot of Constantine lately, and I think I agree with
everyone that TOMATOES is one of his best books. Although I
think his best, at least of what I've read, is THE MAN WHO
LIKED TO LOOK AT HIMSELF. Constantine strikes me as a very
hit or miss kind of writer, when he's on he's absolutely
superb but a lot of books just ramble, bluntly.
(I grew up not far from the area Constantine writes about and
he has that place down.)
Patricia Highsmith's THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY and SELECTED
STORIES. JANUARY is kind of a psychological game, it's neat
to watch it play out but once you get the drift nothing here
will surprise you. The selected stories reveal Highsmith in
all her grand chilliness; a lot of her stuff here reminded me
of a less supernatural, more crimey Robert Aickman. Although
I like Aickman better, maybe because Highsmith's themes tend
to be distancing. I think her animal stories, which lead off
the volume, are her most appealing.
Seymour Schubin's WITNESS TO MYSELF. I finally caught up with
the April Hardcase and agree, it's a major find. It is also
incredibly grim and depressing, honestly I have to say it's
more something I respect than actually like. Still, if
Schubin doesn't win a major prize for this there ain't no
justice in the world, and I would like to see other efforts
from him brought back.
doug
--- pmf_nz <
pmf_nz@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:
> Hard Case Crime's BRANDED WOMAN by Wade Miller is
my
> most recent read.
> It's a hardboiled adventure story that reminds
me
> of David Dodge's
> novels. Cay Morgan, a former smuggler, arrives
in
> Mexico with a .357
> Magnum, planning to hunt down and take revenge on
a
> mysterious person
> known as The Trader, who branded her five
years
> before for disobeying
> orders that one of The Trader's minions had
relayed
> to her.
>
Doug Bassett
dj_bassett@yahoo.com
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